It seems like only last year we started this endeavor, but we celebrated our 3rd year this last February! The last four months have - without a doubt - been the most busy months of our time here. Please take the time to go through this message as we have alot of information to catch up on.

*New Materials and Equipment - We are very pleased to announce a great improvement in our ability to manufacture CDs. We are now using double-sided glossy inserts, Diamond CDRs (also known as True Silver CDRs where the CD is nearly indistinguishable from pressed CDs), a new hi-res (2880 DPI) printer, and new non-smear, non-water soluble inks.

*Account Remittance - If you haven't received your profit check for last year, please let us know so we can get a replacement out to you. If you have had trouble cashing your check, we can make other arrangements to pay you, just shoot us an email.

*Artist List - We have added a number of very talented new artists: Scott Mosher, Hess, Karys/Spillberg, Vanishment, Agressor, Smoking The Century Away, Ivan Bertolla, Collaboration Element, and Richard Baysinger. We welcome all of you!

*2002 First Quarter Sales Summary - The new year has taken off like a shot, more than making up for the poor showing from the last six months of last year. With the large number of artists we have now, these orders have been spread fairly evenly across the board with a number of return customers.

*Retail Distribution - We have initiated retail distribution with a German label, Rising Sun Records. We have been working frantically to manufacture 200 CDs ordered by them and are nearly finished. If you are interested in submitting a copy of your CD to them for consideration, please contact us. The arrangement we have with them is a material trade (ie. for your CDs, we'll receive copies of a new artist; profits from the sale of the new artist, will go to your account).

*Price Cuts for Members: Compilation CDs will be priced at 50% of their retail value for Fossil Members. Additionally, if you are interested in purchasing a fellow member’s CD, you may do so at a 20% discount. Postage and handling prices will be based upon actual shipping cost and not a blanket amount. Let us know by email if you are interested in making a purchase and we will debit your account instead of going through the online credit card processing.

*UPC Symbols: In an attempt to make the monopolistic and expensive (company codes now start at $750!) UPC symbols available to all, Fossil Records is issuing symbols to its members at $10 for each title. Non-members may also request a UPC, but the cost is $40 for each title. If you are interested in a UPC symbol for any of your merchandise, please contact us.

*Promotions: We are pleased to announce our latest affiliation with Prog4You.com. We will soon be requesting submissions from artists to send materials to Prog4You.com and other sites and magazines. Those requests will come in later mailings.

As always, thanks to all! If you ever feel that there is a problem that needs to be addressed, don’t hesitate to contact me directly. If you have any suggestions that will make Fossil a better organization, please let us know.  If I fail to get to your email messages within a couple of days please be patient as we are finishing the Rising Sun order and manufacturing new releases. In addition, we will be working on new advertising, new compilations, and promotional mailings when we've completed the aforementioned projects.

We hope you are all well and please keep the suggestions and great music coming!