ABC Jazz is a well-known label within the jazz community. In one form or another, it has been around for some time and continues to release some of Australia’s best-known artists. Yet, if you don’t already know about ABC Jazz, information about it is strangely elusive.
There is no ABC Jazz website and on the ABC shop online, it doesn’t appear in the drop-down list of ABC music labels. You might be forgiven for thinking that the label is simply part of ABC Classics. Jazz Australia spoke to Head of Department Robert Patterson and the Artists, Repertoire & Marketing Manager Lyle Chan by email to find out more about how things work behind the scenes.
Jazz Australia: How long has ABC Jazz existed as a label?
Robert Patterson / Lyle Chan: Since the mid-late 1980s as a dedicated label called ABC Jazz, but the ABC had been releasing recordings of jazz for many years before that.
JA: A few years ago, there were some changes to the label – what were those changes and how did they affect the way decisions are made and the way you release music on ABC Jazz?
RP / LC: ABC Jazz was moved under the control of ABC Classics. Prior to this ABC Jazz was part of the ABC Contemporary Music area. The rationale was primarily based on our distribution arrangement with Universal Music whereby they have a combined Classic and Jazz department responsible for the sales and marketing of these two genres. On this basis it made sense to replicate this arrangement within the ABC. As a result of this change there is a closer working relationship with our distributor in relation to release timing and the potential for more combined marketing campaigns for ABC Jazz products alongside the other jazz releases from Universal like those on the Verve label, for example.
JA: What was the rationale behind putting jazz and classical together?
RP / LC: Further to the reason stated above, it was also felt that as a niche market there were a number of synergies and similarities in the way that Classics and Jazz products were marketed to small but often very discerning audiences. These similarities relate to the way we need to be creative with smaller marketing spends and targeting airplay and reviews as a primary means of getting exposure. The presence of Australia’s only national dedicated jazz radio program – Jazztrack – on ABC Classic FM was another reason, considering our very close relationship with all the other programs on ABC Classic FM it made sense to complete the picture with Jazztrack. The fundamental requirements of production, release planning and distribution are the same for both areas. [ABC Classic FM now boasts a second jazz program – Jazz Up Late hosted by Gerry Koster – Ed.]
JA: Who are the key players in the label? What are their roles, and what skills do they bring to the label?
RP / LC: ABC Classics & Jazz is a very small department and as a small team everyone is dealing with all releases, be they classical or jazz. The primary responsibility for what is released rests with the head of the department (Robert Patterson) and the Artists, Repertoire & Marketing Manager (Lyle Chan). Out of necessity our tastes, skills and experiences are wide ranging and we each need to be across a vast body of repertoire and to have a good working knowledge of Australia’s artists and ensembles. We also have a close working relationship with a number of ABC production personnel who regularly record jazz for the ABC’s radio networks, their feedback is an invaluable resource. The relationship with ABC Classic FM’s Jazztrack and in particular its producer/presenter Mal Stanley is another essential ingredient in our decision-making process.
JA: What is the process for deciding what to release and when? A particular type of jazz, for example, or some regional or other emphasis?
RP / LC: The question about what to release is almost always about balance. We need to reflect the diversity of jazz in Australia and ABC Jazz therefore should encompass releases which range from traditional jazz to the most recent new jazz and music that pushes the boundaries of what is even considered jazz. We are also required to balance the cultural imperatives of the ABC Charter with the commercial goals of ABC Enterprises (the division of which ABC Classics & Jazz is a part). This in practice means that we need to release products that may not be commercially profitable but are important as documents of the Australian jazz scene alongside releases which have a broader appeal that are more commercially successful.
A number of projects that come to us are studio recordings initially made for broadcast by Jazztrack that are recommended to us for potential release. Increasingly, we are making more recordings which are planned as CD recordings from the outset. These are often made in association with Jazztrack. Some releases are licensed masters although these are in the minority. We do not release finished product.
Our strategy is to continue to release a balanced catalogue of titles, and to steadily build the profile of the ABC Jazz label to both the specialist market as well as a the broader commercial market. We believe ABC Jazz is one of a number of good small jazz labels in Australia and that along with other independent labels it serves an important role in reflecting and documenting the jazz scene here.
JA: How does ABC Jazz view the increasing interest in digital music and downloads.
RP / LC: This will be an important part of our distribution into the future. With the continuing decline in CD sales, and the increasing difficulty in penetrating the retail market, it is more important than ever to be able to directly reach consumers who have an interest in our music. It means we can also “digitally release” specialist products where the economics of releasing as a hard copy CD are prohibitive. Deleted titles from the back catalogue can be reinstated and also individual tracks can be released where there might be insufficient content for a complete CD. We have already begun the digitising of our catalogue and a number of sites will be carrying our releases by the second half of this year.
JA: How can musicians with proposals and CDs contact you?
RP / LC: We are always open to receiving proposals, and we receive many proposals each year. However, we receive many more proposals than we have the capacity to release, so even good projects may be declined if we are at capacity.
For more information… While ABC Jazz does not have a dedicated website with general information about the label, ABC Jazz CDs are available on many specialist and general music retailers’ websites. The full catalogue of titles can be found under “ABC Jazz” at www.buywell.com and www.abcshop.com.au
New releases and selected back catalogue titles are available from ABC Shops, jazz specialists and leading music retailers.
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Picture: Some of the CDs released by ABC Jazz over the past few years.
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Miriam Zolin is a Melbourne-based writer who hangs out in the jazz scene from time to time. Email her at miriam@jazz-planet.com
