A long time ago in a tour van station wagon far away, Nettwerk was born, or more accurately, conceived.
25 years later, Nettwerk Music Group is one of Canada's most successful indie labels and music management companies, and to celeberate, they've shared the story of their humble and impoverished beginings with the release of Nettwerk: 25 Years of Music We Love, a tell-all book by Vancouver writer, Denise Ryan. (See also: Denise tells the tale of the book's conception in a sauna.) AND they've also dug through their vaults to put together what looks like an incredible 25-song compliaton album featuring some of their most beloved acts.
I've only had a chance to skim through CBC3's advance copy, (which keeps disappearing off of my desk for some reason), but the first few chapters on the how the label was started has me hooked. Since those early days, they've helped make the careers of such legendary Canadian acts as Skinny Puppy, Grapes of Wrath, Sarah McLachlan, Great Lake Swimmers, and countless others.
Nettwerk: 25 Years of Music We Love is published by Wiley Press and hits bookstores today, or buy it online for $32.95.
Nettwerk: 25 Years of Music (CD) - $28.99 or purchase on iTunes for $9.99
Listen to Nettwerk's CBC3 Playlist: