Som Livre
Brazilian record company founded to commercialize television soundtracks and later expanded into recorded music, catalog reissues, gospel, electronic music, and digital distribution.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Som Livre is a Brazilian record company whose origins are closely tied to the country’s television and popular-music industries. It was established in March 1969 by music producer João Araújo to develop and commercialize soundtracks associated with TV Globo soap operas. This gave the label an unusual starting point: rather than beginning primarily as a conventional artist-recording company, it built an important early business around the ability of television drama to create demand for songs, themes, and soundtrack albums. Its first telenovela soundtrack was associated with O Cafona in 1971, followed by releases connected with productions including O Bem-Amado, O Bofe, O Primeiro Amor, O Espigão, Corrida do Ouro, Os Ossos do Barão, and O Rebu. During the 1970s, Som Livre broadened its activities. It worked with international partners including Sonopresse, Disques Carrere, and Disques Trema on music-video releases in Brazil, and in 1974 created the SOMA label to develop more affordable albums. The company also began building a wider artist roster, collaborating with performers such as Djavan and Rita Lee from 1976 onward and later working with major Brazilian artists including Guilherme Arantes, Tim Maia, Lulu Santos, Barão Vermelho, Cazuza, Luiz Melodia, Gal Costa, Simone, Jorge Ben Jor, Elis Regina, Fafá de Belém, Moraes Moreira, Novos Baianos, Fábio Jr., Agepê, Francis Hime, and Xuxa. Children’s and family music became one of Som Livre’s most commercially significant areas. The label released Xuxa’s third album, Xou da Xuxa 3, in 1988. According to the cited reference material, it sold 3,316,704 copies and became the best-selling album in Som Livre’s history. The company also developed a long-running interest in preserving and repackaging Brazilian music history. Its Som Livre Masters Series commissioned Charles Gavin to select rare albums for CD reissues, covering bossa nova, samba, jazz, MPB, tropicalia-related repertory, and recordings by artists including Hermeto Pascoal, Paulinho da Viola, Tom Zé, Tim Maia, Marcos Valle, Alceu Valença, and Novos Baianos. Som Livre entered online sales in 1999 and is described in the reference material as the first Brazilian record label to release mobile-phone ringtones. As the market moved from physical recordings toward digital services, it partnered with platforms including Deezer, Spotify, Apple Music, and Globoplay. Its Spotify work included a feature linking 27 iconic telenovela characters with their soundtracks. Its relationship with Globoplay also supported on-demand and exclusive artist content for subscribers. The company diversified through specialist labels and music segments. In 2007 it launched SLAP to sign and develop new Brazilian talent, with associated artists including Maria Gadú, Michel Teló, Tiago Iorc, and Little Joy. In 2009 it entered Brazil’s gospel market with CD Promessas, reported in the source material to have sold 500,000 copies. It followed this with Festival Promessas in 2010 and the Você Adora gospel subdivision in 2012. In 2014, Som Livre partnered with Eagle Rock Entertainment for releases involving international artists such as The Rolling Stones and Elton John. In 2016, it launched Austro Music for electronic music, later associated with artists including DJ DIB, Elefantz, Naza Brothers, and WAO. Other listed labels and imprints include Diretoria Funk, Inbraza, Sigem, and Globo Records in Italy. Som Livre was formerly part of Grupo Globo. Globo put the company up for sale in November 2020, and Sony Music Entertainment agreed to acquire it in April 2021. Brazil’s competition regulator Cade approved the transaction on 4 November 2021, and the acquisition was completed on 4 March 2022. The consideration was initially undisclosed and was later reported as US$255 million. Following the transaction, Som Livre became part of Sony Music’s international recorded-music organization while retaining its identity as a Brazilian label and catalog business.
History
Som Livre was founded in March 1969 by music producer João Araújo as a business connected to TV Globo. Its initial purpose was to develop and commercialize soundtracks for Globo's soap operas, making television programming a central driver of music discovery and sales. The first telenovela soundtrack associated with the label was O Cafona in 1971. Further soundtrack projects included O Bem-Amado, O Bofe, O Primeiro Amor, O Espigão, Corrida do Ouro, Os Ossos do Barão, and O Rebu. The label expanded beyond television soundtracks during the 1970s. It partnered with Sonopresse, Disques Carrere, and Disques Trema on music-video distribution in Brazil, and in 1974 created the SOMA imprint for lower-priced albums. From 1976, it developed relationships with prominent Brazilian performers, including Djavan and Rita Lee. Its later roster and collaboration history included artists from MPB, rock, samba, pop, regional music, and children’s entertainment, such as Guilherme Arantes, Tim Maia, Lulu Santos, Barão Vermelho, Cazuza, Luiz Melodia, Gal Costa, Simone, Jorge Ben Jor, Elis Regina, Fafá de Belém, Moraes Moreira, Novos Baianos, Fábio Jr., Agepê, Francis Hime, and Xuxa. Xuxa became particularly important to the label's commercial history. Som Livre released Xou da Xuxa 3 in 1988, and the album is identified in the reference material as the company's best-selling release, with 3,316,704 copies sold. The company also invested in archival work. Its Som Livre Masters Series presented selected rare Brazilian albums as CD reissues, with a repertoire spanning samba, bossa nova, jazz, MPB, experimental music, and popular song. Som Livre began selling products online in 1999 and was described as the first Brazilian label to issue mobile-phone ringtones. It later adapted to digital listening through partnerships with Deezer, Spotify, Apple Music, and Globoplay. These initiatives included a Spotify feature connecting 27 telenovela characters to their associated soundtracks, Apple Music distribution, and Globoplay on-demand content and exclusive artist programming. Genre-focused expansion continued in the 2000s and 2010s. SLAP was launched in 2007 to develop newer Brazilian acts, including Maria Gadú, Michel Teló, Tiago Iorc, and Little Joy. Som Livre entered gospel music with the 2009 release CD Promessas, followed by Festival Promessas in 2010 and the Você Adora subdivision in 2012. In 2014, it partnered with Eagle Rock Entertainment on releases involving international artists such as The Rolling Stones and Elton John. Austro Music was launched in 2016 as an electronic-music imprint. The label family also included Diretoria Funk, Inbraza, Sigem, and Globo Records in Italy. For most of its pre-acquisition history, Som Livre was associated with Grupo Globo, one of Brazil's largest media groups. Globo announced a sale process in November 2020. Sony Music Entertainment agreed to acquire the company in April 2021. Cade approved the transaction on 4 November 2021, and completion followed on 4 March 2022. The purchase price was initially undisclosed and was later reported as US$255 million. Som Livre therefore moved from the Globo corporate group into Sony Music's global recorded-music network while continuing to represent a significant Brazilian label and catalog.
- 2022
Acquisition by Sony Music is completed
[1]Sony Music completes the purchase of Som Livre on 4 March.
- 2021
Sony Music acquisition receives regulatory approval
[1]Cade approves Sony Music Entertainment's acquisition of Som Livre on 4 November.
- 2020
Globo announces sale process
[1]Grupo Globo places Som Livre up for sale.
- 2016
Austro Music is launched
[1]The label creates Austro Music for electronic music.
- 2014
Partnership with Eagle Rock Entertainment
[1]Som Livre partners with Eagle Rock Entertainment on releases involving international artists.
- 2012
Você Adora is launched
[1]Som Livre establishes a dedicated gospel subdivision.
- 2010
Festival Promessas begins
[1]The label launches Festival Promessas as a large Brazilian evangelical music event.
- 2009
Entry into gospel music
[1]Som Livre releases CD Promessas, its first gospel album according to the cited reference.
- 2007
SLAP is launched
[1]Som Livre creates SLAP as an imprint focused on discovering and developing new Brazilian talent.
- 1999
Online sales begin
[1]The company begins selling products online and enters the mobile-phone ringtone market.
Products and positioning
A major Brazilian domestic record company combining television-linked soundtrack expertise, local artist development, specialist genre imprints, catalog preservation, and digital distribution. Its identity is rooted in Brazilian popular culture and the Grupo Globo ecosystem, while its acquisition by Sony Music gives it access to a global music-company network.
Soundtrack albums · 1969
Television and telenovela soundtracks
Som Livre was created around the production and commercialization of soundtracks for TV Globo soap operas. These releases connected television narratives and characters with songs and themes that could be purchased or heard independently, making the label an important bridge between Brazilian television and recorded music.
Children's and family music · 1988
Xou da Xuxa 3
Released in 1988, Xou da Xuxa 3 was the third album by Brazilian children's entertainer Xuxa released by Som Livre. The reference material identifies it as the label's best-selling album, with reported sales of 3,316,704 copies.
Catalog reissues
Som Livre Masters Series
The Som Livre Masters Series is a curated reissue program for rare Brazilian albums. Charles Gavin selected 25 titles spanning samba, bossa nova, jazz, MPB, experimental music, and popular song, including recordings by artists such as Tim Maia, Tom Zé, Hermeto Pascoal, Marcos Valle, Paulinho da Viola, and Novos Baianos.
Artist-development imprint · 2007
SLAP
Launched in 2007, SLAP focuses on discovering and developing newer Brazilian artists. Its associated acts have included Maria Gadú, Michel Teló, Tiago Iorc, and Little Joy. The imprint marked a more deliberate talent-development strategy alongside Som Livre's established soundtrack and catalog businesses.
Gospel music · 2012
Você Adora
Você Adora is Som Livre's gospel subdivision, launched in 2012 after the company developed the Brazilian gospel market through recordings and the Festival Promessas event. Artists associated with the subdivision include Ludmila Ferber, David Quinlan, Rose Nascimento, André Valadão, Eliane Silva, Davi Sacer, and Ton Carfi.
Electronic music · 2016
Austro Music
Austro Music was launched in 2016 as a specialist electronic-music label. The imprint has been associated with acts including DJ DIB, Elefantz, Naza Brothers, and WAO, extending Som Livre's portfolio into dance and electronic releases.
Digital distribution · 1999
Digital music and mobile content
Som Livre expanded into online sales in 1999 and mobile-phone ringtones, later distributing and promoting its catalog through Deezer, Spotify, Apple Music, and Globoplay. Its digital initiatives included soundtrack discovery tools and on-demand artist content linked to Globo's streaming ecosystem.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Telenovela soundtrack discovery partnership with Spotify
Brazil
Som Livre and Spotify developed an in-app feature pairing 27 iconic telenovela characters with their respective soundtracks, using television heritage to encourage digital music discovery.
Outcome. The partnership extended Som Livre's soundtrack identity into a streaming-platform experience.
- 2018Globoplay on-demand artist content
Brazil
Som Livre worked with Globoplay to provide on-demand and exclusive artist content for subscribers, linking the label's recordings and artist programming to Globo's streaming service.
Outcome. The initiative supported a direct-to-consumer digital distribution model within the Globo ecosystem.
- 2010Festival Promessas
Brazil
Som Livre launched Festival Promessas after entering gospel music with CD Promessas. The event was positioned as a major evangelical music gathering and supported the label's effort to build a dedicated presence in Brazil's gospel market.
Outcome. The event became a prominent part of Som Livre's gospel strategy, although no additional outcome metrics are established in the supplied material.
Brand decisions
2022
Sony Music completes the acquisitionM&ABackground
Following regulatory approval, Sony Music and Globo proceeded with the transfer of Som Livre.
Action taken
Sony Music Entertainment completed the acquisition on 4 March 2022.
Aftermath
Som Livre moved from Grupo Globo into Sony Music's global recorded-music organization while continuing as a Brazilian label and catalog brand.
Acquisition consideration. US$255 million (Acquisition completed 4 March 2022; reported transaction value)
2021
Sony Music agrees to acquire Som LivreM&ABackground
Sony Music sought to acquire one of Brazil's largest domestic labels and its substantial local catalog and artist-development operations.
Action taken
Sony Music Entertainment agreed to purchase Som Livre from Grupo Globo. The transaction was reviewed by Brazil's competition regulator Cade.
Aftermath
Cade approved the deal on 4 November 2021, allowing the transaction to proceed to completion.
Acquisition consideration. US$255 million (Reported value of the 2021-2022 acquisition; initially undisclosed)
2020
Globo initiates a sale process for Som LivreM&ABackground
Som Livre had been part of Grupo Globo, but Globo decided to place the record company up for sale in November 2020.
Action taken
The parent group opened the business to potential acquisition by another music company.
Aftermath
Sony Music Entertainment subsequently agreed to acquire Som Livre, subject to Brazilian competition review and closing conditions.
Sources1 sources
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