CNR Music
Encyclopedia
CNR is a Dutch record and video/DVD label. It was founded as CNR Records by Cornelis Nicolaas Rood in 1937, who made his fortune as a producer of lampshades and other lighting materials.
Initially, Mr Rood regarded his record label merely as a hobby, but things changed for the better in the early 1950s when CNR bought distribution and marketing rights for several foreign pop and classical record companies. He also signed up several local artists.
One of CNR's first major successes was Dutch singer Gert Timmerman, who became one of the Netherlands' top selling male artists from the end of the 1950s. In the 1960s, CNR enjoyed major successes with artists like Trio Hellenique, Gert Timmerman (who was also part of a duo, Gert & Hermien) and Heintje, a Dutch teenage singer who sold millions of singles and albums in Europe between 1966 and the early 1970s.
By this time, CNR had grown into one of the Netherlands' major independent record labels. It mainly focussed on local talent such as André van Duin
, Benny Neyman
and Tol Hansse, but it also had hit singles with licensed international productions like Baccara
's Yes Sir, I Can Boogie and Sorry, I'm A Lady.
Local success continued well into the 1980s with artists including Stars on 45
. CNR began distributing the up and coming Jive Records
label in 1982. In the budding video market, CNR had a major presence with its CNR Video label, which specialised in kids material (Bassie & Adriaan).
In the early 1990s, CNR had become a subsidiairy of Arcade Records, which was then a major compilation label in the Netherlands. However, Arcade was on the brink of bankruptcy and warned that all its signed artists could lose their recording contracts if the bankruptcy went ahead. In the end, Arcade survived, but CNR's output and success diminished drastically later in the decade.
It also underwent several management, licensing and name changes, including a joint venture with American rock label Roadrunner Music in 1998.
Today, CNR is independent once again, currently billed as CNR Entertainment, with the emphasis on local product, kids material, comedy and TV series. It has resurrected the Arcade compilation label and distributes several smaller labels. Until the end of 2012 it holds the distribution and marketing rights for Roadrunner artists, including Lenny Kravitz
, Young the Giant
and Nickelback
.
In August 2011, CNR announced a joint venture with the Dutch branch of Rough Trade
to oversee the distribution of their material. The joint venture was launched as Tone Entertainment.
CNR's current Managing Director is Maarten Steinkamp, who held similar posts at major record companies such as EMI and Sony/BMG.
Initially, Mr Rood regarded his record label merely as a hobby, but things changed for the better in the early 1950s when CNR bought distribution and marketing rights for several foreign pop and classical record companies. He also signed up several local artists.
One of CNR's first major successes was Dutch singer Gert Timmerman, who became one of the Netherlands' top selling male artists from the end of the 1950s. In the 1960s, CNR enjoyed major successes with artists like Trio Hellenique, Gert Timmerman (who was also part of a duo, Gert & Hermien) and Heintje, a Dutch teenage singer who sold millions of singles and albums in Europe between 1966 and the early 1970s.
By this time, CNR had grown into one of the Netherlands' major independent record labels. It mainly focussed on local talent such as André van Duin
André van Duin
André van Duin is a Dutch actor , singer, writer and program creator.-Television, radio and theatre:...
, Benny Neyman
Benny Neyman
Wilhelmus Albertus Neyman was a Dutch singer.-Biography:...
and Tol Hansse, but it also had hit singles with licensed international productions like Baccara
Baccara
Baccara was a female vocal duo formed in 1977 by Spanish artists Mayte Mateos and María Mendiola . The pair rapidly achieved international success with their debut single "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie", which reached number one across much of Europe...
's Yes Sir, I Can Boogie and Sorry, I'm A Lady.
Local success continued well into the 1980s with artists including Stars on 45
Stars on 45
Stars on 45 was a Dutch novelty pop act that was briefly very popular in the United Kingdom, throughout Europe, the United States and Australia in the early 1980s. The group later shortened its name to Stars On in the U.S., while in the U.K. and Ireland it was known as Starsound...
. CNR began distributing the up and coming Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
label in 1982. In the budding video market, CNR had a major presence with its CNR Video label, which specialised in kids material (Bassie & Adriaan).
In the early 1990s, CNR had become a subsidiairy of Arcade Records, which was then a major compilation label in the Netherlands. However, Arcade was on the brink of bankruptcy and warned that all its signed artists could lose their recording contracts if the bankruptcy went ahead. In the end, Arcade survived, but CNR's output and success diminished drastically later in the decade.
It also underwent several management, licensing and name changes, including a joint venture with American rock label Roadrunner Music in 1998.
Today, CNR is independent once again, currently billed as CNR Entertainment, with the emphasis on local product, kids material, comedy and TV series. It has resurrected the Arcade compilation label and distributes several smaller labels. Until the end of 2012 it holds the distribution and marketing rights for Roadrunner artists, including Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
, Young the Giant
Young the Giant
Young the Giant is an American alternative rock band that formed in Irvine, California, in 2004. The band's line-up is Sameer Gadhia , Jacob Tilley , Eric Cannata , Payam Doostzadeh , and François Comtois...
and Nickelback
Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta. Since 1995 the band has included guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist and back-up vocalist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger.. The band's current drummer and percussionist is Daniel Adair who has been with the band since 2005....
.
In August 2011, CNR announced a joint venture with the Dutch branch of Rough Trade
Rough Trade
Rough Trade may refer to:*Rough Trade Records, a record label*Rough Trade , linked but independent London record stores*Rough Trade , a Canadian new wave rock band*Rough Trade , an episode of American Dad!...
to oversee the distribution of their material. The joint venture was launched as Tone Entertainment.
CNR's current Managing Director is Maarten Steinkamp, who held similar posts at major record companies such as EMI and Sony/BMG.