Valley Entertainment
An American independent record label specializing in curated catalog and contemporary releases across blues, ambient, space, new-age, world, Hawaiian, and related music.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Valley Entertainment is an independent American record label based in New York City. Founded in 1994 by Barney Cohen and Jon Birge, the label developed out of Cohen's earlier work in independent music distribution and publishing. Cohen had founded Valley Media in 1979 and opened Valley Record Distributors in 1984; in 1994 he left his operating role at Valley Media to concentrate on Valley Entertainment, a proprietary label focused on developing and distributing specialist music. Valley Entertainment is distinct from Valley Media, although the two businesses share part of their historical background. The label's identity has been shaped less by a single mainstream genre than by the preservation and promotion of distinctive catalogues. Its activities have included blues, folk-related music, ambient, space music, new-age, world music, and other specialist recordings. Rather than relying only on high-volume pop releases, Valley Entertainment has built value through reissues, licensing, catalogue management, and partnerships with related imprints. Its releases have reached audiences in the United States and other international markets through distribution arrangements, including distribution by Sony Music Entertainment. A major turning point came in 2001, when Valley Entertainment acquired the trademark and back catalogue of Hearts of Space Records from founder Stephen Hill. The transaction brought a substantial body of ambient, space, and new-age music into the Valley Entertainment catalogue. The Hearts of Space holdings included approximately 140 releases at the time of the acquisition, with recordings associated with artists such as Constance Demby, Michael Stearns, Rich and Roach, Steve Roach, Robert Rich, Paul Haslinger, and others. The acquisition allowed the catalogue to remain available under an established specialist label rather than being dispersed. Stephen Hill continued to contribute to artist-and-repertoire and production activities after the business-side transfer. The company has also been associated with the Sledgehammer Blues imprint, formerly known as AudioQuest Music, the RGB label, Valley Entertainment-Windham Hill Records reissues, and the Dancing Cat Records catalogue. In 2024, Valley Entertainment acquired Dancing Cat Records' Hawaiian slack-key catalogue, extending its preservation and reissue activities into an important regional acoustic-music tradition. The company has described a catalogue of roughly 375 releases as of 2017, while the Hearts of Space imprint has been described as containing more than 150 releases in later label listings. Valley Entertainment has occasionally attracted political attention. The company stated that it was blacklisted by the administration of President George W. Bush in 2007 after releasing the Norwegian compilation Lullabies from the Axis of Evil in the United States. This allegation is part of the label's public history, but the available reference material does not establish a formal government listing or provide detailed evidence of specific commercial consequences. Overall, Valley Entertainment is best understood as a specialist independent label and catalogue operator whose business combines new recordings, reissues, label acquisitions, and long-term stewardship of niche music repertoires.
History
Valley Entertainment was founded in 1994 by Barney Cohen and Jon Birge as an independent record label in the United States. Its origins are connected to Cohen's earlier work in independent music distribution. Cohen founded Valley Media in 1979 and opened Valley Record Distributors in 1984. Valley Media and Valley Entertainment were separate companies, although their histories were related. In 1994, Cohen stepped away from Valley Media in order to focus on Valley Entertainment and its proprietary label operations. The label's business developed around specialist music rather than a single commercial genre. Valley Entertainment released and distributed recordings in areas including blues, ambient, space music, new-age, folk-related music, world music, and other niche categories. The company's approach combined new releases with catalogue acquisition, reissues, licensing, and the maintenance of distinctive artist repertoires. In 2001, Valley Entertainment acquired the trademark and back catalogue of Hearts of Space Records from Stephen Hill. Hearts of Space had established a notable identity in ambient, space, and new-age music. The acquired holdings included roughly 140 releases at the time and encompassed recordings such as Constance Demby's Novus Magnificat, Michael Stearns's Encounter, Rich and Roach's Strata, Rich and Lustmord's Stalker, Steve Roach's The Magnificent Void, Robert Rich's Seven Veils, and solo work by Paul Haslinger associated with Tangerine Dream. The transaction preserved the continuity of the Hearts of Space catalogue under Valley Entertainment. Hill remained involved in artist-and-repertoire and production work even though he was no longer responsible for the label's business operations. Valley Entertainment's public history also includes a political controversy. The company stated that it was blacklisted in 2007 by the administration of George W. Bush after releasing the Norwegian album Lullabies from the Axis of Evil in the United States. The available account records the label's claim but does not document a formal government order, detailed mechanism, or verified financial effect. It is therefore best treated as a reported allegation associated with the company rather than as an established regulatory finding. By 2017, the company was described as having a catalogue of approximately 375 releases. Later label listings identified several associated or distributed imprints, including Sledgehammer Blues, formerly AudioQuest Music; Hearts of Space Records; RGB; Valley Entertainment-Windham Hill Records; Valley Entertainment; and Dancing Cat Records. In 2024, Valley Entertainment acquired Dancing Cat Records' Hawaiian slack-key catalogue. This continued the label's long-running emphasis on preserving and circulating specialist music catalogues. Valley Entertainment is distributed by Sony Music Entertainment and remains positioned as an independent label with a broad but carefully curated repertoire.
- 2024
Dancing Cat Records catalogue acquired
[1]Valley Entertainment acquired Dancing Cat Records' Hawaiian slack-key catalogue.
- 2017
Catalogue reported at approximately 375 releases
[1]The company was described as having a catalogue of about 375 releases.
- 2007
The label reported alleged political blacklisting
[1]Valley Entertainment claimed that its United States release of Lullabies from the Axis of Evil led to blacklisting by the George W. Bush administration.
- 2001
Hearts of Space Records catalogue acquired
[1]Valley Entertainment acquired the Hearts of Space trademark and back catalogue from Stephen Hill, adding a major ambient, space, and new-age repertoire.
- 1994
Valley Entertainment was founded
[1]Barney Cohen and Jon Birge founded Valley Entertainment as an independent record label.
- 1984
Valley Record Distributors opened
[1]Cohen opened Valley Record Distributors, extending his activities in independent music distribution.
- 1979
Barney Cohen founded Valley Media
[1]Barney Cohen established Valley Media, a separate company that formed part of the business background from which Valley Entertainment later emerged.
Products and positioning
A specialist independent record label and catalogue steward focused on artist-led, genre-specific, archival, and culturally distinctive music rather than mass-market pop.
Ambient, space, and new-age music catalogue · 2001
Hearts of Space Records catalogue
The Hearts of Space catalogue is Valley Entertainment's best-documented major acquisition. Originating with Stephen Hill's specialist label, it includes ambient, space, and new-age recordings by artists including Constance Demby, Michael Stearns, Steve Roach, Robert Rich, Rich and Roach, and Paul Haslinger. Valley Entertainment acquired the trademark and back catalogue in 2001 and continued making the repertoire available.
Blues label and catalogue
Sledgehammer Blues
Sledgehammer Blues is an imprint published or distributed by Valley Entertainment. It was formerly known as AudioQuest Music and represents the company's activity in blues and related specialist recorded music.
Hawaiian slack-key music catalogue · 2024
Dancing Cat Records catalogue
The Dancing Cat Records catalogue centers on Hawaiian slack-key music. Valley Entertainment acquired the catalogue in 2024, adding a culturally specific acoustic repertoire to its broader programme of catalogue preservation and distribution.
Reissue series
Valley Entertainment-Windham Hill Records reissues
This label relationship has been identified among Valley Entertainment's published or distributed labels. The reference material lists 14 reissues, but does not provide a complete title-by-title account.
Specialist music imprint
RGB
RGB is listed among the labels published or distributed by Valley Entertainment. The available reference material does not specify a narrower genre profile or a complete release list.
Controversies
2007
Alleged blacklisting over Lullabies from the Axis of Evil
Valley Entertainment stated that the George W. Bush administration blacklisted the label after it released the Norwegian album Lullabies from the Axis of Evil in the United States. The available source records the company's claim but does not substantiate a formal blacklist, identify a specific government action, or quantify any resulting business impact.
Brand decisions
2024
Acquire Dancing Cat Records' Hawaiian slack-key catalogueM&ABackground
Valley Entertainment has expanded through the stewardship of specialist catalogues and related imprints.
Action taken
The company acquired Dancing Cat Records' Hawaiian slack-key catalogue.
Aftermath
The acquisition broadened Valley Entertainment's holdings into Hawaiian slack-key music and extended its catalogue-preservation strategy.
2001
Acquire the Hearts of Space Records catalogueM&ABackground
Hearts of Space Records had developed a substantial specialist catalogue in ambient, space, and new-age music, but its founder indicated that operating pressures made continued independence difficult.
Action taken
Valley Entertainment acquired the Hearts of Space trademark and back catalogue from Stephen Hill and maintained the repertoire within its label structure.
Aftermath
The acquisition kept the Hearts of Space catalogue together and available while Hill continued contributing to artist-and-repertoire and production work.
Sources2 sources
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