Paper Bag Records is a Canadian independent record label, artist management company, and music publishing company founded in 2002 and based in Toronto.
For two years, Paper Bag Records was given the title of 'Best Label' from Toronto's Now Magazine in Now's 2008[1] and 2009[2] issues. In the August 2007 issue of U.S. publication XLR8R, Paper Bag Records was voted #14 for "Best Indie Label".[3]
Paper Bag Records launched their "Paper Bag Digital" online store in June 2008, which features their entire catalog for purchase and download in mp3 and FLAC formats.[4]
In 2009, Trevor Larocque made significant changes to the label's identity and image. In 2011, The Toronto Star is quoted with a mention that the label is "having one of the best years of its existence"[5] and in early 2012, Toronto's weekly paper The Grid recognized the label as a "cornerstone of Canadian music."[6] In September 2012, CBC Radio said the Paper Bag Records "could be the most influential label in Canada". New bands joined the label including Elliott Brood, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Born Ruffians, Young Galaxy, Cuff the Duke, and PS I Love You. In 2012, the label announced that Montreal artists Tim Hecker, Moonface (Spencer Krug), Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, and The Luyas were joining its roster. Larocque would sell and leave the label in 2023 after 22 years of being involved.
The Paper Bag Records series of vinyl releases were produced in very limited quantities, each being between 300–500 copies. They were released on colored 180-gram vinyl with silk-screened artwork.[7]
