Concord Records
| Concord Records | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | Concord Bicycle Music |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founder | Carl Jefferson |
| Distributor(s) | Decca Records/Universal Music Group |
| Genre | Jazz, pop, rock |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | Beverly Hills, California |
| Official website |
www |
Concord Records is an American record label based in Beverly Hills, California. Originally known as Concord Jazz, it was established in 1972 as an offshoot of the Concord Jazz Festival in Concord, California, by festival founder Carl Jefferson, a local automobile dealer and jazz fan who sold his dealership to found "the jazz label I can never find in record stores." The label's artists have won 14 Grammy Awards and 88 Grammy nominations.
Concord issues live recordings from festivals and other venues, including a series of piano recitals from Maybeck Recital Hall in Berkeley, California, by many well-known pianists. The original Concord Jazz logo, a stylized eighth note incorporating the C and J of "Concord Jazz", was created by Bay Area graphic designer Dan Buck, who also worked on several album covers for the company.
Concord's label's included Concord Picante for Latin jazz and Concord Concerto for classical music.[1] Concord also includes The Jazz Alliance, founded around 1990 to issue programs from Marian McPartland's radio broadcast Piano Jazz.[2]
Acquisitions
In 1999 Concord Records was purchased by a consortium led by Hal Gaba and television producer Norman Lear. Its offices were moved from Concord to Beverly Hills in 2002. Its catalog was increased in 2004 with the purchase of Fantasy Records, which meant acquiring Prestige, Stax and Specialty.[1] The company resulting from the merger came to be known as Concord Music Group. That same year, Concord partnered with Starbucks to release Ray Charles's Genius Loves Company, which won eight Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.[3]
On December 19, 2005, it was announced that the group had purchased Telarc Records and its subsidiary Heads Up, in a deal whose terms were not divulged.
In 2007, Concord started the Hear Music label in association with Starbucks, signing such artists as Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, and John Mellencamp. Although Starbucks ceased to be an active partner a year later, Concord kept Hear active, having a Top 5 album in 2010 with Carole King and James Taylor's Live at the Troubadour.
In 2008, Village Roadshow Pictures Group and Concord Music Group completed their merger, resulting in the creation of the Village Roadshow Entertainment Group.
Kenny G signed to Concord in early 2008, Herb Alpert in early 2009. On June 5, 2009, Dave Koz signed to Concord.[4]
Concord Music Group purchased Rounder Records in 2010.[5]
In 2010, it was announced that Paul McCartney's solo and Wings catalogs would be globally distributed by Concord Music Group.[6]
In March 2013, Wood Creek Capital purchased Concord Music Group from Village Entertainment.[7]
In July 2013, Shayne Pilpel became the only electronic music artist signed to this label.
In December 2015, R.E.M. announced that they would transfer their Warner Bros. Records recordings from 1988 to 2011 to Concord Records.[8]
Artists
See also
References
- 1 2 "Concord Music Group Labels". Concord Music Group. Retrieved December 5, 2010.
- ↑ "Jazz Alliance, the". In L. Root, Deane. Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. (subscription required)
- ↑ Associated Press (29 May 2006). "Ray Charles Big Winner at Grammy Awards". Today.
- ↑ Archived August 17, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Archived April 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Michaels, Sean (22 April 2010). "Paul McCartney cuts ties with EMI". The Guardian.
- ↑ Christman, Ed (5 March 2013). "Concord Music Group to be Sold to Wood Creek Capital Management". Billboard.
- ↑ Newman, Melinda (15 December 2015). "R.E.M. Taps Concord Bicycle to Handle Group's Warner Bros. Catalog: Exclusive". Billboard.