Private Music


Private Music was an American independent record label founded in 1984 by musician Peter Baumann as a "home for instrumental music". Baumann signed Ravi Shankar, Yanni, Suzanne Ciani, Andy Summers, Patrick O'Hearn, Leo Kottke, and his former bandmates, Tangerine Dream. The label specialized in New age music but made a sharp turn to the mainstream by signing Taj Mahal, Ringo Starr, Etta James, and A. J. Croce. Its albums were distributed by BMG, which bought Private Music in 1996.

History

In 1989, Baumann hired veteran music executive Ron Goldstein of Warner Bros. Records as Private Music's president and CEO. Goldstein moved the offices from New York City to Los Angeles, hiring Karen Johnson to expand the label's image. Baumann recruited the well-respected, mainstream A&R executive Jamie Cohen. Visual image was important to Goldstein, who handpicked art director Melanie Penny, previously of Virgin Records and Warner Bros., as VP, Creative Services, through the life of Private Music.
Private Music emphasized its "artist re-development" efforts, supporting such eclectic veteran artists as Taj Mahal, Ringo Starr, Etta James, Jennifer Warnes, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Toots Thielemans, Jimmy Witherspoon, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Eliza Gilkyson, Joy Askew, The Pahinui Brothers, and Kenny Rankin, while expanding the catalogs of Yanni, Leo Kottke, Andy Summers, and Ravi Shankar, with strong "debut support" for A. J. Croce and Susan Werner. An international marketing department was added, led by longtime Sony Music executive J.P. Bommel.
Private Music's recordings earned multiple Grammy Awards and nominations, including Etta James's first career win, in 1994, for best jazz vocal performance on Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday, her debut of three albums on the label. Private's roster achieved high recognition on national television. Numerous artist appearances included interviews and performances on late-night talk shows and morning shows, MTV, and VH1.
Private's Grammy winner Taj Mahal spawned the Grammy-winning Phantom Blues Band. With its increasing influence in blues and roots music, and at the peak of its performance in record sales, Private Music entered into a joint venture with House of Blues' record label, featuring such artists as Cissy Houston and John Mooney.
In 2001, Private Music became part of the short-lived Arista Associated Labels, which also included Windham Hill Records. By 2004, after Sony and BMG merged, the label's releases switched to RCA. Following his Private Music tenure, Goldstein served as president and CEO of the Verve Music Group label at Universal Music Group, in New York City.

Notable albums

Private Music has released a number of notable albums:
AlbumPerformerYear of release
OptimystiqueYanni1984
On the Future of AviationJerry Goodman1985
Theme of SecretsEddie Jobson1985
A Shout Toward NoonLeo Kottke1986
Keys to ImaginationYanni1986
Tana ManaRavi Shankar1987
Safety in NumbersDavid Van Tieghem1987
Out of SilenceYanni1987
Famous Blue RaincoatJennifer Warnes1987
Optical RaceTangerine Dream1988
Kristen VigardKristen Vigard1988
Regards from Chuck PinkLeo Kottke1988
Chameleon DaysYanni1988
New Green Clear BlueDan Hartman1989
Lily on the BeachTangerine Dream1989
Miracle MileTangerine Dream1989
Strange CargoDavid Van Tieghem1989
My Father's FaceLeo Kottke1989
Niki NanaYanni1989
PassagesPhilip Glass1990
Heartbeats AcceleratingKate & Anna McGarrigle1990
The Odd Get EvenShadowfax1990
MelroseTangerine Dream1990
That's WhatLeo Kottke1990
Reflections of PassionYanni1990
World Gone StrangeAndy Summers1991
Like Never BeforeTaj Mahal1991
Great Big BoyLeo Kottke1991
In Celebration of LifeYanni1991
Time Takes TimeRingo Starr1992
Dare to DreamYanni1992
The HunterJennifer Warnes1992
Dancing the BluesTaj Mahal1993
In My TimeYanni1993
PeculiarosoLeo Kottke1994
Yanni Live at the AcropolisYanni1994
Getting Even with DadMiles Goodman1994
Professional DreamerKenny Rankin1994
That's Me in the BarA. J. Croce1995
Roll of the DiceThe Fabulous Thunderbirds1995
Time after TimeEtta James1995
Leo Kottke LiveLeo Kottke1995
SexThe Necks1995
Last of the Good Straight GirlsSusan Werner1995
Phantom BluesTaj Mahal1996
Love's Been Rough on MeEtta James1997
Standing in My ShoesLeo Kottke1997
Charmed: The SoundtrackVarious2003