Valley Entertainment is an American independent record label and music distributor based in New York City, United States. The company was founded in 1994 by Barney Cohen and Jon Birge. In 2001, it acquired the prestigious[1] back catalogue of space, ambient, and new-age music from Hearts of Space Records. As of 2017[update], it has a catalogue of about 375 releases.
| Valley Entertainment | |
|---|---|
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| Parent company | RED Distribution, Sony Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Barney Cohen, Jon Birge |
| Distributor(s) | RED Distribution |
| Genre | Various |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | New York City |
| Official website | valley-entertainment |
History
In 1979, Barney Cohen founded Valley Media (a separate company) and opened Valley Record Distributors in 1984. In 1994, he stepped down from Valley Media to focus on the proprietary independent music label he had started:[2] Valley Entertainment, founded in 1994 by Barney Cohen and Jon Birge.[3]
In 2001, they acquired from Stephen Hill the prestigious[1] trademark and back catalogue of his Hearts of Space Records[3] (including among its about 140 releases such albums as Constance Demby's 1986 Novus Magnificat, Michael Stearns's 1988 Encounter, Rich & Roach's 1990 Strata, Rich & Lustmord's 1995 Stalker, Steve Roach's 1996 The Magnificent Void, Robert Rich's 1998 Seven Veils, and solo albums by Paul Haslinger from Tangerine Dream). As Hill explained, "Despite our success, by 2000 things were getting very difficult for record companies our size, and ultimately we sold the label to a larger company in 2001. Luckily we found Jon Birge of Valley Entertainment, who recognized what we had accomplished and has kept the HOS Records catalog together and available."[4] Though not any more associated with its business side, Stephen Hill continues to work on Artist & Repertoire and to produce new recordings for the label.[5][6][7]
Discography
2018
- Winter into Spring: Special Edition - George Winston
- Live - Karla Bonoff
2017
- Epiphany: Meditations on Sacred Hymns - Jonn Serrie
- Ready - Frank Barter
- Faith - Jim Brickman
- Soothe, Volume 3: Meditation - Music for Peaceful Relaxation - Jim Brickman
- Autumn - George Winston
- Dream Cycle - Michael Whalen
- The Assumption - Monastic Choir of the Abbey Notre Dame de Fontgombault
2016
- Soothe 1: Music to Quiet Your Mind & Soothe Your World - Jim Brickman
- Soothe 2: Sleep - Music for Tranquil Slumber - Jim Brickman
- Comfort & Joy - Jim Brickman
- Land Ho! - The Forest Rangers
- Liturgical Treasures from Bulgaria - Various Artists
2015
- Traces of an Old Vineyard - Mahsa Vahdat
- Bird - Lisbeth Scott
- Legacy - Liz Madden
2014
- A Few Images (Algumas Imagens) - Tania Saleh
- Turning Back - Dina El Wedidi
- Songs from a Stolen Spring - Various Artists
- Sacred Songs of Mary 2 - Various Artists
- Hypnosis: Deep House Sitar - Ronobir
- In Search of Divine Light - Divna
- Sacred Songs of the Renaissance - Huelgas Ensemble
2013
- Plains - George Winston
- December - George Winston
- Sacred Songs of Hope - Various Artists
- Copper: Original Soundtrack - Brian Keane
- Larry Kirwan's Celtic Invasion - Various Artists
2012
- Sacred Songs of Angels - Various Artists
- Death and the Civil War (Soundtrack) - Brian Keane
- The Long Road Down (Song from the Miniseries Hatfields & McCoys) - Lisbeth Scott
- A Deeper Tone of Longing: Love Duets Across Civilizations - Mahsa Vahdat and Mighty Sam McClain
- Colours - Finbar Furey
- Angelic Light: Music from Eastern Cathedrals - Cappella Romana
2011
- Sunday Morning Peace - Jonn Serrie
- One Drop Is Plenty - Mighty Sam McClain & Knut Reiersrud
- Songs From Before - Fionnuala Sherry
- eQuinox - Ralph Zurmühle
- The Queen's Minstrel - Therese Schroeder-Sheker
- State of Grace - Paul Schwartz
- Taproot - Michael Hedges
- Mardi Gras - Cowboy Mouth
2010
- Listen To The Banned - Various Artists
- Sacred Songs of Mary - Various Artists
- Christmas Prayers - Jonn Serrie
- Into the Deep: America, Whaling & The World - Brian Keane soundtrack to Ric Burns documentary
- Scent of Reunion: Love Duets Across Civilizations - Mahsa Vahdat and Mighty Sam McClain
- Celtic Woman 4 - Various Artists [8]
2007
According to a statement from its director,[11][12] the company has claimed being "blacklisted" in 2007 by the George W. Bush administration for releasing in the U.S. the Norwegian album Lullabies from the Axis of Evil.
Labels
As of 2010[update], published or distributed labels include the following:[13]
- Sledgehammer Blues (formerly AudioQuest Music) (59 releases)[14]
- Erin (2 releases)
- Hearts of Space Records (150+ releases)[15]
- RGB (6 releases)
- Valley Entertainment-Windham Hill Records (14 reissues)[16]
- Valley Entertainment (120+ releases)
References
Further reading
- SEC filing about the relationship between Valley Media Inc. and Valley Entertainment at SEC.gov (two distinct companies; mostly backstory and business data)
External links
- Valley-Entertainment.com – official website
- Valley Entertainment MySpace