Universal Music recently signed an International License Agreement with the Concord Music Group (which now incorporates Fantasy Records).  The deal has already delivered two terrific new releases including John Fogerty's The Long Road Home and Isaac Hayes - Ultimate Isaac Hayes: Can You Dig It?  

From March, 2006 UMA will also take on distribution of Concord and Fantasy's prestigious back catalogues - a collection of diverse, influential and popular repertoire spanning over 60 years of musical history.  From the inception of the Specialty Records and Fantasy labels in 1946 and 1949 (respectively), through to a multitude of influential boutique labels representing a fine cross section of seminal popular and jazz artists including excellent Blues, Gospel, Roots, Jazz, Soundtracks, 1960's/70's Rock and of course the legendary Stax soul label.

CONCORD MUSIC GROUP - AN INTRODUCTION

Concord Records, a prominent 31-year-old, active record label focused on jazz, traditional pop and adult contemporary formats, was enjoying considerable success in 2004 ¾ in association with Starbucks Hear Music(TM) ¾ with the multi-platinum release of Ray Charles' final recording Genius Loves Company. Early in the year, it had forged a new partnership with Universal Music and Video Distribution and extended its reach to new audiences across the United States. Then in December, Concord announced that it had completed its acquisition of Fantasy, Inc, the home of one of the largest and most prestigious catalogs of jazz, blues, R&B and rock music in the world.

Concord Records and Fantasy, Inc. merged to create the Concord Music Group. Immediately, it became one of the largest independent record companies in the world and keeper of an extraordinarily rich ¾ and, in many cases, historically significant ¾ catalog of recordings from some of the most admired and enduing names in music.

Over its 31-year history, Concord Records has amassed an enormous catalog of albums from such legends as Ray Brown, Charlie Byrd, Rosemary Clooney, Stan Getz, Gene Harris, Tito Puente, Mel Torme, and Mongo Santamaria. The label's current roster of vocal and instrumental artists includes Karrin Allyson, Patti Austin, Regina Belle, Caribbean Jazz Project, Peter Cincotti, Michael Feinstein, Nnenna Freelon, LaToya London, Marian McPartland, Barry Manilow, Ozomatli, Eddie Palmieri, The Rippingtons, Poncho Sanchez, Curtis Stigers and Maurice White. Early this year, Concord had its best showing ever at the 47th Annual GRAMMY® Awards, with 14 nominations and nine awards. Genius Loves Company tied the record for most wins for a single album (alongside Thriller and Supernatural), winning eight awards, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year.

Under the umbrella of Concord Music Group's Fantasy labels ¾ Contemporary / Good Time Jazz, Debut, Fantasy, Galaxy, Kicking Mule, Milestone, Pablo, Prestige / New Jazz, Riverside / Jazzland, Stax / Volt / Enterprise, Specialty and Tacoma ¾ is an enviable, and much revered, list of recordings from many of the most popular names in the history of jazz, blues, R&B and rock. Among them are John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Ella Fitzgerald, Vince Guaraldi, Isaac Hayes, Little Richard, Thelonious Monk, Otis Redding, Sonny Rollins, The Staples Sisters, and many others. Fantasy's catalog also includes original soundtrack recordings for the Academy Award winners for Best Picture "Amadeus," "The English Patient," and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," as well as the original animated version of "The Lord of the Rings."