Craft Recordings

Craft Recordings is an American catalog and reissue label owned by Concord, specializing in reissues, deluxe editions, and catalog management across jazz, folk, rock, soul, and classical. It manages catalogs including Verve, Impulse!, Fantasy, Stax, Specialty, Riverside, Prestige, and Milestone. Craft is the catalog and reissue arm of the Concord group. Founded in 2017, Craft handles deluxe editions, vinyl reissues, and digital catalog management for Concord's owned catalogs.

Craft Recordings manages some of the most important catalogs in American music. The Fantasy catalog includes Creedence Clearwater Revival, Vince Guaraldi, and the catalog of Specialty Records (Sam Cooke, Little Richard). The Stax catalog includes Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, and Booker T. and the M.G.'s. The jazz catalogs (Prestige, Riverside, Milestone, Impulse!) include Miles Davis (Prestige), Thelonious Monk (Riverside), John Coltrane (Impulse!), and many other foundational jazz recordings. Craft's reissues are known for their careful remastering, packaging, and liner notes.

How Craft Operates

Craft Recordings operates as the catalog and reissue arm of the Concord group. It does not sign new artists. Instead, its team manages, reissues, and licenses existing catalog material from Concord's owned catalogs. Craft handles deluxe editions (often with previously unreleased material), vinyl reissues (often with original packaging reproduced), and digital catalog management. The label's strength is its careful approach to catalog preservation and reissue packaging.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Craft Recordings is not a signing target for new artists. Its relevance is for artists with existing catalog material (especially jazz, soul, rock, or folk) who want a carefully managed reissue. If you have archival recordings or an overlooked catalog, Craft (via Concord) is one of the most respected reissue labels in the US.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• Not for new artists: Craft licenses and reissues existing catalog material. It does not sign new artists for new recordings.
• No unsolicited demos: Craft does not accept cold submissions for new recordings.
• Catalog focus: The label's expertise is in reissue packaging, remastering, and catalog management.
• Concord ownership: Craft is part of the Concord group, which means any catalog licensing involves Concord's infrastructure.

Related Resources

• Record Label Contracts Explained - How catalog licensing differs from a label deal
• Selling Your Music Catalog Rights - Catalog licensing and sales
• Independent Labels vs Major Labels - The catalog label model
• Concord - Craft's parent company
• Craft Recordings Official Site - Catalog and reissues