Glassnote Records has made the switch from one Sony-owned distributor to another. The revered indie label announced on Tuesday that The Orchard will now provide global distribution for its releases, following a three and a half-year partnership with Sony-owned AWAL.
Of course, AWAL wasn’t under Sony’s purview back in November 2018 when it announced its strategic pact with Glassnote — Kobalt Music sold AWAL to Sony in May 2021 for $430 million. Before AWAL, Glassnote dealt with Universal Music Group.
“The Glassnote Team is thrilled to be working with The Orchard,” said Daniel Glass, Glassnote’s president and founder. “The global reach and expertise of their team in both digital and traditional distribution will be an asset to our talented roster and the slate of incredible releases we have coming.”
Since Glassnote was founded in 2007, the label has been hailed as one of the top independent labels in music with a catalog that includes Mumford & Sons, Phoenix, CHVRCHES and Jade Bird, among others. The label’s first distribution partner was RED Distribution, a subsidiary of Sony Music Group that was merged into The Orchard in 2017.
“The Glassnote Records team has built a home for artists that supports and cultivates creativity,” said Brad Navin, CEO of The Orchard. “As a strategic partner, The Orchard will continue to empower and reinforce their creative vision, and help all artists under the partnership expand their reach in international markets.”
