After playing the Sundance Film Festival, "Raw Deal" was acquired by Artisan Entertainment for around $100,000, according to Entertainment Weekly at the time. It was set for an August 2001 release.
Entertainment Weekly reported in 2002 that Artisan Entertainment canceled the release of "Raw Deal," blaming its struggle to acquire the rights for 28 songs featured in the real-life footage that could not be removed. The filmmakers ultimately re-acquired the rights to their movie and independently released it on DVD.