Som Livre (Portuguese for "''Free Sound''") is a Brazilian record company that was founded in 1969 in order to commercialize its soap opera soundtracks. It later expanded to recording studio albums. Today, Som Livre is Brazil's largest domestic label and was formerly part of

Grupo Globo Grupo Globo ( en, Globo Group), formerly known as Organizações Globo ( en, Globo Organization), is a Brazilian private mass media conglomerate based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Founded in 1925 by Irineu Marinho, it is the largest media group i ...

, which is the biggest media conglomerate in Brazil. In November 2020, Globo placed the label up for sale. In April 2021, it was acquired by

Sony Music Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment (SME), also known as simply Sony Music, is an American multinational music company. Being owned by the parent conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, it is part of the Sony Music Group, which is owned by Sony Entertainmen ...

for an undisclosed amount. The sale was approved by the national competition regulator Cade on 4 November 2021 and was completed on 4 March 2022.

History

Som Livre was founded in 1969 by music producer João Araújo. It was founded with the purpose of developing and commercializing soap opera soundtracks produced by TV Globo. Its first

telenovela A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include '' teleserye'' ...

soundtrack was ''

O Cafona ''O Cafona'' is a 1971 Brazilian telenovela A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar Drama (fi ...

'' (1971). Other notable soundtracks produced by the label include: ''

O Bem-Amado ''O Bem-Amado'' is a Brazilian telenovela that first aired on Rede Globo in 1973. It is based on a play by Dias Gomes called ''Odorico, o Bem-Amado ou Os Mistérios do Amor e da Morte'', written in 1962. It was the first Brazilian color telenovela ...

'', '' O Bofe'', ''

O Primeiro Amor '' O Primeiro Amor'' is a Brazilian telenovela produced and broadcast by TV Globo TV Globo (, "Globe TV", or simply Globo), formerly known as Rede Globo, is a Brazilian free-to-air television network, launched by media proprietor Roberto M ...

'' (''The First Love''), '' O Espigão'' (''The Spike''), '' Corrida do Ouro'' (''The Gold Rush''), '' Os Ossos do Barão'' (''The Bones of the Baron''), and ''

O Rebu ''O Rebu'' ( Literally English: ''The Fuss'', International Title: ''The Party'') is a Brazilian late night telenovela written by George Moura and Sérgio Goldenberg (based on Bráulio Pedroso's original story) and directed by José Luiz Villamari ...

''. In the early 1970s, the label partnered with Sonopresse, Disques Carrere, and Disques Trema to release music videos in Brazil. In 1974, Som Livre created the "SOMA" label with the intention of developing more affordable albums. Som Livre began collaborations with musical artists Djavan and Rita Lee in 1976. Other musical artist collaborators included:

Guilherme Arantes Guilherme Arantes () is a Brazilian singer-songwriter and pianist. He is Steinway Artist. As a teenager, he was a member of the band Os Polissonantes, which also featured Brazilian actor Kadu Moliterno on bass guitar. In 1969, Arantes started t ...

, Tim Maia,

Lulu Santos Lulu Santos, stage name of Luiz Maurício Pragana dos Santos (born May 4, 1953), is a Brazilian singer and guitarist. Career Lulu was born in Rio de Janeiro. Beginning in the progressive rock band Vímana, he left the band and embarked on a ...

Barão Vermelho Barão Vermelho () is a Brazilian rock band. Formed in 1981 in Rio de Janeiro, it was originally led by songwriting duo Cazuza (singer) and Roberto Frejat (guitarist), who assumed the vocals after Cazuza's departure in 1985. Frejat left the ba ...

Cazuza Agenor de Miranda Araújo Neto, better known as Cazuza (; April 4, 1958 – July 7, 1990), was a Brazilian singer and songwriter, born in Rio de Janeiro. Along with Raul Seixas, Renato Russo and Os Mutantes, Cazuza, both while fronting Barão Ver ...

Luiz Melodia Luiz Carlos dos Santos (7 January 1951 – 4 August 2017), widely known by his stage name Luiz Melodia, was a Brazilian singer-songwriter whose music was a characteristic crossover of multiple Music genres including Música popular brasileira ( ...

Gal Costa Gal Maria da Graça Costa Penna Burgos (born Maria da Graça Costa Penna Burgos; 26 September 1945 – 9 November 2022), known professionally as Gal Costa (), was a Brazilian singer of popular music. She was one of the main figures of the tro ...

Simone Simone may refer to: * Simone (given name), a feminine (or Italian masculine) given name of Hebrew origin * Simone (surname), an Italian surname Simone may also refer to: * Simone (1918 film), ''Simone'' (1918 film), a French silent drama film * S ...

, Jorge Ben Jor, Renata Vasconcellos, Elis Regina,

Fafá de Belém Fafá de Belém, born Maria de Fátima Palha de Figueiredo in Belém do Pará on August 9, 1956, is a Brazilian singer considered one of the great female singers of MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira). She took her stage name from the city of her b ...

Moraes Moreira Antônio Carlos Moreira Pires (July 8, 1947 – April 13, 2020), better known as Moraes Moreira , was a Brazilian musician and songwriter. During the 1970s he played guitar and sang in the band Novos Baianos, after which he embarked on a ...

Djavan Djavan Caetano Viana (; born 27 January 1949) is a Brazilian singer-songwriter. Early life and career Djavan was born in Maceió, Brazil to a white father of Dutch descent and a black mother. He later formed the group Luz, Som, Dimensão (LSD ...

Novos Baianos Novos Baianos (English: ''New Bahians'') were a Brazilian rock and MPB group from Salvador, Bahia, in 1969. The group was active between 1969 and 1979, enjoying success throughout the 1970s. The group had reunions in 1997 and 2015 respectivel ...

, Fábio Jr.,

Agepê Antônio Gilson Porfírio (August 10, 1942 – August 30, 1995), better known as Agepê, was a Brazilian singer and composer. His nickname consists of the initials ''AGP'', of his name. His discography is characterized by a romantic and sensua ...

Francis Hime Francis Hime (Rio de Janeiro, August 31, 1939) is a Brazilian composer, arranger, pianist and singer. He is the composer of the jazz standard ''Minha / All Mine'', recorded, among others, by Bill Evans, Tony Bennett and Eliane Elias Eliane Eli ...

, and

Xuxa Maria da Graça Xuxa Meneghel ( ; ; born Maria da Graça Meneghel, 27 March 1963) is a Brazilian television host, film actress, singer, model, and businesswoman. Known as "Queen of Little Ones", Xuxa built the largest Latin American children's e ...

. In 1988, the label produced Xuxa’s third album “Xou da Xuxa 3,” which was the best selling album in Som Livre’s history with 3,316,704 copies sold. In 1999, the company started selling its products online, reaching R$1.342 million in sales within four months. Som Livre was the first Brazilian record label to release cell phone ringtones. In 2007, Som Livre released its SLAP label, which focused on signing on new Brazilian talent. New artists collaborations included: Latin Grammy-nominated Maria Gadú and Michel Teló,

Tiago Iorc Tiago Iorczeski (born November 28, 1985) is a Brazilian singer-songwriter and record producer. As a child, he lived in England and in the United States. Despite having no musical background in his family, Tiago started playing the acoustic guita ...

, and Little Joy. In celebration of its 5-year anniversary, SLAP hosted a music festival at Cine Jóia in

São Paulo São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for ' Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the GaW ...

. The festival featured: Maria Gadú, Silva, Thaís Gulin, Tiago Iorc, Ana Canãs, Dani Black, and Jesuton and Marcelo Jeneci. In 2014, Som Livre partnered with Eagle Rock Entertainment, signing onto international artists such as

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically dr ...

and

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...

. In 2016, the label launched its Austro Music label, dedicated to electronic music. Austro Music has worked with DJ DIB, Elefantz, Naza Brothers, and WAO. With the rise in streaming service popularity, Som Livre partnered with Deezer, Spotify, Apple Music, and Globoplay. With Spotify, the two companies developed a new component through app which paired 27 iconic telenovela characters to their respective soundtrack. In 2018, the label worked with Apple Music to stream its music on Apple's platform. Som Livre’s partnership with Globoplay led to an "on demand" service, in which the label released artist content exclusively for its subscribers.

Gospel

Som Livre was the first record label to invest in Brazil’s gospel music market. In 2009, Som Livre released its first gospel album “CD Promessas,” which sold 500,000 copies. The following year, the label launched Festival Promessas, the biggest evangelical music event in Brazil. According to the Brazilian Association of Record Producers (ABPD), gospel music was the second most popular musical genre in Brazil in 2011. In 2012, Som Livre launched "Você Adora", a gospel subdivision of the label. Amongst Você Adora’s gospel artists are Ludmila Ferber, David Quinlan, Rose Nascimento, André Valadão, Eliane Silva,

Davi Sacer Davi Sacer, stage name of Davi Amorim de Oliveira (Nova Iguaçu, November 30, 1975) is a Brazilian gospel singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He began his career in music at the age of eight when he became the lead singer of his older bro ...

, and Ton Carfi.

Labels

* Austro Music * SLAP *Soma *Diretoria Funk *Inbraza *Sigem

Som Livre Masters series

Som Livre commissioned Charles Gavin to select 25 rare albums for inclusion in their Som Livre Masters Series of CD reissues. The albums:Som livre
#''Sambas'' – Dom Júnior, Walter Wanderley, Milton Banana #'' Bossa nova, nova bossa'' –

Manfredo Fest Manfredo Irmin Fest (May 13, 1936 – October 8, 1999) was a bossa nova and jazz pianist, keyboardist, and bandleader from Brazil. Legally blind, he was born in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and he died at 63 years old in Tampa Bay, F ...

#''Bossa Jazz Trio'' – Bossa Jazz Trio #''Sansa Trio'' – Sansa Trio #''Os Brazões'' – Os Brazões #''

Em Som Maior ''Em som maior'' is the only album recorded by Sambrasa Trio, a Brazilian group formed by Hermeto Pascoal, Humberto Clayber and Airto Moreira. It was released on an LP in 1965 and presents a fusion of various musical rhythms, including samba and j ...

'' – Sambrasa Trio #''Sambossa 5'' #''Quarteto Bossamba'' – Walter Wanderley #''

Reencontro com Sambalanço Trio ''Reencontro com Sambalanço Trio'' is the fourth album recorded by Sambalanço Trio. It was released on an LP in 1965 and presents a fusion of samba and jazz. In 2006 this album was reissued on CD as part of the Som Livre Masters series organized ...

'' – Sambalanço Trio #''Som 3'' – Cesar Camargo Mariano #''Os Sambistas'' – Paulinho da Viola #''Decisão'' – Zimbo Trio #''Brazilian Octopus'' – Hermeto Pascoal #''Com Dizia O Poeta'' –

Vinicius de Moraes Marcus Vinícius da Cruz e Mello Moraes (19 October 1913 – 9 July 1980), better known as Vinícius de Moraes () and nicknamed O Poetinha ("The little poet"), was a Brazilian poet, diplomat, lyricist, essayist, musician, singer, and playwrigh ...

, Marília Medalha,

Toquinho Antônio Pecci Filho (born July 6, 1946), better known as Toquinho (), is a Brazilian singer and guitarist. He is well known for his collaborations, as composer and performer, with Vinicius de Moraes. Childhood and musical studies Toquinho was b ...

#'' E deixa o relógio andar'' – Osmar Milito #'' Rosinha de Valença'' – Rosinha de Valença #''Molhado de Suor'' –

Alceu Valença Alceu Valença (born July 1, 1946) is a Brazilian singer, musician and songwriter. Alceu Valenca was born in countryside Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. He is considered the most successful artist in achieving an aesthetic balance between traditi ...

#''

Vila Sésamo ''Vila Sésamo'' (formerly known as ''Sésamo'' from 2016 to 2022) is a Brazilian co-production of the first preschool television programme ''Sesame Street''. As of 2009 it airs on TV Rá-Tim-Bum.Novos Baianos Novos Baianos (English: ''New Bahians'') were a Brazilian rock and MPB group from Salvador, Bahia, in 1969. The group was active between 1969 and 1979, enjoying success throughout the 1970s. The group had reunions in 1997 and 2015 respectivel ...

#''Gerson Conrad e Zeze Motta'' #'' Sítio do Picapau Amarelo'' #''Tim Maia'' – Tim Maia #''Vontade De Rever Você'' – Marcos Valle #''Nave Maria'' – Tom Zé #''Línguas De Fogo'' – Sidney Miller #''Gustavo So Para Baixinhos - Gustavo Sibilio Borges

Artists

*Amigos *Anezzi * Bhaskar *Bivolt * Carol & Vitoria * César Menotti e Fabiano *

Céu Maria do Céu Whitaker Poças, known professionally as Céu (; born 17 April 1980), is a Brazilian singer-songwriter whose first American album was released on the Six Degrees Records label in April 2007. Career life She was born in São Pa ...

*Cleber & Cauan *Costa Gold *

* Edi Rock *Edu Chociay *

Erasmo Carlos Erasmo Carlos (born Erasmo Esteves; 5 June 1941 – 22 November 2022) was a Brazilian singer and songwriter, most closely associated with his friend and longtime collaborator Roberto Carlos (no relation). Together, they created many chart hits ...

* Filipe Ret * Gaab *Gustavo Bertoni *Gustavo Sibilio Borges *Haikass * Hugo & Guilherme * Inbraza * Israel & Rodolffo * Jads & Jadson * Jefferson Moraes * João Bosco * João Cavalcanti * João Neto & Frederico * Jonas Esticado *Jonathan Ferr *

Jorge & Mateus Jorge & Mateus is a musical duo and one of the most famous interpreters of sertanejo music. The duo is composed of Goiás, Brazil-based vocalists Jorge Alves Barcelos (born August 27, 1982) and Mateus Pedro Liduário de Oliveira (born July 15, ...

*Kafé * Kekel * Kevin o Chris * Laila Garin * Lexa *Los Pantchos *Lu & Alex *Luiza & Maurílio *Luthuly *

Maiara & Maraisa Maiara & Maraisa is a sertanejo musical duo consisting of twin sisters Maiara Carla Henrique Pereira and Carla Maraísa Henrique Pereira (born 31 December 1987). Both of them are singers, songwriters, multi-instrumentalists and businesswomen. ...

* Mano Walter * Marcelo Jeneci * Maria Gadú *Mariana Fagundes *

Marília Mendonça Marília Dias Mendonça (; 22 July 1995 – 5 November 2021) was a Brazilian singer, songwriter and instrumentalist. She is posthumously recognized in Brazil as the 'queen of sofrência', a subgenre of sertanejo music, and has been recognized f ...

*Matheus Fernandes *May & Karen *Menos É Mais * Michel Teló *Mojjo *

Ney Matogrosso Ney de Souza Pereira (born 1 August 1941), known professionally as Ney Matogrosso (), is a Brazilian singer who is distinguished for his uncommon countertenor voice. He was ranked by ''Rolling Stone'' as the third greatest Latin American singer ...

*Nicolas Germano *

* Onze:20 * Raça Negra *Raí Saia Rodada *Ralk *Rayane & Rafaela * Roberto Menescal *Samhara *

Scalene Scalene may refer to: * A scalene triangle, one in which all sides and angles are not the same. * A scalene ellipsoid, one in which the lengths of all three semi-principal axes are different * Scalene muscles of the neck * Scalene tubercle The sc ...

* Thiaguinho *Tiee * Ton Carfi *Welington & Nillo * Wesley Safadão * Xand Avião * Zé Felipe *Zé Maria * Zé Neto & Cristiano

References

External links

Som Livre

Dicogs entry
{{Authority control Brazilian record labels IFPI members Sony Music 2021 mergers and acquisitions