(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Kufala Recordings is offering is music fans and live music lovers the ability to purchase or download live shows of their favorite artists. According to Kufala president, Brady Lahr, "Giving the fans access to high quality live recordings, while insuring the artist gets paid, and providing indie retailers with product they know they can sell is a process we now call 'Authorized Bootlegs.'"
"There are two major factors that separate Kufala's live releases from the competition, like Clear Channel's Instant Live: superior CD quality and honest business deals for the artists," according to Lahr.
"Why do the artists love an independent label like Kufala?" asks Lahr. "It's simple because they get paid! With no recoupment issues, artists are paid from the first CD sold then onward on a monthly basis. Kufala empowers artists to build more artist owned catalog with the ability to produce and sell their live recordings, rarities, side projects, and back catalog."
"Kufala provides comprehensive distribution to retailers and international partners," adds Lahr, "not to mention the versatility which enables Kufala to act as a label to artist who need one and a service to artists who have one. "Kufala Recordings is the most innovative label I have been associated with in the 10 years I have been putting out albums."
The majority of the releases are multi-track live mixes that have been studio mastered and creatively approved by the artist. This being a major difference from the competition, as all their live releases are available for purchase minutes after the end of the concert. "The audio quality of the burned CD's is often flawed and many fans complain about inconsistent playability of the CD's burnt onsite," says Lahr. "Through Kufala, fans can place orders at the venue; however, the product is delivered with in two weeks–most albums are double disc sets and all come in a sleekly designed eco-friendly sleeve, each featuring unique artwork. Also available for download on all major music sites from I-tunes to EMEP3, a Latin American Digital Distributor.
Kufala Recordings is based in Santa Monica, CA and has been in releasing 'Authorized Bootlegs' since July 2002. The founding fathers and self-proclaimed music fanatics include Khalid Al-Faisal, chairman of Kufala and Brady Lahr, president / A&R, who oversees all the day to day business from international distribution deals to signing new artists. The most recent addition to Kufala's management team is Jason Pinsky, who heads up the East Coast division of the company and manages all technological infrastructure. Kufala has released 'Authorized Bootlegs' for New Riders of the Purple Sage, Soul Coughing, The Rockfords (featuring Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, and the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey. There are a number of deals on the table with both indie artists and those signed to majors.
The extensive distribution offered by Kufala includes:
Indie Retail Distribution: working with the Indie Coalitions (CIMS, AIMS, MusicMonitor, LINCS,) as well as a network of about 250 indie stores nationwide they sell direct to.
Digital: Apple iTunes, Real / Listen.com, MusicMatch (Dell and Gateway digital stores), Liquid (Walmart), MSN, Sony Connect, MusicNow, AliveAudio.net, DiscLogic (artist branded players for direct sales off artist and KUFALA sites), EMEP3.com – Latin American Digital Distributor.
International: Japan /MusicCamp, Portugal /Nucolour Records, Benelux (Belgium, Denmark, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, and stores in Germany) – Records are distributed through Bertus, Italy /IRD, New Zealand/Migraine Distribution as well as deals in the works with the UK, Australia, Sweden, and Germany. –Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner
On the Web: Kufala.com
