Liam McIntyre owns Released Records in the Leeds Corn Exchange, and explains what it’s like working in the independent music scene

By Holly Webb

Liam McIntyre started Released Records as an independent record label in 2015, and has since opened the Released Record store in the Leeds Corn Exchange.

“It started as a record label about 5 or 6 years ago, and then this shop opened in November last year” he says. “It was only meant to be a pop-up shop but it did better than we expected so they were happy for us to carry on our lease here”.

Released Records extended their lease in the Corn Exchange to April 2019 – a year longer than they were expecting.

McIntyre loves the freedom that comes with working for an independent shop, he says that “working in an independent space gives us the ability to represent who we are as individuals and our record label ethos”.

He adds laughing, “I start at 11 too so you can’t really complain can you”.

McIntyre says how although working in the independent music scene has it’s benefits, it isn’t always feasible full-time.

“I work in PR full time, but music is my passion really so I’d love to do this full time, that would be ideal”.

A lot of their stock is second-hand vinyls from personal collections, however they have a new release this month.

McIntyre says Released Records has lots of exciting plans to expand in the future.

“We’d love to increase the ‘chill out’ space to make some sort of cafe area, or just a place where people can come and chill and listen to the vinyl together”.

For more information on Released Records, see www.released.com