One of the most successful independent labels in West Virginia is Caustic Eye Productions, based just outside Charleston. Founded in 2001, this independent label is focused primarily on assisting and promoting local musicians. As of January 2011, Caustic Eye has produced 29 primarily rock and metal albums from the likes of Byzantine, Jeff Ellis and Mind Garage. Caustic Eye-produced artists can be heard nationally on Sirius satellite radio, National Public Radio and more.
A few record labels are headquartered in the northern part of the state. Syphrus Music, based out of Hedgesville, is a collective of mostly unsigned musicians hailing from Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia who combine resources to enable artists to self-produce and self-release their music. Wild Hare Records, out of Berkeley Springs, is a small independent label specializing in rockabilly and hillbilly music. Even smaller, Morgantown's Piping Hot Records is a one-man do-it-yourself label willing to create compilation albums featuring bands without enough material for a full-length LP.
Just a couple hours west of the border, Lexington, Kentucky has a surprisingly vibrant music scene and plenty of small labels such as Hop Hop Records, the home to up-and-coming artists Idiot Glee and Matt Duncan, to go with it. Though the traditional home to bluegrass, Louisville—about an hour past Lexington—is also the home to plenty of folk and rock artists. The best of these acts, such as Ben Sollee and Lucky Pineapple, are signed to local label sonaBLAST! Records.
Originally based out of Sheperdstown, WV, Magnanimous Records moved about two hours east to Takoma Park, Maryland—just outside Washington D.C.—but maintains its roots in ambient and experimental rock and has more than 20 releases. North of the border, Pittsburgh is home to dozens of labels of all genres, such as punk-focused A-F Records, founded by the members of Anti-Flag.