Concord Records

{{Infobox record label

| bgcolor = #000000

| name = {{color|white|Concord Records}}

| image = File:Concord Records.png

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| image_alt =

| caption =

| parent = Concord

| founded = {{start date and age|1995}}{{cite web|url=http://www.concordmusicgroup.com/labels/concord-records/|title=Concord Records - Concord Music}}

| defunct =

| founder =

| status =

| distributor = Universal Music Group (worldwide releases)

| genre = {{hlist|Jazz|pop|rock|blues}}

| country = United States

| location = Los Angeles, California

| url = {{URL|concordrecords.com}}

| fate =

}}

Concord Records is an American record label owned by Concord and based in Los Angeles, California. Concord Records was launched in 1995 as an imprint designed to reach beyond the company's foundational Concord Jazz label. The label's artists have won 14 GRAMMY Awards and 88 GRAMMY nominations.

The original 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.{{cite web|url=http://nodepression.com/article/boston-globe-rounder-records-sold|title=From The Boston Globe: Rounder Records is Sold|date=14 April 2010|access-date=28 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621194423/http://nodepression.com/article/boston-globe-rounder-records-sold|archive-date=21 June 2018|url-status=dead}}

History

In 1999, Concord Records was purchased by a consortium led by Hal Gaba and television producer Norman Lear. Its offices were moved from Concord, California to Beverly Hills in 2002. 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.{{cite web|last1=Associated Press|title=Ray Charles Big Winner at Grammy Awards|url=http://www.today.com/id/6964733#.UU5dqBy3SSo|website=Today|date=29 May 2006}}

Concord Records purchased the Fantasy Label Group in 2004, and in December 2006 announced the reactivation of the Stax Records label as a forum for newly recorded music.{{cite web | url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=11993 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712113959/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=11993 | archive-date=2010-07-12 | title=Jazz news: Concord Music Reactivates Stax Records | date=19 December 2006 }}

In 2005, it was announced that Concord Records had purchased Telarc Records and its subsidiary Heads Up, in a deal whose terms were not divulged.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1401807/concord-music-group-acquires-telarc|title=Concord Music Group Acquires Telarc|magazine=Billboard }}

In 2007, Concord Records started the Hear Music label in association with Starbucks, signing such artists as Paul McCartney,{{cite web|url=https://www.paulmccartney.com/news-blogs/news/paul-signs-to-new-hear-music-label|title=Paul Signs to New Hear Music Label|date=22 March 2007}} 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,{{cite press release|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20071220005222/en/Starbucks-Entertainment-Concord-Records-Co-Release-Kenny-Gs|title=Starbucks Entertainment and Concord Records to Co-Release Kenny G's New Album Rhythm and Romance on February 5}} Herb Alpert in early 2009. On June 5, 2009, Dave Koz signed to Concord.[http://www.davekoz.com/news.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817125328/http://www.davekoz.com/news.htm|date=August 17, 2009}}

In 2010, it was announced that Paul McCartney's solo and Wings catalogs would be globally distributed by Concord Music Group.{{cite web|last1=Michaels|first1=Sean|title=Paul McCartney cuts ties with EMI|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/apr/22/paul-mccartney-emi-beatles|website=The Guardian|date=22 April 2010}}