Matt Fiedler remembers being surrounded by music as a child. He taught himself how to play the drums at a young age and played in bands throughout middle and high school. With two parents as entrepreneurs, Fiedler was also taught the value of hard work and the importance of building something yourself.
Both of these interests led him to Belmont University where he studied Music Business & Entrepreneurship. Two years after graduating, in 2013, he launched Vinyl Me, Please.
We maxed out our personal credit cards to get it off the ground and ended up bootstrapping the business for five years before taking any outside financing, said Fiedler. Seven years later, his company is the go-to partner for labels and artists when it comes to vinyl manufacturing and distribution.
Over the last seven years, weve built strong relationships within the music industry and that has given us access to projects nobody else has, said Fiedler. We see tremendous opportunity to become the champions of vinyl, driving growth in that format and continuing to win market share.
Fiedler is also the founder of the companys record of the month club. Our mission is to help people explore, experience and enjoy music on a deeper level, he said. We believe in the power of the album as an art form and that music serves as a form of connection.
Vinyl is a tangible representation of the music you love and brings with it a ritual Fiedler says people should not live without. We offer a full sensory experience that encourages you to deeply connect with the music youre listening to, he said. What you listen to and how you listen to it matters.
His passion for music is evident in the way he leads as well, although he admits he experienced a learning curve as a CEO. I had a fairly naïve understanding of what it meant to be a CEO, said Fiedler. My job was to find quality, talented people to surround myself with and they have been instrumental in helping me navigate the different phases of growth.
Fiedler credits his team, investors, mentors and his family for the growth of Vinyl Me, Please, a company that has been acknowledged in the Inc. 5000 twice and was selected as one of Colorados Companies to Watch. Fiedler was a runner-up for Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018 by Colorado Magazine and was recognized as one of Belmont Universitys Top 100 Entrepreneur Alumni in 2019.
We plan to continue to pursue our mission with conviction and tell our story as widely as we can, said Fiedler. His ability to lead in the vinyl music industry and build connection through music has earned Fiedler a spot as a Titan 100.
