Sense Of Place North Carolina: Merge Records

On World Cafe's Sense Of Place trip to North Carolina, we discussed the DIY beginnings and subsequent growth of Durham, N.C.'s Merge Records with co-founders Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. Founded in 1989 as a way to release their band Superchunk's music — and, later, albums by their friends — the label has become a powerhouse thanks in part to artists like Spoon and Arcade Fire.

Hear McCaughan and Ballance discuss Merge — as well as Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill — in the segment above. You can also enjoy a Spotify playlist of highlights from the Merge Records catalog.

Read a note about World Cafe's visit to North Carolina and the controversy surrounding HB2.