Conträr Musik

Conträr Musik is a German independent music label founded in 1993 by Rolf Limbach. Based in Germany, the label produces and distributes CDs, LPs, DVDs and books by artists working in cabaret, Kleinkunst (small-stage variety), chanson, singer-songwriter, folk and world music. The label also operates an associated music publishing house and a mail-order business, and its releases are distributed by Fenn Music. Conträr Musik began by reissuing vinyl LPs on CD, including recordings by Wolfgang Neuss, Hannes Wader, Walter Hedemann, Dieter Süverkrüp, Hanns Dieter Hüsch, Ulrich Roski and Knut Kiesewetter. It later specialised in releasing archive recordings from German broadcasting institutions, notably discovering and issuing the only known recording of the legendary Quartett '67 featuring Franz Josef Degenhardt, Dieter Süverkrüp, Hanns Dieter Hüsch and Wolfgang Neuss. The label's catalogue has grown to include contemporary artists such as Christoph Weiherer, LaLeLu, Michael Krebs, Tina Teubner and Bernie Conrads, as well as established singer-songwriters like Bettina Wegner, Manfred Maurenbrecher, Barbara Thalheim, Hans-Eckardt Wenzel, Bernies Autobahn Band and the Dutch band bots. It also collaborates commercially with Arlo Guthrie's Rising Son Records, the Woody Guthrie Center, the Peter Rohland Stiftung and Robert Long's label Sound of the Seas Ltd. Conträr Musik releases have won the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Record Critics' Award) in categories including cabaret spoken word and folk, and have appeared multiple times on the Liederbestenliste (German-language song chart). The label remains active, selling its productions and selected titles from befriended artists and label colleagues through its online shop, which also offers rarities and limited editions.

Conträr Musik was founded in 1993 by Rolf Limbach as a German music label combining production, publishing and distribution. Its first projects were CD reissues of vinyl LPs, including recordings by Wolfgang Neuss, Hannes Wader, Walter Hedemann, Dieter Süverkrüp, Hanns Dieter Hüsch, Ulrich Roski and Knut Kiesewetter. The label then specialised in releasing archive recordings from German broadcasting institutions. A notable discovery was the only known recording of the legendary Quartett '67, featuring Franz Josef Degenhardt, Dieter Süverkrüp, Hanns Dieter Hüsch and Wolfgang Neuss, which Conträr Musik released on record for the first time. Over the years, the label expanded its roster to include contemporary artists such as Christoph Weiherer, LaLeLu, Michael Krebs, Tina Teubner and Bernie Conrads, alongside established singer-songwriters like Bettina Wegner, Manfred Maurenbrecher, Barbara Thalheim, Hans-Eckardt Wenzel, Bernies Autobahn Band and the Dutch band bots. It also entered distribution partnerships with Arlo Guthrie's Rising Son Records, the Woody Guthrie Center, the Peter Rohland Stiftung and Robert Long's Sound of the Seas Ltd. The label's online shop offers its own productions as well as selected titles from befriended artists and label colleagues, including rarities and limited editions. Conträr Musik releases have received the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik in categories such as cabaret spoken word and folk, and have appeared on the Liederbestenliste. The label remains active, with Rolf Limbach at the helm, and continues to produce and distribute CDs, LPs, DVDs and books.

• 2011

  Der Black's 'Weitersagen' named CD of the Month May 2011; Jan Degenhardt's 'Schamlos' named CD of the Month June 2011.

• 2009

  Fifth place on Liederbestenliste for Der Black's 'Wimpelpatriotismus'.

• 2003

  Hans-Eckardt Wenzel's 'Ticky Tock - Wenzel singt Woody Guthrie' wins Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik in Folk and Folklore category.

• 1997

  Wolfgang Neuss's 'Neuss Testament - Die Villon-Show' wins Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik in cabaret spoken word category.

• 1997

  First place on Liederbestenliste for 'Für wen wir singen' on the CD Quartett '67.

• 1995

  Dieter Süverkrüp and Walter Andreas Schwarz's 'Erich Mühsam: Ich lade Euch zum Requiem' wins Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik in Folk and Folklore category.

• 1993

  Conträr Musik founded by Rolf Limbach.

Independent German label specialising in cabaret, chanson, singer-songwriter, folk and world music, with a strong focus on archive recordings and reissues.

• Quartett '67

  First release of the only known recording of the legendary Quartett '67.

• Hanns Dieter Hüsch: Gesellschaftsabend

  Live recordings 1974–1999, awarded Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik in cabaret spoken word.

• Wolfgang Neuss: Neuss Testament - Die Villon-Show

  1997 release, awarded Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik in cabaret spoken word.

• Dieter Süverkrüp, Walter Andreas Schwarz: Erich Mühsam: Ich lade Euch zum Requiem

  1995 release, awarded Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik in Folk and Folklore.

• Hans-Eckardt Wenzel: Ticky Tock - Wenzel singt Woody Guthrie

  2003 release, awarded Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik in Folk and Folklore.

1. 1Conträr Musik official websitecontraermusik.de
2. 2Conträr Musik on Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Conträr Musik on Wikidatawikidata.org