Richard Dunn, co-founder of Rolling Out Magazine and Rolling Out Music Co., poses for a photo on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 in Atlanta. Dunn is one of three founders of the new music label, which focuses on independent artists. (Natrice Miller for the AJC)
Although Richard Dunn ran a music label early in his 30-year career, he never thought that, in 2026, he’d be running another one.
The epiphany hit him last summer. But it wasn’t as deep as it sounds.
Songwriter and producer Munson Steed consulted Dunn on promoting music for a local artist.
By the time they were done, a business idea blossomed.
“We realized we were building an infrastructure, and we just decided to open it up,” said Dunn, 51.
The “it” is Rolling Out Music, a new record label from Rolling Out, a longtime Atlanta media company founded by Steed that focuses on Black entertainment. The why? Creating an ecosystem that combines the influencer market with music.
Richard Dunn, co-founder of Rolling Out Magazine and Rolling Out Music Co., looks over a new vinyl record for one of the label’s artists on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Rolling Out Music Co. is a new label formed by the media company that focuses on independent artists. (Natrice Miller for the AJC)
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(From left): Munson Steed, Richard Dunn and Dennis McKinley are the leaders of Rolling Out Music, a new label formed by the Atlanta-based media company Rolling Out. (Courtesy of Rolling Out Music)
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Drew Sidora at Kelli Ferrell’s opening of her second Nana Chicken & Waffles in Sandy Springs Aug. 22, 2025. (Rodney Ho/AJC)
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An independent lane
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Akili “RJ” Smith, an intern at Rolling Out Magazine, moves equipment in the music room at the company’s headquarters in Atlanta on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Natrice Miller for the AJC)
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Richard Dunn, co-founder of Rolling Out Magazine and Rolling Out Music Co., holds an ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Award presented to fellow co-founder Munson Steed, on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 in Atlanta. (Natrice Miller for the AJC)
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DeAsia is a music and culture reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She focuses on the intersection of arts, culture and diverse communities, as well as how emerging social trends are being expressed through the lens of the Atlanta aesthetic. DeAsia’s work can be seen in Pitchfork, Essence, Teen Vogue, Elle and more.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.ajc.com ’
