Concord Bicycle Music, the highly acquisitive US music group, has bought the catalogues of two independent labels: Americana, folk and blues specialist HighTone Records and, in a separate transaction, the recorded music assets of Bandit Records.
The HighTone catalogue, which was obtained from Shout! Factory, includes over 350 master recordings from artists such as Buddy Miller, The Blasters, Dave Alvin, Joe Ely, Dick Dale, Robert Cray, Joe Lewis Walker, Gary Stewart, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Rosie Flores, Tom Russell, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Dale Watson and many others.
Meanwhile, Concord Bicycle Music has acquired the recorded music assets of Bandit Records, the label imprint of Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, George Jones.
The 140+ song catalogue, obtained from Nancy Jones, includes several late period Jones album masters such as 2001’s The Rock (pictured), 2005’s The Gospel Collection and Hits I Missed…And One I Didn’t, 2006’s Kickin’ Out The Footlights Again (with Merle Haggard) and 2008’s unreleased duets collection Burn Your Playhouse Down featuring Leon Russell, Ricky Skaggs, Keith Richards, Vince Gill, Mark Knopfler, Marty Stuart, Dolly Parton Shelby Lynne and Tammy Wynette, among others.
The catalogue also contains various Roy Acuff track masters and assorted Jones compilations.
“Concord Bicycle Music is proud to be the new home for these fantastic and historic recordings,” said Steven Salm, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Concord Bicycle Music.
The Hightone and bandie catalogues exemplify a deeply rooted and evocative part of america’s musical heritage.”
Sig Sigworth, Concord Bicycle Music
“HighTone, and Bandit, represent an important niche in the American independent music culture and fits perfectly within our existing catalogue.”
“The HighTone and Bandit catalogs exemplify a deeply rooted and evocative part of America’s musical heritage,” added Sig Sigworth, SVP Catalog Management & Development, Concord Bicycle Music.
“We’re proud to add these stellar works to Concord Bicycle Music’s already extraordinary collection of country, folk, blues and Americana master recordings.”
Founded in Oakland, CA., in 1983 by Bruce Bromberg and Larry Sloven, HighTone quickly became a home for the early 80’s burgeoning west coast underground roots music scene when its first release, bluesman Robert Cray’s Bad Influence, was a surprise hit and went on to sell over a million copies.
Concord, backed by Wood Creek – an investment manager with over $2.5 billion in committed capital – merged with independent publisher The Bicycle Music Company in April last year.
At the same time, it raised $100m to help expand its market presence.
Since then, it’s gone on a bit of a spending spree, snapping up the likes of Fearless Records and Wind-Up Records and signing a worldwide JV with US indie Razor & Tie.
Just last month, Concord licensed the global recorded rights to R.E.M’s classic ‘Warner Bros’ catalogue – a deal executed under the nose of the major label which helped make the band’s name.Music Business Worldwide
