Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Daniel Odom. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Daniel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
When I was 10 years old I made Big & Tall Records™ as a joke. What began as a childhood jest has evolved into the cornerstone of my professional life. I conceived Big & Tall Records™—a name initially penned as a simple, irreverent joke. Armed with a cheap PC microphone and an unstoppable curiosity, I began a journey of self-teaching. I pieced together the fundamentals of music, painstakingly learning the piano, drums, and guitar. Under the banner of this nascent, joke-of-a-label, I released a catalogue of early, admittedly “horrible little songs.”
At the age of twenty I decided to study music professionally, and decided to officially launch the site https://bigandtallrecords.com/ As I matured, the joke transformed. The initial creative spark proved to be a lasting fire. I didn’t just retain the name; I built a legitimate empire around it. Today, I am the legal, international owner of the trademarks Big & Tall Records™ and Big & Tall Films™. This brand is my legacy. I’ve taken the necessary steps to ensure that this company, which began as a whim, will endure—with formal paperwork in place to be inherited by my future children. The punchline, it seems, will be death itself, but the company’s song will continue. I’ve poured my entire life in to this label and it’s artists. And it will be my namesake.
Jokes aside, my love for this company is absolute. I wouldn’t change a single moment of the arduous, creative path I’ve walked. I have the profound privilege of waking up every day to work creatively and make a living—a reality that millions only dream of.
I am immensely grateful and blessed to share my inspiration with the world. My journey—from a literal “hole in the desert” to a life in Hollywood, high up with my own record label and film company—is proof that the most outlandish dreams are often the ones most worth chasing. I hope my story inspires others to embrace their own inner ten-year-old, turn their wildest joke into a powerful reality, and build a life around the work they truly love. And you too could be the most baddest.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Big & Tall Records™ https://bigandtallrecords.com/ began as a childhood joke, but it has transformed into a full-scale assault on the corporate greed and systemic control of the music industry. I am the founder, a self-taught musician and producer who built this company to give artists the power, the profit, and the freedom they deserve, rejecting the long-standing industry model of exploitation.
We are fundamentally artist-first. We believe the lie of digital freedom has trapped artists tighter than ever, and we built our model to break those chains. We offer totally open contracts with no hidden terms, ensuring artists are the sole proprietor and owner of everything created during their tenure with us; your music assets will never be the property of Big & Tall Records. There are no traps: artists can terminate their contract and take their music with them anytime, easily facilitated in a matter of hours. You only pay us a small cut from tracks created in-house, and only as long as you need us.
Our commitment to artist control is backed by technical advantage. Our direct partnerships with platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music allow for next-day distribution and grant artists an unprecedented 100% control of their digital presentation (masters and metadata) on all DSPs. Crucially, Big & Tall Records will never censor. We are a safe haven for all protected speech, rejecting the industry practice of forcing artists into a political or commercial narrative—the very practice that leads to voices being shadow banned, as happened to us when major platforms suppressed all visibility of Big & Tall Records for challenging the status quo.
We offer everything a traditional label provides—from elite studios equipped with Neve and SSL consoles to expert-level production—but we do the exact opposite of every predatory practice. Unlike labels that incur massive debt for artists or control their estates until death, we invest our own resources transparently and empower the artist. Big & Tall Records™ is not just a label; it’s a commitment to wealth and freedom for the greatest minds of our time. We are The most baddest™ and we are the future.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I was a successful touring drummer and professional musician for 10 years, Travelled the world and toured with many groups. I also had a very successful career as a film score artist, and producer. But there came that fateful moment when I decided to actually become Big & Tall Records™. When I decided that this is what I had to do. And there was no turning back. It felt like I was taking a small dingy out in to the ocean. With a couple of oars and a few cans of tuna I set out across the ocean to find my fortune. The trip has been long and difficult and the journey itself has almost sunk my enterprise more times than I can count. But at 40 years old I am still going strong and have a stronger following than I’ve ever had. And got some real people listening to my approach to the industry. I landed a partnership with big distribution that is indie focused and aligns with the values of Big & Tall Records™ at Fuga. And I work with hundreds of artists officially and unofficially constantly developing talent and being a voice of inspiration for young artists. https://bigandtallrecords.com/
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
The Holy Bible – God, Striking Thoughts – Bruce Lee, The War of Art – Steven Pressfield, Dune Series – Frank Herbert,
Artistic work for me is inherently a spiritual endeavor. So I’m always looking for the spirit that inspires me to greater heights.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bigandtallrecords.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigandtallrecords/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPTqbI1LGHkFhZ2GpezaicQ
Image Credits
Daniel Odom