KiTbetter and Earache Records Launch New Way to Collect Rock & Metal Albums

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 25, 2025) – KiTbetter, the company behind the innovative hybrid format known as the KiTalbum, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with legendary UK-based independent label Earache Records. Starting in April 2025, Earache will launch chart-eligible albums in collaboration with the Official Charts Company (OCC), becoming the first European label outside of K-pop to adopt the format at scale.

KiT, short for “Keep In Touch,” offers a new way for fans to engage with music. Each KiTalbum pairs beautifully packaged collectibles like photo cards and album credits with premium digital content, including high-quality audio, music videos, and fan community access via the KiTplayer app. With over 9 million units sold worldwide, KiTbetter is expanding its genre reach with this groundbreaking collaboration with Earache.

In recent years, KiTbetter has partnered with a diverse range of global artists across rock and alternative music including Filter, Korean rock legends YB, Weezer, and even a limited-edition coffin-shaped KiTalbum for Duran Duran’s gothic-tinged Danse Macabre. This new partnership with Earache builds on that momentum, expanding the format to a full label roster deeply rooted in the rock, metal, and alternative scenes.

“KiTalbums are the format for our times,” said Tim Bailey, Head of Label at Earache Records, in a recent Music Week interview. “I think KiT is already the most important physical format since the CD. Once music fans dive in and find the joy in it the way I have, I’ve no doubt it could be a major global player in the physical music world. Its unique combination of the tactility and scarcity of physical media and the portability and user-friendliness of digital technology makes it the format for 2025 and beyond.”

The first release will be Those Damn Crows’ highly anticipated album God Shaped Hole, out April 11, 2025. Penfriend’s House Of Stories will follow on April 18, 2025, the first independent chart-reporting KiTalbum in the UK.

“We believe every artist has a core fanbase that wants something deeper than just a stream,” said Joe Seok, founder and CEO of KiTbetter. “One physical album sale can be more meaningful than a thousand streams. Now is the time to try something new, and I hope the KiTalbum becomes a powerful alternative for artists around the world. I’m proud to launch this with Tim and the Earache team.”

KiTbetter’s partnership with Earache marks a major step forward in the evolution of music formats—bringing physical and digital together in a way that creates real value for both artists and fans, especially in a genre where music and physical expression go hand in hand.

To pre-order upcoming KiTalbums, visit Earache.com/KIT.

For more information, interviews, or press inquiries, please contact:  

Grace Slansky | grace@kitbetter.com

Logo | Approved Images 

About KiTbetter

KiTbetter, a subsidiary of South Korean music tech company Muzlive, is reshaping the future of music ownership through the KiTalbum, a patented physical-digital format that gives fans something to hold and artists a more direct, profitable way to share their work. Each KiTalbum combines premium packaging and collectible artwork with digital access to high-fidelity audio, video content, and exclusive fan experiences via the KiTplayer app. Since releasing the first connected album in 2014, KiTbetter has sold over 9 million albums worldwide and holds multiple patents on its proprietary technology. Trusted by major labels, independent artists, and music lovers around the world, KiTalbums bridge the gap between the convenience of streaming and the emotional connection of physical media, returning music to something lasting.

Official Website: www.kitbetter.com/en

About Earache Records

Since their inception, Earache Records has been at the forefront of the heavy/extreme metal music movement, signing and promoting a diverse roster of artists who have pushed the boundaries of extreme metal and lately the best new bands playing rock n roll or blues rock. Their webshop, Earache.com, is an extension of this legacy. It's a place where fans can immerse themselves in the world of their favorite bands, finding exclusive merchandise that's genuinely not available anywhere else online (or offline).