Fake News

AFTER 25 YEARS, FAKE CHAPTER RECORDS IS AS REAL AS IT GETS By Kevin Czerwinski

Mike Gilligan was always drawn to music. Whether it was the result of being influenced by his three older siblings or because he grew up in the late 80s and early 90s listening to a whole host of indie bands that were dominating the music scene, the Maywood native and Hackensack High graduate was certain that his future was in the music industry.

So, it wasn’t a surprise to those who knew him when he launched his own music label as a freshman at Rowan University. Gilligan, 44, created Fake Chapter Records in his South Jersey dorm room never really thinking of what it might turn out to be. The label, however, marked its 25th anniversary last year and Gilligan honored the occasion on Nov. 11, the anniversary of his first release, by issuing a retrospective compilation entitled The First 25 Years.

Fake Chapter Records has released more than 60 records between that first release and the anniversary compilation highlighted by including performances by artists such as Arms and Sleepers, Thirsty Curses, The Nuclears, The Art of Soul, Miles Hunt and Green to Think.

“When I was a teen in the early 90s there was a real boom in the music industry,” Gilligan said. “Indie labels were at their peak and at the time I as consumed by it all. Alt rock was a big part of my life. I love punk, classical, electronic; I have an open mind about all types of music. I have about five or six thousand CDs. I just try to collect anything that is of interest.”

“I can’t say when it all happened. For some naïve reason during my freshman year of college I started a record label. I had no bands whatsoever and I think my first release was a cassette tape of my roommate’s younger brother’s high school band. I definitely had nobody and those first few years it was me releasing anybody who wanted to do anything with me. After a while I signed a band to a contract and had the normal life cycle of a band and a record label. My first official band was maybe four or five years in. My first few years were just compilation CDs. Green to Think was my first real proper band release.”

Arms and Sleepers, an electronic duo, represent the biggest group Fake Chapter has worked with, at least in terms of record sales, according to Gilligan, with several million streams per year. Green to Think has also been a big seller while Mr. Steve and Miss Kate’s “Clean Up Song,” a children’s record, has more than one million streams on Spotify. Gilligan also wrote Sex, Drugs and Cubicles, a book about the humorous side of running a record label and his former day job at Sony Music.

Gilligan was in charge of royalties for artists and producers while at Sony and now works for a company that implements royalty software. He is currently working with Hasbro to implement the software for games such as Monopoly.

“The good thing about running a label is that you can

control your time,” said Gilligan, who lives in Scotch Plains and is married with two children. “I used to do five releases a year when I was in my 20s. Last year I did two and I have one lined up for this year so I can control it. I still work a pretty heavy schedule. I work all day, do the kid thing, hang out with my wife and then go online around 10:30, 11 o’clock [for the label]. I’m still putting in 10-hour a week on it.”

which frequently ranks high on best burger Fake Chapter’s original name was lists. actually Chapter 11 Records. Gilligan thought it was funny and went about Being Bergen County’s most ethnically forming a corporation the correct and legal way. It wasn’t long after diverse community is an aspect of Hackensack that the Alliance has no desire to change, said Hekemian.he formed his company, though, that he began receiving letters from the “We’re not trying to fit something in that real Chapter 11 in California. doesn’t belong. It’s appropriate development within the appropriate district of “They were a punk label and they Hackensack,” he said. told me to go away, they have the name, get lost,” Gilligan said. “So, But, he said, what they are trying to do is I legally changed the name. So, I “change the perception of Hackensack” guess I am the Fake Chapter 11. The from stagnant to thriving. name has no real meaning but I do love it. It fits for some reason.” That’s why the Alliance is in the midst of a marketing push to accompany the billions of dollars worth of new development Gilligan said he doesn’t have a white underway – an effort that included the whale in terms of a group he’d like unveiling of a new nickname, The SACK, to sign. Rather, he says he simply earlier this year. enjoys collaborating with artists that “need to find a home.” According to Hekemian, longtime residents have used the nickname “The “There are so many records out there SACK” before and the Alliance hopes where, if I didn’t come into play, reviving the buzzy nickname will make the they wouldn’t have been released,” he said. “Musicians are in a weird city more attractive to potential residents, visitors and business owners. place. Unless they are very huge, “All of the sudden, it was a topic of discusthey won’t get label support. To me, sion at dinner tables,” he said. “That’s not that’s what I look for now. When I a bad thing.” find that group it’s a “Yes, I brought this to the world” kind of thing. “Hackensack has a great canvas, but it’s not a blank one,” Hekemian said. “We’ve “My goal is to help artists succeed. If got to make this canvas the best we can they reach a level where they move and be stewards of change. We can’t just onto another company that is fully want and do wholesale change in the dissupported. I don’t see a reason why trict. We have to work with stakeholders.” I can’t do this for another 25 years As for the future of The SACK, that can be and another 60 releases. I’ve already summed up with the new anthem cry that gone on in a different way and I’m is being showcased all over this vibrant sure I can go through many more area of the city –You Up For Downtown? different ways. It’s something I love to do and I’ve had success with it so why stop.”