Rykodisc
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2012) |
| Rykodisc | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | Warner Music Group |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Arthur Mann, Rob Simonds, Doug Lexa, Don Rose |
| Distributor(s) | Alternative Distribution Alliance (in the U.S.) WEA International Inc. (outside the U.S.) |
| Genre | Pop, rock |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Official website | www |
Rykodisc is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, operating as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.
History
Claiming to be the first
Rykodisc had some notable successes in the CD-reissue industry, as artists such as Elvis Costello, David Bowie, Yoko Ono, Frank Zappa, the estate of Nick Drake, Nine Inch Nails, Sugar, Robert Wyatt, and Mission of Burma allowed Rykodisc to issue their catalogs on CD. Rykodisc also re-released the SST Records-era recordings by the Meat Puppets. It also was responsible for the first release of the "I Am the Cosmos" LP by the late Chris Bell of Big Star, another band on the label.
Over the years, the label acquired Hannibal Records, Tradition Records, Gramavision (founded by Jonathan F. P. Rose),[2] Emperor Norton Records, Restless Records and Cordless Recordings. Rykodisc also founded a distribution company, Ryko Distribution, and a music publishing company, Rykomusic. The label's catalog exceeds 1,200 titles.
In 1998, Chris Blackwell left Island Records and bought Rykodisc for a reported $35 million as a means of acquiring music marketing and distribution expertise for his new venture, a media company called Palm Pictures. In 1999, one year after the Blackwell buy-out, the office in Salem, Massachusetts, was closed, and many industry veterans were laid off. In 2001, Blackwell parted ways with Rykodisc. The label was then located in New York City with offices in Los Angeles and in Beverly, Massachusetts.
On March 23, 2006, it was announced that
In 2009, Ryko Distribution was folded into Alternative Distribution Alliance.[8]
Rykodisc artists
See also
- List of record labels
References
- ^ Bruce Britt. "CD-Only Rykodisc Label Decides to Give Vinyl a Spin." Chicago Tribune, July 14, 1988, p. 11C.
- ^ "Jonathan F.P. Rose | Theatre for a New Audience". Tfana.org. 21 December 2010. Retrieved 2016-09-28.
- ^ "Ryko bought by Warner." Ottawa (Ontario) Citizen, March 25, 2006, p. D3.
- ^ Christopher Morris (2012-06-11). "UMG sets Frank Zappa re-releases". Variety. Retrieved 2016-09-28.
- ^ Marchese, Joe (11 June 2012). "Freak Out! Zappa Family Trust Strikes Deal For Reissue Of 60 Albums From Universal, Roll-Out Begins In July". The Second Disc. Retrieved 2016-09-28.
- ^ "Temporarily Disabled". Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
- ^ "BMG To Buy Evergreen Copyrights". billboard.com.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Ryko Distr. Merged with ADA, Staffs Shuffled | Billboard.biz". Archived from the original on 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
