Sakamoto launches new record label
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on February 18, 2022.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com City music impresario Ron Sakamoto is making new moves in the entertainment industry.The legendary concert promoter’s company Sakamoto Agency has just launched a new record label.
Called Sakamoto Music, and distributed worldwide by Warner Music Canada, the label has just signed its first artist – Canadian country singer Chris Buck.
Sakamoto said Thursday the record label will be under an umbrella with several other of his companies including Sakamoto Agencies, Sakamoto Promotions and Sakamoto Management.
His original company, Gold and Gold Productions, will remain a separate entity.
While his first signing is a country singer, Sakamoto expects the label will encompass other genres, as well.
“I think we’re going to have all kinds of different things. I think that now we can expand into different genres,” he said.
Sakamoto said he’s been able to expand thanks to a strong team of players in all of his companies and the fact Warner is giving his label worldwide distribution which was key to its formation.
With more than 30 acts on his roster, Sakamoto said “I just thought that shucks, we have such good people and they’re so wanting to expand and work.”
Those people include director of promotions and artist services Joelle May and Paul Biro, who serves as vice-president and operation partner of Sakamoto Agency. Biro is the CEO of the new label and has won the Canadian Country Music Association talent buyer or promoter of the year award three times, an award named after Ron Sakamoto himself.
“Because we are teamed up with Warner worldwide and that was a key, now we can expand into a record label,” Sakamoto said.
In a statement, president of Warner Music Canada, Kristen Burke said “Warner Music Canada has been a proud partner with Sakamoto Agency for many years, most recently working alongside their team on The Washboard Union, Aaron Goodvin and The Abrams. We are thrilled to officially welcome Sakamoto Music into the family and support them in the development of Canadian talent.”
“We’ve really got some great people working with us,” said Sakamoto.
He said Gold and Gold made everything else possible for his company and it will remain solely focused on staging country shows.
“It’s a really exciting time for all of us. We see a big niche here. I’ve always been able to kind of think outside the box and when there’s an opportunity, you jump at it. But I have an awesome partnership with people and that’s what makes it work,” Sakamoto said.
On March 4, first signing Buck will be releasing his first single since 2020.
Buck’s catalog has generated more than 13 million streams and five Top 40 hits. Follow @albeebHerald on Twitter 4
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