Valley Entertainment
Encyclopedia
Valley Entertainment is a United States
music distributor and independent record label
based in New York City
. The company was founded in 1996 by Barney Cohen, president and CEO. In 2001, they acquired the prestigious back catalogue of space
, ambient
, and New Age music
from Hearts of Space Records
. , they have a catalogue of about 300 releases.
In 2001, they acquired from Stephen Hill the prestigious trademark and back catalogue of his Hearts of Space Records
(including among its about 140 releases such albums as Constance Demby
's 1986 Novus Magnificat
, Michael Stearns
's 1988 Encounter
, Rich
& Roach's 1990 Strata, Rich
& Lustmord
's 1995 Stalker
, Steve Roach's 1996 The Magnificent Void
, Robert Rich
's 1998 Seven Veils
, and solo albums by Paul Haslinger
from Tangerine Dream
). As Hill explained, "Despite our success, by 2000 things were getting very difficult for record companies our size, and ultimately we sold the label to a larger company in 2001. Luckily we found Jon Birge of Valley Entertainment, who recognized what we had accomplished and has kept the HOS Records catalog together and available." Though not any more associated with its business side, Stephen Hill continues to work on Artist & Repertoire and to produce new recordings for the label.
In January 2010 Valley Entertainment launched a new edition of Valley-Entertainment.com - offering direct digital downloads for the first time.
According to a statement from its director, the company has claimed being "blacklisted" in 2007 by the George W. Bush administration
for releasing in the U.S. the Norwegian album Lullabies from the Axis of Evil
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
music distributor and independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The company was founded in 1996 by Barney Cohen, president and CEO. In 2001, they acquired the prestigious back catalogue of space
Space music
Space music, also called spacemusic, is an umbrella term, synonymous with a segment of New Age Music and Ambient Music, used to describe music that evokes a feeling of contemplative spaciousness. Space music can be found within a wide range of genres. It is particularly associated with ambient, New...
, ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
, and New Age music
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
from Hearts of Space Records
Hearts of Space Records
Hearts of Space Records is an independent record label owned by Valley Entertainment.From the label’s website, “Launched in 1984, this record label was created as an extension of the weekly syndicated radio show Hearts of Space...
. , they have a catalogue of about 300 releases.
History
In 1979, Barney Cohen founded Valley Media (a separate company) and opened Valley Record Distributors in 1984. In 1997, he stepped down from Valley Media to focus on the proprietary independent music label he had started: Valley Entertainment, founded in 1994 by Barney Cohen (owner, president, CEO) and Jon Birge (director).In 2001, they acquired from Stephen Hill the prestigious trademark and back catalogue of his Hearts of Space Records
Hearts of Space Records
Hearts of Space Records is an independent record label owned by Valley Entertainment.From the label’s website, “Launched in 1984, this record label was created as an extension of the weekly syndicated radio show Hearts of Space...
(including among its about 140 releases such albums as Constance Demby
Constance Demby
Constance Mary Demby is an American multi-instrument musician and composer. Demby is identified with the New Age movement , while some of her output is also classified as ambient or space music. She is also a singer, instrument designer, painter, sculptor, and multi-media producer...
's 1986 Novus Magnificat
Novus Magnificat
Novus Magnificat: Through the Stargate is a New Age album by Constance Demby, with additional sonic textures by composer Michael Stearns. The album sold over 200,000 copies worldwide and made Demby one of the most successful New Age artists of the time...
, Michael Stearns
Michael Stearns
Michael Stearns is a United States musician and composer of ambient music. He is also known as a film composer, sound designer and soundtrack producer for large format films, theatrical films, documentaries, commercials, and themed attractions....
's 1988 Encounter
Encounter (album)
Encounter is an album by Michael Stearns, released in 1988.Subtitled A Journey in the Key of Space, it's a collection of peaceful instrumental pieces, weaving synthesizers and various background sounds...
, Rich
Robert Rich (musician)
Robert Rich is an ambient musician and composer based in California, United States. With a discography spanning over 30 years, he is widely regarded as a figure whose sound has greatly influenced today's ambient, New Age, and even IDM music.-Early life:At an early age he thought he disliked music...
& Roach's 1990 Strata, Rich
Robert Rich (musician)
Robert Rich is an ambient musician and composer based in California, United States. With a discography spanning over 30 years, he is widely regarded as a figure whose sound has greatly influenced today's ambient, New Age, and even IDM music.-Early life:At an early age he thought he disliked music...
& Lustmord
Lustmord
Brian Williams is a British electronic musician often credited for creating the dark ambient genre with albums recorded under the name Lustmord.- History :Williams started recording as Lustmord in 1980 before joining SPK in 1982...
's 1995 Stalker
Stalker (album)
Stalker is a collaborative album by ambient musicians Robert Rich and B.Lustmord . It was inspired by the 1979 film of the same name by Andrei Tarkovsky....
, Steve Roach's 1996 The Magnificent Void
The Magnificent Void
The Magnificent Void is an album by the U.S. ambient musician Steve Roach.- Overview :The backcover of The Magnificent Void quotes from transpersonal psychologist Stanislav Grof's 1992 book The Holotropic Mind: "One of the most enigmatic of all transpersonal phenomena is the experience of the Void...
, Robert Rich
Robert Rich (musician)
Robert Rich is an ambient musician and composer based in California, United States. With a discography spanning over 30 years, he is widely regarded as a figure whose sound has greatly influenced today's ambient, New Age, and even IDM music.-Early life:At an early age he thought he disliked music...
's 1998 Seven Veils
Seven Veils
Seven Veils is an album by the U.S. ambient musician Robert Rich. It is inspired by Arab culture and music. This album has a heightened emphasis on rhythms, from guitar and percussion. All pieces except track 3 were composed in just intonation. Guests include David Torn on guitar and Hans...
, and solo albums by Paul Haslinger
Paul Haslinger
Paul Haslinger is an Austrian-born composer and musician currently based in Los Angeles, California.- Life and career :...
from Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
). As Hill explained, "Despite our success, by 2000 things were getting very difficult for record companies our size, and ultimately we sold the label to a larger company in 2001. Luckily we found Jon Birge of Valley Entertainment, who recognized what we had accomplished and has kept the HOS Records catalog together and available." Though not any more associated with its business side, Stephen Hill continues to work on Artist & Repertoire and to produce new recordings for the label.
In January 2010 Valley Entertainment launched a new edition of Valley-Entertainment.com - offering direct digital downloads for the first time.
Recent Discography
- One Drop Is Plenty - Mighty Sam McClainMighty Sam McClainMighty Sam McClain is an American Grammy nominated soul blues singer and songwriter.-Life and career:As a five year old, he began singing in his mother's Gospel Church...
& Knut ReiersrudKnut ReiersrudKnut Reiersrud is a Norwegian blues guitarist. His work also incorporates elements of Norwegian traditional music and African music. He lives in Oslo... - Songs From BeforeSongs from BeforeSongs From Before is the solo debut from Fionnuala Sherry of the New Instrumental duo Secret Garden. The album was self released in Ireland in November 2010. and was released in June 2011 in North America by Hearts of Space Records, an independent record label owned by Valley Entertainment...
- Fionnuala SherryFionnuala SherryFionnuala Sherry is an Irish violinist and vocalist. She makes up the female part of the New Instrumental duo Secret Garden, which won the Eurovision Song Contest 1995 with the predominantly instrumental piece "Nocturne".-Background:... - eQuinox - Ralph ZurmühleRalph ZurmühleRalph Zurmühle is a solo piano composer and a pianist. He studied classical music and jazz until the age of twenty.In 1986 he started composing music for film, theater and multimedia...
- The Queen's Minstrel - Therese Schroeder-ShekerTherese Schroeder-ShekerTherese Schroeder-Sheker is a musician, educator, clinician, and academic dean of the School of Music-Thanatology, which was housed at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Montana from 1992 to 2002....
- State of Grace - Paul SchwartzPaul SchwartzPaul Schwartz is a music producer, composer, arranger, conductor and pianist. His music can be classified as a mixture of chill-out and neo-classical. Basic elements are vocals, piano, violins, and electronic samples...
- TaprootTaproot (Michael Hedges album)Taproot is a recording by guitarist Michael Hedges released on the Windham Hill label. It was a Grammy nominee for Best New Age Album.-Track listing:*All compositions by Michael Hedges except as noted....
- Michael HedgesMichael HedgesMichael Alden Hedges was an American composer, Acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter.-Background:... - Mardi GrasMardi Gras (Cowboy Mouth album)Mardi Gras is a Cowboy Mouth EP that was released in coordination with the band's 16th Annual Rock N' Roll Mardi Gras Tour. The album is composed of Mardi Gras themed music and an acoustic version of a song from the band's 2006 album Voodoo Shoppe.-Track listing:# "Iko Iko" - 2:38# "Hurry Up And...
- Cowboy MouthCowboy MouthCowboy Mouth is a rock band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their name usually means "One with a loud and raucous voice". The nucleus of the band formed in the 1990s, and they have become a powerhouse live act whose performances have been likened to "a religious experience."Some of their most... - Listen To The Banned - Various Artists
- Sacred Songs of MarySacred Songs of MarySacred Songs of Mary is a 2010 compilation album from Valley Entertainment featuring music devoted to Mary . -Track listing:...
- Various Artists - Christmas PrayersChristmas PrayersChristmas Prayers is an album by Jonn Serrie which was released on August 31, 2010 by Valley Entertainment.From Serrie’s website: “Christmas Prayers, released on Valley Entertainment Hearts of Space Records, is a heartfelt arrangement of my favorite compositions coming from my previous Christmas...
- Jonn SerrieJonn SerrieJonn Serrie is a composer of space music, a genre of ambient electronic music, and New Age music. He has recorded at least eighteen albums and worked on various projects for Lucasfilm, IMAX Corporation, NASA, the United States Navy, Hayden Planetarium, Expo Seville, and CNN.-Musical career:Serrie... - Seasons of the Soul - Lisa LynneLisa LynneLisa Lynne is a Celtic harpist and composer and New Age recording artist residing in Los Angeles, California.Lisa Lynne is a self-proclaimed multi-instrumentalist who has "spent the last eighteen years pursuing her passion for the Celtic harp."...
- A Windham Hill Retrospective - Patrick O'HearnPatrick O'HearnPatrick O'Hearn is an American multi-instrumentalist musician, composer and recording artist. While his musical repertoire spans a diverse range of music, he is an acclaimed New Age artist in his solo career...
- Adagio: A Windham Hill Collection - Various Artists
- Into the Deep: America, Whaling & The World - Brian Keane soundtrack to Ric BurnsRic BurnsRic Burns is an American documentary filmmaker and writer. He has written, directed and produced historical documentaries for nearly 20 years, beginning with his collaboration on the celebrated PBS series The Civil War , which he produced with his older brother Ken Burns and wrote with Geoffrey C...
documentary - Scent of Reunion: Love Duets Across CivilizationsScent of Reunion: Love Duets Across CivilizationsScent of Reunion: Love Duets Across Civilizations is an album by Mahsa Vahdat and Mighty Sam McClain which was originally released in Europe by Kirkelig Kulturverksted in late 2009 and then on May 11, 2010 in North America by Valley Entertainment....
- Mahsa Vahdat and Mighty Sam McClainMighty Sam McClainMighty Sam McClain is an American Grammy nominated soul blues singer and songwriter.-Life and career:As a five year old, he began singing in his mother's Gospel Church... - The Mozart Variations - A Windham Hill Collection - Reissue of interpretive album of Mozart's songs by Windham Hill RecordsWindham Hill RecordsWindham Hill Records is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment specializing in Acoustic, New Age and Folk music. Originally founded in 1976 as an Independent record label by guitarist and carpenter William Ackerman and his then-wife Anne Robinson, Windham Hill was a successful and well-respected...
artists. - A Windham Hill Retrospective - Alex de GrassiAlex de GrassiAlex de Grassi is an American Grammy Award-nominated fingerstyle guitarist.-Early life and influences:Though born in Yokosuka, Japan, de Grassi grew up in San Francisco, California, where his grandfather played violin for the San Francisco Symphony and his father was a classical pianist...
- Reissue of acoustic guitarist's early work at Windham Hill RecordsWindham Hill RecordsWindham Hill Records is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment specializing in Acoustic, New Age and Folk music. Originally founded in 1976 as an Independent record label by guitarist and carpenter William Ackerman and his then-wife Anne Robinson, Windham Hill was a successful and well-respected...
. - Celtic Woman 4Celtic Woman 4-External links:* [ Celtic Woman 4 on allmusic.com]*...
- Various Artists - I Believe (A Tribute to the Saints) - New Orleans rock n' roll band Cowboy MouthCowboy MouthCowboy Mouth is a rock band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their name usually means "One with a loud and raucous voice". The nucleus of the band formed in the 1990s, and they have become a powerhouse live act whose performances have been likened to "a religious experience."Some of their most...
's tribute to the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
(digital single). - Music of Grace: Amazing GraceMusic of Grace: Amazing GraceMusic of Grace: Amazing Grace is a 2009 compilation album from Valley Entertainment consisting of fourteen versions of the hymn Amazing Grace.-Track listing:- External links :* [ Music of Grace: Amazing Grace on allmusic.com]*...
- A compilation featuring 14 different versions of the hymn Amazing GraceAmazing Grace"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
. - Imaginary RoadsImaginary RoadsImaginary Roads is the seventh album by New Age guitarist William Ackerman.-Track listing:#"The Moment in Which You Must Finally Let Go of the Tether Which Has Held Your Hope Airborne" – 5:42#"A Region of Clouds" – 4:42#"If You Look" – 5:39...
- William AckermanWilliam AckermanWilliam Ackerman is a Grammy winning guitarist and composer of acoustic-based instrumental music. He founded and ran for many years the influential New Age record label Windham Hill Records.- Career :...
- Reissue of acoustic guitarist and Windham Hill RecordsWindham Hill RecordsWindham Hill Records is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment specializing in Acoustic, New Age and Folk music. Originally founded in 1976 as an Independent record label by guitarist and carpenter William Ackerman and his then-wife Anne Robinson, Windham Hill was a successful and well-respected...
founder's 1988 album. - OracleOracle (Michael Hedges album)Oracle is a recording by guitarist Michael Hedges released on the Windham Hill label. It won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best New Age Album. Oracle peaked at #7 on the Billboard New Age Album charts....
- Michael HedgesMichael HedgesMichael Alden Hedges was an American composer, Acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter.-Background:...
- Reissue of 1998 Grammy Award for Best New Age AlbumGrammy Award for Best New Age AlbumThe Grammy Award for Best New Age Album is presented to recording artists for quality albums in the New Age music genre at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
from the new age guitarist. - Hidden World Beyond - Jonn SerrieJonn SerrieJonn Serrie is a composer of space music, a genre of ambient electronic music, and New Age music. He has recorded at least eighteen albums and worked on various projects for Lucasfilm, IMAX Corporation, NASA, the United States Navy, Hayden Planetarium, Expo Seville, and CNN.-Musical career:Serrie...
and Gary StroutsosGary StroutsosGary Stroutsos is a flute player based in Seattle who plays a variety of genres of music. He has made his mark by tapping into the Native American canon, and has brought several forgotten songs to life. He plays a variety of different flutes from all around the world, and in unusual settings.Gary...
- Reprise collaboration of 2000 release. - Dream - Tuck & PattiTuck & PattiTuck & Patti are an American husband and wife jazz duo.Oklahoma born guitarist Tuck Andress met singer Patti Cathcart, a native of San Francisco, at an audition in Las Vegas in 1980. Prior to this, Tuck had been a session performer with The Gap Band....
- Reissue of 1991 release from husband and wife jazz duo. - Pancho and the Kid - Chris Barron - solo record from lead singer/songwriter of Spin DoctorsSpin DoctorsSpin Doctors is an American alternative rock band formed in New York City, best known for their early 1990s hits, "Two Princes," and "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong," which peaked the Billboard Hot 100 charts at #7 & #17 respectively....
fame.
According to a statement from its director, the company has claimed being "blacklisted" in 2007 by the George W. Bush administration
George W. Bush administration
The presidency of George W. Bush began on January 20, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States of America. The oldest son of former president George H. W. Bush, George W...
for releasing in the U.S. the Norwegian album Lullabies from the Axis of Evil
Lullabies from the Axis of Evil
Lullabies from the Axis of Evil is an album collecting traditional lullabies sung by women from Iraq, Iran, and North Korea , as well as Syria, Libya, and, Cuba , plus Afghanistan and Palestine, mixed with Western performers singing translated versions of the songs.It was conceived by Norwegian...
.
Labels
, published or distributed labels include:- Sledgehammer BluesSledgehammer BluesSledgehammer Blues is an independent record label owned by Valley Entertainment that was formerly named AudioQuest Music.From the label’s website, “The blues label was founded in the late 1980s with the mission to create the highest standard audiophile recordings based on the technology available...
(formerly AudioQuest Music) (59 releases) - Erin (2 releases)
- Hearts of Space RecordsHearts of Space RecordsHearts of Space Records is an independent record label owned by Valley Entertainment.From the label’s website, “Launched in 1984, this record label was created as an extension of the weekly syndicated radio show Hearts of Space...
(147 releases) - RGB (6 releases)
- Valley Entertainment-Windham Hill RecordsWindham Hill RecordsWindham Hill Records is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment specializing in Acoustic, New Age and Folk music. Originally founded in 1976 as an Independent record label by guitarist and carpenter William Ackerman and his then-wife Anne Robinson, Windham Hill was a successful and well-respected...
(14 reissues) - Valley Entertainment (110+ releases)
Further reading
- SEC filing about the relationship between Valley Media Inc. and Valley Entertainment at SEC.gov (two distinct companies; mostly backstory and business data)
- Barney Cohen at Zoominfo.com (recent coverage about him also gives data about the record label company; see also Archive.org to retrieve expired documents)