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Narada Productions

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Narada Productions
Parent companyThe Blue Note Label Group
Founded1983 (1983)
FounderJohn Morey
Distributor(s)Blue Note
GenreNew-age, smooth jazz, world, acoustic
Country of originU.S.
LocationNew York City

Narada is a record label formed in 1983 as an independent new-age music label[1] and distributed by MCA. From 1997–2013, the label was owned by Virgin Records on behalf of EMI. Since 2013, it is a fully owned subsidiary of Universal Music Group and distributed by Capitol Music Group's Blue Note Records. The label evolved through an expansion of formats to include world music, electronica, jazz, Celtic music, new flamenco, acoustic guitar, and piano releases.

Label history

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In 1979, John Morey started a mail-order business to sell new-age music. This led to the creation of Narada in Milwaukee in 1983, and the roster eventually included David Arkenstone, Jesse Cook, Michael Gettel, Michael Jones, David Lanz, Oscar Lopez, and Billy McLaughlin. Virgin Records bought Narada in 1997, along with Higher Octave and Back Porch, and directly signed Yanni, along with other New Age and Smooth Jazz acts.[2]

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Narada created several sub-label imprints to differentiate its offerings, in particular Sona Gaia, Antiquity Records, Rising Sun Records, Narada World, Narada Equinox, Narada Jazz, Narada Lotus, and Narada Mystique. Since the acquisition, Narada was the principal U.S. licensee for Peter Gabriel's Real World Records[3] until 2008. The sub-labels of Narada were retired and their albums folded into the company's main imprint, Narada.

Shakti Records was created in 2000 for electronic music, but the last release was in 2004 as Narada concentrated on contemporary jazz. Higher Octave and Back Porch were absorbed into Narada in 2004 as sub-labels, without the original staff, significantly reducing their roster of artists and albums.

In 2005, Narada was named No. 4 in the 2005 top four contemporary jazz labels in Billboard magazine's year-end charts.

In 2006, EMI moved Narada from Milwaukee suburb Glendale, Wisconsin to EMI headquarters in New York City, to become part of the expanded role for Blue Note,[4] EMI's consolidated label group for music for adults. Likewise merged in were Mosaic, Capitol Jazz, Roulette Jazz, Pacific Jazz, Manhattan, Angel, and Metro Blue; announced plans were to continue using existing imprints. As part of this consolidation, Narada's involvement with new-age music was reduced with Narada's focus narrowed to mainly contemporary jazz; new age would be put on sister label Higher Octave.

Roster

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Compilation albums

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References

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  1. ^ Maria Armoudian (6 April 1996). "Look for these New Age labels". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 51–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  2. ^ Jeffrey, Don (27 September 1997). "Virgin Acquires Narada Label". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 39. pp. 111–. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  3. ^ Paulsen, Eric (3 April 2002). "Success doesn't lure Narada away from Milwaukee". OnMilwaukee.com. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  4. ^ Menze, Jill (29 July 2006). "Lundvall Leads New Blue Note Group". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. pp. 10–. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  5. ^ Susan Cruickshank. "Flamenco: Fire and Grace Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
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