From the Grave
The 70-decade-old jazz, folk, blues, and soul label Fontana has been revived by Universal Music Group UK, and is set to be led by Tom Lewis, the former co-president of the classical label Decca Records alongside Laura Monks.
Fontana’s Prestigious Legacy
Fontana has one of the strongest legacies of any modern music label, spinning up in the ’50s under Phillips. The label went on to sign several of jazz’s greatest stars of all time, including the likes of Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, and many more. Past the ’60s, the label branched out into recruiting acts and musicians from other genres, including Elton John’s first band, Tears for Fears, and the band that went on to become The Who.
Current Fontana Artists
Fontana’s revival comes after it was sold to Ingrooves Music in 2012, a company which was later acquired by Universal, resulting in the re-establishment of the label. The latest version of Fontana will act as a central label that oversees smaller jazz labels Blue Note, Verve, and Impulse! in the UK. Current artists that will fall under the Fontana label include Jacob Collier, Jeff Goldblum, AURORA, and more. “Some of the most important jazz records ever made arrived on these shores carrying the Fontana logo,” said Lewis. “We begin this new chapter of the label with an ambitious and experienced team, a sense of adventure, and a formidably talented roster of artists.”
Decca’s Restructuring
Meanwhile at Decca, Laura Monks will take over as the sole president, now taking on previous labels overseen by Tom Lewis, including Decca Classics, Mercury KX, and Hyperion. Artists and projects that will now fall under her watch include Ludovico Einaudi, Andrea Bocelli, and Sheku Kanneh-Mason along with composer Max Richter’s scores for the upcoming film “Hamnet” and the musical version of “Paddington.”
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