Joe Steinhardt

Joe Steinhardt is the owner of Don Giovanni Records, a label that he co-founded in 2003. Initially, their intent was to document the independent music scene then emerging from New Brunswick, New Jersey. However, the label’s focus has since broadened to include a geographically diverse community of artists. It has also released formative works by nationally recognized groups like Mitski, Waxahatchee, Kari Faux, Screaming Females, Moor Mother, Native American Music Award “Best Artist” winner Keith Secola, and Holy Modal Rounders founder, Peter Stampfel, as well as the comedian Chris Gethard.

Don Giovanni Records remains committed to furthering alternative culture and independent values, providing resources for artists who prefer to work outside of the mainstream music industry.

In 2016, Steinhardt founded and curated the New Alternative Music Festival, a two day concert held at New Jersey’s Asbury Park Convention Hall. NAMF was an intentional event, gathering a bill composed entirely of musicians acting without ties to major labels or corporate distribution.

Steinhardt studied at Boston University and earned a Ph.D. in communication at Cornell. He currently resides in Philadelphia, where he is an Assistant Professor at Drexel University’s Music Industry Program.