Long live Rounder Records...

...so, you can read the official statement here or here or anywhere all over the net at this point, but the stunning news breaking late yesterday was that venerable roots indie Rounder Records has been sold, purchased by the Concord Music Group. Concord was just a modest jazz label ten years ago, smaller than Rounder (which once topped out at 80 or 100 employees, depending on who you ask), but a few investors swooped in, purchased it, and set about positioning it as an indie powerhouse. They've bought some major catalogs lately (Fantasy/OJC/etc.), and have shown genuine savvy and efficiency in managing and distributing them. We're not sure why we're seeing so much classic Concord-owned catalog show up at bargain-basement prices at our local indie stores lately, but we assume it's because they are moving a lot of this esoteric stuff to a digital-only model, and are eliminating the physical product. We're rather found of physical product here, but acknowledge that this is the new way of the world.

A quiet little dark shadow descended on the office when we heard the news. Being based in Boston and fans of both roots music and independent music, we are Rounder fans. Some of us worked there -- as have many musicians and fans in the area. Some of us know way too much. What we can agree on is the music, which is wondrous and varied: it's a great American catalog, with way more gems than duds. Where else can you hear classic Jonathan Richman (Modern Lovers '88 remains an all-time favorite here), awesome vintage bluegrass (courtesy of their long-running Early Days of Bluegrass series), newgrass pioneers like J.D. Crowe and Tony Rice, classic ska and reggae (via the now-shuttered Heartbeat subsidiary), and more field recordings than one can shake a proverbial stick at (via the Lomax collection and a great batch of non-Lomax field recordings)? It's a treasure trove, the management of which has always somewhat strained the resources of Rounder, who were always as devoted to their new artists as they were to the classics -- to their great credit.

So, from a catalog perspective, we feel this could be a good move. Concord will administer the distribution (digitally and physically) of Rounder music with efficiency and effectiveness. From what we're hearing, the Rounder HQ outside of Boston will stay open and operating, although there will be staff consolidations and inevitable lay-offs. That said, Rounder was always independent -- "fiercely independent" as label CEO John Virant says in the above-linked press releases -- and can the sublimation of Rounder to another indie retain that independence? How will the Rounder founders -- still active in the day-to-day business of the company -- fit into the new corporate structure? Will they be able to convey their passion for a bluegrass group that will only sell 3,000 copies to the new bosses? Will they be able to embark on more misguided money-draining attempts to corner the AAA/pop market? (In fairness, some recent indie-rock-leaning signings, like Ween, have actually done pretty well. But who wants an anthology of recent recordings by John Waite? I mean, the guy's a chode.) Recent triumphs -- like Madeleine Peyroux or the left-field Alison Krauss and Robert Plant collaboration -- are as expensive to market, promote, and produce as they are successful. They don't have the profit ratio of a solid bluegrass album, that is cheaper to release and promote.

It's all up in the air, and we don't want this to sound like a eulogy. The Rounder imprint of the Concord Music Group could persist, and continue to put out sincere, honest music to a core group of rabid enthusiasts. It's just a sign of the times, we suppose: even the strongest labels out there are feeling the pinch. That's why we at Casa Nueva strive to keep things small, modest, and heartfelt to the core: should we fail, we failed doing what we love doing, and not trying to convince people (and ourselves) that John Waite is cool.