Sony Music Masterworks News

Brooklyn-based art pop project SAN FERMIN announce new album The Cormorant I, the group's first full-length to be released via Better Company, bandleader Ellis Ludwig-Leone's new imprint under Sony Music Masterworks. Due out October 4, The Cormorant I ushers in a new era for San Fermin, who envision the eight-track collection as the first of two eventual full-length releases encompassing the full scope of the new project - preorder now. 

Launching the next chapter in his already critically-acclaimed career, multi-talented singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and producer Patrick Grossi today makes his Sony Music Masterworks debut as Active Child with the release of “All Eyes on You” – available everywhere now.  The first of new music from Active Child in over two years, “All Eyes on You” was co-produced by Andrew Sarlo (Bon Iver, Big Thief, Adrienne Lenker) and features Joey Waronker (Beck, Elliott Smith, R.E.M.) on drums. The track originally made its debut via The FADER, who describe the R&B-tinged love song as, 'something of a rebirth for Grossi and Active Child, who now calls major label Sony its home. The song is tender embrace of eternal commitment to another, bringing a depth of sound to the Active Child palette...' Active Child also unveils the music video for 'All Eyes on You,” an accompanying visual that is both as ethereal and captivating as the song itself.

San Fermin is back with 'The Hunger,' their first new single to be released via bandleader Ellis Ludwig-Leone's new imprint Better Company, in partnership with Sony Music Masterworks.

Having amassed over a billion views on YouTube for their strikingly original and self-made music videos, THE PIANO GUYS return with a new, out-of-this-world visual, taking viewers on a journey to Pandora for their rendition of the Avatar theme.  Filmed at Disney's World of Avatar, the new video immerses its viewers in the fantastical world inspired by the James Cameron film and music of composer James Horner. 

A joint project from Square Enix and Sony Music Masterworks is announced today. The two companies bring fan-selected tracks from the long awaited 'FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE' and timeless masterpiece 'FINAL FANTASY VII' packed into a limited-edition 2-LP picture disc release. FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE AND FINAL FANTASY VII VINYL (title subject to change) will be available for pre-order on July 7, 2019, with an official release date set on the 23rd anniversary of the original Final Fantasy VII game - January 31, 2020.

After an exciting week of classical guitar performances, Christopher Parkening and Pepperdine University announced the winner of the fifth quadrennial Parkening International Guitar Competition. The competition, the world's preeminent guitar competition, took place from Tuesday, May 28 through Saturday, June 1, 2019.

After an exciting week of classical guitar performances, Christopher Parkening and Pepperdine University announced the winner of the fifth quadrennial Parkening International Guitar Competition. The competition, the world's preeminent guitar competition, took place from Tuesday, May 28 through Saturday, June 1, 2019.

Fresh off a North American tour opening for Telekinesis, SONTALK - the latest project from singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joseph LeMay - released a new official video for the band's current single, 'The One Who Breaks Your Heart' - watch here. Released in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the video illustrates how LeMay deals head-on with issues related to mental illness and its effects on life and family. Produced by Matt Genesis, the video premiered exclusively via Billboard.

In honor of the 35th anniversary of Ghostbusters' 1984 theatrical debut, Sony Music announces a special reissue of 'GHOSTBUSTERS (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE)' with music by legendary film composer ELMER BERNSTEIN (The Magnificent Seven, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Age of Innocence). Available now to preorder, the anniversary edition arrives in digital formats for the very first time (in both standard and hi resolutions) and on CD Friday, June 7 and on vinyl Friday, July 19. The collection features music from the iconic blockbuster, newly mixed and remastered from the score's original multi-tracks, as well as new artwork, commentary from Elmer Bernstein's son, Peter, and four previously unreleased tracks.

Following its hugely successfully, critically acclaimed digital and CD album release, THE MUSIC OF HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, an album of music from the internationally acclaimed stage production, will be released as a limited edition, 2-LP deluxe vinyl set on Friday, June 21 from Sony Music Masterworks - PREORDER THE VINYL NOW. Newly pressed on 180-gram vinyl for maximum audio fidelity, the set arrives within a gatefold jacket featuring gold foil artwork and embossed lettering. Also included in the deluxe vinyl edition is an 8-page, large-format booklet containing production shots and commentary from Imogen Heap and key members of the production's creative team.

​​​​​​​Brooklyn Rider will perform at the Capitol Center for the Arts (Concord, NH) on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at 7:30PM.  This performance is part of the 2018-'19 William H. Gile Concert Series.  

The world's preeminent classical guitar competition, the Parkening International Guitar Competition, has selected 15 standout competitors for its fifth triennial competition. Representing six countries, they will vie for the largest prize purse among guitar competitions, competing at Pepperdine University from Thursday, May 30, through Saturday, June 1, 2019, on the University's campus in Malibu, California.  Renowned guitar virtuoso Christopher Parkening, the competition's namesake and artistic director, is Distinguished Professor of Music at Pepperdine's Seaver College. The competition honors his lifetime commitment to fostering musical excellence in young artists as demonstrated by his mentor, Spanish guitarist Andres Segovia.

SONTALK, the latest project from singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joseph LeMay, makes its album debut with today's release of Stay Wild [Sony Music Masterworks].  Available everywhere now, the twelve-track collection follows the personal trials, tribulations and triumphs of LeMay, culminating in an openly honest dialogue between himself and listeners. Stay Wild hints at the vastly expansive sonic and emotional terrain of SONTALK, whose conversation has just begun.   

Rehearsals began this week for the fourth West End cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child who will start performances at the Palace Theatre in London on 22 May 2019 following the final performance from the current cast on 19 May 2019.

Back by popular demand, The Piano Guys return with their unique sound to the State Theatre on Friday, September 13th. Hailing from Utah, The Piano Guys are four dads who became an Internet sensation by way of their immensely successful series of strikingly original self-made music videos.

On March 1, 2019, American pianist Lara Downes releases her new album, Holes in the Sky, on Portrait, an imprint of the Sony Music Masterworks label.The first single from the album, 'Albatross,' featuring Judy Collins, is now available on all major streaming platforms. 'Holes in the Sky' is also available for pre-order here.

STAY WILD, the debut album from SONTALK, is set for release MARCH 15 from Sony Music Masterworks. Available now for preorder, the twelve-track collection follows the personal trials, tribulations and triumphs of JOSEPH LEMAY, the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist behind SONTALK. Included with today's preorder is 'I AM A MOUNTAIN,' a multilayered, enveloping ballad detailing the before-and-after of a tumultuous relationship. Sonically, 'I Am A Mountain' serves as the dynamic apex of Stay Wild, featuring a loping pace and persistent, driving beat that swells and crescendos to mimic the emotional rise and fall of a failing relationship - listen here.    

Beck's first musical offering of 2019 has arrived in the form of "Tarantula," the latest release from Music Inspired By The Film ROMA, due out February 8th from Sony Music Masterworks and available to pre-order now. This collection of music inspired by Alfonso Cuaron's 10-time Academy Award-nominated film features songs from Beck, Billie Eilish, El-P, Jessie Rye, Laura Marling, Patti Smith, UNKLE and more, recorded exclusively for this project. 

Inspired by the film and curated by Academy Award-winning ROMA director Alfonso Cuarón, 'When I Was Older (Music Inspired by Roma)' was written by Eilish and her long-time collaborator and older brother Finneas O'Connell. “When we were composing the song, we wanted to write from within the narrative of the movie and the scenes that struck us the most from it,” the siblings reveal. “Having access to the sounds used in the film proved to be invaluable to help us convey this. Lines like “memories burn like a forest fire” are accompanied by the sounds of the trees burning in the woods outside the house. The chorus, has the ocean sounds overplayed on it. We were also able to take sounds like the student protest shouts and Borras barking and turn them into rhythmic percussive elements to help drive the song. Nothing about this song would exist without the film, which is exactly what we love about it.”

Just in time for the holiday season, SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE – A VERY SPIDEY CHRISTMAS EP is available from Sony Music Masterworks. Voiced by cast members of the Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation critically-acclaimed hit feature Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the five-track EP reimagines classic holiday favorites with Spider-Man inspired lyrics.