Baseball and punk music. Two of America’s greatest past-times… Well, not really, but you get the idea. People love sports. People love music. So, the next time you’re thinking about starting a music label, maybe it’s not a bad idea to turn to the local baseball scene.
This is exactly what Boston-enthusiast and entrepreneur Chris Wrenn did nearly 30 years ago when he was in college. And this is the story he shares with us in his new book, Fenway Punk: How a Boston Indie Label Scored Big on Baseball’s Greatest Rivalry.
Out February 10, Fenway Punk: How a Boston Indie Label Scored Big on Baseball’s Greatest Rivalry explores one of the most ultimate side hustles that anyone could ever have in order to make it big. We all know that nothing in life gets handed to you, especially in the music business. Everyone starts from somewhere, and everyone has to pay their dues. In Wrenn’s case, his dues were in the form of actual money in order to pay for his indie record label, Bridge Nine.
He networked, he built strong bonds with local bands, and he embraced the DIY mentality of the time. There was just one problem: How would he generate the funds for Bridge Nine? This is where Fenway Park, home of the Boxton Red Sox, comes into play. As the New York Yankees and the Red Sox faced off over the years, the phrase, “Yankees Suck!” became a common expression shouted at every game. Wrenn and his friends noticed this, and formed an answer to their money problem.
A thrilling and inspiring book that gets into the ins and outs of starting a business—particularly a successful record label—Fenway Punk will captivate both music and sports fans alike. Readers will learn how Wrenn and his crew were able to enjoy “six-figure summers” from their ingenious efforts, enabling the start of Bridge Nine and his Boston merch brand, Sully’s. They will also learn about the history of Bridge Nine and the over 300 recordings the label went on to release. After reading Fenway Punk, you will be ready to make a home run in the baseball world, the punk world, or whatever world inspires you to build your own brand.
You can pre-order a copy of Fenway Punk: How a Boston Indie Label Scored Big on Baseball’s Greatest Rivalry by Chris Wrenn, out February 10, here.
Learn more about Chris Wrenn here.
