Abril and Indie rival the majors
Two small labels increase their status, selling records by the millions with names like Jorge Aragão, Frank Aguiar, Harmonia do Samba, Tribo de Jah, Capital Inicial and Vinny
Rodrigo Faour
04/01/2001
Major labels, beware, for you might get hit by small ones! Year 2000 testified that the sun rises for everyone in the record industry, and it has been shining a lot upon two companies: Abril Music and Indie Records. The first one finished the year with impressive sales figures: over 10 million discs sold. And the other, launched four years ago, started out with 250 thousand units in the first year, leveled on 750 thousand copies in the following years and closes 2000 with expressive 1 million and 800 thousand copies sold. The reasons for the success? Experienced artistic directors, high investments in promotion and casts that are interesting and potentially commercial at the same time.
With only two years in the market, Abril Music established itself while accommodating various styles, from the surprising Frank Aguiar, to the appealing Harmonia do Samba, the resurrected Capital Inicial and Ira!, the dance-driven Maurício Manieri and the BPM star, Ivan Lins. Numbers never lie.
Among the most popular acts, Frank Aguiar sold 750 thousand copies of his CD, Volume 4, released in September, 1999. He has put out two other volumes in 2000. The first one hit 800 thousand copies, and the other, released last month, has already sold 500 thousand copies. Harmonia do Samba, in its turn, released its first album late, last year, and have sold 750 thousand copies, so far. Their second release, O Rodo, has achieved the same figures in two months. From samba to forró, the group Falamansa hit the stores with 500 thousand copies of the CD Deixa Entrar. The boys in the group Família Lima sold 100 thousand copies of Para Você, released in July. In that same month, the teen group Twister released their debut album and sold 250 thousand copies.
More digits
Within the realms of pop, Abril did other feats. It took the band Capital Inicial off the limbo with the album Acústico, released in May, 2000, reaching the incredible amount (for a band that had been out of the charts for at least 12 years) of 350 thousand copies. More or less facing the same situation, the rock band Ira! also had a nice performance. Both Isso é Amor, released in October, 1999, and MTV Ao Vivo (November, 2000) sold 75 thousand copies, each. Maurício Manieri sold 400 thousand copies of A Noite Inteira, which actually hit the stores in September, 1998. His latest CD, Ao Vivo, has already sold 200 thousand copies.
So as to keep on being the leader among new labels, Abril will invest in two distinct products early in 2001: the axé/samba/Caribbean mix concocted by the group Dr. Sevada, from Bahia, and the pop music of Branco Mello, member of the rock group Titãs. Indie records, on the other hand, is slowly paving its way toward a niche in the market - and the impulse that it got in 2000 was essential. The sales increased a lot on account of unusual happenings. Who would have predicted that a samba musician like Jorge Aragão, who had never been a big record seller, would hit 600 thousand copies of his live CD? And that its second volume would hit the stores with 250 thousand copies previously sold, making it 400 thousand in two months? But it so happened.
Other successful Indie move is the reggae band Tribo de Jah, who sold 110 thousand copies of their album Véu de Maya and already beat 80 thousand copies of their latest live CD. Back in the samba business, Beth Carvalho sold 70 thousand copies of the album Pagode de Mesa 2 in two months. The compilation Os Melhores do Ano II (whose first edition had sold over 200 thousand units) also sold 70 thousand copies in one month. Finally, pop singer Vinny sold 100 thousand copies of his 1999 CD and 60 thousand of the recently released Quando o Tempo Pára.
Jerry Adriani, Chico Xavier and Jayme Arôxa
In 2001, the future looks bright for Indie. The company is now placing its bets on the band LS Jack, which hasn't sold that many records, but got rave reviews in the press. On the same genre, Indie launches the newcomer Mariana Davies (who shall release her debut album, produced by Robertinho do Recife, in January). Among the older acts, Jerry Adriani comes up with Tudo Me Lembra Você, after having sold 250 thousand copies of his previous album, comprised of songs by the extinct rock band Legião Urbana. Like Abril had done, Indie chose to diversify their cast.
Encontros com Chico Xavier will feature the 90 year-old spiritualist master reciting the most important texts that he has written through spiritual agency along his life. For those who enjoy dancing, Indie will put out an album with Orquestra Tupy and Jayme Arôxa Dance Company, along with a home video showing the steps for each dance. Finally, they are preparing two CDs with radio stations: a samba disc with Transcontinental and a funk disc with FM O Dia. The Rock In Rio festival - where many artists belonging to the label's cast are going to perform - also signed up a deal with Indie to release three RIR CDs.
With only two years in the market, Abril Music established itself while accommodating various styles, from the surprising Frank Aguiar, to the appealing Harmonia do Samba, the resurrected Capital Inicial and Ira!, the dance-driven Maurício Manieri and the BPM star, Ivan Lins. Numbers never lie.
Among the most popular acts, Frank Aguiar sold 750 thousand copies of his CD, Volume 4, released in September, 1999. He has put out two other volumes in 2000. The first one hit 800 thousand copies, and the other, released last month, has already sold 500 thousand copies. Harmonia do Samba, in its turn, released its first album late, last year, and have sold 750 thousand copies, so far. Their second release, O Rodo, has achieved the same figures in two months. From samba to forró, the group Falamansa hit the stores with 500 thousand copies of the CD Deixa Entrar. The boys in the group Família Lima sold 100 thousand copies of Para Você, released in July. In that same month, the teen group Twister released their debut album and sold 250 thousand copies.
More digits
Within the realms of pop, Abril did other feats. It took the band Capital Inicial off the limbo with the album Acústico, released in May, 2000, reaching the incredible amount (for a band that had been out of the charts for at least 12 years) of 350 thousand copies. More or less facing the same situation, the rock band Ira! also had a nice performance. Both Isso é Amor, released in October, 1999, and MTV Ao Vivo (November, 2000) sold 75 thousand copies, each. Maurício Manieri sold 400 thousand copies of A Noite Inteira, which actually hit the stores in September, 1998. His latest CD, Ao Vivo, has already sold 200 thousand copies.
So as to keep on being the leader among new labels, Abril will invest in two distinct products early in 2001: the axé/samba/Caribbean mix concocted by the group Dr. Sevada, from Bahia, and the pop music of Branco Mello, member of the rock group Titãs. Indie records, on the other hand, is slowly paving its way toward a niche in the market - and the impulse that it got in 2000 was essential. The sales increased a lot on account of unusual happenings. Who would have predicted that a samba musician like Jorge Aragão, who had never been a big record seller, would hit 600 thousand copies of his live CD? And that its second volume would hit the stores with 250 thousand copies previously sold, making it 400 thousand in two months? But it so happened.
Other successful Indie move is the reggae band Tribo de Jah, who sold 110 thousand copies of their album Véu de Maya and already beat 80 thousand copies of their latest live CD. Back in the samba business, Beth Carvalho sold 70 thousand copies of the album Pagode de Mesa 2 in two months. The compilation Os Melhores do Ano II (whose first edition had sold over 200 thousand units) also sold 70 thousand copies in one month. Finally, pop singer Vinny sold 100 thousand copies of his 1999 CD and 60 thousand of the recently released Quando o Tempo Pára.
Jerry Adriani, Chico Xavier and Jayme Arôxa
In 2001, the future looks bright for Indie. The company is now placing its bets on the band LS Jack, which hasn't sold that many records, but got rave reviews in the press. On the same genre, Indie launches the newcomer Mariana Davies (who shall release her debut album, produced by Robertinho do Recife, in January). Among the older acts, Jerry Adriani comes up with Tudo Me Lembra Você, after having sold 250 thousand copies of his previous album, comprised of songs by the extinct rock band Legião Urbana. Like Abril had done, Indie chose to diversify their cast.
Encontros com Chico Xavier will feature the 90 year-old spiritualist master reciting the most important texts that he has written through spiritual agency along his life. For those who enjoy dancing, Indie will put out an album with Orquestra Tupy and Jayme Arôxa Dance Company, along with a home video showing the steps for each dance. Finally, they are preparing two CDs with radio stations: a samba disc with Transcontinental and a funk disc with FM O Dia. The Rock In Rio festival - where many artists belonging to the label's cast are going to perform - also signed up a deal with Indie to release three RIR CDs.