Asthmatic Kitty Records, a tiny record label co-owned by alternative artist Sufjans Stevens, is putting Indianapolis on the arts map. 

The record label started off in Holland, Michigan and promoted Stevens’ initial record launch in Lander, Wyoming. As record sales grew successful, the label hired San Diego native Michael Kauffman to act as manager; Kaufmann then re-located to Indianapolis for the low cost of living. He soon discovered the rich arts scene in the community and began managing local artists and acts. Since then, the record label has promoted Indianapolis’ music scene on a national and global level. Indianapolis city representatives are now looking to Asthmatic Kitty and others in the local music scene for ideas as they try to attract young professionals to Indianapolis’s urban areas. The article stated, “Small labels and the scenes they represent are literally rebuilding parts of their cities on rock 'n' roll.”