The Orchard (company)

The Orchard was a global music and video distribution company, operating as a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Founded in 1997 by Richard Gottehrer and Scott Cohen, The Orchard focused on providing independent artists, labels, and other content owners with digital and physical distribution, marketing, and sales services.

The company's core business involved distributing music and video content to a wide range of online retailers and streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, and others. They also offered services such as royalty accounting, data analysis, and licensing.

Over time, The Orchard grew to become one of the leading distributors in the independent music sector. They worked with a diverse roster of artists and labels across various genres.

In 2015, Sony Music Entertainment acquired The Orchard, incorporating it into its global distribution network while largely maintaining The Orchard's independent operational structure and branding.