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'{{Short description|American media company}} {{Distinguish|text = Koch Media, the former name of [[Plaion]]}} {{Redirect-distinguish|Koch International|de:Koch International}} {{Infobox company | name = Koch Entertainment | type = [[Privately held company|Private]] | foundation = {{Start date and age|1987}} | founder = Michael Koch | location_city = [[Port Washington, New York]] | location_country = U.S. | location = | industry = Music distribution<br />[[Film distribution]]<br />[[Broadcast syndication]]<br />[[Record label]] | parent = [[Koch International]] | fate = Acquired by [[E1 Entertainment]] | successor = E1 Entertainment<br />[[Lionsgate]] | defunct = {{End date and age|2009}} | divisions = {{ubl|[[Entertainment One Distribution|Koch Entertainment Distribution]]|[[Entertainment One Films|Koch-Lorber Films]]|[[Entertainment One Films US|Koch Vision]]|[[Entertainment One Music|Koch Records]]|[[Entertainment One Films Canada|Koch Entertainment Canada]]|DRG Records}} | homepage = }} '''Koch Entertainment''' was an American record label and a distributor of film, television, and music. It was purchased by Canadian entertainment company [[E1 Entertainment]] in 2005. ==History== ===First years=== The company began in 1975 as part of Koch International originally of Tirol, later of Munich.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stern.de/wirtschaft/news/musik-mainstream-schluckt-schlager-84906.html|title=Mainstream schluckt Schlager|date=14 February 2002|website=Stern.de|access-date=18 August 2018}}</ref> Founded by Tirolean banker Franz Koch, Koch was an independent Austrian record label, recording studio, and music distribution company that specialized in German Folk Music and later popular [[classical music]] recordings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/label/KOCH+International|title=Koch International|website=Discogs|access-date=18 August 2018}}</ref> For over 20 years, the international arm of the company operated under the name Koch Entertainment, a music, film, and television distribution & record label company that was started in 1987 by Franz's son Michael in [[New York City]].<ref>Encyclopedia of recorded sound - Volume 1 - Page 583 Frank W. Hoffmann, Howard Ferstler - 2005 "KOCH INTERNATIONAL (LABEL) Founded in 1986 by Franz Koch, Koch is the largest independent recording distributor in the U.S. and Canada, and its Koch Entertainment unit is also an important record producer. With headquarters in New ..."</ref> In 1988, the parent Austrian company Koch acquired [[Schwann Records]] from Schwann Verlag. === 1990s === By 1991, Koch had become one of the first national independent distributors of domestic labels in the U.S. by offering an alternative to the traditional system of regional independent distribution or national major label distribution.<ref name="entrepreneur.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2003/may/61084.html|title=On the Record|first=April Y.|last=Pennington|date=1 May 2003|website=Entrepreneur.com|access-date=18 August 2018}}</ref> In 1992, Koch was ranked #315 on ''[[Inc. Magazine]]''{{'}}s list of America's 500 fastest-growing private companies, and has since grown into an entertainment conglomerate.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aaf-online.org/koch.htm |title=The American Austrian Foundation, Inc |access-date=2009-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517111521/http://www.aaf-online.org/koch.htm |archive-date=2008-05-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It acquired the specialist German label Schwann,<ref>Musical opinion - Volume 115 Page 396 1992 "At the same time Koch bought the highly respected specialist label Schwann, based in Dusseldorf, to add to distribution arms in Switzerland and "</ref><ref>Michael Koch interview in Billboard Jul 4, 1992</ref> Koch expanded into the Canadian market in 1995 by forming the [[Toronto]]-based [[Koch Entertainment Canada]].<ref>Michael Koch interview Billboard Mar 15, 1997</ref> In 1996, Koch International took over Discover, a budget label which had been set up by conductor [[Ali Rahbari]] to challenge the dominance in the budget classical sector of Naxos. The new Koch Discover International was to be jointly controlled by Franz Koch and Rahbari.<ref>BBC music magazine - Volumes 4 à 5 - Page 57 1996 "Koch International has taken over Discover, the budget label which was set up by conductor Alexander Rahbari to challenge Naxos. Koch Discover International will be jointly controlled by Franz Koch, chairman of Koch, and Rahbari. Future releases will include deletions from the main catalogue of Munich-based Koch Schwann as well as original material.</ref> The Austrian parent Koch divested Schwann to Deutsche Grammophone's parent Universal Music GmbH in 2002. === 2000s === In 2003, Koch formed the DVD label [[Koch Lorber]] in collaboration with Richard Lorber.<ref>{{Cite web| last1 = Amdur| first1 = Meredith| title = Lorber forms specialty DVD distrib label| work = Variety| access-date = 2019-02-09| date = 2003-02-11| url = https://variety.com/2003/film/news/lorber-forms-specialty-dvd-distrib-label-1117880358/}}</ref> In 2005, Koch was acquired by the Canadian company ROW Entertainment (now known as [[Entertainment One]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cimamusic.ca/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=792&SiteNodeID=66 |title=CIMA: ROW Entertainment Buys KOCH Entertainment |website=Cimamusic.ca |access-date=2012-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323123029/http://www.cimamusic.ca/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=792&SiteNodeID=66|archive-date=2012-03-23}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Defunct companies based in New York (state)]] [[Category:Defunct entertainment companies]] [[Category:Lionsgate Canada]] [[Category:Former Lionsgate subsidiaries]] [[Category:Entertainment companies of the United States]] [[Category:Entertainment companies established in 1975]] [[Category:Entertainment companies disestablished in 2005]] [[Category:2005 mergers and acquisitions]]'