Beyond Music was an American record label group based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in August 1998 by Allen Kovac.[1][2] The label group operated as an arm of Kovac's Left Bank Management firm (founded in 1983), which he jointly ran with Jeffrey Sydney.[2][3][4] The label was known for its strategy of "resurrecting" bands and artists that had decreased in popularity with unusual high-profile marketing campaigns, and its roster included Yes, Blondie, Veruca Salt, Mötley Crüe, Vince Neil, and others.[5][6] It also signed a variety of new bands and artists, such as Lucy Pearl and 58.
 | |
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Genre | Various |
| Founded | August 1998 |
| Founder | Allen Kovac |
| Defunct | December 2002 |
| Fate | Liquidated |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide United States |
| Products | Music and entertainment |
| Owner | Left Bank Management |
| Divisions | Beyond Records Americoma Records Coolio's Crowbar Records Indivision Mötley Records Slimstyle Records |
| Website | beyondmusic.com (Archived on October 17, 2000) |
History
editOn August 1, 1998, Billboard magazine announced the formation of Beyond Music via an exclusive feature in the magazine, and unveiled a list of artists who had signed to the label.[2] BMG signed a pressing-and-distribution (P&D) agreement with Beyond Music to distribute the label group's release internationally;[2] outside of the United States, some of Beyond Music's releases were licensed to and distributed by a variety of labels, such as EMI Records for Canada and Sony Music Entertainment (SME) for Europe.[7] Universal Music and Video Distribution took over Beyond Music's distribution from BMG in May 2001; the label's first release under the new distribution deal was God Bless The Go-Go's by The Go-Go's, which was released on May 15, 2001.[7]
The label, along with Left Bank Management, went into liquidation towards the end of 2002 following a dispute between Kovac and Sydney, resulting in more than a dozen employees being laid off.[3] Kovac later filed an arbitration lawsuit against Sydney on December 31, 2002, alleging that he had defrauded and manipulated him, and formed a new management company, Kovac Media Group, in January 2003.[3][4] Eleven Seven Music, which Kovac formed in 2006, is seen as a successor to Beyond Music.[6] Several former artists on Beyond, such as Better than Ezra, have since reclaimed the rights to their releases on the label.[8][9]
Roster
editThis is a list of artists who have recorded for Beyond Music and its associated labels.[10]
- 58 (Americoma)[11]
- The Alarm MM++
- Better Than Ezra
- Blondie
- Colony
- Face to Face
- The Fixx
- The Go-Go's
- Heart
- Jill Sobule
- Laidlaw
- Lucy Pearl
- Mötley Crüe (Mötley)
- Sammy Hagar
- Sponge
- Veruca Salt
- Vince Neil
- Violent Femmes
- Yes
References
edit- ^ Sansone, Glen (May 29, 2000). "Industry Profile: Suzanne Perl". CMJ New Music Report. 62 (668). CMJ Network, Inc.: 58. ISSN 0890-0795.
- ^ a b c d Verna, Paul (August 1, 1998). "Left Bank Bows 'Beyond'". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 87. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 1, 87. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ a b c Newman, Melinda (January 18, 2003). "Industry Vet Kovac Forms New Management Firm". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 3. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 10. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ a b Anon. (January 11, 2003). "Upfront: In the News". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 2. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 5. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ Taylor, Chuck (March 25, 2000). "Sobule To Drop 'Pink Pearl'". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 13. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 1, 81. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ a b Martens, Todd (November 25, 2006). "The Buck Doesn't Stop Here". Billboard. Vol. 118, no. 47. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 49. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ a b Anon. (May 26, 2001). "Newsline". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 21. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 52. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ "Better Than Ezra To Re-Release Closer". Alternative Addiction. June 9, 2009. Archived from the original on July 26, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
- ^ Else!, Something (June 8, 2012). "Yes' 1997 project 'Open Your Eyes' set for reissue on heavy-weight vinyl". Something Else!. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ "Beyond Music Catalog". BeyondMusic.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ "Nikki Sixx on "58"". Petsbrugh. May 12, 2000. Archived from the original on November 2, 2007. Retrieved February 20, 2023.