Home for music and performance in every form. By artists, for artists.
AFO Music is an independent record label built on one principle: artists keep control of their work. We do not take masters. We do not hide fees. We do not use recoupment traps. If the music is honest and original, it belongs here and stays with the creator.
Our model is simple. Artists keep ownership. AFO Music handles the heavy lifting — publishing, registration, royalty tracking, mechanicals, licensing, distribution, and production support — while the artist keeps the majority of the revenue. We only participate in a fair, clearly defined share of earnings. No surprises. No fine print games. If the project succeeds, everyone moves forward together.
AFO Music is shaped directly by the work of its founder, Dr. John Horgeshimer, a BMI writer and publisher with a doctorate in music theory and composition. Almost no label in the country is led by someone with that level of musical depth. John has built ensembles, mentored performers, written across genres, run jazz festivals, produced concerts, and understands the technical and expressive center of a musician’s sound. His role is not just administrative. He acts as an artistic developer and sonic architect, helping shape the work before it reaches the microphone. Artists don’t get industry jargon. They get a trained composer and theorist shaping the music with them.
These roots connect to the broader work of DGL Artists™ but expand into a label model built for long-term stability. Partnership replaces ownership. Transparency replaces guesswork. The artist’s voice stays the focus.
Current AFO Music Projects
• A re-release of the historic 1973 Mike Vax Big Band album featuring alto saxophonist Art Pepper.
• A re-issue of the 2021 Mark Hynes Trio recording with upgraded visibility and distribution.
• A Vinnie & the Hitmen project re-imagining the music of Megadeth through the band’s own lens.
AFO Music is more than a label. It is a place where artistry has room to breathe and where creator rights are protected, not promised.
AFO Music is the publishing and production arm of DGLevatEd™
AFO Music is the publishing and production arm that supports the artists connected to DGLevatEd™.
We handle the full pipeline for those artists — publishing, recording, printing, royalties tracking, licensing, and production. AFO Music and DGLevatEd™ work in the same artistic ecosystem, but maintain separate financial structures. The connection is mission-driven: the same artists who inspire students through DGLevatEd™ build their recorded work through AFO Music. Growth in one strengthens visibility in the other without mixing funds or revenue.
Explore more: