 | |
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Genre | Various |
| Founded | August 1998 |
| Founder | Allen Kovac |
| Defunct | December 2002 |
| Fate | Liquidated |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide United States |
| Products | Music and entertainment |
| Owner | Left Bank Management |
| Divisions | Beyond Records Americoma Records Coolio's Crowbar Records Indivision Mötley Records Slimstyle Records |
| Website | beyondmusic.com (Archived on October 17, 2000) |
Beyond Music was an Americanrecord label group based inLos Angeles, California. It was founded in August 1998 by Allen Kovac.[1][2] The label group operated as an arm of Kovac's Left Bank Management firm (founded in 1983), which he jointly ran with Jeffrey Sydney.[2][3][4] The label was known for its strategy of "resurrecting" bands and artists that had decreased in popularity with unusual high-profile marketing campaigns, and its roster includedYes,Blondie,Veruca Salt,Mötley Crüe,Vince Neil, and others.[5][6] It also signed a variety of new bands and artists, such asLucy Pearl and58.
On August 1, 1998,Billboard magazine announced the formation of Beyond Music via an exclusive feature in the magazine, and unveiled a list of artists who had signed to the label.[2]BMG signed a pressing-and-distribution (P&D) agreement with Beyond Music to distribute the label group's release internationally;[2] outside of the United States, some of Beyond Music's releases were licensed to and distributed by a variety of labels, such asEMI Records forCanada andSony Music Entertainment (SME) for Europe.[7]Universal Music and Video Distribution took over Beyond Music's distribution from BMG in May 2001; the label's first release under the new distribution deal wasGod Bless The Go-Go's byThe Go-Go's, which was released on May 15, 2001.[7]
The label, along with Left Bank Management, went intoliquidation towards the end of 2002 following a dispute between Kovac and Sydney, resulting in more than a dozen employees being laid off.[3] Kovac later filed anarbitration lawsuit against Sydney on December 31, 2002, alleging that he haddefrauded and manipulated him, and formed a new management company, Kovac Media Group, in January 2003.[3][4]Eleven Seven Music, which Kovac formed in 2006, is seen as a successor to Beyond Music.[6] Several former artists on Beyond, such as Better than Ezra, have since reclaimed the rights to their releases on the label.[8][9]
This is a list of artists who have recorded for Beyond Music and its associated labels.[10]