Concord has announced the appointment of Stephanie Hudacek as the new President of Rounder Records, the company’s Nashville-based label.
Rounder Records, established in 1970 by Marian Leighton Levy, Ken Irwin, and Bill Nowlin, boasts a roster that includes notable names such as Norman Blake, George Thorogood, Alison Krauss, Nanci Griffith, Sierra Ferrell, Bela Fleck, Sierra Ferrell, Katie Pruitt, Sarah Jarosz, John R. Miller, and more.
The label’s history is decorated with 54 Grammy Awards over its 54 years of operation.
Hudacek brings a wealth of experience to Rounder Records, having founded music distribution and label services company Soundly Music in 2017, where she promoted numerous artists including Kaitlin Butts, Joshua Ray Walker, Tyler Ramsey, Aubrie Sellers, Maggie Rose, Pony Bradshaw, River Whyless, Darrell Scott, and more.
Her career also includes a tenure as President of Late August Records, working with artists such as Cody Jinks, Erin Viancourt, and Caned By Nod, and General Manager of Riser House Records, a Nashville-based record label that signed and launched the career of Mitchell Tenpenny and Dillon Carmichael, among others.
“Throughout her career, Stephanie has shown a deep commitment to artists and songwriters as well as an incredible intuition for what it takes to bring their music to the world.”
Tom Becci, Concord Label Group
Hudacek previously worked as a recording engineer and tour manager, spending years in the studio and on the road. She had worked with artists including Joan Baez and Darrell Scott, and five-time Grammy-winning engineer, and producer Ray Kennedy (Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Chris Knight, Ray Davies, Reckless Kelly).
“Throughout her career, Stephanie has shown a deep commitment to artists and songwriters as well as an incredible intuition for what it takes to bring their music to the world. I couldn’t be more thrilled to have her at the helm at Rounder,” said Tom Becci, Chief Executive of Concord Label Group.
“She has the requisite skills to preserve the label’s distinct history while ensuring her artists and team have the resources necessary for continued success in an evolving environment.”
“Throughout its history, Rounder has shown an uncompromising devotion to great, authentic artistry, which has made it a natural home for artists seeking the same. That is a tradition I am thrilled to carry on.”
Stephanie Hudacek, Rounder Records
Reflecting on her new role, Hudacek said: “It is an unbelievable honor to be able to lead Rounder Records. Throughout its history, Rounder has shown an uncompromising devotion to great, authentic artistry, which has made it a natural home for artists seeking the same. That is a tradition I am thrilled to carry on.”
Rounder Records is part of the wider Concord group, which also operates labels including Fantasy Records, Fearless Records, Loma Vista Recordings, Easy Eye Sound, Concord Records and Concord Jazz. In late 2022, Concord expanded its global headquarters in Nashville as part of its “five-year plan” to grow its business “dramatically and aggressively” via M&A.
Over four months ago, Concord acquired Round Hill’s UK-listed music fund, Round Hill Music Royalty Fund in a deal that includes over 150,000 songs and 51 catalogs, including works by The Beatles, Alice In Chains, The Offspring, and hits recorded by Elvis Presley, Meatloaf, James Brown, and Billie Holiday.
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