Passeri Records offers a vision for the future of the music industry, one built by artists, FOR artists rather than at their expense. And we need your help to do it.

passeri: proper noun 

pas·ser·i (puh-SAIR-ee): a taxonomic suborder within the order Passeriformes - composed of very many songbirds

We will serve as an incubator for emerging talent. By partnering with us, artists will hone their creative vision with the help of our team of dedicated, talented, and experienced independent artists. We will help devise and produce each artist's first major project including professional recordings and visuals, building a roster until Passeri Records is “composed of very many songbirds.”

What artists are up against:

Surprisingly, one of the biggest roadblocks artists face in building a sustainable career is the record labels. Emerging talents are lured in with grand studio advances and multi-album deals, but in turn find themselves locked into extremely one-sided contracts. These deals force artists to sign away, on average, 80% of their generated revenue, creative control, and ownership of their masters. Even if their projects take off, they are unlikely to receive significant financial compensation and are unable to renegotiate the conditions of their contract.

How Passeri Records is different:

We are founded and run by artists. Therefore, we keep the best interests of our talent at the heart of what we do. Due to the technological advances in the past ten years and our team’s collective skill and experience, we are able to create industry-ready music and visuals for a relatively low cost. This allows us to operate under an equitable business model where artists retain ownership and creative control.

Every contract will be for a single project. This will run from when artists join the label until the album is distributed. Re-signing with Passeri for future projects will be at the artist’s discretion. The profits that come from this album will be distributed according to a much more equitable pay model. Merchandising, touring, and social media will remain the domain of musicians unless they otherwise request support in those departments.

Roadmap/where the money is going directly

We're in the process of finishing my debut album. I’ve built Passeri Records as a team of incredibly talented independent artists, and I am contributing $8k of my own money to finance the project. We’re looking for $12k more to make it happen. Your donations will help cover recording costs, music video production costs, and marketing and distribution. We’re going to prove it is possible to produce and distribute high quality music without the restrictive confines of a traditional label.

Typically a project of this scale would cost at least $75,000 with some label’s budgets exceeding $500,000 per project. With the team we’ve built, we will be able to produce and release a professional-level and market-ready product for $20k.

We’re going to use this album as a proof of concept for Passeri Records. When we find success here, we will be able to use the same process to help other emerging artists make a strong first leap into the industry while retaining creative control, ownership of their music, and the freedom and agency to choose what direction they take next. 

Any additional funds exceeding our goal will become seed money for the next project/new artists.

Meet the Team:

Peter DiMaggio

is a passionate actor and multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter/composer. After graduating from Boston University with his BFA in Acting, Peter has found a home in the Boston theatre, film, and music scenes. Peter also scores for film, most recently composing original music for The Fairy House (Another Age Productions). The soundtrack is now available to stream wherever you listen to music! He also has a single out on said platforms right now. As an actor, he has been working consistently on stage in Boston at Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Wheelock Family Theatre, and the LIl’ Chuck at the Charles Playhouse since graduating. You can currently catch him in Shit-faced Shakespeare’s production of Hamlet in downtown Boston through the end of April. Peter has also taken part in a myriad of short film projects over the past year and a half; one of which, Shampoo (2024), picked up a win at last year’s Boston Indie Film Festival. It is this wide range of experience that has allowed Peter to build the network of talented independent artists who are helping make Passeri Records a reality.

Nettie Milburn

is a passionate producer and Boston University graduate, originally from Rhode Island. During her time at BU, she honed her craft by working on a variety of university-affiliated short films. From directing adrenaline-fueled all-nighter music videos to producing an atmospheric horror film set on a lake, Annette discovered her true calling in collaborating with talented creatives to bring ambitious visions to life.Currently, she navigates the dynamic world of filmmaking by balancing work on union sets with freelance projects, further refining her skills and expanding her network. Looking ahead, Annette aspires to channel her creativity and expertise into producing films at an independent production company, where she can continue turning bold ideas into compelling stories.

Jonathan Oliviera

is a Brazilian-American filmmaker/Producer based in Queens, New York. I have a BFA from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Film. Since graduating in May 2024, I’ve produced and directed music videos, produced short films and have interned at both the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

Raphaël Edwards

is an award winning cinematographer, who works primarily on music videos, commercials and documentaries in New York and Boston. His work has received recognitions from festivals such as the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards, the Directors Guild Awards and the St Louis International Film Festival. His passion for evoking emotions through lighting and camera work started in Paris, where he grew up. He went on to graduate from Boston University with a degree in Film and since then has been freelancing across the East Coast.

Grace Roden

Grace Roden is an East Coast-based creative director, intimacy coordinator, and screenwriter. A Boston University graduate, she blends her passion for aesthetics with a sharp storytelling sensibility. Writer and Creative Director of Miss Fortune (2022), which earned Best Student Film at the Ridgewood International Film Festival, Critics Choice at the Iowa Independent Film Festival, and multiple other accolades across six international film festivals. With two years of experience in Acquisitions and Development at A24, she brings a keen eye for storytelling and narrative depth to her visual work. She is also completing certification as an intimacy coordinator, dedicated to fostering safe, respectful, and artistically authentic environments on set. Her extensive background in the art department informs her meticulous approach to design, drawing her to only the most visually compelling projects.

Charlie Burket

Charlie Burket is a multi-instrumentalist and producer from Boston MA, formerly Rochester, MN. He plays and writes music in Ringpop! and plays live with Park National and Kieran Rhodes. He has an extensive and diverse resume in production, engineering, mixing, mastering, and session work. He also does assistant engineering work for Brett Romnes out of The Barbershop Studios, and does mixing and mastering work for Zach Zurn of Carpet Booth Studios. He has a dual degree in music production and performance from Berklee College of Music, and was awarded scholarships from both departments.

When producing, writing, and playing for other artists, Charlie strives to achieve a greater understanding of artistic intent and identity with the artist. Every song brings something new to the table, and Charlie ensures that after a project leaves his desk, he’s given it the greatest possible sense of clarity in its messaging. He strives to ensure that the listener, the artist, and himself are all experiencing music the way they love to experience it when listening to the work.