KiTalbum Lands at Licorice Pizza: LA’s Iconic Record Store Embraces a New Collectible Format — and the DIY Artists Behind It
This is a story about a legendary vinyl shop, a new music format, and how indie artists are carving out space for themselves in the physical music market, which is only gaining more traction with younger generations around the globe. Licorice Pizza — the iconic LA record store — is teaming up with KiTbetter to bring “KiTalbums” to retail shelves, sitting side-by-side with vinyl and cassettes. These pocket-sized collectibles unlock exclusive digital content and Dolby Atmos audio in the KiTbetter app, combining the tactile magic of old-school album culture with modern technology. Think of it like the evolution of HitClips, but made for today’s artists and fans with the best of today’s technology.
What makes this story especially meaningful for indie and DIY artists: this retail partnership is only possible because of KiTbetter’s new DIY Platform, which gives artists the ability to design, fund, and release their own KiTalbums without needing a major label deal. Artists can now create physical products that not only tell their story but also provide a more sustainable income than streams ever could provide for indie artists.
A perfect example is Frankie Clarke, longtime Licorice Pizza team member, daughter of Guns N’ Roses’ Gilby Clarke, and frontwoman of glam-punk breakout Frankie and the Studs. Thanks to the DIY Platform, Frankie was able to bring her debut Life’s a Glitch (including a cover of “Venus” with Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong) into the world as a KiTalbum, launching right in the store where she works. For artists like Frankie, KiTbetter’s DIY tools open up a real pathway to fans, collectibility, and revenue.
Both Licorice Pizza owner (and Grammy-winning producer) Kerry Brown and KiTbetter President/CMO Jennifer Sullivan are ecstatic about this futuristic-retro partnership. DIY and independent artists are central to the future of physical music the KiTbetter DIY Platform gives artists tools to release their own KiTalbums, with more financial upside than streaming. Physical spaces and places like Licorice Pizza are essential for building real-life fan communities in a digital world.