"Opus 111" redirects here. For other uses, see
Op. 111.
Naïve Records is a French independent record label based in Paris, specializing in electronic music, pop music, jazz and classical music.
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Founding and expansion
It was founded in 1998 by Patrick Zelnik, former CEO of Virgin France, Gilles Paires and Eric Tong Cuong.[1][2]
Following finance house Édouard Stern taking a 10% stake in Naïve,[3] Naïve acquired various other record labels, including among classical labels Auvidis (which included early music label Michel Bernstein's Astrée and modernist label Montaigne), Yolanta Skura's Opus 111 (founded 1990, named after Beethoven's Piano Sonata, Op. 111) and Nicolas Bartholomée's Ambroisie.[4][5]
The label got into difficulties after 2010 and, after having operations suspended, was acquired by Denis Ladegaillerie's digital download platform Believe Digital in August 2016.[6] After a long hiatus the label began issuing CDs again with new releases in the Naive Vivaldi Edition.
Billboard, 6 June 1998, p. 69, vol. 110, nr. 23: "Naïve was founded at the end of 1997 by former Virgin France chairman Zelnik and advertising agency Euro RSCG joint president Eric Tong Cuong ... in the electronic music area," explains Rebet, who also serves as GM of Naïve Records and Naïve's music publishing unit." Billboard, 13 September 2003, p. 36, vol. 115, nr. 37: "Ryko has also sealed a non-exclusive pact with French label Naïve, founded by former Virgin France CEO Patrick Zelnik and ex-Poly-Gram France CEO Gilles Paire"
Billboard, 6 June 1998, p. 69: "Patrick Zelnik's Naïve music group is about to embark on a series of acquisitions and developments financed by a new partner in the company. Finance house Édouard Stern has taken a 10% stake in Naïve
Access, "Quels publics pour la musique classique?" p. 284, Pascale Seys, Festival de Wallonie 2003: "Hervé Boissière est, depuis avril 1999, Directeur artistique des labels classiques de Naïve regroupant Astrée, Opus 111, Montaigne et Travelling"
Billboard, 19 July 2003, p. 15, vol. 115, no. 29: "Under the guidance of artistic director Herve Boissiere, Naïve was hailed worldwide for its smartly designed reissues from Auvidis' Astree and Montaigne catalogs, as well as both old and new material from another acquisition, the early music label Opus 111."
Les Jours: "C'est donc Believe, géant méconnu de la musique française et européenne, qui vient de sauver Naïve, la maison de disques de Jeanne Added, l'une des artistes suivis par Les Jours dans l'obsession Chant/contrechamp. Sauver est un grand mot : Believe doit garder 26 salariés sur 52. Une autre proposition de reprise, déposée par Sony Music, prévoyait de n'en conserver que 10. C'est un fleuron à bout de souffle qui s'est retrouvé au tribunal de commerce. Believe n'achète pas une maison de disques bondissante ni un catalogue conquérant; c'est pour son image et son histoire que Naïve est acquise. Spécialisé avant tout dans la distribution numérique de la musique, Believe rêve depuis plusieurs années d'exister en tant que label mais peine à se faire un nom dans ce métier bien différent. La marque Naïve lui apportera la crédibilité médiatique qui lui manque et des professionnels expérimentés, mais tout reste à faire aujourd'hui dans ce mariage."
