The Kontor New Media team comprises twelve experts in the field of content aggregation and distribution. Let us successfully market your music and music videos! Get in touch with us now!
Chartentry Without A Single Release
This week, "The Anthem" by Pitbull (Bodog Music) entered the German single charts only through digital track sales off the album "The Boatlift" on # 94, which is absolutely sensational and never-seen-before in the German charts! That impressively proves how hot the track is here and immediately sets fire everywhere. You can expect an even bigger success when the single will be released officially on March 21st!
Major Records
Kontor New Media is now taking over the digital distribution for the Hamburg based label Major Records. Hayo Lewerentz, managing director of Major Records said about the collaboration "We are happy [...] to have with Kontor New Media a qualified and creative partner for our digital distribution - and a good home for our upcoming products of artists such as Ladytron and IAMX."
The first product is the third volume of the compilation series "Elektrisch", released on March 14th. At the end of May the new album "Velocifero" by Ladytron will follow.
Echo Nominations
This week the nominations of Germany's most important music award, the Echo, were announced. Last years #1 act beFour are nominated twice and compete in the categories "Group National Rock/Pop" and "Newcomer National". We are keeping our fingers crossed!
First News In 2008
The official German Dance Charts found out that our label partner Kontor Records has been the most successful dance label in 2007! Next to this 20 tracks out of the annual Top 50 were distributed by Kontor New Media.
On January 9th Jazz musician and artist of our partner label ACT, Rigmor Gustafsson, was honoured with a Swedish Grammy for her album "Alone With You". Congratulations!
Wu-Tang Clan
There's only one crew who deserves the title "supergroupu", and that's the Wu-Tang Clan. The nine guys from Staten Island and Brooklyn started building up their groundbreaking rap empire in the early 90s.
Now, after a long break, the whole family came together to record their new album "8 Diagrams", which will be released in December.
Kontor New Media is very proud to exploit this musical milestone digitally all across Europe (excluding UK). So we can prepare ourselves for a piece of hip hop history.
Kontor New Media Delivers To iTunes Plus
In May 2007 Apple launched their new service "iTunes Plus", which offers music and music videos for the first time without DRM (Digital Rights Management) and in a much better quality (AAC coding with 256 KBit/s - twice as much as today at iTunes). After they started with the catalogue of EMI, Kontor New Media will now start delivering to "iTunes Plus" as well - as one of the first content aggregators at all!
The consumers have now much more reasons to buy music online, which will increase the whole digital market.
Eins Live Krone
Since 1999 the German radio station Eins Live awards the renowned music prize Krone (crown). On December 6th the award will be presented in seven categories. From the big artist roster of Kontor New Media the guitarist of Rammstein, Emigrate, and The Disco Boys are nominated in one category each. We keep our fingers crossed!
Popkomm 2007
This year we'll be attending Popkomm again. We are really looking forward to meet well known as well as interessted partners there. The best thing for you is to make an appointment right now. Just send us an email!
Popkomm is the biggest fair for music and will take place from September 19th till 21st in Berlin.
New labels
The list of our partner labels is getting longer and longer. This week we can announce the cooperarion with the following new labels - and we are looking to work together with them.
A.I.M. Music & Publishing (DE)
Countdown Media (DE)
Kussu Productions (US)
Hitmix (DE)
Migusto (DE)
Musikverlag Progressive (DE)
Seven Ocean Records Breuer & Wardin Verlagskontor (DE)
Scooter's 20th Top Ten Hit
There's a new chapter in the track record of Germany's most successful dance act Scooter. Their latest single "The Question Is What is The Question" entered the official German sales charts on position 10 yesterday - this is the 20th Top 10 position for the Hamburg based group around frontman H.P. Baxxter. No other German artists had so many Top 10 hits since the introduction of the German charts in 1956.
H.P.Baxxter: "That's sheer madness! And we haven´t even finished at all. What shall we expect for the future?!"
The second and third placed artists are Modern Talking and Xavier Naidoo with 13 top ten hits each.
beFour on top of German album charts
Great news from our partner label Pop 'N' Roll, which comes via edelNET: The debut longplayer "All 4 One" of the Band beFour climbed to the top of the German album charts! After entering the charts on rank five last week it jumped to the first position yesterday. We are very happy about this and congratulate to this huge success. Of course this album is available as download as well - delivered by edelNET and Kontor New Media. The new single "All 4 One / How Do You Do" will be released on August 10th and includes a non album track as well.
Download Only Releases Will Count For German Single Charts
Legal downloads of music play an important role today. Since January 1st, a track can enter the UK singles charts with just a digital release. Now Germany has reacted to the changing situation in the music market as well. Beginning on July 13th, a track will be eligible for the German singles charts even if it's not released as a physical CD. In other words, digital only releases can now enter the charts. Kontor New Media looks forward to this new challenge.
ECM Records
ECM Records, the jazz and classical music label which was established by Manfred Eicher in Munich in 1969, and edel AG have entered into a long-term digital distribution contract covering the entire world with the exception of Germany, France, North America and Japan. On edel’s side, the contract will initially be performed by edelNET and thereafter by group member Kontor New Media.
As a model of artistic independence, ECM has introduced a large number of important musicians to a broader public. Thus, the label has forged long-standing partnerships with Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek and Tomasz Stanko, among others. Leading artists in the non-jazz segment include Arvo Pärt, András Schiff and the Hilliard Ensemble. ECM was named label of the year at MIDEM 2007.
Says Michael Haentjes, CEO of edel AG: "We are very proud of being able to work with what has been one of the world’s most successful jazz labels over many decades. It is encouraging to see that more and more partners are placing confidence in our distribution and content skills in digital business."
MP3s at Musicload
Musicload, next to iTunes the leading download store in Germany, offers now the whole catalogue of Kontor New Media as MP3 instead of DRM protected WMV files. That's an important step after the long DRM discussion of the last months. "The users don't want DRM files. When the majors take this step as well, the market will double or maybe triple." told Kontor New Media managing director Michael already in April to the magazin Musikwoche.
Nightwish - Charity single and a new singer
After big changes last year Finish super band Nightwish follows up in 2007 with a new album. But before that, there's the new single "Eva" - out on May 30th. This single features the new singer for the first time - a big secret so far as her identity was top secret until yesterday: The beautiful Swedish girl Anette Olzon is the new voice of Nightwish! What’s more, all of the income from the sales of the single will be donated to the children’s charity project "Die Arche" (The Ark).
Kontor New Media is very happy to support, together with our partner label Nuclear Blast, the band's project!
Kontor New Media takes on Low Spirit catalogue
Low Spirit, the Berlin record label, has teamed up with Hamburg's Kontor Records and Kontor New Media to exploit its complete catalogue in both physical and digital formats. The collaboration comprises CD compilations and international exploitation as well as international marketing and distribution in the online sector.
The extensive Low Spirit catalogue features tracks and albums by artists such as Marusha, Westbam, Members Of Mayday, Hardy Hard and Raver–s Nature. First release through the new deal is "The Complete Anthem Collection 1992 - 2007", which is now on sale.
edelNET and Kontor New Media to merge
edelNET and Kontor New Media, the two digital distributors belonging to the edel Group, will be operating under the same roof in the future. At the latest on October 01, 2007, all digital activities will be merged in Kontor New Media GmbH, in which edel music AG will be significantly increasing its majority holding.
Michael Pohl, managing director of Kontor New Media, will be assuming overall responsibility. The previous label managers for both divisions will continue to act as contact persons for their customers. Stefan Weikert, who was previously responsible for edel's digital business, will - as already reported - be responsible for the newly established book division in edel entertainment GmbH.
Kontor New Media and edelNET are service providers that distribute the contents of music labels and other copyright holders (e.g. from the film sector) to end consumer platforms in the online and mobile communications sector. The merger of these two units produces one of the largest content aggregators in Europe, with a total of more than 150,000 titles and more than 500 distribution labels.
Says Michael Haentjes, CEO edel music AG: "To strengthen energies you have to pool them. This merger is a logical step towards efficiency. The company will become even more attractive for our customers through the larger market share alone."
Says Jens Thele, managing partner of Kontor New Media: "This merger is a correct and important step following three extremely successful years in this highly competitive digital market. Our distribution partners will benefit from it in all areas. Together with the new Managing Director Michael Pohl, I am very much looking forward to the new challenges."
Kontor New Media welcomes Big City Beats
Big City Beats is a very successful company based in Frankfurt and established in a very short time a great brand in the music scene. They are broadcasting a radio show, organise big music events and parties and their Big City Beats compilations always reach the top of the charts.
Now they keep on proving their music competence with releases on their own label as well. To release these hits digitally they decided to work together with Kontor New Media in the fields of download and mobile entertainment. We are very happy about this and welcome Big City Beats.
Number 1 in all German dance charts
Great news just before the Easter weekend: Michael Mind feat. Mannfred Mann's Earth Band - Blinded by The Light (released on Kontor Records) climbed to the top of EVERY dance chart in Germany! Michael Mind used the original vocals and added big bass drums and funky bass lines. The result is a smash hit like you've never heard before. The seventies in the look of the new millennium - that's the way legends are born. The downloads will be released on April 6th. So let's have HAPPY EASTER!
Trainee wanted
Kontor New Media is looking for a new trainee! The pratical training will last at least three months and afterwards there is the opportunity to start an apprenticeship to become audio visual media assistant.
You should have a very good knowledge about computer and internet, you should be communicative and have fun working together with other people and of course you should be interessted in music. Good language skills in German and English as well as readiness for action are necessary.
Send your application (with your personal data sheet, certifications and a photo) to the following adress:
Kontor New Media GmbH
Stichwort: Praktikum
Neumühlen 17
22763 Hamburg
Oder via email: contact@kontornewmedia.com
Members Of Mayday
Every year on April 30th the Mayday - one of the world's leading indoor raves - takes place. The highlight of every event is the specially composed anthem by the Members Of Mayday. Of course in 2007 will be a new anthem as well, this time called "New Euphoria" as this is the motto for the event. It will be released by our partner label Top Trax.
Kontor New Media is very happy to take over the digital distribution for this great product. On April 13th the Mayday anthem is in the stores of all our partners wolrdwide.
Telephon numbers changed
We had a little update of our telephon numbers. The main number will from now on be +49 40 646905 - 10. Amelie Schmidt now got the extension -222. The other extensions weren't changed.
New labels
Once again a lot of new labels decided to work together with Kontor New Media, the leading digital distributor. So we want to take the chance now to welcome our latest new labels. We're looking forward working together with you!
Bacteria Records (CH)
Decks Trucks (D)
Devil Entertainment (D)
Dirrrty Green Records (D)
Fahrenheit International (D)
Karmarouge (D)
Panevino Music (CH)
Paso Music (D)
Rockwerk Records (D)
Skip Records (D)
Sonic Content GmbH (CH)
S-TONE Music (D)
Strictly Rhythm (US)
Superb Records (US)
KNM partner labels on top of the anual German Dance charts
Some days ago the anual charts of the most important dance charts in Germany, the DDC, was published and a lot of tracks and labels distributed digitally by Kontor New Media could reach very high positions. Seven tracks climbed into the top 20, actually the first three tracks are all by Kontor New Media partner labels. Next to Kontor Records the labels Tiger Records, Kosmo, Alphabet City, Phunkwerk, Moonbootique and Yawa belonged to the most successful labels. Congratulations!
Merlin
Kontor New Media is to be one of the first independents to sell catalogues via the Snocap download platform on myspace.com!
Kontor's involvement in the Merlin project and the negotiations with Snocap saw a framework contract signed at this year's Midem conference in Cannes. For further details, please take a look at this PDF file.
Strictly Rhythm
The New York-based label Strictly Rhythm was set up in 1989 by Mark Finkelstein and Gladys Pizarro. Strictly Rhythm has since blazed a trail to become one of the most influential labels of all time. In its heyday, releases from George Morel, DJ Pierre, Todd Terry or the Masters At Work wowed dancefloors across the world. The label subsequently expanded into Europe, moving into the commercial sector with a diverse roster including Reel 2 Real, Josh Wink and the young Armand Van Helden. Strictly has continued to tread the line between commercially and critically acclaimed house music with releases like Ultra Naté's "Free".
Finally the catalogue is now cleared for digital exploitation. For Germany, Austria and Switzerland our partner label Motor Music caught the rights so Kontor New Media will make the large catalogue available in all important shops soon.
Azzido Da Bass is artist of the week at iTunes USA
DJ, producer and label owner Azzido Da Bass, who had a worldwide success with his hit "Doom's Night". will be artist of the week in the US iTunes store. This includes a big start and genre page feature as well as a feature in the newsletter.
Azzido Da Bass releases on his own label Luscious Sounds which is digitally distributed world wide by Kontor New Media.
Stefan Wächter new at Kontor New Media
Kontor New Media increases its team. Stefan Wächter, former A&R at Sony in Berlin, steps up the crew of so far nine people. Wächter started his career in the music biz in 1995 at Universal/Polygram as DJ promoter and A&R. Later he worked together with Alex Christensen at his label Kingsize Records - once again as A&R. At Kontor New Media Stefan Wächter will take over the Special Marketing department.
"I'm very happy about this as Stefan Wächter is an experienced pro in the music business who has excellent repertoire skills as well. He is the perfect man for the job of the Senior Marketing Manager Special Marketing." says Michael Pohl, General Manager Kontor New Media.
Fedde Le Grand #1 in UK
"Put Your Hands Up For Detroit" is the red hot new single from young Dutch producer Fedde Le Grand, busy ripping up the entire island of Ibiza this summer and making a meltdown on dancefloors around the world. Now the single takes off in UK as well by climbing to the top of the charts.
For Germany, Austria and Switzerland Kontor Records got the rights and will make sure that the chart succes will be as big as in UK. Of course Kontor New Media is the Digital Distributer for this hit.
Tom Waits - the new album
Smoky pubs, a scraping voice, sentimental melodies and catchy songs - for a long time the American Tom Waits has been active as a muscian - among other things even composing musicals and movie soundtracks. This year sees the release of a brand new album on three CDs with 30 new songs and 26 curiosities. "Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards" is the name of this masterpiece and will be released by our partner label Anti on November 20th 2006!
On this page you can have an exclusive look on the "Brawler" part, followed by the other parts during the next weeks (31.10. and 07.11.).
The Ulkbear is coming!
It's a cult figur known all over the internet, the funny Ulkbear. With a charming, Saxon dialect the little comic character tells his favourite jokes regularly. Kontor New Media is proud to distribute the Ulkbear - together with other Couchkartoffel Toons characters - to mobile phones.
Ovum
This week we can announce more new labels working together with Kontor New Media. For example the Amercian label Ovum, the home of electronic acts such as Josh Wink, Steve Bug and Loco Dice, signed a worldwide contract with us. We are happy to welcome the following labels as well: QAP Songs (CAN), DJs Present (DE), KP Productions (DE), Nuro Media (DE), Accession Records (DE), Northbeatz Digital (DE), Phunkwerk (DE), S-Tone (DE) and Osthafen Musik (DE).
Europe are back
This will be the comeback of the year! Europe, who had a worldwide success with their hit "The Final Countdown", will return on October 27th 2006 with a brand new album. Our partner label Sanctuary will release their new masterpiece "Secret Society" and we will be their exclusive digital distributer. One week before the first single release will be availbale - as adownload only product.
Popkomm 2006
From September 20th till Septemeber 22nd 2006 one of the most important music fairs of the world takes place in Berlin: The Popkomm. As every year we attend Popkomm and like to meet up with our partners and everyone interessted in Digital Music Distribution. Feel free to get in touch with us by email to set up an appointment!
Crockett's Theme
Just in time for the premiere of the Miami Vice movie in German cinemas Kontor New Media pushes the 2006 version of the classic by Jan Hammer into the charts of all download shops - all across Europe. The Jan Hammer Project feat. TQ presents the up to date version of the number 1 hit from the 80s with rap parts of US superstar TQ.
We look forward to have more top sellers from a lot of new label partners - such as Silly Spider (DE), Vakant (DE), Era Producciones (ES), Force Sense (DE) or Herzblut (DE).
The "Dolly Song (Ieva's Polka)" is coming!
One of those tunes you just cannot get out of your head, the classic "old grey whistle test" has spread like wildfire around the digital world in no time at all. All of a sudden, Finnish folk music is piping out of computer speakers and kids' bedrooms everywhere.
The song that everybody is talking about is "leva’s Polka" [j:evas Polka] and comes courtesy of the Finnish quartet Loituma. Once that melody has entered your brain, there's absolutely nothing you can do to get it out again.
"Ieva’s Polka" breezed into the Finnish Pop Charts and may have well stayed just there, if an extract from the song hadn't popped up in "Bleach", a successful Anime series in Japan. Since this guest appearance on Japanese television, the melody has multiplied around the globe, millions of music lovers have fallen prey to its charms. Countless fans have created their own films for "Ieva’s Polka" and posted them on sites like youtube.com!
Now you can enjoy the official version of this internet mega-hit: Holly Dolly - "Dolly Song (Ieva’s Polka)". Of course, the Holly Dolly release features the original vocals from the Finnish group Loituma!
The ring tones are already available and downloads will follow August 25th, in time to the CD release.
New labels
Although the new version of our website is in progress there are still a lot of news to be published on the current version of our homepage - a lot of new partner labels for example. Stealth Records (NL), J.T. Company (Italy), Raintemple (CH), Mochicoprimo Biz (US), Gun Records (Belgien), Icezone Music (DE) and SKIP Records (DE) are just some of them. We are looking forward to work together.
New partners
The business is growing and within the last few weeks we have set up deals with several new partners worldwide.Here's the complete list:
Hip Digital - nur Kanada und USA
3 Beat Digital - dance and electronic
7 Digital - Europe with focus on UK
Akuma - Germany only
Trackitdown - dance and electronic UK only
Inprodicon - Scandinavia only
Higher Frequency - dance and electronic Japan only
DJ Tunes - dance and electronic Germany only
Phonofile - Scandinavia only
Deutsche-DJ-Playlist - Focus on titles of DJ-Playlist
Ladomat 2000
Now that the label deal between Mute/EMI and Lado has ended, Kontor New Media is taking over worldwide digital distribution for the Ladomat 2000 label.
"I believe that, in Kontor, we have found the perfect partner to market our electronic label Ladomat, and I'm looking forward to working together with them", says Carol von Rautenkranz, CEO of Lado Musik.
"We are very happy that we could add Ladomat 2000, another important label, to our roster" comments Michael Pohl, General Manager of Kontor New Media.
Video distribution
The commercialization of digital video distribution is the hot topic for 2006! More and more portals and shops will include these services this year.
In December 2005, Kontor New Media has already signed a contract with iTunes, the pioneer in this market, for all territories worldwide.
Brit Awards 2006
We start the new year in the same way we left 2006 - with a lot of new partner labels and a huge number of new hits. But let's start with some hot news: The band Arcade Fire have been nominated for this year's Brit Awards in three very important categories. We are keeping our fingers crossed that Arcade Fire - signed by our parter label Rough Trade - will be honoured for their hard work.
The list of new partner labels is rather long! These labels from Germany are now using our service:
Aergo Trade GmbH
Basstard Records
Beggars Group
Bon Voyage Records
Cadenza Records
Empress Music
Hammarskjoeold Records
Hellywood Music
Intrapop
Media Arte
Metal Blade Records
Metro Records
Rawy Records
Solid Records
Soulful Brothers Music GbR
Sugaspin
Villanova Recordings
Zooland Records
International partners working together with us are Alma Records (Canada), Charm (UK), DWA Records (Italy), Ego Music (Italy), Jet Star (UK) and Joyride Music (Switzerland).
We look forward to great and successful working relationships!
Congratulations
Yesterday the MTV Europe Music Awards took place in Lissboa. Two artists of our partner label Burning Heart got one of these desired awards. The Swedish and Norwegian MTV viewers had put their votes in for Moneybrother as "Best Swedish Artist" and Turbonegro as "Best Norwegian Artist".
Kontor New Media congratulates cordially to both winners.
Kontor New Media on top at iTunes!
One of the greatest dance anthems of all time, "Cafe Del Mar" by Energy 52, is the current number 1 on the iTunes longplay charts - in four different countries. The track was released in 1993 for the first time and new versions appear nearly every year. A collection of the best mixes has just been released by Grand Casino Records (a sub label of Superstition Records) and it climbed to the top at iTunes immediately. We hope, that this bundle will stay there for quite a long time.
The list of lables working together with us in the fields of digital distribution is getting even longer:
Barfly Music
Blue Fin Records
Kadenzia
Lakechurch Production
Megaeins Verlags- GmbH
Pickadoll Music
Sanctuary for Europe!
In May Kontor New Media became one of the digital distributors of the Sanctuary Music Group, one of the world's leading independant music companies. We will deliver the latest products (such as Robert Plant, Bizarre or Saint Etienne) as well as the huge back catalogue to our partners.
Once again, a lot of other labels decided to work together with us:
A1 Music
Confused Recordings
Danced Records
Giant Wheel
MusiKado
Ökotopia Verlag
Promedia GmbH
Prophecy Records
Spiel-Zeug Schallplatten
Zed Yago
Welcome, Epitaph!
We've netted the next big fish: Epitaph, the specialist for Indie-Rock and Alternative from Amsterdam, has teamed up with Kontor New Media for digital distribution in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The label has signed popular acts such as The Robocop Kraus and Dropkick Murphy's.
Just one week ago, we announced the cooperation with the classic label Joan Records. More information about this can be found in the news item at the press section.
New labels - new hits!
More and more labels have choosen to work together with Kontor New Media. Right now we are distributing Kate Hall's debut single. The danish shooting star is produced by Alex Christensen (U96) and is getting massive support from RTL as well as a New Yorker campaign.
The downloads and ring tones of the latest Hip Hop hit by the Ying Yang Twins also come from us. "Wait - The Whisper Song)" will be a long-running success for sure.
For friends of good Drum 'n' Bass music, the label Lifetime Records seems to be interessting, while A1 Music brings the latest dance trends from Finnland straight to us.
Here are the other new partner labels:
KRD Music
Pikosso Records
Incubated Music & Media
Campus Recordum
QED - Quality Entertainment Distribution
O-Style Music
DMT Event
Plasma Pool Media Entertainment
Nuclear Blast
Kontor New Media takes on the digital distribution of all releases for the metal label Nuclear Blast throughout Europe (excluding Germany). For more information, see the news item in the press section.
And we are pleased to anounce even more new partner labels:
Amazing Routes
Enable Recordings
Funky Taurus Entertainment
Meysound Verlag
Musik Studio Mike Shean
Oriental Media Network
Ozella Music
Poets Club Records
Premium Promotion
SOJA Music Limited
Download our presentation: pres_website_eng.pdf | check also: www.kontor.cc