Omnivore Recordings

Omnivore Recordings
Founded 2010
Distributor(s) Alternative Distribution Alliance
Genre Various
Location Los Angeles
Official website www.omnivorerecordings.com

Omnivore Recordings is an independent record label founded in 2010, specializing in CD and vinyl reissues of previously out-of-print albums by notable artists.

Rock musicians on the Omnivore label include, among others, Big Star, Alex Chilton, Camper Van Beethoven, Jellyfish, The Knack, The Motels, Bob Mould, The Posies and Game Theory.[1][2] The label's artists also include comedian Ernie Kovacs and country guitarists Hank Williams and Buck Owens.[3]

History

Omnivore was founded in 2010 with the goal of "preserving, curating and championing some of music's greatest legacies,"[4] by releasing records of any genre accompanied by stories that contribute to the enduring reputation of the artists.[5] The label's name was chosen, according to co-founder Cheryl Pawelski, "because we like everything."[3]

In February 2015, Omnivore won its first Grammy Award, in the category of Best Historical Album, for Hank Williams' The Garden Spot Programs, 1950.[6] The award was shared by reissue producers Cheryl Pawelski and Colin Escott, and audio engineer Michael Graves.[7]

The label has released recordings in a wide variety of formats, including but not limited to standard CDs, colorful 180-gram vinyl, and digital-only releases.[3] For example, Billboard noted the "great historical significance" of Omnivore's limited-edition release in April 2012 of a rare recording of Buck Owens performing at the White House for President Lyndon Johnson in 1968, newly pressed by Omnivore on flexi discs in red, white, or blue, each copy packaged with an original uncirculated coloring book that had been commissioned by Owens in 1970 and preserved unreleased for over 40 years.[8]

Omnivore was formed by a group of four partners led by Pawelski, a Grammy winner and four-time nominee as a producer.[6] Pawelski had previously produced or supervised hundreds of recordings, reissues, and box sets for numerous diverse musical artists.[4] Pawelski, a Milwaukee native,[9] had most recently been Vice President of A&R at Rhino Entertainment, and had held senior positions at Concord Music Group and Capitol Records.[10] Pawelski formed the new label with music industry veterans Brad Rosenberger, Greg Allen, and Dutch Cramblitt.[10] Rosenberger, responsible for publishing and product, had worked for over 20 years at Warner/Chappell Music, the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, where he was a Senior Vice President.[4] Allen assumed responsibility for photography and design responsibilities, and Cramblitt for sales and marketing.[10][4]

In addition to the record label, Omnivore includes a music publishing arm, and a consulting service to help the estates of musical artists preserve and catalog their assets.[10] Omnivore has also undertaken efforts in the area of music documentaries and films.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Omnivore Recordings (2014). Omnivore Recordings Discography (catalog). Archived from the original on 2014-07-15.
  2. ↑ "Welcome to the Shop". Omnivore Recordings (official website). Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Sylvester, Bruce (May 14, 2014). "Omnivore Recordings strives to serve up music for nearly every listener's appetite". Goldmine. Archived from the original on 2014-07-17.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "About Omnivore Recordings". Omnivore Recordings (official website). Archived from the original on July 15, 2014.
  5. ↑ Jackson, Andrea (November 21, 2013). "Record Producer Cheryl Pawelski: Trailblazer, Innovator". Bluestockings. Archived from the original on 2013-11-30.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Hank Williams The Garden Spot Programs, 1950 Wins Best Historical Album Grammy" (Press release). Omnivore Recordings. February 9, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-02-11.
  7. ↑ The Recording Academy (2015). "Best Historical Album". 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees. Archived from the original on 2015-02-11.
  8. ↑ Dauphin, Chuck (February 29, 2012). "Buck Owens & The Knack Get Record Store Day Releases". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2013-05-24.
  9. ↑ Schultz, Blaine (April 1, 2007). "5Q: Cheryl Pawelski". Urban Milwaukee Dial. Archived from the original on 2014-07-17.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Kozlowski, Lori (April 2, 2012). "How To Start Your Own Record Company". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2014-03-25.

External links