ABOUT
ABKCO Music & Records is one of the world’s leading independent entertainment companies. It is home to iconic music catalogs that include compositions and recordings by Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Bobby Womack, Eric Burdon, The Animals, Herman’s Hermits, Marianne Faithfull, The Kinks, the works of Norman Luboff (Yellowbird) as well as the current songwriters Ben Margulies (co-writer of Mariah Carey), Devvon T McLeod (pka Devvon Terrell) and the Cameo Parkway masters by such artists as Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, Clint Eastwood, The Dovells, ? & The Mysterians, The Tymes and Dee Dee Sharp.
ABKCO’s recordings are of the highest resolution audio quality available. We were the first label to launch our entire catalogue on hybrid SACD and continue to make our catalogue digitally available in the highest resolution audio quality available, partnering with companies including HD Tracks, Acoustic Sound and HIGHRESAUDIO for DSD downloads.
Each of ABKCO’s global companies actively pursue cover placements and licensing opportunities for its catalog worldwide. Current covers and derivatives include a multitude of genres with cross-branding platforms such as Ciara’s version of “Paint It Black” (released as a single and used for trailers and end credits in a major motion picture), Pitbull’s derivative version of “I’m Free” entitled “Freedom” (released as a single and used in a global advertising promotion). Past covers have reached critical successes – for example Susan Boyle’s multi-million selling hit album featuring the single “Wild Horses” and Bobby Womack’s “If You Think You’re Lonely Now” sampled in “We Belong Together” performed by Mariah Carey, which was named Song of the Decade 2000-2010 by Billboard Magazine. Award winning advertising spots include Martin Scorsese’s Chanel Bleu commercial using The Rolling Stones “She Said Yeah” and Sony Bravia’s 2007 Cannes Gold Lion and Clio award winning spot with the Rolling Stones recording of “She’s A Rainbow”. Its songs have been featured in ads by Coke, Pepsi, Snickers, Dior, United Healthcare, Apple, Mercedes and other prestigious brands. ABKCO focuses on innovative licensing methods and has become a leader of independent music companies in virtually all licensing media. ABKCO’s compositions and masters have been licensed in award winning video games and are featured in almost every network television series and major motion picture.
ABKCO Records is active on many fronts including the release of highly regarded compilations and reissues from its vast catalog. GRRR!, The Rolling Stones Greatest Hits collection to mark their 50th Anniversary, was released in November 2012. Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! The Rolling Stones In Concert – 40th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set and the vinyl 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Box Set were released in 2009 to five star reviews by critics and fans alike and were included in “must have” collectors lists all around the world. In 2013, ABKCO Records released Eric Burdon’s critically acclaimed “Til Your River Runs Dry”. The Rolling Stones in Mono features 16 LPs/15CD’s of all the band’s mono studio recordings from the 1960s in one unique, historic collection. Their Satanic Majesties Request 50th Anniversary Limited Edition deluxe double vinyl/double hybrid Super Audio CD remastered by Bob Ludwig, featuring Michael Cooper’s original 3-D lenticular cover photograph is ABKCO’s latest release.
Soundtrack releases include the critically acclaimed Big Little Lies: Music From The HBO Original Series, David O Russell’s Golden Globe® nominated Joy, Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, the 2015 Academy Award, GRAMMY® and BAFTA winning soundtrack to his Golden Globe winner®The Grand Budapest Hotel, the 2013 Academy Award® nominated Moonrise Kingdom, The Darjeeling Limited and the 2010 Academy Award® nominated Fantastic Mr. Fox, Safety Not Guaranteed, Our Idiot Brother, the international blockbuster Fast Five, Edgar Wright’s The Worlds End and Scott Pilgrim vs The World, Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, The Men Who Stare At Goats, Boardwalk Empire Volume 2: music from the HBO® original series, the soundtrack to the first season of the hit Showtime® series, Californication, and through ABKCO Records Little World imprint, American Girl:Isabelle Dances into the Spotlight, American Girl:Grace Stirs Up Success and Barbie and The Secret Door. Releases on ABKCO’s SAR label include albums by L C Cooke, The Soul Stirrers and Johnny Taylor.
ABKCO Films has a long history of being involved with many successful movies including The Greek Tycoon starring Anthony Quinn and Jacqueline Bisset, La Grande Bouffe, winner of the International Critics prize at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival and The Concert for Bangladesh featuring Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Ringo Starr. ABKCO Films latest release is renowned cult director Alejandro Jodorowsky’sEndless Poetry. Jodorowsky’s classics El Topo and The Holy Mountain, fully restored and remastered to HD, were shown at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival (Classics section) and at the prestigious 44th New York Film Festival. In 2003 ABKCO won a Grammy® for the DVD release of Sam Cooke – Legend and the following year released the DVD of The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus to critical acclaim. ABKCO Film’s GRAMMY® winning The Rolling Stones Charlie Is My Darling – 1965, is a film of the Rolling Stones September 1965 Irish tour originally directed by Peter Whitehead and produced by Andrew Oldham. This 2012 release has been meticulously restored by director Mick Gochanour and producer Robin Klein and features never before seen footage and electrifying performances of the band on the cusp of becoming the legend. Films in pre-production include a biopic on the life of Sam Cooke. ABKCO’s latest release is The Durrells, a TV series based on Gerald Durrell’s book The Corfu Trilogy.
2017 Olivier nominated for Best New Play, “One Night in Miami…”, ABKCO’s latest theatrical production, played to critical acclaim in Los Angeles, Baltimore and Denver and at London’s Donmar Warehouse.
ABKCO is at the forefront of new technologies in the entertainment field and is in active development of several multi-platform projects, theatrical productions and innovative educational tools to ensure its catalog is enjoyed by generations of fans for years to come.