Mediarts Records
Encyclopedia
Mediarts Records was a small record label
founded by former Capitol Records
executive Alan W. Livingston
and producer Nik Venet. The label's first release was Dory Previn
with 'On My Way To Where' (1970
) Other artists signed on the label were e.g. Don McLean
, Paul Anka
, Odia Coates
, Bill Conti
, The Hello People, and Gerry Rafferty
. The most successful album on Mediarts was the comedy album The Begatting of the President narrated by Orson Welles
.
The label was acquired by United Artists Records
. The albums by McLean, Previn and Welles were reissued on UA. The acquisition was beneficial for UA as Anka, Coates, Conti and Rafferty had yet to issue albums for Mediarts but would enjoy hits for UA. McLean had the megahit single and album American Pie
for UA. The Mediarts catalog is now owned by EMI
through its purchase of United Artists Records and, going full circle, managed by Capitol Records.
The first 45rpm single released on the Mediarts record label was ME-100, "Earth Song"/"Everbody Has Been Burned" by Sioux City Zoo, which was a group from Fresno, California.
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,...
founded by former Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
executive Alan W. Livingston
Alan W. Livingston
Alan Wendell Livingston , born Alan Wendell Levison, was an American businessman best known for his tenures at Capitol Records, first as a writer/producer best-known for creating Bozo the Clown for a series of record-album and illustrative read-along children's book sets, then as the executive who...
and producer Nik Venet. The label's first release was Dory Previn
Dory Previn
Dory Previn, née Dorothy Veronica Langan , is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter and poet.During the late 1950s and 1960s she was a lyricist for motion picture songs, and with her first husband André Previn received several Academy Award nominations...
with 'On My Way To Where' (1970
1970 in music
- Events :*January 3**Davy Jones announces he is leaving the Monkees**Former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett releases his first solo album The Madcap Laughs....
) Other artists signed on the label were e.g. Don McLean
Don McLean
Donald "Don" McLean is an American singer-songwriter. He is most famous for the 1971 album American Pie, containing the renowned songs "American Pie" and "Vincent".-Musical roots:...
, Paul Anka
Paul Anka
Paul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
, Odia Coates
Odia Coates
Odia Coates was an American singer, best known for her work with Canadian singer-songwriter Paul Anka.-Early life:...
, Bill Conti
Bill Conti
William "Bill" Conti is an American film music composer who is frequently the conductor at the Academy Awards ceremony.-Early life and career:...
, The Hello People, and Gerry Rafferty
Gerry Rafferty
Gerald "Gerry" Rafferty was a Scottish singer songwriter best known for his solo hits "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line", "Days Gone Down", "Night Owl", "Get It Right Next Time", and with the band Stealers Wheel, "Stuck in the Middle with You". Rafferty was born into a working-class family in...
. The most successful album on Mediarts was the comedy album The Begatting of the President narrated by Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
.
The label was acquired by United Artists Records
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
. The albums by McLean, Previn and Welles were reissued on UA. The acquisition was beneficial for UA as Anka, Coates, Conti and Rafferty had yet to issue albums for Mediarts but would enjoy hits for UA. McLean had the megahit single and album American Pie
American Pie (album)
American Pie is the title of a 1971 music album by Don McLean, best known for its title track about The Day the Music Died. The third track, "Vincent," is a tribute to the famed artist Vincent Van Gogh....
for UA. The Mediarts catalog is now owned by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
through its purchase of United Artists Records and, going full circle, managed by Capitol Records.
The first 45rpm single released on the Mediarts record label was ME-100, "Earth Song"/"Everbody Has Been Burned" by Sioux City Zoo, which was a group from Fresno, California.