Paper Bag Records

Paper Bag Records is a Canadian independent record label, artist management company, and music publishing company founded in 2002 and based in Toronto.

History
The label was created to focus on the Toronto-area indie rock music scene. Initial signings were Broken Social Scene and Stars with their breakthrough albums, You Forgot It in People and Heart. The label helped launch the careers of controller. controller, Tokyo Police Club, and Austra, amongst many others.

For two years, Paper Bag Records was given the title of 'Best Label' from Toronto's Now Magazine in Now's 2008 and 2009 issues. In the August 2007 issue of U.S. publication XLR8R, Paper Bag Records was voted #14 for "Best Indie Label".

Paper Bag Records launched their "Paper Bag Digital" online store in June 2008, which features their entire catalog for purchase and download in mp3 and FLAC formats.

In 2009, Trevor Larocque made significant changes to the label's identity and image. In 2011, The Toronto Star is quoted with a mention that the label is "having one of the best years of its existence" and in early 2012, Toronto's weekly paper The Grid recognized the label as a "cornerstone of Canadian music." In September 2012, CBC Radio said the Paper Bag Records "could be the most influential label in Canada". New bands joined the label including Elliott Brood, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Born Ruffians, Young Galaxy, Cuff the Duke, and PS I Love You. In 2012, the label announced that Montreal artists Tim Hecker, Moonface (Spencer Krug), Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, and The Luyas were joining its roster. Larocque would sell and leave the label in 2023 after 22 years of being involved.

The Paper Bag Records series of vinyl releases were produced in very limited quantities, each being between 300–500 copies. They were released on colored 180-gram vinyl with silk-screened artwork.

Paper Bag Records played host to the first Independent Label Market event in Canada during the NXNE 2013.

Awards and nominations
Juno Award


 * || Broken Social Scene You Forgot It in People || Alternative Album of the Year || Won
 * || Stars Heart || Alternative Album of the Year || Nominated
 * || Tokyo Police Club Cheer It On || Video of the Year || Nominated
 * || Austra Feel It Break || Electronic Album of the Year || Nominated
 * || Cuff The Duke Morning Comes || Adult Alternative Album of the Year || Nominated
 * || The Rural Alberta Advantage Stamp || Video of the Year || Nominated
 * || The Rural Alberta Advantage || New Group of the Year || Nominated
 * || Elliott BROOD Days Into Years || Roots & Traditional Album of the Year || Won
 * || Born Ruffians || Breakthrough Group of the Year || Nominated
 * || Yamantaka//Sonic Titan UZU || Alternative Album of the Year || Nominated
 * || Elliott BROOD Work And Love || Roots & Traditional Album of the Year || Nominated
 * || Sarah Neufeld The Ridge || Instrumental Album of the Year || Nominated
 * || The Rural Alberta Advantage || New Group of the Year || Nominated
 * || Elliott BROOD Days Into Years || Roots & Traditional Album of the Year || Won
 * || Born Ruffians || Breakthrough Group of the Year || Nominated
 * || Yamantaka//Sonic Titan UZU || Alternative Album of the Year || Nominated
 * || Elliott BROOD Work And Love || Roots & Traditional Album of the Year || Nominated
 * || Sarah Neufeld The Ridge || Instrumental Album of the Year || Nominated
 * || Yamantaka//Sonic Titan UZU || Alternative Album of the Year || Nominated
 * || Elliott BROOD Work And Love || Roots & Traditional Album of the Year || Nominated
 * || Sarah Neufeld The Ridge || Instrumental Album of the Year || Nominated
 * || Elliott BROOD Work And Love || Roots & Traditional Album of the Year || Nominated
 * || Sarah Neufeld The Ridge || Instrumental Album of the Year || Nominated
 * || Sarah Neufeld The Ridge || Instrumental Album of the Year || Nominated

Polaris Music Prize


 * || The Deadly Snakes Porcella || Polaris Music Prize || Nominated
 * || Austra Feel It Break || Polaris Music Prize || Nominated
 * || Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Yamantaka // Sonic Titan || Polaris Music Prize || Nominated
 * || Young Galaxy Ultramarine || Polaris Music Prize || Nominated
 * || Yamantaka // Sonic Titan UZU || Polaris Music Prize || Nominated
 * || Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Yamantaka // Sonic Titan || Polaris Music Prize || Nominated
 * || Young Galaxy Ultramarine || Polaris Music Prize || Nominated
 * || Yamantaka // Sonic Titan UZU || Polaris Music Prize || Nominated
 * || Yamantaka // Sonic Titan UZU || Polaris Music Prize || Nominated
 * || Yamantaka // Sonic Titan UZU || Polaris Music Prize || Nominated

MuchMusic Video Award


 * 2007 || Tokyo Police Club Cheer It On || Best Independent Video || Won
 * 2011 || You Say Party Lonely's Lunch || Best Independent Video || Nominated
 * 2011 || You Say Party Lonely's Lunch || Director of the Year - Sean Wainsteim || Won
 * 2011 || You Say Party Lonely's Lunch || Best Independent Video || Nominated
 * 2011 || You Say Party Lonely's Lunch || Director of the Year - Sean Wainsteim || Won
 * 2011 || You Say Party Lonely's Lunch || Director of the Year - Sean Wainsteim || Won
 * 2011 || You Say Party Lonely's Lunch || Director of the Year - Sean Wainsteim || Won
 * 2011 || You Say Party Lonely's Lunch || Director of the Year - Sean Wainsteim || Won

Plug Awards


 * rowspan="2"| 2007 || Tokyo Police Club Nature of the Experiment || Song of the Year || Nominated
 * Tokyo Police Club || New Artist of the Year || Nominated
 * rowspan="2"| 2008 || Sally Shapiro Disco Romance || Dance/Electronic Album of the Year || Nominated
 * Sally Shapiro || Female Artist of the Year || Nominated
 * rowspan="2"| 2008 || Sally Shapiro Disco Romance || Dance/Electronic Album of the Year || Nominated
 * Sally Shapiro || Female Artist of the Year || Nominated
 * Sally Shapiro || Female Artist of the Year || Nominated
 * Sally Shapiro || Female Artist of the Year || Nominated

Western Canadian Music Awards


 * 2010 || You Say Party XXXX || Rock Recording Of The Year || Won
 * 2010 || You Say Party XXXX || Rock Recording Of The Year || Won