Hearts of Space

Hearts of Space Records was launched in 1984 following the success of the radio program and an associated mail order catalog business. From the inception of the record company, the focus was on creating a quality-oriented independent label featuring a carefully selected group of committed artists-a label with long-term viability that succeeded both commercially and artistically. Early releases on Hearts of Space were lauded critically and sold well in the burgeoning instrumental music market by then dubbed New Age. Constance Demby's Novus Magnificat (1986) was listed on annual Top Albums lists in Pulse! and Jazziz. John Schaeffer, producer and host of WNYC-FM New York's nationally syndicated New Sounds said it "sets a standard for the use of electronics by which all future new age albums should be judged." CD Review called it "a landmark recording in the new age genre." In 1989 Pulse! magazine named it the #3 New Age Album of the Decade. Over a decade later the new age genre is in its twilight years, while HOS albums still continue to place highly on contemporary instrumental Top Ten lists. Hearts of Space recordings began appearing on Billboard's Top Adult Alternative Albums Chart in 1990, first in New Age and later on the newly established Top World Music Chart. HOS titles have maintained a nearly continuous presence on these leading industry indicators ever since. Between 1994 and 1996 Celtic Twilight, a compilation of electroacoustic Celtic music, charted for 130 weeks, peaking at #2, and ranking as Billboard's #1 Indie New Age Album of 1994-95. Other HOS titles on the Adult Alternative and World Music charts include A Celtic Tale and Celtic Twilight 2, which was Billboard's #2 Indie World Music album of 1995-96. The label's move into Celtic and World Music followed a history of international signings. Since its early years, HOS sought out and presented new talent from around the globe including electro-acoustic artists from Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Switzerland, England, Canada, New Zealand, and Japan. Musical influences and directions have been diverse: from Electronic Space, Dark Ambient and Archaic Revival (on the Fathom label), Native American, Celtic, Flamenco, Indonesian, Indian, Ethno-Classical, and Klezmer to creative World/Pop Electronica. To organize this variety, what began as a single label has grown to a family of imprints: Hearts of Space, World Class, Hearts O'Space, Fathom, and RGB. In 1996 HOS moved from San Francisco just across the Golden Gate to Sausalito, California. The new facility includes two audio studios, one for radio production and one for CD mastering and encoding; a graphics studio for in-house design and production of packaging and marketing materials; and the space and technology to expand Hearts of Space's accomplished staff and activities. During 1999 the new media frontier of the internet began to move into the foreground. The HOS radio program is now broadcast internationally on both the NetRadio (Real Audio) and Wired Planet (MP3) sites. Design and development of HOS.com was taken in-house, and the site you see is the company's first with a majority of dynamic content served from databases. Fall 2000 will see the launch of a new Membership Program. A package of member benefits will be offered, including access to the Hearts of Space Archive-a growing list of radio programs available in streaming audio on demand. Members will also receive CDs, a 'MuseLetter' and other interactive services.