Founder Michael Burke Official website www.cordovabay.com Founded 1999 | Genre Indie Various Headquarters Victoria, Canada Country of origin Canada | |
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Parent company Cordova Bay Entertainment Group Distributor(s) Fontana Distribution
Universal Music Canada Location Victoria, British Columbia Albums Life, Love & Lies, Guilty by Association | ||
Cordova Bay Records is an independent record label located in Victoria, British Columbia. The label operates in conjunction with Cordova Bay Music Publishing under the parent company Cordova Bay Entertainment Group. Cordova Bay Records is a faithful supporter of independent music on the West Coast. The company was founded by Michael Burke in 1999 and touts itself as an "artist-oriented label", with a philosophy of forming partnerships with each artist to effectively promote their music to the world. In its lifetime, Cordova Bay Records has released over 30 albums from 16 artists, who combined have earned 8 JUNO Award nominations, two gold singles, one platinum single, one double-platinum single, and a gold record.
Contents
History
Cordova Bay Entertainment Group was founded by Michael Burke, who grew up in the Toronto suburb of Don Mills during the 1960s. It was there that he attended classes with the likes of writer and musician Paul Quarrington, renowned double bassists Roberto Occhipinti and Joel Quarrington, classical guitarist Norbert Kraft and pop singer Dan Hill. Later, Burke performed the role of manager for many of his talented friends, setting up gigs and acquiring studio time.
Burke also happened to be a tech wiz. In 1981, Burke quit his night job in the music business to spend the next two decades focusing on his career in computer technology, which turned out to be very lucrative. By 1998, Burke had moved to Victoria, British Columbia was ready to return to the music business and continue the career he had put on hold seventeen years earlier. By 1999, Cordova Bay Entertainment Group was up and running.
In its early years, Cordova Bay Records associated with Ragged Pup Records to put out albums by several artists on the Ragged Pup label, including David Gogo, Bill Bourne, Wyckham Porteous, and Doug Cox. Later Cordova Bay Records acquired several Ragged Pup artists and released their albums on the Cordova Bay label.
Artists who had albums released by Cordova Bay Records between 1999 and 2005 include David Gogo, Wyckham Porteous, Bill Bourne, Tony Quarrington, Fan Tan Alley, Joe Hall, and Jeffery Sez. For artists represented by Cordova Bay Records after 2005, see the section on Artists below.
Cordova Bay Entertainment Group also created a UK branch (Cordova Bay UK) that released albums in the United Kingdom, including Sam Roberts - Chemical City, Michael Kaeshammer - Tell You How I Feel and No Strings Attached, and The Puentes Brothers - Morumba Cubana. Cordova Bay UK also invested in renowned UK label, Fierce Panda Records, who are credited with releases by bands including Coldplay, Art Brut, The Blackout, Keane, Death Cab for Cutie, The Polyphonic Spree, Placebo, and Shitdisco, among many others.
In 2006, Cordova Bay Entertainment Group and Fierce Panda Records launched a Canadian branch of Fierce Panda, known as Fierce Panda Canada. Fierce Panda Canada released albums by UK artists iLiKETRAiNS, My Architects, Capdown, Make Good Your Escape, and Shitdisco.
Gold & Platinum Certifications
State of Shock Too Pretty (Single)
State of Shock Best I Ever Had (Single)
State of Shock Money Honey (Single)
State of Shock Life, Love & Lies (Album)
Raghav Fire (Single)
Juno Awards
The Juno Awards are presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Cordova Bay Records artists have been nominated for a total of 5 Juno Awards since 2003. Bill Bourne's album Sally's Dream was also nominated for an award in 1999 - it was released by Ragged Pup Records (later acquired by Cordova Bay Records).
Canadian Indie Awards
The INDIE Music Awards happen every March in Toronto as part of Canadian Music Week.
Canadian Radio Music Awards
The Canadian Radio Music Awards are an annual series of awards presented by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters that are part of Canadian Music Week.
Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards
The Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards happen every March in Toronto as part of Canadian Music Week.
Western Canadian Music Awards
The Western Canadian Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony for music in the western portion of Canada, that originated in its current form in 2003. The awards are provided by the Western Canada Music Alliance, which consists of five Member groups from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia and Yukon.
Maple Blues Awards
The Maple Blues Awards are Canada’s blues awards, "honouring the finest in Canadian blues". They are the only comprehensive national best in blues awards program. The program's goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement. The Maple Blues Awards have been presented by the Toronto Blues Society since their inception in 1997.
Canadian Folk Music Awards
The Canadian Folk Music Awards are an annual music awards ceremony, presenting awards in a variety of categories for achievements in both traditional and contemporary folk music, and other roots music genres, by Canadian musicians. The awards program was created in 2005 by a group of independent label representatives, folk music presenters, artists and enthusiasts, to celebrate and promote Canadian folk music.
West Coast Music Awards
The West Coast Music Awards were an annual music awards ceremony, presenting awards to musicians from British Columbia and the Yukon. In 2003, the West Coast Music Awards combined with Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba to form the Western Canadian Music Awards.
Affiliates
Cordova Bay Entertainment Group, Inc. consists of two main parts - Cordova Bay Records and Cordova Bay Music Publishing, and also includes Quarrington Worthy Music Publishing and Cordova Bay Music Publishing II.
The company also has equity involvement and partnerships with the following affiliates:
MapleCore Ltd.
Fierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda Canada
Cordova Bay UK Ltd
The Mobile Cartel
Infinity Mastering Facility