Rodven Records was a Venezuelan

record label "Big Three" music labels A record label or record company is a brand or trademark of Sound recording and reproduction, music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a Music publisher, ...

that belonged to the Cisneros family owned ODC Group, then proprietors of one of the largest TV networks in the country, Venevision. They also owned a nationwide AM radio network (RadioVision, which later expanded into the FM realm as FM Center) and a record stores chain (DiscoCenter), thus serving as a channel for those artists who belonged to the roster of either of those companies (mostly signed to Venevision).

Early years

In its beginnings, SonoRodven (As it was originally named) emerged as a local source for international compilation albums (mostly those produced in the U.S. by companies such as K-Tel). Then it started handling a small roster of local luminaries, some of them also performing as actors for its sister TV network, such as

Guillermo Dávila Guillermo Dávila (born 18 March 1955, in Bailadores) is a Venezuelan actor and singer who has acted in many telenovelas. Biography After starting his career in theatre in the 1970s, Dávila first gained national fame in after starring in the ...

, Karina,

Ricardo Montaner Héctor Eduardo Reglero Montaner (born 8 September 1957), better known as Ricardo Montaner (), is an Argentine-born Venezuelan singer. Since starting his career in the late 1970s, he has released more than 24 albums, and many successful singles ...

, Jose Luis Rodriguez "El Puma", Marcelo, and others. Then the roster began to grow up, and it became the second biggest local record label in Venezuela, alongside

Sonográfica Sonográfica is a record label based in Caracas, Venezuela. It had links with Empresas 1BC, which also owned Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) and Radio Caracas Radio, among other businesses. During the 1980s, it supported Venezuelan musical ta ...

, its biggest competitor, from the rival group "

Empresas 1BC Empresas 1BC (also known as Grupo Phelps, Centro Corporativo 1BC, and Grupo 1BC), is a privately owned Venezuelan corporation which operates diverse media enterprises such as Radio Caracas Televisión, Etheron, Radio Caracas Radio, , Sonogr� ...

" (proprietors of rival TV network

RCTV Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV and sometimes referred to as the Canal de Bárcenas) is a Venezuelan over-the-top streaming service and formerly a free-to-air television Television network, network headquartered in the Caracas neighborhood of Q ...

, rival radio network RCR, rival record stores chain "Recordland"). Later, in the early-middle eighties, it became the Rodven Group, also comprising Video-Rodven, a commercial home video company, as well as other small record labels that previously existed in the country, such as Velvet (thus becoming VelvetRodven and later TH-Rodven, an outlet for all Latin dance music oriented artists, and later for other youth and pop acts, such as the late 80s boyband " Los Chamos", from which emerged the Venezuelan singer

Carlos Baute Carlos Roberto Baute Jiménez (born March 8, 1974, in Caracas, Venezuela), best known simply as Carlos Baute, is a Venezuelan singer-songwriter and television host. His music is mostly in the Latin pop genre, with some ballads and Bachata. E ...

), Love Records, and forming alliances with other record labels from around the world for local distribution purposes (thus forming EMI-Rodven, Hispavox-Rodven, Ariola-Rodven, Wea-Rodven et al.). This made Rodven's roster even bigger, allowing for the distribution of both local and foreign acts through a complete radio/TV/distribution platform, which later gave birth also to an artist management and show services company: "Big Show Productions".

Later years

By 1994, the label was responsible for releasing about 10% of the Latin music market in the United States, and had its American headquarters in Miami. It was ultimately acquired by PolyGram in 1995 (which itself was later acquired by

Universal Music Group Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, ...

in 1999). The record label was well known for popular Latin pop and salsa singers during the 1980s and 1990s. ''El Club de Los Tigritos'' alumni and teen idol Douglas Vale released his debut album ''Aun Soy Chamo'' only in Venezuela under Rodven and the breakthrough album ''Hieroglyphics'' associated with

Maverick Records Maverick was an American entertainment company founded in 1992 by Warner Music Group and run by recording artist Madonna, as well as Frederick DeMann and Veronica "Ronnie" Dashev. It included a record label ( Maverick Records), a film producti ...

and

Warner Music Group Warner Music Group Corp., commonly abbreviated as WMG, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational entertainment and record label Conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the "Record label#M ...

. The Rodven catalog is currently owned by

through

Universal Music Latin Entertainment Universal Music Latin Entertainment, a division of Universal Music Group, is a record company specialized in producing and distributing Latin music in Mexico, the United States, and Puerto Rico. UMLE includes famous Latin music labels such as Uni ...

with

Machete Music Machete Music is an urban music label owned by Universal Music Group. The label was once largely associated with reggaeton music, but in recent years, it has also signed non-reggaeton artists such as Malverde, Mala Rodriguez and Chino XL. The l ...

managing the Tropical catalog and Universal Music Latino managing the non-Tropical catalogs.

List of artists on Rodven Records and/or its associated labels

Salsa Kids Salsa Kids are a Latin pop band created in Puerto Rico in 1993 consisting of three members. The original members were Omar Rodriguez, Esteban Tollinchi and Jovet Angelo. Angelo departed in 1997 to pursue a solo career, and was replaced by Laz H ...

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Lalo Rodríguez Ubaldo Rodríguez Santos (May 16, 1958 – December 13, 2022), known professionally as Lalo Rodríguez, was a Puerto Rican salsa singer recognized as one of the pioneers of the subgenre of Romantic or Erotic Salsa. Early life Rodriguez was ...

Tommy Olivencia Tommy Olivencia (May 15, 1938 – September 22, 2006) was a renowned Puerto Rican bandleader of salsa music. Early years Olivencia (birth name: Ángel Tomás Olivencia Pagán) was born in the Villa Palmeras section of Santurce, San Juan, Puert ...

Oscar D'León Óscar Emilio León Simosa (born July 11, 1943), known as Oscar D'León, and affectionately called ''The Pharaoh of Salsa'', ''The Lion of Salsa'', and the ''World's Sonero'', is a Venezuelan musician and bassist best known for his salsa music. ...

(Venezuelan singer) *

Orquesta La Solución Orquesta La Solución is a Puerto Rican trombone-based salsa band, founded by bassist Roberto Rivera in 1973. The band's singers included Frankie Ruiz who started a solo career after hits with the band " La Rueda" and " Chiquito Corazoncito."Coli ...

* Edgar Joel * Hector Tricoche * Paquito Guzmán *

Andy Montañez Andrés Montañez Rodríguez (born May 7, 1942), better known as Andy Montañez, is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter. Early life Montañez is a native of the ''Tras Talleres'' area of Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is known by the nic ...

Soledad Bravo Soledad Bravo (born January 1, 1943) is a Venezuelan singer. Born in Logroño, La Rioja, Spain, her father was a Spanish republican, moving to Venezuela with his family when his daughter was still at an early age. At 24, Soledad began studying ...

(Venezuelan singer) *

(Venezuelan singer/actor) * Jorge Rigó (Chilean/Venezuelan singer) * Karina (Venezuelan singer) *

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(Venezuelan singer) *

Wilfrido Vargas Wilfrido Radamés Vargas Martínez (; born April 24, 1949, in Altamira, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) is a Dominican trumpeter, vocalist, arranger, composer and producer. He was instrumental in making the merengue style a worldwide phenom ...

* Marvin Santiago * Los Melódicos(Latin music Venezuelan band) * Dimension Latina (

Salsa Salsa most often refers to: * Salsa (food), a variety of sauces used as condiments * Salsa music, a popular style of Latin American music * Salsa (dance), a Latin dance associated with Salsa music Salsa or SALSA may also refer to: Arts and ent ...

Venezuelan band) * Orquesta La Selecta (Latin music Puerto Rican band) * Billo's Caracas Boys (Latin music Venezuelan band) * Jose Luis Rodriguez "El Puma" (Venezuelan singer) *

Willie Rosario Willie Rosario (born April 27, 1924), is a Puerto Rican musician, composer and bandleader of salsa music. He is also known as Mr. Afinque. Early years Rosario (birth name: Fernando Luis Rosario Marín) was born and raised in Coamo, Puerto Rico ...

Willy Chirino Willy Chirino (born April 5, 1947, in Consolación del Sur, Pinar del Río, Cuba) is a Cuban-American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. Early life Following the communist revolution in Cuba, Chirino came to the United States ...

* Hansel y Raul * Diveana (Venezuelan singer) *Marcelo (Venezuelan singer) * Mirla Castellanos (Venezuelan singer) *Paul Gillman (Venezuelan rock singer) *Roberto Antonio (Venezuelan singer) *Miguel Moly (Venezuelan singer) *Payasitas Nifu Nifa (Child Venezuelan band) *Melissa (Venezuelan singer) *Laura y Victor (Venezuelan boy singers) *Jorge Aguilar (Venezuelan singer/producer) *Guillermo Carrasco (Venezuelan singer/producer) *Sentimiento Muerto (Venezuelan rock group) * Los Chamos (Venezuelan Boyband) *Douglas Vale *Max Torres *David Pabon * Frank Quintero (Venezuelan singer/producer) * Kiara (Venezuelan singer) * Rudy LaScala (Venezuelan singer) *Freddy López (Venezuelan folk singer) *

Daiquirí Daiquirí () is a small village, 14 miles east of Santiago de Cuba. It became a focal point of the United States invasion of Cuba in the Spanish–American War. Overview Spanish General Arsenio Linares y Pombo ordered the area from Daiquirí to ...

(Venezuelan tropical music band) *René Romero (Venezuelan singer) * Mirtha Pérez (Venezuelan singer) *Antonietta (Venezuelan singer) *

Guaco Guaco, huaco, vejuco and bejuco are terms applied to various vine-like Central American, South American, and West Indian climbing plants, reputed to have curative powers. Several species in the genus ''Mikania'' are among those referred to as gua ...

(Venezuelan Latin/Gaita/typical dance band) *Amilcar Boscan (Venezuelan singer) * Aditus (Venezuelan rock band) * Pablo Manavello (Venezuelan rock singer) *Los Sysmos * José Alberto Mugrabi (Argentinian/Venezuelan singer) *Claudio Bermúdez Cassani (Mexican singer and Former member of the group Timbiriche)

References

{{Authority control American record labels Defunct record labels Universal Music Latin Entertainment Venezuelan record labels Latin American music record labels

Early years

Later years

List of artists on Rodven Records and/or its associated labels

See also

References