Valley Entertainment

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, it has a catalogue of about 375 releases.

For the Idaho-based Valley Entertainment Group owned by Bruce Willis, see Bruce Willis.
Valley Entertainment
Parent companyRED Distribution, Sony Music
Founded1994 (1994)
FounderBarney Cohen, Jon Birge
Distributor(s)RED Distribution
GenreVarious
Country of originU.S.
LocationNew York City
Official websitevalley-entertainment.com

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

2017

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

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2007

According to a statement from its director,[10][11] 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, published or distributed labels include the following:[12]

References
  1. Sande, Steve (2004). "The sky's the limit with ambient music", San Francisco Chronicle, January 11, 2004, p. PK-18, at SFGate.com via Archive.org: "[...] the Sausalito record label Hearts of Space, which has carved out a dominant niche in the area of avant-garde electronica by providing what he calls "slow music for fast times." [...] The success of companies like Hearts of Space (which was purchased by New York's Valley Entertainment in 2001), the abundance of do-it-yourself home studios and an increase in tech-knowledgeable customers suggest that the market for ambient music may increase in the near future."
  2. AFIM, Independent Music Hall of Fame, 14th annual Hall of Fame Awards for 2000, "Barney Cohen" (biography), via Archive.org
  3. Ambient News, "Valley Entertainment Announces Acquisition of Hearts of Space Records!" (scroll down), via Archive.org
  4. Bonk, Jamie (2005). "A Conversation With Stephen Hill", Conversations with Jamie: Artist-To-Artist Series, July 2005, New Age Reporter at NewAgeReporter.com via Archive.org
  5. HOS, "Hearts of Space - About": "While we still help produce new recordings for the label, we no longer run it day to day."
  6. HOS, "Hearts of Space - Company": "In 2001 the record label part of the company was sold to Valley Entertainment in New York, who maintain the catalog of almost 150 titles and release selected new recordings. Producer Stephen Hill continues to work on A&R and production of new releases, while maintaining work on the radio program."
  7. HOS, "Hearts of Space - Bios": "[Stephen Hill] produces new compilations for Valley/Hearts of Space, [...]"
  8. "Bio". Elicook.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-08. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
  9. "Eli Cook | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
  10. Original report by NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation), "Norsk CD fikk Bush til å se rødt", via Archive.org.
  11. Covered in English by WFMU, "Lullabies Blacklisted by the Bush Administration", via Archive.org.
  12. "Valley Entertainment Labels". Valley-entertainment.com. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
  13. "Sledgehammer Blues Catalog". Valley Entertainment. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  14. "Hearts of Space Records Catalog". Valley Entertainment. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  15. "Valley Entertainment-Windham Hill Records Catalog". Valley Entertainment. Retrieved 25 January 2011.

Further reading
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