Altavoz

Altavoz is an American music-distribution and entertainment company founded in 1994. Its business has focused on independent entertainers and a broad range of musical genres, combining physical distribution, digital delivery, merchandising, and selected artist and project releases. The company was acquired in 1995 by investor Nelson Jacobsen and relaunched in Rockville, Maryland, where it developed into a distributor serving independent retailers as well as large-format chains. A central part of Altavoz's early development was the creation of Altavoz.com. The website offered downloadable digital sound files in WAV format and short, approximately fifteen-second introductions to music streams. This placed the company among the early distributors experimenting with online discovery and digital music delivery before streaming became an established mainstream business model. By 1999, Altavoz had expanded its retail offering beyond recorded music to include merchandise, vinyl records, books, and related products. These goods were distributed through retailers such as Best Buy and through independent stores across the United States. The company continued operating through the dot-com crash and maintained supply relationships with thousands of independent and large-format stores. During this period, its website reportedly attracted approximately 1.2 million visits per day, reflecting the visibility of its online catalog and distribution platform. Altavoz's scope also extended beyond domestic distribution. In 2013, it began presenting online opportunities for distribution agreements involving the export of United States-made music to overseas markets. Nelson Jacobsen took a new leadership role as chief executive officer in 2011 and was still described as leading Altavoz in that capacity in late 2017. The company was also associated with the nonprofit Help Earth Foundation as part of its corporate structure. In 2015, Max Media Group, Inc. announced that its board had unanimously approved the transfer of majority control of MXMI to Altavoz Entertainment, linking Altavoz to a wider entertainment-company structure. Altavoz has also undertaken curated and cause-related releases. In collaboration with filmmaker and musician David Lynch, it issued the limited-edition four-LP box set Music That Changes the World for Record Store Day in 2012, with proceeds benefiting the David Lynch Foundation. The project brought together tracks by artists including Alanis Morissette, Tom Waits, Amanda Palmer, Ben Folds, Iggy Pop, Maroon 5, and Neon Trees. The package included a 42-page illustrated color book and used remastering by Gavin Lurssen. In another distinctive distribution initiative, Phillip Carter's Songs of Phillip Carter was released first to an estimated 120,000 public libraries in the United States in 2015, before becoming available through digital and physical retail channels. The release was described as the first exclusive gospel-music release to the American public-library system. The available reference material documents individual releases associated with Altavoz, including Dawn Richard's Goldenheart in 2013, Quinn Sullivan's Getting There in 2013, and John Bull and the Bandits' single Mr. Bradley in 2015. Public information in the supplied material does not establish Altavoz's present operating status, current ownership, current executive team, or a complete contemporary artist roster.

Altavoz was established in 1994 as an American distributor serving independent entertainers and multiple musical genres. In 1995, investor Nelson Jacobsen acquired the company and relaunched it in Rockville, Maryland. Jacobsen subsequently established Altavoz.com, an early online music platform that allowed users to download WAV audio files and hear brief introductions to streamed music. This digital component complemented the company's physical distribution activities and gave it an online catalog and discovery function at a time when commercial digital music services were still developing. By 1999, Altavoz had broadened its commercial offering. In addition to music releases, it distributed merchandise, vinyl records, books, and other related products through Best Buy and independent retailers nationwide. The company continued serving thousands of independent and large-format stores during the dot-com crash. Its website was reported to receive approximately 1.2 million hits per day during this period, indicating substantial traffic for an independent-oriented music distributor. Altavoz's activities later included international business development. In 2013, it started online presentations for potential distribution deals involving music made in the United States and exported to other markets. The company was also connected with the nonprofit Help Earth Foundation through its incorporation structure. Nelson Jacobsen assumed a new CEO role in 2011 and was still identified as Altavoz's chief executive and leader in late 2017. The available material does not confirm whether he remains in that role today. The company has used special projects to combine distribution with cultural and charitable objectives. For Record Store Day in 2012, Altavoz worked with David Lynch on Music That Changes the World, a limited-edition four-record vinyl box set benefiting the David Lynch Foundation. The compilation contained 34 songs by a range of artists, including Alanis Morissette, Tom Waits, Amanda Palmer, Ben Folds, Iggy Pop, Maroon 5, and Neon Trees. Its packaging included a 42-page color book introduced by Lynch and illustrated by Romio Shrestha and Davel Hamue. The recordings were remastered by Gavin Lurssen. In 2015, Altavoz released Phillip Carter's Songs of Phillip Carter first through an estimated 120,000 public libraries in the United States, before distributing it through digital and physical outlets. The project was characterized as the first exclusive release by a gospel artist to the American public-library system. Altavoz's documented release activity also includes Dawn Richard's Goldenheart, issued in January 2013 after her departure from Diddy Dirty Money and Danity Kane; Quinn Sullivan's Getting There, released in May 2013 and reported to have reached number four on the Billboard Blues chart; and John Bull and the Bandits' Mr. Bradley, issued in April 2015 and reported to have reached number 73 on a Billboard blues chart. On September 25, 2015, Max Media Group, Inc. announced that its board had unanimously voted to transfer majority control of MXMI to Altavoz Entertainment. The transaction connected Altavoz with a broader entertainment-company structure, although the supplied material does not provide terms, valuation, subsequent ownership details, or the present status of either entity. The historical record therefore supports describing Altavoz as a private music-distribution and entertainment brand, while leaving its current status, ownership, and leadership unconfirmed.

• 2015

  Songs of Phillip Carter receives a library-first release

  [1]Altavozen.wikipedia.org

  Altavoz releases Songs of Phillip Carter exclusively to United States public libraries before wider physical and digital distribution.

• 2015

  Altavoz Entertainment receives majority control of MXMI

  [1]Altavozen.wikipedia.org

  Max Media Group announces that its board approved the transfer of majority control of MXMI to Altavoz Entertainment.

• 2013

  Altavoz develops export-distribution presentations

  [1]Altavozen.wikipedia.org

  The company begins online presentations for potential international distribution deals involving United States-made music.

• 2012

  Music That Changes the World is released

  [1]Altavozen.wikipedia.org

  Altavoz and David Lynch issue a charitable Record Store Day vinyl box set benefiting the David Lynch Foundation.

• 2011

  Jacobsen takes a new CEO role

  [1]Altavozen.wikipedia.org

  Nelson Jacobsen assumes a new leadership role as chief executive officer.

• 1999

  Expansion into broad retail and merchandise distribution

  [1]Altavozen.wikipedia.org

  Altavoz expands its offerings to merchandise, vinyl, books, and other products sold through Best Buy and independent retailers.

• 1995

  Nelson Jacobsen acquires and relaunches Altavoz

  [1]Altavozen.wikipedia.org

  Investor Nelson Jacobsen acquires Altavoz and relaunches it in Rockville, Maryland.

• 1994

  Altavoz is founded

  [1]Altavozen.wikipedia.org

  Altavoz is established in the United States as a distributor serving independent entertainers across multiple musical genres.

Independent-focused, multi-genre music distribution with physical retail, digital delivery, merchandising, export services, and curated specialty releases.

• Digital music platform

  Altavoz.com

  Altavoz's early online music service offered downloadable WAV audio files and short introductions to music streams. It functioned as a digital discovery and delivery extension of the company's independent-music distribution business.

• Compilation box set · 2012

  Music That Changes the World

  A limited-edition four-LP compilation created with David Lynch for Record Store Day in 2012. The release contained 34 songs and included a substantial illustrated color book; proceeds supported the David Lynch Foundation.

• Gospel music release · 2015

  Songs of Phillip Carter

  A Phillip Carter release distributed first through an estimated 120,000 public libraries in the United States, then made available through digital and physical outlets. It was presented as a pioneering exclusive gospel release for the public-library system.

• 2012Music That Changes the World

  United States

  Altavoz collaborated with David Lynch on a Record Store Day vinyl box set featuring 34 songs by a broad group of artists. The project combined a collectible physical release with fundraising for the David Lynch Foundation.

  Outcome. The limited-edition four-LP set was released with an illustrated book and charitable purpose.

  Source

• 2015

  Transfer of majority control of MXMIM&A

  Background

  Max Media Group's board considered a change in control involving Altavoz Entertainment.

  Action taken

  The board unanimously voted to transfer majority control of MXMI to Altavoz Entertainment.

  Aftermath

  The announcement linked Altavoz Entertainment with MXMI, but the supplied sources do not establish later ownership or operational consequences.

  Source

• 1999

  Expansion beyond recorded musicStrategy

  Background

  Altavoz was serving independent retailers and developing national distribution reach.

  Action taken

  The company added merchandise, vinyl records, books, and other products to its retail offering.

  Aftermath

  The expanded catalog was distributed through Best Buy and independent retailers nationwide.

  Source

• 1995

  Acquisition and relaunch under Nelson JacobsenOther

  Background

  Altavoz had been founded the previous year as an independent-music distributor.

  Action taken

  Nelson Jacobsen acquired the company and relaunched it in Rockville, Maryland.

  Aftermath

  The relaunch was followed by the development of Altavoz.com and expansion into physical retail distribution.

  Source

• 2015

  MXMI announces transfer of majority control to Altavoz Entertainment[1]Altavozen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Max Media Group announced that its board had unanimously approved transferring majority control of MXMI to Altavoz Entertainment.

• 2015

  Songs of Phillip Carter receives exclusive public-library release[1]Altavozen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Altavoz distributed Songs of Phillip Carter to an estimated 120,000 United States public libraries before wider digital and physical release.

• 2013

  Altavoz launches online export presentations[1]Altavozen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company began online presentations intended to support distribution agreements for United States-made music in overseas markets.

• 2012

  Altavoz releases Music That Changes the World vinyl box set[1]Altavozen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Product launch

  Altavoz and David Lynch issued a limited-edition four-LP compilation for Record Store Day to benefit the David Lynch Foundation.

• 1999

  Altavoz expands into national retail distribution[1]Altavozen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Altavoz began distributing merchandise, vinyl records, books, and other products through Best Buy and independent retailers across the United States.

• Altavoz.com develops an early digital music offering[1]Altavozen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Following Nelson Jacobsen's acquisition and relaunch of Altavoz, the company operated Altavoz.com with downloadable WAV files and short music-stream introductions.

1. 1Altavozen.wikipedia.org