Fontana_Distribution

Fontana Distribution

Fontana Distribution

US music distributor


Fontana Distribution was a division of San Franciscobased Isolation Network (now owned by the Virgin Music Group unit of the Universal Music Group since 2019). A minority stake of the company was owned by Universal Music until Ingrooves acquired Fontana Distribution from UMG in 2012 to form Ingrooves Fontana.[1]

Quick Facts Industry, Genre ...

In 2019, Universal Music Group acquired Fontana's owner, Ingrooves, returning Fontana back to UMG. A year later, Fontana Distribution was folded into Caroline Distribution, acquired in 2013 via Universal's purchase of EMI, which, another year later, was rebranded as Virgin Music Label & Artist Services.[2][3]

Profile

Fontana deals in distribution, as well as in a range of sales, marketing, and back office support services, for a diverse roster of independent record labels and their artists.[4] The company takes its name and logo from the Fontana Records label; it was initially launched by Universal Music Group in 2004 and later sold[5] to Isolation Network in 2012. The company includes a UK-based operation, Fontana International, which handles territories outside of North America.[6] The company also has a joint venture in Canada with Cadence Music Group known as Fontana North. The company is the successor of PolyGram's Independent Label Sales (ILS), previously known as Island Trading Co., which folded after the 1999 merger of the MCA and PolyGram families of labels that created Universal Music Group.

Fontana Distribution has been known to successfully round up albums worldwide from national Universal Music Group companies for American release or for distribution into further territories. Fontana Distribution also partners with Executive Music Group, Chicago Independent Distribution, and Twenty Two Music Group Distribution, which in turn distribute other independent labels.

During the acquisition of EMI (including EMI Music Distribution), Universal Music Group decided to retain Caroline Distribution and later sold Fontana Distribution to Isolation Network.

After the acquisition of Ingrooves by Universal, Fontana was folded into Caroline, which was renamed Virgin Music Label & Artist Services in 2021.

Fontana Distribution-affiliated labels

Fontana Distribution is affiliated with more than 30 labels, including the following:

Divisions

  • Fontana Distribution
  • Fontana Label Services
  • Fontana International

See also


References

  1. "History | Universal Music". Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
  2. Vish Khanna. "Label Life". Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2009-02-02.
  3. Alex Pham (2012-03-02). "INgrooves buys Fontana Distribution from Universal Music Group". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2012-04-08. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  4. "Fontana Distribution – Distribution Done Right". fontanadistribution.com. Archived from the original on 31 March 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  5. "INgrooves Music Group - We Power Creativity". INgrooves Music Group. Archived from the original on 2014-07-01. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  6. "Mancini Entertainment Group". Archived from the original on 2014-10-27. Retrieved 2018-12-11.

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