ECM Records Moves UK and Ireland Distribution to Naxos

ECM's catalog regularly records some of the best-known living composers, including Steve Reich and Arvo Pärt

Naxos Music UK will now be responsible for the distribution of the ECM Records catalog in the UK and Ireland. Since its inception, Naxos has become the largest distributor in the UK classical market, and it is responsible for the distribution of the Ondine, SWR Classic, and Opus Arte labels, among others.

ECM (which stands for Edition of Contemporary Music) was founded by the German producer Manfred Eicher in 1969, and boasts a current catalog of more than 1700 releases. It has a particular reputation as a specialist label for jazz, and released major recordings of artists such as Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, Chick Corea, Paul Bley, Egberto Gismonti, and Pat Metheny.

The company expanded its reach into contemporary art music in the 1970s, and released albums by artists such as Meredith Monk, Steve Reich, and Arvo Pärt. It continues to record the music of some of the most distinguished composers of our times, including György Kurtág, Valentin Silvestrov, and Dobrinka Tabakova.

Founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, Naxos Music Group releases the most new records each year of any classical music recording company. Its catalog has breadth as well as depth, and the company also has its own streaming services and multimedia platforms.

"Everyone at Naxos Music UK is really excited about our new partnership with ECM," said Tom Wooldridge Stevens, Managing Director. "This visionary label has set new standards in recorded music-making, elevating jazz and contemporary classical music without ever compromising on artistic integrity. We look forward to working with this unique catalogue, ground-breaking musical artists."