The Orchard

The Orchard is an independent music and video distribution, marketing, and sales company that works with independent artists, labels, and other content providers to distribute content to hundreds of digital and mobile outlets around the world, as well as physical retailers in North America and Europe. The company was founded in 1997 by producer Richard Gottehrer and music manager Scott Cohen to foster independence and creativity in the music industry. The company has offices in New York, London, Barcelona, Berlin, Paris, and other countries around the world, amounting to operations in more than 20 markets around the world. On March 5, 2012, IODA and The Orchard were merged, with Sony Music Entertainment serving as a strategic investor in the combined entity. Sony, which already owned 51% of IODA, accelerated the acquisition of the remainder of the company to complete the deal with the Orchard. The following day, IODA and The Orchard announced an agreement to combine their global digital distribution businesses in a merged company called The Orchard. Sony, which owned 50% of the new venture, acquired the remainder of the merged company. Name variations: The Orchard Enterprises, Inc., The Orchard Enterprises, The Orchard Music Distribution, The Orchard Music SME, The Orchard Music.