No Records was a record label and later record distributor that operated in Halifax, Nova Scotia from January 1993 to August 2004. The record label/distributor was started by Waye Mason who continues to play a key role in the operations of the Halifax Pop Explosion. Started during the beginning of the "Halifax is the Seattle of the north craze" of the 1990s, No released cassettes by such notables as Chaz Rules, Hip Club Groove, Essen, Donner Party Reunion, and Stinkin' Rich who later performed as Buck 65. In 1996 the label started releasing CDs, the first of which was by power pop band the Grace Babies, and most successful of which was Cool Blue Halo. The late 90s and early 21st century saw the label release several critically well received CDs by artists such as the famous Toronto group Len, Strawberry, Vancouver's Readymade and Dusty Sorbet. The company created a sister imprint, Cease and Desist in 2000 to release some albums orphaned by the collapse of Marc Costanzo of Len's Four Ways to Rock record label. Albums by DJs Mr Dibbs, DJ Signify and later rapper and producers Sixtoo were released internationally under this moniker.
Unable to obtain high quality retail distribution, the company created No Distribution Limited to distribute both their own and other labels records across Canada and internationally in 1997. This ambitious plan included developing the first online record store for independent music in Canada and at one point included a storefront shop in Halifax. The plan was far too ambitious, and in 2004 the store closed & the company went out of business due to low sales, leaving several artists and labels unpaid and unable to meet unsecured contractual obligations.
