list Artists who own their master recordings

Beautifully explained, John.

The only thing I would change is to say that technically Phonodisc was the first US distributor after WEA lost RSO. No biggie. Polygram Distribution soon replaced Phonodisc.

 

Keeping in mind how clever she is, I think Madonna must own her master recordings, but don't know for sure.

Tom Scholz owns the masters for Boston's albums with MCA (Third Stage, Walk On) and Artemis (Corporate America).

 

Hey thanks!

I just re-checked both sides now and I have to correct an error in my original post (#74). Both Sides states that Atlantic was the first distributor of RSO, starting in 1973 and going until 1975. I'm not sure if they're talking only about the US distribution of RSO.

I don't doubt your Phonodisc info - thanks for the clarification.


John
vancouver bc

 

Yeah, it gets complicated. I only worked in US distribution, so I can't comment about worldwide distribution. But for a while WEA still had certain RSO titles, while Phonodisc had others. Eventually Polygram Distribution had all the RSO US distribution, but the whole label didn't go from Atlantic to Polygram overnight. Nothing is ever simple.

 

Warner's bought up Festival a couple of yrs ago or so,Rhino would be looking after that now I guess.

 

I seem to recall that the following artists control their own master recordings:

Andy Williams
Joni James
Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme

 

Hi,

Andy Williams also owns the entire Cadence Records catalogue to boot. He had to purchase the label to get his masters when Archie Bleyer lost interest in running Cadence Records in 1964. So he also has the Chordettes, The Everly Brothers, Johnny Tillotson, and more!

 

Look on the back of the "Essentials" career-spanning compilation. He retroactively aquired all the masters when he "re-upped" his contract(s).

Led Zep

ACDC

Blondie(according to a bio on their official website)

Lots of Neil Young's catalogue

 

Yes, which I've brought up on a number of Bee Gees threads since the talk of remasters started.

 

I'm sure someone has already mentioned Paul McCartney. George Harrison owned all the Dark Horse stuff he recorded. Yoko owns the last two albums she recorded with John. John Fogerty owns everything from "Centerfield" on.

 

Amy Grant controls the rights to her own catalog

 

Larry Norman apparently owns the rights to his own catalog, and everything else the Solid Rock label has released.

 

The Kinks and The Stones own their later recordings.

 

Are there many artists who own their master recordings, as opposed to the label they record on?

 

Metallica, Motley Crue, Foo Fighters, Shellac ...

 

Always wondered about AC/DC.
In 2003 the whole catalogue went to Epic and I suspected that the band did it (and had the power to do so) rather than the catalogue was sold by the label.
Why on earth would any label sell Back In Black for any sum?

 

Springsteen

 

Dave Clark, Joni James, Petula Clark, Frankie Valli....There are more I'm sure.

 

Paul Anka
Garth Brooks
Ray Charles' estate (ABC years and beyond)
The Four Seasons (Vee-Jay and Philips masters at least)
Amy Grant (virtually all)
Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme
Paul McCartney (solo years)
John Mellencamp (virtually all)
Paul Simon (solo years)
The Turtles

 

Jack white

 

David Bowie estate (1969 and later)
Elvis Costello
The Kinks (1971 and later)
The Rolling Stones (1971 and later)

 

The George Harrison estate.

 

Does the estate own the Apple-era (1968-75) recordings now? They've always owned the Dark Horse years and Traveling Wilburys.

 

Neil Young