Hannibal Records
Encyclopedia
Hannibal Records was a record label
and one of the first to work with the World music
genre.
Hannibal was started by Joe Boyd
in 1980. Boyd had produced records by artists such as Nick Drake
, The Incredible String Band and Fairport Convention
and released recordings by these artists as well as others such as Trio Bulgarka
on his new label.
Around this time folk music from around the world was being released by different labels but was so varied it did not fit into a particular genre. Boyd and a collection of other music industry leaders decided to coin the term world music
in order to give this music a name for marketing purposes. Hannibal began releasing records under the world music banner.
In the early 1990s Hannibal was purchased by independent label Rykodisc
. Joe Boyd continued managing the label until the late 1990s when Rykodisc
was purchased by Palm Pictures. After Boyd's departure from Hannibal the label lay dormant.
In 1998 Andrew Childs took over the running of Hannibal. A new lineup of artists was introduced including Robert Wyatt
, Phil Manzanera
and Brian Eno
and the label began to reissue recordings from the All Saints label. As well as these established artists Hannibal began to sign new artists such as folk rock band The Eighteenth Day of May.
In 2006 Rykodisc was bought by Warner music. In December 2006, Warner decided to close down Hannibal.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
and one of the first to work with the World music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
genre.
Hannibal was started by Joe Boyd
Joe Boyd
Joe Boyd is an American record producer and former owner of the Witchseason production company. Boyd was instrumental in launching the careers of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, and The Incredible String Band.-Career:...
in 1980. Boyd had produced records by artists such as Nick Drake
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
, The Incredible String Band and Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
and released recordings by these artists as well as others such as Trio Bulgarka
Trio Bulgarka
Trio Bulgarka is a Bulgarian vocal ensemble.They gained international prominence through their contributions to the groundbreaking 1975 world music album Balkana: The music of Bulgaria, originally released on the now defunct Hannibal label.The trio comprises Stoyanka Boneva from Pirin, Yanka Rupkina...
on his new label.
Around this time folk music from around the world was being released by different labels but was so varied it did not fit into a particular genre. Boyd and a collection of other music industry leaders decided to coin the term world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
in order to give this music a name for marketing purposes. Hannibal began releasing records under the world music banner.
In the early 1990s Hannibal was purchased by independent label Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
. Joe Boyd continued managing the label until the late 1990s when Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
was purchased by Palm Pictures. After Boyd's departure from Hannibal the label lay dormant.
In 1998 Andrew Childs took over the running of Hannibal. A new lineup of artists was introduced including Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt is an English musician, and founding member of the influential Canterbury scene band Soft Machine, with a long and distinguished solo career...
, Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera is a musician and record producer. He is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music. In 2006 Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On An Island and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America...
and Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
and the label began to reissue recordings from the All Saints label. As well as these established artists Hannibal began to sign new artists such as folk rock band The Eighteenth Day of May.
In 2006 Rykodisc was bought by Warner music. In December 2006, Warner decided to close down Hannibal.