Matt Lunsford

Matt Lunsford is the President and Co-Founder of Polyvinyl Records, an independent record label based in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. He co-founded the label in 1996 with his wife, Darcie Knight, after dropping out of college to pursue their passion for music. Initially, they started with a self-published fanzine called Polyvinyl Press in 1994, which focused on the Midwest indie music scene. Over time, their involvement evolved into releasing music, starting with a split 7" in 1995 and eventually forming Polyvinyl Records in 1996.123

Under Lunsford's leadership, Polyvinyl Records has become a prominent indie label, known for its artist-friendly approach and 50/50 profit-sharing model. The label has released over 400 albums by more than 100 artists, including notable acts like Alvvays, American Football, Braid, Deerhoof, Japandroids, Jay Som, of Montreal, Pedro the Lion, and STRFKR.12 Lunsford is committed to maintaining Polyvinyl as a 100% independently owned company, with a staff of over 20 people across the U.S..14

Lunsford's passion for music and his DIY ethos have been instrumental in shaping Polyvinyl's success and its reputation as a supportive environment for artists. He resides in Champaign, Illinois, with his wife and three sons.1 His LinkedIn profile can be found under the username mattlunsford.1