Wikipedia

Som Livre

Som Livre (Portuguese for "Free Sound") is a Brazilian record company that was founded in March 1969 in order to commercialize the soundtracks for TV Globo (its then parent company) soap operas[1] and later expanded to recording studio albums. As of 2024, it is owned by Sony Music.

Som Livre
Parent companySony Music
FoundedMarch 1969; 55 years ago (1969-03)
FounderJoão Araújo
GenreSoundtrack, MPB, Samba, Gospel Music, Sertanejo, Country.
Country of originBrazil
LocationRio de Janeiro
Official websitesomlivre.com.br

Today, Som Livre is Brazil's largest domestic label and was formerly part of Grupo Globo, which is the biggest media conglomerate in Brazil.[2] In November 2020, Globo placed the label up for sale.[3] In April 2021, it was acquired by Sony Music Entertainment (initially for an undisclosed amount,[4] later to be revealed as USD 255 million[5]). The sale was approved by the national competition regulator Cade on 4 November 2021[6] and was completed on 4 March 2022.

History

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Som Livre was founded in March 1969 by music producer João Araújo. It was founded with the purpose of developing and commercializing soap opera soundtracks produced by TV Globo. Its first telenovela soundtrack was O Cafona (1971).[7] Other notable soundtracks produced by the label include: O Bem-Amado, O Bofe, O Primeiro Amor (The First Love), O Espigão (The Spike), Corrida do Ouro (The Gold Rush), Os Ossos do Barão (The Bones of the Baron), and O Rebu.

In the early 1970s, the label partnered with Sonopresse, Disques Carrere, and Disques Trema to release music videos in Brazil.[8] In 1974, Som Livre created the "SOMA" label with the intention of developing more affordable albums.[9] Som Livre began collaborations with musical artists Djavan and Rita Lee in 1976.[10][11][12] Other musical artist collaborators included: Guilherme Arantes, Tim Maia, Lulu Santos, Barão Vermelho, Cazuza, Luiz Melodia, Gal Costa, Simone, Jorge Ben Jor, Renata Vasconcellos, Elis Regina, Fafá de Belém, Moraes Moreira, Djavan, Novos Baianos, Fábio Jr., Agepê, Francis Hime, and Xuxa. In 1988, the label produced Xuxa’s third album “Xou da Xuxa 3,” which was the best selling album in Som Livre’s history with 3,316,704 copies sold.[10][11][12]

In 1999, the company started selling its products online, reaching R$1.342 million in sales within four months.[13] Som Livre was the first Brazilian record label to release cell phone ringtones.[14]

In 2007, Som Livre released its SLAP label, which focused on signing on new Brazilian talent. New artists collaborations included: Latin Grammy-nominated Maria Gadú and Michel Teló, Tiago Iorc, and Little Joy.[15][16][17] In celebration of its 5-year anniversary, SLAP hosted a music festival at Cine Jóia in São Paulo. The festival featured: Maria Gadú, Silva, Thaís Gulin, Tiago Iorc, Ana Canãs, Dani Black, and Jesuton and Marcelo Jeneci.[18][19]

In 2014, Som Livre partnered with Eagle Rock Entertainment, signing onto international artists such as The Rolling Stones and Elton John.[20] In 2016, the label launched its Austro Music label, dedicated to electronic music. Austro Music has worked with DJ DIB, Elefantz, Naza Brothers, and WAO.[21]

With the rise in streaming service popularity, Som Livre partnered with Deezer, Spotify, Apple Music, and Globoplay.[22][21] With Spotify, the two companies developed a new component through app which paired 27 iconic telenovela characters to their respective soundtrack.[21][23] In 2018, the label worked with Apple Music to stream its music on Apple's platform.[21][24] Som Livre’s partnership with Globoplay led to an "on demand" service, in which the label released artist content exclusively for its subscribers.

Gospel

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Som Livre was the first record label to invest in Brazil’s gospel music market. In 2009, Som Livre released its first gospel album “CD Promessas,” which sold 500,000 copies.[25][26] The following year, the label launched Festival Promessas, the biggest evangelical music event in Brazil.[27]

According to the Brazilian Association of Record Producers (ABPD), gospel music was the second most popular musical genre in Brazil in 2011. In 2012, Som Livre launched "Você Adora", a gospel subdivision of the label.[28][29][30] Amongst Você Adora’s gospel artists are Ludmila Ferber, David Quinlan, Rose Nascimento, André Valadão, Eliane Silva, Davi Sacer, and Ton Carfi.[31][32]

Labels

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Som Livre Masters series

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Som Livre commissioned Charles Gavin to select 25 rare albums for inclusion in their Som Livre Masters Series of CD reissues. The albums:[33]

  1. Sambas – Dom Júnior, Walter Wanderley, Milton Banana
  2. Bossa nova, nova bossa – Manfredo Fest
  3. Bossa Jazz Trio – Bossa Jazz Trio
  4. Sansa Trio – Sansa Trio
  5. Os Brazões – Os Brazões
  6. Em Som Maior – Sambrasa Trio
  7. Sambossa 5
  8. Quarteto Bossamba – Walter Wanderley
  9. Reencontro com Sambalanço Trio – Sambalanço Trio
  10. Som 3 – Cesar Camargo Mariano
  11. Os Sambistas – Paulinho da Viola
  12. Decisão – Zimbo Trio
  13. Brazilian Octopus – Hermeto Pascoal
  14. Como Dizia O Poeta – Vinicius de Moraes, Marília Medalha, Toquinho
  15. E deixa o relógio andar – Osmar Milito
  16. Rosinha de Valença – Rosinha de Valença
  17. Molhado de Suor – Alceu Valença
  18. Vila Sésamo
  19. Vamos pro Mundo – Novos Baianos
  20. Gerson Conrad e Zeze Motta
  21. Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
  22. Tim Maia – Tim Maia
  23. Vontade De Rever Você – Marcos Valle
  24. Nave Maria – Tom Zé
  25. Línguas De Fogo – Sidney Miller
  1. Gustavo So Para Baixinhos - Gustavo Sibilio Borges

Artists

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References

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  1. ^ Pires, Luciano (17 July 2012). "Som Livre". Portal Café Brasil.
  2. ^ Barrionuevo, Alexei (20 November 2020). "Som Livre, Brazil's Largest Domestic Label, Put Up for Sale". Forbes.
  3. ^ "Som Livre, Brazil's Largest Domestic Label, Put up for Sale". Billboard. 20 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Sony Music acquires Som Livre". 1 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  5. ^ Gabriel Vaquer, Li Lacerda (11 November 2021). "Cade aprova venda da Som Livre para a Sony Music e faz Globo faturar R$ 1,4 bilhão". Notícias da TV. UOL. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Cade autoriza a venda da gravadora Som Livre, do Grupo Globo, para a Sony Music Entertainment". 4 November 2021.
  7. ^ "O Cafona". Globo.
  8. ^ Van Haandel, Johan (8 September 2018). "Considerações Sobre O Cenário Das Gravadoras Envolvidas Nas Trilhas De Telenovelas Após A Inclusão Da Música Internacional: Estudo De Caso Das Trilhas Sonoras Internacionais Das Telenovelas Brasileiras Da Década De 1970 1" (PDF). Intercom.
  9. ^ "O Início". Globo.
  10. ^ a b "Som Livre". Roberto Marinho.
  11. ^ a b "Rita Lee Discografia". Dicionario MPB.
  12. ^ a b Prado, Ana Carolina (21 December 2016). "Os 10 discos mais vendidos no Brasil até hoje". Super Interesante.
  13. ^ "Conexão web". Uol.
  14. ^ "Celulares ganham ringtones da Som Livre". Exame.
  15. ^ "Maria Gadú, Gil e Maria Bethânia são indicados ao Grammy Latino". G1. 8 September 2010.
  16. ^ FLÁVIO JÚNIOR, JOSÉ (28 December 2007). "Som Livre reúne artistas iniciantes em novo selo". UOL.
  17. ^ Antunes, Anderson (29 December 2011). "Have You Heard Of Brazilian Country Music Phenomenon Michel Telo? You Will". Forbes.
  18. ^ "Festival Slap". Cine Jóia.
  19. ^ "Maria Gadu, Gil e Maria Betania são indicados ao Grammy". Veja SP.
  20. ^ "Som Livre e Eagle Rock fecham acordo". Meio e Mensagem. 9 April 2014.
  21. ^ a b c d "Maiara e Maraisa cantam Elis Regina". UOL. 21 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Luan Santana vai lançar DVD 'Viva' em agosto apenas no Globoplay". UOL. 16 July 2019.
  23. ^ "Spotify, Globo e Som Livre relembram personagens clássicos de novelas". Meio e Mensagem. 8 November 2017.
  24. ^ "Som Livre lança campanha pata estimular uso dos streamings". Meio e Mensagem. 28 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Som Livre". Grupo Globo.
  26. ^ "Som Livre apresenta novidades do Selo Você Adora". Virtual Gospel.
  27. ^ "Spotify single, Vevo Sessions, Mc Rebecca, Festival Rock the Mountain e mais". Mundo Música.
  28. ^ "Som Livre apresenta novidades do Selo Você Adora". Virtual Gospel.
  29. ^ "Venda de Cds de cantores gospel supera ídolos da MPB". O Dia. 31 October 2015.
  30. ^ Levino, Rodrigo (25 November 2011). "Musica Gospel, trinados, fé e dinheiro". Veja.
  31. ^ "Ton Carfi agora está na Som Livre". Comunhão. 12 November 2014.
  32. ^ "Som Livre renova com Davi Sacer". Comunhão. 4 December 2013.
  33. ^ "Som Livre - Masters MPB". Archived from the original on 6 October 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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