Bar/None Records Founder Glenn Morrow Transfers Ownership to Emmy Black

Longtime employee Black takes over the legendary indie label based in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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After 40 years at the helm of Bar/None Records, founder Glenn Morrow has transferred ownership of the Hoboken, New Jersey-based indie label to longtime employee Emmy Black. Black, who first joined Bar/None as an intern in 2008, has signed acts like The Front Bottoms and will now oversee the label's operations going forward, with former label manager Mike Sansevere assisting her. Morrow will stay on as a consultant and retain a financial stake in the label he helped turn into a hub for quirky, guitar-driven indie rock over the past four decades.

Why it matters

Bar/None Records has long been a cornerstone of the vibrant Hoboken music scene, helping to establish the city as a hub for indie and alternative rock acts. The label's transition to new ownership under Emmy Black, who has worked her way up from intern to label head, represents a changing of the guard and the continuation of Bar/None's legacy as a champion of independent, left-of-center artists.

The details

Black, who previously worked at The Orchard and royalty platform eddy.app in addition to running her own imprint Rhyme & Reason, has been with Bar/None since 2024, handling everything from back-office duties to A&R. She will now take over the day-to-day operations of the three-person label, which has released albums by acts like They Might Be Giants, Freedy Johnston, Yo La Tengo, and Juliana Hatfield over the past four decades under Morrow's leadership.

  • Bar/None Records was founded in 1986 by Tom Prendergast, co-owner of the Hoboken record store Pier Platters.
  • Glenn Morrow, whose band Rage to Live released the label's first album, subsequently became Prendergast's partner and then the sole owner of Bar/None.
  • Emmy Black first joined Bar/None as an intern in 2008.
  • Black returned to Bar/None in 2024 after working at other music industry companies.
  • The ownership transfer from Morrow to Black took place in February 2026.

The players

Glenn Morrow

The founder of Bar/None Records, who has led the label for the past 40 years.

Emmy Black

The new owner of Bar/None Records, who first joined the label as an intern in 2008 and has now taken over its operations.

Tom Prendergast

The co-owner of the Hoboken record store Pier Platters, who founded Bar/None Records in 1986.

Mike Sansevere

The former label manager of Bar/None Records, who will assist the new owner Emmy Black in overseeing the label's operations.

Mark Lipsitz

The CEO of Bar/None Records, who passed away last year.

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What they’re saying

“Bar/None has always been a special place. It's been a home for artists who have unique visions and want to make one-of-a-kind music. It's a label that bucked trends and found so many great songs along the way. As a teenager I listened to many Bar/None artists. I'm excited to have the opportunity to shape the label that shaped me.”

— Emmy Black, New Owner, Bar/None Records (Billboard)

“After 40 years in this business, it feels good to hand things off to someone who really gets it. Emmy's got the ears, the instincts, and most importantly, the heart for this work. Her enthusiasm was always infectious and inspiring and I'm so happy she wants to take this on.”

— Glenn Morrow, Founder, Bar/None Records (Billboard)

What’s next

One of the new regime's first releases under Emmy Black's leadership will be the third album from Glenn Morrow's current band, Cry For Help, titled "Our Final Album Vol. 1".

The takeaway

The transition of Bar/None Records to new ownership under longtime employee Emmy Black represents the passing of the torch at one of indie music's most storied and influential labels, ensuring the Hoboken institution's legacy will continue to shape the sound of left-of-center rock for years to come.