| Name:
Reiko Kondo
Music Label Owner
Downtown girl: Reiko Kondo arrived in L.A. from Japan two decades ago to study English but fell into hosting art shows in her downtown loft, eventually producing music videos and car commercials. Hello, indie: In 1999, a musician friend, Mario Hernandez, who performs under the name From Bubblegum to Sky, was looking for a new label. Eenie Meenie Records was born later that year, when Kondo released “Hello, Hello, Hi,” a vinyl single by the indie-pop artist. It sold 1,500 copies—peanuts by industry standards and yet a success in Kondo’s eyes. “Most people love horrible music. But there are so many amazing musicians on this planet. I just want to share them with others.” Greatest hits: Her imprint has been a launching pad for pop-rock bands from Silver Lake indie scene, such as Irving, Great Northern, and Division Day. Groove tube: Kondo has helped get music by L.A.’s Blue-Eyed Sonon on Grey’s Anatomy and San Francisco’s Scissors for Lefty on Reaper and Kyle Xy. “There are more opportunities for promotion today than when I started, but it’s still more difficult to break a band now.”