ABOUT US

Bad Reputation is the next generation of artistic resistance. We are a creative collective and independent record label dedicated to music lovers, music makers, and the communities that connect them. Founded by Cailey Davern in 2023, Bad Reputation operates at the intersection of music, design, narrative, and underground culture, with a firm belief that real artistry doesn’t need permission. . From mixtapes to manifestos, leaks to live sessions, we build systems instead of content and treat identity as language, not commodity.

We w0rk to provide a platform for uncompromising creative expression by supporting independent artists, cultivating cross-disciplinary collaboration, and fostering authentic cultural ecosystems that resist exploitation and conformity. Our goal is to create a future where creative autonomy is protected, underground voices are amplified, and the artistic process is valued over product. Bad Reputation envisions a decentralized cultural landscape led by those who create, not those who control.

Chicago\Worldwide

Our work includes:

• Independent releases: From sonic experiments to visual statements, we release music, media, short films, essays, art objects, and limited-run capsule projects, each one crafted for impact, not clout.
• Cross-medium creative development: We don’t make "content." We build ecosystems—design, sound, text, and image working in sync to tell deeper stories. This is infrastructure for expression, not exploitation.
• Identity-building: We collaborate with artists to develop full-spectrum creative language—visual identities, design systems, personal mythologies, and world-building that resonate beyond the screen.
• Publishing without compromise: We self-publish what needs to be said—through writing, leaks, zines, and experimental formats that refuse censorship and reclaim intellectual territory.
• Artist autonomy above all: No predatory contracts. No branding dilution. No yes-men. Our mission is to protect and amplify the voices of those doing the real work, on their own terms.

To submit contact: Cailey Davern at badreputationrecords@gmail.com