The European group Outhere Music gets their hands on the catalog of the record company Analekta. An acquisition that will ensure the influence and sustainability of the some 600 albums of the Montreal label specializing in classical music, believes its founder.
“This is great and beautiful news for us, for the musicians and orchestras with whom we work. […] Outhere Music has been distributing us for a long time in several European countries; its founder even became a friend. We share the same artistic vision and the same vision of the development of this society. We could not have made a better choice of integration,” rejoices in an interview with the president and founder of Analekta, François-Mario Labbé.
Launched in 1987, his small business has now become the largest independent classical music label in the country. In 35 years, she has produced 600 albums and recorded more than 200 musicians and ensembles. In its catalog, we find pillars of the classic from here, such as the Orchester symphonique de Montréal, the National Arts Center Orchestra, violinist Angèle Dubeau, pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin and Les Violons du Roy.
In the eyes of Mr. Labbé, the integration of Analekta into the European group Outhere Music, which is in full growth, will make it possible to ensure “greater influence and better distribution on an international scale” of the work of the musicians. and Canadian ensembles with whom his record label works.
“We are their ninth acquisition,” he says. The group already owns major brands, such as Alpha Classics — named label of the year by the magazine Gramophone — or even Channel Classics, the most important label in England. Outhere Music is on its way to becoming the biggest classical music group in the world, it’s not nothing. »
He adds that he is also reassured to see the sustainability of his catalog ensured thanks to this transaction. “I won’t hide that I will be 69 next month. It was becoming an increasingly growing concern for me to know how we could ensure continuity of operations without reducing the quality of the work, “says the founder of the record company.
The time for retirement has not come, however, he argues. “Even with this acquisition, Analekta remains in Montreal and I continue production. We even have 15 new album releases scheduled between now and April 2023.”
“The integration of Analekta into our family of major labels is an important step. This is our first foray into the American continent, starting with Quebec, where we have strong affinities. We know the Analekta catalog very well, which we have been distributing for many years; they produce great artists and share our commitment to culture and quality. […] I am thrilled to continue to follow this path with Analekta,” Outhere Music Founder and President Charles Adriaenssen said in a statement.
Founded in 2004, the group has established itself in Brussels, Paris, Milan, London, the Netherlands and Mexico. They are one of the largest independent classical music production and recording groups in the world. Its productions range from early music to contemporary music, including jazz and world music.