Indie Labels Go Hard With Charity Drives To Combat Donald Trump's Ascent To President

Multiple independent labels in the United States are rallying behind disadvantaged and marginalised segments of the community in the wake of Donald Trump bagging himself a tenancy at the White House, with a strong focus on charitable initiatives emerging in the days following the US election.

Veteran punk label Fat Wreck Chords is dusting off its old "Not My President" T-shirt, which it first unveiled in protest of George W. Bush's eight-year run as commander-in-chief, with a rejigged design to reflect Trump's reign, alongside a "Not My Fucking President" variant.

All proceeds from the shirts — for the next four years — "will be donated to organizations working to combat whatever bullshit policies this scumbag attempts to perpetrate on our country and the world", the label explained.

Boston-based favourite Run For Cover Records — home to acts such as Modern Baseball, Crying, Lifted Bells, Pinegrove, Pity Sex, Self Defense Family, Elvis Depressedly and a bunch of other awesome artists — also put on its goodwill cap, advising that its full digital catalog will be available for 'pay what you want' prices at its Bandcamp page across this weekend.

The proceeds from the weekend's sale will be donated to Planned Parenthood — at risk of being defunded as a result of the election outcome — with the label committing to match those donations up to US$5000 (about $6580).

Additionally, small but golden-hearted Seattle up-and-comer Whelmed Records released a statement from its founders conveying solidarity with their "friends and family members that are living in fear today", highlighting links to causes such as Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. 

Meanwhile, veteran Detroit label FIT Sound — in a show of support with "all our brothers, sisters and freaks whose world also feels darker today" —  also went the pay-what-you-want-and-donate-the-proceeds route, also choosing Planned Parenthood as its designated recipient.

It's not solely companies making the effort, either; as the Detroit Metro Times reports, local noise outfit Wolf Eyes — who inspired FIT Sound to join the movement — are also donating 100% of their Bandcamp sales to "progressive causes".