Manifesto Records

Manifesto Records is an independent American record label based in Los Angeles, California. Its catalog combines contemporary artist releases with archival projects involving historically important recordings. The label has issued or reissued music associated with artists including Dead Kennedys, Tim Buckley, Cinerama, Concrete Blonde, Cranes, The Czars, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Lilys, The Rugburns, Sing-Sing, Ken Stringfellow, Tom Waits, and The Wedding Present. A notable part of Manifesto's business is the management and re-presentation of established catalogs. In 2001, after Dead Kennedys obtained the rights to their recordings from Alternative Tentacles, Manifesto released the band's catalog. This positioned the label as an outlet for a significant body of punk recordings while also demonstrating its broader role in catalog administration and reissue distribution. Manifesto also operates as the home of FloEdCo, an imprint associated with Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan of The Turtles. FloEdCo has released albums by The Turtles and Flo & Eddie, connecting Manifesto with the preservation and circulation of recordings from the 1960s pop and rock era. The label's archival work has extended beyond its own central catalog: in November 2015, it re-released the Lee Michaels catalog that had originally appeared on A&M Records. The label has continued to combine archival releases with new-artist development. In August 2015, it announced signings involving Puro Instinct, Drinking Flowers, Cellars, and Band Aparte. In 2017, Manifesto issued a complete box set of recordings by jazz-rock guitarist Allan Holdsworth and was also described as having uncovered additional recordings by Tim Buckley and Screamin' Jay Hawkins. In November 2018, it released a nine-CD box set documenting Kalapana's complete recordings from 1975 through 1983. Manifesto is headed by Evan Cohen, a music-business and copyright lawyer. Cohen is the nephew of the late music manager Herb Cohen, whose former clients included Frank Zappa, Tim Buckley, Linda Ronstadt, and Tom Waits. This background is consistent with Manifesto's emphasis on rights, licensing, catalog preservation, and carefully packaged historical releases. The label's current operational status, ownership structure, financial performance, and detailed distribution arrangements are not established by the supplied reference material.

Manifesto Records is an independent record label headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The label's documented activity spans both new-artist releases and the preservation, licensing, and reissue of older catalogs. Rather than being associated with a single genre, Manifesto's output covers punk, alternative rock, pop, jazz-rock, experimental music, and archival recordings. One of the label's most significant early catalog projects was the release of the Dead Kennedys catalog in 2001. The band had obtained the rights to its recordings from Alternative Tentacles, after which Manifesto issued the material. The project gave the label a major role in making the influential punk band's recorded work available and established its relevance as a catalog-oriented independent company. Manifesto's catalog has included releases connected with a broad range of performers, including Tim Buckley, Cinerama, Concrete Blonde, Cranes, The Czars, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Lilys, The Rugburns, Sing-Sing, Ken Stringfellow, Tom Waits, and The Wedding Present. These associations show the label's interest in alternative and independent music as well as historically important artists whose work could be reintroduced through new editions. The company also houses FloEdCo, an imprint associated with Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan of The Turtles. FloEdCo has released albums by The Turtles and Flo & Eddie, giving Manifesto a connection to 1960s pop and rock history. The label's archival activity continued in November 2015, when it re-released the Lee Michaels catalog originally associated with A&M Records. Manifesto did not limit itself to reissues. In August 2015, it announced the signing of several newer acts, including Puro Instinct, Drinking Flowers, Cellars, and Band Aparte. This announcement indicated an effort to maintain an active artist roster alongside the label's catalog business. In 2017, Manifesto released a complete Allan Holdsworth box set. The label was also credited with uncovering additional recordings by Tim Buckley and Screamin' Jay Hawkins, reinforcing its role in archival discovery as well as conventional re-release. In November 2018, it issued a nine-CD box set of Kalapana's complete recordings from 1975 to 1983, another large-scale historical collection. Manifesto is headed by Evan Cohen, a music-business and copyright lawyer. He is the nephew of Herb Cohen, the late manager associated with Frank Zappa, Tim Buckley, Linda Ronstadt, and Tom Waits. Cohen's legal and music-industry background aligns with the label's documented focus on rights, catalog control, licensing, and the preparation of archival editions. The supplied sources do not establish a founding year, corporate parent, ownership details, revenue, current roster, or present distribution structure.

• 2018

  Kalapana nine-CD collection

  [1]Manifesto Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Manifesto released a nine-CD box set covering Kalapana's complete recordings from 1975 to 1983.

• 2017

  Allan Holdsworth archival box set

  [1]Manifesto Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Manifesto released a complete box set of Allan Holdsworth recordings.

• 2015

  New artist signings announced

  [1]Manifesto Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Manifesto announced signings involving Puro Instinct, Drinking Flowers, Cellars, and Band Aparte.

• 2015

  Lee Michaels catalog reissue

  [1]Manifesto Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label re-released Lee Michaels recordings that had originally been issued by A&M Records.

• 2001

  Dead Kennedys catalog release

  [1]Manifesto Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Manifesto released the Dead Kennedys catalog after the band obtained rights to the recordings from Alternative Tentacles.

An independent catalog-focused label that combines alternative and contemporary artist releases with archival preservation, reissues, copyright administration, and deluxe historical collections.

• Catalog reissues · 2001

  Dead Kennedys catalog

  Manifesto's release of the Dead Kennedys catalog is one of its most prominent punk-oriented catalog projects. The label issued the material after the band obtained the relevant rights from Alternative Tentacles, bringing a substantial body of the band's recordings into Manifesto's distribution and reissue program.

• Record-label imprint

  FloEdCo

  FloEdCo is an imprint associated with Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan of The Turtles. Its documented releases include albums by The Turtles and Flo & Eddie, extending Manifesto's catalog activity into archival and legacy pop-rock recordings.

• Catalog reissues · 2015

  Lee Michaels catalog

  This reissue program covers the Lee Michaels recordings that had previously been released through A&M Records. Manifesto brought the catalog back into circulation in 2015 as part of its broader historical-recordings strategy.

• Archival box set · 2017

  Allan Holdsworth complete box set

  A complete box set of Allan Holdsworth recordings released by Manifesto in 2017. The collection reflects the label's practice of assembling substantial retrospective editions around influential musicians.

• Archival box set · 2018

  Kalapana complete recordings 1975–1983

  A nine-CD collection presenting Kalapana's complete recordings from 1975 through 1983. Issued in November 2018, it is among Manifesto's largest documented archival packages.

• 2015New artist signing initiative

  United States

  Manifesto announced a group of new signings, including Puro Instinct, Drinking Flowers, Cellars, and Band Aparte, signaling continued investment in contemporary artists alongside catalog reissues.

  Source

• 2018

  Release Kalapana's complete recordings collectionProduct launch

  Background

  The project documented Kalapana's recordings from 1975 through 1983.

  Action taken

  Manifesto issued a nine-CD box set in November 2018.

  Source

• 2017

  Issue an Allan Holdsworth complete box setProduct launch

  Background

  Manifesto's catalog strategy included substantial archival collections focused on historically significant musicians.

  Action taken

  The label released a complete box set of Allan Holdsworth recordings.

  Source

• 2015

  Re-release the Lee Michaels catalogProduct launch

  Background

  The recordings had previously been released through A&M Records.

  Action taken

  Manifesto re-released the Lee Michaels catalog in November 2015.

  Source

• 2001

  Release the Dead Kennedys catalogProduct launch

  Background

  The Dead Kennedys obtained rights to their recordings from Alternative Tentacles, creating the basis for a new catalog release program.

  Action taken

  Manifesto issued the band's catalog.

  Aftermath

  The release became a prominent example of Manifesto's catalog-preservation and reissue work.

  Source

1. 1Manifesto Recordsen.wikipedia.org