Koch Distribution has announced today they have struck deals with two classical labels. Koch will distribute Russian label Melodiya via its distribution agreement with Canadian classical label Analekta; the label has not been available in the US for the past 15 years, and was the state-owned major record company/label of the Soviet Union.
The Melodiya catalogue includes recordings of Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich performing their own music, as well as early recordings by Rostropovich, Gilels, Richter, Ashkenazy; Mavrinsky, Kondrashin, and Svetlanov. Twenty-one titles will be released initially, with an additional ten titles being released each month. Koch hopes to have the entire catalogue available by the first quarter of 2009.
Koch also announced a distribution deal with SmartArts, an Irish label geared toward adult music buyers. The first two releases under the deal will be Irish Classics, a selection of Irish Ballads and dance tunes featuring full symphony orchestra and chorus as well as guest soloists, and Rock Legends, a classical approach to some of the world’s most famous pop and rock music – featuring a full classical Symphony based on Beatles Songs (Beatlesymphony), an overture based on the music of The Rolling Stones and a piano concerto based on the songs of ABBA (Swedish Rhapsody). Other forthcoming releases include titles by Derek Moloney “Derek”, Mary Lowe “Jazz Diva”, and “If You’re Irish,” a various artist collection.
