Good morning, Mark

Thank you for the lengthy and informative email.

I have only one comment, and it's about Sir Malcolm Sargent and 1.5 minutes he cut from the 4th movement of Tchaikovsky's 5th.
WHY would anyone do that?!! I don't know if anyone on this list would know the answer, but I really wish he hadn't done that.
It's terrible!!

Thanks again.
Ben Roth






-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark Jenkins
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 3:47 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Who owns Everest/Scala records?

Let me clarify the division of the Everest catalogue. In September 1996, Madacy Entertainment (the former owner of Countdown Media) purchased the entire Everest classical catalogue (along with all its trademarks, logos, etc., with the exception of the "Bescol" trademark) from Bernie Solomon. Included in this purchase were also a small number of non-classical albums, including Patsy Cline recordings (33 tracks), some world music, and some of the pop/easy listening albums. The majority of the world music/pop/jazz/etc. albums were sold to Rykodisc at approximately the same time (Bernie complained about not getting the last payment for this portion of the sale, but that’s another story). ANY entity, and I mean any entity (including Essential Media Group) claiming any ownership to any of the classical recordings, therefore, does not have the rights to these recordings (except, unfortunately, in those countries where the PD laws permit it?and there’s not a lot I can do about that, EXCEPT in regards to usage of logos, the Everest name (which we also own), etc. It is our hope (and effort) to create new transfers of as many of these recordings as we can, in order to make the best available versions ever, with original liner notes, artwork, and as complete data as possible, and using the best available original source material that we have (or can locate). We are in the process of going after any of those entities exploiting these recordings without rights (especially in inferior versions?we have the original tapes, for goodness sakes!!). I think, if you listen to any of the Belock masters on a source such as HDtracks, you’ll see that quality and faithfulness to the original presentation are paramount, and we plan on supplying all of the Everest/Scala/etc. re-releases in the same manner.
 
In regards to physical manifestations of these, in the US (at this point), unfortunately this is limited to Amazon’s Disc-on-Demand (CreateSpace), simply due to inventory cost issues and the number of titles we’re talking about. However, the first 60 Belock releases are being gradually issued in Japan by King Records on SACD/CD hybrid discs. The first 5 have been released:
 
SDBR-3003　John Antill: Corroboree
SDBR-3032　Scriabin: The Poem of Ecstasy
SDBR-3037　Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14
SDBR-3044　Grofe: The Grand Canyon Suite
SDBR-3054　Shostakovich/Prokofiev: Symphony No. 9/Lieutenant Kije Suite, Op. 60


I’ve listened to them, and I think they’ve NEVER sounded better, in any form. We don’t have distribution in North America or Europe yet for these, but I’m trying to work something out, possibly with someone like Arkiv Music. I’ll let the list know if and when that happens. They probably are already available as imports, though I have no independent knowledge of that.
 
We’re also looking at the possibility of re-release on vinyl of some of these (though some were, of course, released through Classic Records, but these transfers we’ve done have improved on those, eliminating some wow and flutter issues?we’re using some new laser technology right on the 35mm playback machine in order to create a better transfer). Chad Kassem has inquired about doing some 45rpm releases also, but we haven’t worked out a deal, as of yet.
 
Hope this answers your queries, but let me know if you have any others.
 
Mark
 
Mark Jenkins
Countdown Media, a division of BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Thomas Stern
Sent: August-19-14 2:52 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Who owns Everest/Scala records?
 
The EVEREST and associated labels seem to be available from a multitude of sources, in the USA and from Europe.
What is the status of those sources?
For example, RYKO supposedly bought the TRADITION label, and additional blues and jazz material which they remastered and issued on CD for a while - now seems to be discontinued.
There are MANY really garbage releases from ESSENTIAL MEDIA GROUP, the few I've heard sound like dubs from vinyl and the CD-r releases do NOT have ANY liner notes or other identification of source (i.e. original issue label, catalog no, date, personnel, etc.).
  Has your organization issued any quality CD's from the Everest stable?
Where are they sold ??
  Thanks!
  Best wishes, Thomas.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of James Roth
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 1:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Who owns Everest/Scala records?
 
Wonderful!
 
Thank you.
Ben
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark Jenkins
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 1:15 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Who owns Everest/Scala records?
 
Hi Ben,
 
That's exactly what we did on the Belock masters, and what we plan to do with the Scala ones.
 
Best,
 
Mark
 
Mark Jenkins
Countdown Media, a division of BMG Rights Management (US) LLC Phone +1 905
655 0577 * EFax: +1 905 248 3037
Email: [log in to unmask] * www.countdownmedia.com
Skype: markjen
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of James Roth
Sent: August-19-14 12:40 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Who owns Everest/Scala records?
 
Hello Mark
 
Thanks for answering my question.
 
It's just a thought, but what would be the chances of them using the wonderful, original liner notes of Bernard Lebow who founded Scala way back when?
 
Regards,
Ben
 
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark Jenkins
Sent: Monday, August 18, 2014 2:23 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Who owns Everest/Scala records?
 
Hi Ben,
 
Scala is also owned by Countdown Media, who owns the Everest label. We're in the process of evaluating initial groups of titles for remastering for re-release, just as we've done with the Belock masters recently.
 
Mark
 
Mark Jenkins
Countdown Media, a division of BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of James Roth
Sent: August-18-14 2:07 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ARSCLIST] Who owns Everest/Scala records?
 
Greetings, ALL
 
Does anyone know who, if anyone, owns the Everest/Scala LPs?
I know Omega owns the Everest label from the 60s, but what about the records that were originally Scala [which was founded by Bernard Lebow]?
 
Thanks,
Ben Roth