Megan Louise Doyle was introduced to me by a coworker but I’d noticed her eye catching vinyl photos before then on the Italians Do It Better (IDIB) Instagram.  Also, being Italian I very much appreciate a label with a name like that.

Megan Louise is president of the music label IDIB & band member of Desire.  She is always out attending random concerts in LA, surfing in Malibu, and taking hip hop dance classes “…even if I can’t dance!”; in her work life though, she’s helping keep vinyl on your shelves.

How did you get into your industry / What motivated you?

In 2004 I opened a recording studio with 4 jam spaces in Montreal to accommodate the growing need in the music scene there.  By 2006 I was the co-owner of a small live venue called Zoobizarre in Montreal where we hosted bands from Chromatics, and Glass Candy to James Murphy, Peaches & Justice.  In 2008 I met Johnny Jewel who had just started his label Italians Do It Better & I started doing the royalty accounting and slowly made my way to being the president of the record label today! I guess you can say what motivated me to “get into it” was my love and passion for the indie music world & the endless opportunities you encounter in a DIY environment working with inspiring artists. Anything is possible if you can dream it!

What is a day in the life like?

Wake up as early as possible to catch up with the UK (being located in LA the time difference can be brutal). Reply to a couple dozen emails that came in during the night. I do everything from syncs, royalty accounting, invoicing, following up with production (vinyl, CD), making sure our digital platforms (Spotify, Apple, Tidal, etc) have the new releases set up for playlist placement, make rounds on social media answering emails/messages, posting content to meeting with the bands on the label to discuss upcoming releases/tour planning/artwork/video/press photos. I then can help produce the photoshoot, tours, videos etc… It’s a full hands kind of of job! I love being a part of all the steps.

What has been your favorite / the coolest thing you’ve worked on?

Working on the new Chromatics album “Dear Tommy” it’s a completely incredible project I can’t wait to share with the world.

What has been / is the most difficult part of your job?

Letting go when things are out of my control.  I am a control freak and like to know everything is running smoothly and in order! Sometimes you just have to wait….

What advice do you have for someone wanting to get into pursuing what you’re doing?

The best way to learn about the music industry is to work in it. Intern & assist to start with and make your way up learning everything from performance royalties to vinyl weight. I am always learning something new & asking questions. Reach out to people you respect in the industry and keep following up|telling them why you want to work for them and why… After 2-3 emails you will get a reply. 😉

Yes! I am a sucker for soundtracks. The Virgin Suicides is a favorite of mine. I love discovering different artwork editions & the simple pleasure of listening to side A and then turning it over to side B. You get the full experience when listening to a record as opposed to the digital stream. Italians Do It Better has released over 100 records & they are all part of my collection. I keep a storage vault with 3-4 copies of every single release we have ever done (per color, per edition).

What types of things are happening in your industry / with vinyl that you’re excited or worried about? i.e. innovation, or trends you’re seeing.

I am thrilled that so many people are appreciating vinyl these days. We have always produced vinyl but we are distributing worldwide more than ever. People are getting more and more experimental with the color combos which is fun!

Anything else you want to share?

Very excited to share the new crop of artists coming out on Italians Do It Better in 2019!! Beacon by Tess Roby & Windswept/Themes For Television by Johnny Jewel we’re highlights of 2018.

Find Megan Louise:

Instagram: @desire_megan | @italiansdoitbetter

Twitter: @primitivedesire | @IDIB

Website: Italians Do It Better