Sanctuary Records

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Sanctuary Records
Founded 1976
Founder(s) Rod Smallwood
Andy Taylor
Genre(s) Various
Country of origin United Kingdom
Official Website http://www.sanctuaryrecords.com (retail)
http://www.sanctuarygroup.com (corporate)

Sanctuary Records is the largest independent record label in the United Kingdom and one of the largest independent music management company in the world.[1] It is also the world's largest independent owners of music intellectual property rights, with over 150,000 songs.[2] The company was formed in 1976 by Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor, who had first met as undergraduates at Trinity College, Cambridge[citation needed], and later organized dance events for students together. In 1979, they discovered (in a London pub) and then managed Iron Maiden. They consequently named the record company after the band's song Sanctuary.

Sanctuary Records is noted for preferring to sign artists with long-term appeal, usually the artists are those considered 'heritage acts', being artists who have had a long career and steady fanbase.[citation needed]

Iron Maiden's back catalog was re-issued by Sanctuary in conjunction with Columbia Records in the US in 2002.[citation needed]

Kenny Rogers's 1980's back catalog (originally released on RCA Records) was re-issued by Sanctuary's Castle Music label in conjunction with Kenny Rogers' Dreamcatcher Records in the UK. The albums were only available as imports in the US. Rogers's 2003 release "Back To The Well" was released by Sanctuary in the UK.

Mayan Records is an imprint of Sanctuary Records, which Lordi's UK album The Monster Show was released under.

After a £110m loss in 2005, City pressure led to Smallwood becoming merely a general manager of the company, Taylor becoming Chief Executive and former British Airways chief executive Bob Ayling being installed as the new Chairman. On 26 May 2006, Ayling dismissed Taylor from the company over severe problems and inaccuracies in previous years' accounting. Sanctuary Group PLC shares had already become drastically reduced in value after a restructuring designed to deal with the previous year's huge loss.

In late 2006, Smallwood left the company, taking with him Iron Maiden's management interests.

Contents

[edit] Sanctuary and Mathew Knowles

Mathew Knowles, father of Beyoncé and manager of Destiny's Child, joined the label as an executive in 2003, when Sanctuary purchased his Urban music company in America. However, this move proved disastrous when records by such acts as D12's Bizarre, Ray J and De La Soul were delayed, and the main company headed towards collapse.

After restructuring the main company in 2006, it was decided no more records would be released by this American Urban division, whilst in July of that year Sanctuary came to the agreement that it would sell the MW Entertainment Productions and Management (MWE) talent agency back to Mr. Knowles for £2.7m.

[edit] Pye Records

In July 2006, it was announced that Scottish alternative rock group Idlewild would sign to Pye Records, which was being reactivated by Sanctuary for bands that were seen to be more indie and alternative, than the 'heritage acts' that were signed to their main label. This follows the reactivation of old reggae label Attack for the recordings of 2003 Sanctuary signing Morrissey.

[edit] MAMA

Also in July 2006 it was reported that MAMA, the management group behind the Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand helded by former Mean Fiddler chief Dean James, would bid for the group. This proved unsuccessful.

[edit] Artists

[edit] References

  1. ^ "BBC News | Entertainment | Sir Elton sells management firm", accessed March 28, 2007, [1]
  2. ^ "Help - Sanctuary Records Group", accessed March 28, 2007 [2]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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