Putumayo World Music

Putumayo World Music is a New York City based record label, now specialising in compilations of music from various nations, regions or musical styles which may be classified as world music.

Contents

Etymology

Dan Storper took the name Putumayo from his company Putumayo Clothing Company. Putumayo is a river and a department in Colombia. The Putumayo river delineates the border between Colombia and Peru. The name is said to be the name of a bird (Heron).[1] Dan Storper named his clothing company after travelling in the area.

History

In 1991, on his way home from Bali, Dan Storper stopped in San Francisco. At the Golden Gate Park he heard the African band Kotoja. He was impressed by the music and the way it gathered many different people.[2]

This made him reflect on how he presented music in his stores. He made a compilation of music he had gathered on his journeys and gathered a positive response. This lead him to give out his first release in 1993.

Artwork

Every release features the distinctive art of Nicola Heindl. Her art is both folky and modern, and, according to the Putumayo website, "represents one of Putumayo's goals: to connect the traditional to the contemporary."[3]

Putumayo Presents

Typically a Putumayo World Music compilation is presented as a theme under the title “Putumayo Presents:” The themes can be regional (South Africa, Caribbean, Asia), music types (Reggae, Folk, Latin, Jazz) and other themes (Lounge, Groove, Party).

The Putumayo Kids division was created in 2002. Since the release of World Playground CD in 1999, Putumayo Kids has achieved honours from Parents’ Choice Awards and the National Parenting Publications Association, and has grown to be one of the more important children's record labels.

Putumayo launched the Putumayo World Music Hour in 2000, a commercially-syndicated world music radio show. Rosalie Howarth of KFOG hosts the Music Hour. The weekly show is heard internationally on over 150 commercial and non-commercial stations.

The company claims to be committed to helping the communities in the countries where the music they profit from originates, resulting in donations to non-profit organizations including Oxfam, Mercy Corps, Make-A-Wish and Amnesty International. However, limited information about the company's philanthropic activities is available on Putumayo's official website, and the company does not publish its financial information.

Through Putumayo's 10 offices around the world and a network of more than 3,000 book, gift, clothing, coffee and other specialty retailers in the US the label claim to distribute their CDs in more than 80 countries around the world.

As of 30 August 2011, on the release of African Beat and Latin Beat, Putumayo's compilations will be available digitaly.[4]

Discography

Notes

  1. ^ Interview with Dan Storper, www.itzcaribbean.com
  2. ^ Interview with Dan Storper, wholefoodsmarket.com
  3. ^ worldmusic.about.com
  4. ^ At last, a label goes digital, New York Times

See also

External links