Valley Entertainment is an American

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

and music distributor based in New York City, United States. The company was founded in 1994 by Barney Cohen and Jon Birge. In 2001, it acquired the prestigious back catalogue of

space Space is the boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events have relative position and direction. In classical physics, physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider ...

, ambient, and

new-age music New-age is a genre of music intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation technique, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management to bring about a state of ecs ...

from

Hearts of Space Records Hearts of Space Records is a record label owned by Valley Entertainment. The label represents several sublabels, including Hearts of Space, Hearts O'Space, Fathom, RGB, and World Class. History Hearts of Space Records was founded in 1984 as an ...

. , it has a catalogue of about 375 releases.

History

In 1979, Barney Cohen founded Valley Media (a separate company) and opened Valley Record Distributors in 1984. In 1994, 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 and Jon Birge.Ambient News
"Valley Entertainment Announces Acquisition of Hearts of Space Records!"
(scroll down), via

Archive.org The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

In 2001, they acquired from Stephen Hill the prestigiousSande, Steve (2004)
"The sky's the limit with ambient music"
''

San Francisco Chronicle The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and M. H. de Young, Michael H. de ...

'', January 11, 2004, p. PK-18, at SFGate.com via

: " ..the Sausalito record label Hearts of Space, which has carved out a dominant niche in the area of avant-garde electronica by providing what he calls "slow music for fast times." ..The success of companies like Hearts of Space (which was purchased by New York's Valley Entertainment in 2001), the abundance of do-it-yourself home studios and an increase in tech-knowledgeable customers suggest that the market for ambient music may increase in the near future." trademark and back catalogue of his

(including among its about 140 releases such albums as

Constance Demby Constance Mary Demby (née Eggers; May 9, 1939 – March 20, 2021) was an American musician, composer, painter, sculptor, and multimedia producer. Her music fell into several categories, most notably new age, ambient and space music.Wright, Car ...

's 1986 ''

Novus Magnificat ''Novus Magnificat: Through the Stargate'' is a 1986 album by American musician Constance Demby, with additional contributions by composer Michael Stearns. The album sold over 200,000 copies worldwide.Phoenix, Robert (2007)"Constance Demby: Heavy ...

'',

Michael Stearns Michael Stearns (born October 16, 1948) is an American 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 ...

's 1988 ''

Encounter Encounter or Encounters may refer to: Film *''Encounter'', a 1997 Indian film by Nimmala Shankar * ''Encounter'' (2013 film), a Bengali film * ''Encounter'' (2018 film), an American sci-fi film * ''Encounter'' (2021 film), a British sci-fi film * ...

'',

Rich Rich may refer to: Common uses * Rich, an entity possessing wealth * Rich, an intense flavor, color, sound, texture, or feeling ** Rich (wine), a descriptor in wine tasting Places United States * Rich, Mississippi, an unincorporated commun ...

Roach Roach may refer to: Animals * Cockroach, various insect species of the order Blattodea * Common roach (''Rutilus rutilus''), a fresh and brackish water fish of the family Cyprinidae ** ''Rutilus'' or roaches, a genus of fishes * California roach ...

's 1990 ''

Strata In geology and related fields, a stratum ( : strata) is a layer of rock or sediment characterized by certain lithologic properties or attributes that distinguish it from adjacent layers from which it is separated by visible surfaces known as ei ...

'',

Lustmord Brian Williams is a Welsh industrial musician, sound designer and film score composer. He is often credited for creating the dark ambient genre with albums recorded under the name Lustmord. His experimental work has been described as "not tra ...

's 1995 '' Stalker'', Steve Roach's 1996 ''The Magnificent Void'', Robert Rich's 1998 ''

Seven Veils ''Seven Veils'' (1998) is an album by the United States, U.S. Ambient music, ambient musician Robert Rich (musician), Robert Rich. It is inspired by Arab culture and Arabic music, music. This album has a heightened emphasis on rhythms,Rich, "Seve ...

'', and solo albums by

Paul Haslinger Paul Haslinger (born 11 December 1962) is an Austrian musician and composer. He lives and works in Los Angeles, California. Life and career Early life Haslinger was born and raised in Linz, Austria. He attended high school at Kollegium Alois ...

from

Tangerine Dream Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music band founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The group has seen many personnel changes over the years, with Froese having been the only constant member until his death in January 2015. The best-known lineup ...

). 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 Artists and repertoire (colloquially abbreviated to A&R) is the division of a record label or music publishing company that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists (singers, instrumentalist ...

and to produce new recordings for the label.

Discography

2018

* ''

Winter into Spring ''Winter into Spring'' is the third solo album of pianist George Winston, released in 1982. It was inspired by the transition of the seasons and was the follow-up to his 1980 album, Autumn Autumn, also known as fall in American English an ...

: Special Edition'' -

George Winston George Winston (born December 26, 1949) is an American pianist, guitarist, harmonicist, and record producer. He was born in Michigan and raised mainly in Montana ( Miles City and Billings), as well as Mississippi and Florida. He is best known fo ...

* ''Live'' -

Karla Bonoff Karla may refer to: People * Karla (name), a feminine given name * Petras Karla (1937–1969), Soviet Olympic rower Places * Karla, Kose Parish, a village in Harju County, Estonia * Karla, Rae Parish, a village in Harju County, Estonia * Kärl ...

2017

* ''Epiphany: Meditations on Sacred Hymns'' -

Jonn Serrie Jonn Serrie is an American composer of space music, a genre of ambient electronic music, and New Age music. He has recorded at least 18 albums and worked on projects for Lucasfilm, IMAX Corporation, NASA, the United States Navy, Hayden Planetar ...

* ''Ready'' - Frank Barter * ''Faith'' -

Jim Brickman James Merrill Brickman (born November 20, 1961) is an American pop songwriter, pianist and radio host. Brickman has earned two Grammy nominations for his albums ''Peace'' (2003) for Best Instrumental, and ''Faith'' (2009) for Best New Age Album ...

* ''Soothe, Volume 3: Meditation - Music for Peaceful Relaxation'' -

* '' Autumn'' -

* ''Dream Cycle'' - Michael Whalen * ''The Assumption'' - Monastic Choir of the Abbey Notre Dame de Fontgombault

2016

* ''Soothe 1: Music to Quiet Your Mind & Soothe Your World'' -

* ''Soothe 2: Sleep - Music for Tranquil Slumber'' -

* ''Comfort & Joy'' -

* ''Land Ho!'' - The Forest Rangers * ''Liturgical Treasures from Bulgaria'' - Various Artists

2015

* ''Traces of an Old Vineyard'' -

Mahsa Vahdat Mahsa Vahdat (in Persian مهسا وحدت) (born 29 October 1973, Tehran, Iran) is a Persian classical and world music vocalist. Mahsa Vahdat's music style is contemporary expression inspired by old traditional and folk and regional music of ...

* ''

Bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

'' -

Lisbeth Scott Lisbeth Scott (born 1 January 1978) is an American composer, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter of Armenian origin, born in Boston, Massachusetts. She is featured on the soundtracks for the films ''Avatar'', ''Avatar: The W ...

* ''Legacy'' - Liz Madden

2014

* '' A Few Images (Algumas Imagens)'' -

Tania Saleh Tania Saleh ( ar, تانيا صالح; born March 11, 1969) is a Lebanese singer-songwriter, present in the Arabic independent musical scene since 1990. Early life Tania Saleh is a Lebanese singer, songwriter and visual artist. She is consi ...

* '' Turning Back'' -

Dina El Wedidi Dina El Wedidi ( ar, دينا الوديدي), is an Egyptian singer, composer, guitarist, music producer, and storyteller. Dina has been known as the lead performer of an ensemble of musicians who have performed extensively in the past 2 years, f ...

* ''

Songs from a Stolen Spring ''Songs from a Stolen Spring'' is a compilation album that mainly features duets and mashups of protest and peace songs performed by pairings of Western musicians with their contemporaries from the countries where the Arab Spring The Ara ...

'' - Various Artists * '' Sacred Songs of Mary 2'' - Various Artists * ''Hypnosis: Deep House Sitar'' - Ronobir * ''In Search of Divine Light'' - Divna * ''Sacred Songs of the Renaissance'' -

Huelgas Ensemble The Huelgas Ensemble is a Belgian early music group formed by the Flemish conductor Paul Van Nevel in 1971. The group's performance and extensive discography focuses on Renaissance polyphony. The name of the ensemble refers to a manuscript of pol ...

2013

* ''

Plains In geography, a plain is a flat expanse of land that generally does not change much in elevation, and is primarily treeless. Plains occur as lowlands along valleys or at the base of mountains, as coastal plains, and as plateaus or uplands. In ...

'' -

* ''

December December is the twelfth and final month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and is also the last of seven months to have a length of 31 days. December got its name from the Latin word ''decem'' (meaning ten) because it was or ...

'' -

* ''Sacred Songs of Hope '' - Various Artists * '' Copper: Original Soundtrack'' -

Brian Keane Brian Keane (born January 18, 1953) is a multi Emmy and Grammy award-winning American composer, music producer, and guitarist. Keane has been described as "a musician's musician, a composer's composer, and one of the most talented producers of a ...

* ''

Larry Kirwan's Celtic Invasion ''Larry Kirwan's Celtic Invasion'' is a 2013 compilation album of Celtic rock music. The album's tracks were selected by Larry Kirwan: taig, expatriate Irish writer, radio host and musician, most noted as the lead singer for the New York-base ...

'' - Various Artists

2012

* ''Sacred Songs of Angels'' - Various Artists * ''Death and the Civil War (Soundtrack)'' -

* ''The Long Road Down (Song from the Miniseries Hatfields & McCoys)'' -

* ''A Deeper Tone of Longing: Love Duets Across Civilizations'' - Mahsa Vahdat and

Mighty Sam McClain Samuel McClain (April 15, 1943 – June 15, 2015), billed as Mighty Sam McClain, was an American soul blues singer and songwriter. Life and career He was born in Monroe, Louisiana. As a five-year-old, he began singing in his mother's Gospel ...

* ''Colours'' -

Finbar Furey Finbar Furey (born 28 September 1946) is a multi-instrumental Irish folk musician, best known for his band of brothers, The Fureys. The Fureys were formed in Ballyfermot, Dublin, where they grew up. Early life Finbar Furey was born on 28 Septe ...

* ''Angelic Light: Music from Eastern Cathedrals'' -

Cappella Romana Cappella Romana is a vocal ensemble founded in 1991 in Portland, Oregon. Its name, meaning "Roman Chapel", refers to the medieval Greek concept of the Roman oikoumene (inhabited world), which embraced Rome and Western Europe, as well as the Byzant ...

2011

* ''Sunday Morning Peace'' -

* ''One Drop Is Plenty'' -

Knut Reiersrud Knut Reiersrud (born 12 February 1961) is a Norwegian blues guitarist. His work also incorporates elements of Norwegian traditional music and African music. Reiersrud has recorded and played with David Lindley, the Blind Boys Of Alabama, Rickie ...

* '' Songs From Before'' - Fionnuala Sherry * ''eQuinox'' - Ralph Zurmühle * ''The Queen's Minstrel'' - Therese Schroeder-Sheker * ''State of Grace'' -

Paul Schwartz Paul Schwartz (born 1956) is an American record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist. the basic elements of which are voice, piano, violin, and electronic samples. He has collaborated with vocalists Lisbeth Scott and Rebecca Luke ...

* ''

Taproot A taproot is a large, central, and dominant root from which other roots sprout laterally. Typically a taproot is somewhat straight and very thick, is tapering in shape, and grows directly downward. In some plants, such as the carrot, the taproo ...

'' -

Michael Hedges Michael Alden Hedges (December 31, 1953 – December 2, 1997) was an American acoustic guitarist and songwriter. Early years The son of Thayne Alden Hedges and Ruth Evelyn Hedges Ipsen, Michael Hedges was born in Sacramento, California. His l ...

* '' Mardi Gras'' -

Cowboy Mouth Cowboy Mouth is an American band based in New Orleans, Louisiana known for fusing alternative rock with album-oriented rock, roots rock, and jam band influences. Formed in 1992, the band saw early mainstream success in the 1990s, including th ...

2010

* '' Listen To The Banned'' - Various Artists * '' Sacred Songs of Mary'' - Various Artists * '' Christmas Prayers'' -

* ''Into the Deep: America, Whaling & The World'' - Brian Keane soundtrack to Ric Burns documentary * '' Scent of Reunion: Love Duets Across Civilizations'' - Mahsa Vahdat and

*''

Celtic Woman 4 ''Celtic Woman 4'' is the fourth release in a compilation series from Valley Entertainment that began in 1998. The album brings songs, both original and traditional, from CDs released in Ireland, Scotland, and England to the United States. It fe ...

'' - Various Artists

2007

*''Miss Blues'es Child'' -

Eli Cook Eli Cook (1814–1865) was Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the he ...

According to a statement from its director, the company has claimed being "blacklisted" in 2007 by the

George W. Bush administration George W. Bush's tenure as the 43rd president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 2001, and ended on January 20, 2009. Bush, a Republican from Texas, took office following a narrow victory over Democratic ...

for releasing in the U.S. the Norwegian album ''

Lullabies from the Axis of Evil ''Lullabies from the Axis of Evil'' (2004) is an album collecting traditional lullabies sung by women from Iraq, Iran, and North Korea ("the axis of evil"), as well as Syria, Libya, and Cuba ("beyond the axis of evil"), plus Afghanistan and Pales ...

''.

Labels

, published or distributed labels include the following: * Sledgehammer Blues (formerly AudioQuest Music) (59 releases) * Erin (2 releases) *

(150+ releases) ** RGB (6 releases) * Valley Entertainment-

Windham Hill Records Windham Hill Records was an independent record label that specialized in instrumental acoustic music. It was founded by guitarist William Ackerman and Anne Robinson (née McGilvray) in 1976 and was popular in the 1980s and 1990s. The label was ...

(14 reissues) * Valley Entertainment (120+ releases)

References

External links

Valley-Entertainment.com
– official website
Valley Entertainment MySpace
{{Authority control American independent record labels Ambient music record labels New-age music record labels Electronic music record labels Record labels established in 1996 Record label distributors

History

Discography

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2007

Labels

References

Further reading

External links