Shout! Factory

Shout! Factory
Formerly
 Retropolis Entertainment
Private
Industry Entertainment
Founded 2002 (as Retropolis Entertainment)
Founders
  • Richard Foos
  • Bob Emmer
  • Garson Foos
Headquarters Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Key people
  • Richard Foos (CEO)
  • Bob Emmer (COO)
  • Garson Foos (President)
Products Home video, music
Brands
  • Scream! Factory
  • Shout! Select
  • Shout! Factory Kids
Owner Cinedigm (minority)[1]
Divisions Shout! Factory TV
Shout! Studios
Westchester Films
Subsidiaries
Website www.shoutfactory.com

Shout! Factory is an American home video and music company. Founded in 2002 as Retropolis Entertainment, its video releases include previously released feature films, classic and contemporary television series, animation, live music, and comedy specials. Shout! Factory also owns and operates Shout! Studios, Westchester Films, Timeless Media Group, Biograph Records, Majordomo Records, and Video Time Machine.

History

Retropolis Entertainment was founded by April 2002 by Bob Emmer, Garson Foos, and Richard Foos, three principals from Rhino Records, as the company was negotiating with the five majors for distribution. After selling Rhino to Warner Bros., the three set out to launch a new retro pop culture label. The company's first product was Red, White & Rock, a joint release with PBS station WQED that was produced with Warner Strategic Marketing.[2] In August 2002, Retropolis acquired Biograph Records.[3] Other early releases included blues and jazz CDs from the Biograph label, a Fats Domino CD and DVD, and several documentaries (Superstar: The Life And Times of Andy Warhol, What Happened To Kerouac?). Retroplis was renamed Shout! Factory in April 2003. At that time, Shout had signed a press and distribution agreement with Sony Music Entertainment.[4] With the release of Freaks & Geeks in 2004, Shout! hit its stride and shifted towards a reputable and celebrated television on DVD company. That same year, they released a brand-new CD Has Been with actor William Shatner (produced by Ben Folds) and started releasing classic SCTV box sets.

In 2004 Shout! Factory released an expanded two-disc version of Jim Croce's first record, the Facets album. In 2004, Shout! got the rights to Cartoon Network staple Home Movies and released each season set, and ultimately a complete series box. Other pop culture releases ensued, including a pair of The Electric Company multidisc sets, the re-envisioned Herb Alpert's Whipped Cream & Other Delights Rewhipped, a series of Elvira's Movie Macabre DVDs and the first of what would be three cover CDs with Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, called Under The Covers Vol. 1; Sweet himself was also added as a featured solo artist.[5] Still earning a reputation for the release of classic TV programs, Shout! acquired the rights to America's Funniest Home Videos, That Girl, Punky Brewster, and The Weird Al Show, all of which debuted in 2006.

In 2005, Shout! Factory obtained the rights to Herb Alpert's catalog, launching the Herb Alpert Signature Series of CDs. These included The Lonely Bull, South of the Border, Lost Treasures, Whipped Cream & Other Delights and others. They also got the rights to talk show host Dick Cavett's library and started releasing theme sets focused on rock icons, Ray Charles (including all his visits to the show), John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and others. They also jumped into children's animation with a deal with DiC Entertainment. C.O.P.S. The Animated Series and Heathcliff And the Catillac Cats were the first releases from that deal. On the sports side, they entered into a licensing deal with Major League Baseball, releasing themed and World Series DVDs through 2010.

By 2007, classic TV on DVD was a major focus, with season sets of McHale's Navy and Ironside, an authorized collection of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and themed and actor-specific editions of Inside the Actor's Studio hitting shelves. Meanwhile, they also started releasing Mickey Hart's catalogs.

In March 2008, Shout! bought the Hightone Records catalog and added artists Tom Russell, Joe Ely, and Rosie Flores to its brand.[6] At the same time, the company was ramping up its place as a children's animation destination and continuing with a TV on DVD schedule. It took over the Mystery Science Theater 3000 DVD series and released a 20th Anniversary set and have continued to put out box sets of episodes never before released on DVD.

In 2009, Shout! reached another milestone when it struck a deal with children's TV producers Hasbro, releasing the original Transformers and G.I. Joe animated-series box sets. That same year, it released the first My Little Pony DVD, My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Collection. Shout! continues to release several Hasbro properties, including the series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.

In 2011 Shout! made another landmark deal when they struck a deal with Nickelodeon to release the live action sitcom Hey Dude and the animated Nicktoons Rocko's Modern Life, Ahhh Real Monsters, Angry Beavers, Hey Arnold!, The Wild Thornberrys, CatDog, and Danny Phantom.

In May 2012, Shout! Factory signed an agreement with Saban Capital Group to distribute the Beetleborgs, Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation, Power Rangers and VR Troopers catalogs.[7] It also started releasing titles by Marvel (Super Hero Squad Show, Marvel Knights). In the same month, the company acquired Oregon-based home entertainment company Timeless Media Group, adding more programs to its expanding catalog, such as The Red Skelton Show, Peter Gunn, The Gene Autry Show, The Virginian, Wagon Train, Laramie, and The Roy Rogers Show, among others.[8]

In June 2012, Shout! Factory announced a horror label called Scream Factory, specializing in classic and cult horror films on discs such as Halloween II, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, They Live, The Howling, Lifeforce, Deadly Eyes, and others.[9] The horror titles, both new and old, were licensed from major studios such as MGM, Fox, and Universal. In mid-June 2012, Shout! and Fred Seibert acquired Video Time Machine, a year and genre media-based iOS app, from Original Victories Inc.[10]

In 2014, the success Shout! was having with complete-series box sets of such series as All in the Family, Route 66, and Barney Miller extended to such properties as The Bob Newhart Show, Hill Street Blues, The Jeffersons, and a Blu-Ray release of Pee-Wee's Playhouse.[11] On May 8, 2014, Shout! announced[12] their acquisition of the rights to WKRP in Cincinnati,[13] with the intention of restoring all four seasons of the show "complete" (i.e. complete as legally possible) with their original musical scores.[14] The 2014 release was a monumental event for fans of the show since the original DVD release in 2007 had been mired in squabbles regarding music rights.[15]

In 2014, Shout! became Toei Company's overseas Super Sentai distributor in North America. In 2015, Shout! released official DVDs of Super Sentai starting with Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger under the name "Super Sentai Zyuranger: The Complete Series" with English subtitles.

On June 9, 2014, Shout! Factory announced that it had acquired the rights to the My Little Pony series and it released My Little Pony - The Complete Series on DVD on September 30, 2014.[16] The four-disc set contains all 65 episodes of the series.

In October 2014, Shout! acquired Westchester Films, an independent film company whose library includes the films of John Cassavetes, Elia Kazan, and Orson Welles, as well as some early United Artists films that were previously owned by the films' producers.

IFC Midnight signed with Scream Factory by February 2015 for home distribution.[17] On February 5, 2015, Shout! Factory launched its flagship TV ad-supported streaming services online and via Roku. Available shows and movies included 16 Werner Herzog films, Roger Corman cult films and TV shows including Father Knows Best and It's Garry Shandling's Show.[18]

In June 2015, a minority stake in the company was taken by Cinedigm, while extending their home entertainment platform distribution agreement. Cinedign and Shout would then relaunch the Factory's streaming service and cross market each other streaming services.[1]

On November 10, 2015, Shout! announced that it had acquired the rights to Mystery Science Theater 3000 from Best Brains Inc. and launched a "Bring Back MST3K" Kickstarter with the goal of producing up to 12 new feature-length episodes of the series, with series creator Joel Hodgson serving as executive producer.[19] In January 2016, Concord Bicycle Music bought the Hightone from the company.[20]

The following year, Shout! (via its Westchester Films division) acquired the domestic rights to the entire library of Morgan Creek Productions (with the exception of the original Young Guns, which is still owned by Lionsgate, successor to the film's international distributor, Vestron Pictures).

On January 17, 2017, Shout! Factory announced their acquisition of the broadcast and home media distribution rights for the first three Digimon Adventure tri. films and plan for a dual-language release on DVD, Blu-ray, and EST.

On May 18, 2017, Shout! Factory acquired the North American distribution rights to In This Corner of the World, with a U.S. theatrical release to take place in August 11, 2017, co-released by Funimation Films.[21]

In October 2017, it was revealed that Shout! Factory would be the distributor for GKIDS' re-releases of Studio Ghibli films formerly owned by Disney. This would be the first time that GKIDS has chosen a partner that isn't their main distributors Universal Pictures Home Entertainment or Cinedigm.

On November 13, 2017, Shout! Factory announced the formation of Shout! Studios, a production and distribution arm that specializes in content development.[22] The first films to be distributed under the new banner include Humor Me, The House of Tomorrow, Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town, and Basmati Blues, all slated for a 2018 premiere. In addition to film projects, Shout! Studios will also develop original television productions.

In March 2018, Shout! Factory acquired the New Horizons film library from its founder Roger Corman; Shout! will distribute this catalogue in North America, Europe, Russia and Australia.[23]

Later that same year, Shout! acquired all worldwide distribution rights (including home video, television, and via its Westchester Films division, theatrical) to the ITC Entertainment library.

Licensing deals

Shout! Factory has agreements with, among others, Marvel Entertainment, Hasbro Studios, Nickelodeon/Paramount Home Media Distribution, Classic Media, Universal Pictures, MGM, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Saban Capital Group, Morgan Creek Productions and Sesame Workshop. Releases under these agreements have included the complete Joss Whedon/John Cassaday series of Astonishing X-Men, plus Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers and Iron Man: Extremis on DVD and Blu-ray;[24] the original Transformers, G.I. Joe, Jem and My Little Pony cartoons, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Power Rangers, VR Troopers, Sesame Street, and some popular Nicktoons like Rocko's Modern Life, Aah! Real Monsters, Angry Beavers, Hey Arnold!, The Wild Thornberrys, CatDog and Danny Phantom.[25]

In mid-2012, Shout! Factory announced a horror sub-label called Scream Factory, specializing in classic and cult horror films such as Halloween II, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, They Live, The Howling, Lifeforce, Deadly Eyes, and others being released to DVD and Blu-ray.[26]

In 2012, Shout! Factory acquired Oregon-based home entertainment company Timeless Media Group, adding programs to its ever-expanding catalog: The Red Skelton Show, Peter Gunn, The Gene Autry Show, The Virginian, Wagon Train, Laramie, and The Roy Rogers Show, among others.[27]

Shout! Factory also acquired blues/roots label HighTone Records and continued to oversee its back catalog until 2016 when Concord Bicycle Music bought the label.[28]

Units

References

  1. 1 2 Lang, Brent (June 25, 2015). "Cinedigm Takes Minority Position in Shout! Factory". Variety. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  2. ↑ "In the News". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. June 22, 2002. p. 8. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  3. ↑ Gallo, Phil (August 20, 2002). "Retropolis buys jazz/blues label". Variety. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  4. ↑ "In the News". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 5, 2003. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Sunshine Lies". Shout! Factory. 2008-08-26. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
  6. ↑ "Jazz news: Shout! Factory Acquires Hightone Records Catalog". All About Jazz News. LRI Publicity. March 31, 2008. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Shout! Factory, Saban Sign Home Entertainment Distribution Deal". The Hollywood Reporter. March 12, 2012. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  8. ↑ Barnes, Mike (May 17, 2012). "Shout! Factory Acquires Timeless Media Group". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  9. ↑ Wright, Eddie (June 1, 2012). "Shout! Factory Launches Horror-Centric Scream Factory Line!". MTV News. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  10. ↑ Barnes, Mike (June 10, 2012). "Shout! Factory Buys Apps, Enters Video Time Machine". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  11. ↑ "About Us". Shout! Factory. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
  12. ↑ "Twitter / Shout! Factory: Yep! DVD Plans for WKRP in". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  13. ↑ "WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  14. ↑ "WKRP in Cincinnati DVD news: DVD Plans for WKRP in Cincinnati - The Complete Series". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  15. ↑ "WKRP in Cincinnati DVD news: Exclusive: More on the music replacement and comments by Fox/Wilson". TVShowsOnDVD.com. 2007-04-23. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  16. ↑ "My Little Pony (AKA My Little Pony n Friends) - 'The Complete Series' of the Original '80s Cartoon! : Shout! Factory's 4-DVD set with all 65 episodes". Tvshowsondvd.com. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
  17. ↑ "Scream Factory, IFC Midnight Partner for Exclusive Home Media Deal". Fangoria. February 16, 2015. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  18. ↑ Snider, Mike (February 5, 2015). "Shout! Factory brings classics and cult TV, movies to Net". USA Today. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  19. ↑ Busch, Anita (2015-11-10). "'Mystery Science Theater' Goes To Shout! Factory". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
  20. ↑ Christman, Ed (January 14, 2016). "Concord Bicycle Music Acquires HighTone, Bandit Records Assets". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  21. ↑ McNary, Dave. "Japanese Animated Film 'In This Corner of the World' Scheduled for August Release". Variety. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  22. ↑ Busch, Anita. "Shout! Factory Launches Shout! Studios, Acquires Three Films For Release". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  23. ↑ https://variety.com/2018/film/news/roger-corman-library-shout-china-ace-1202727445
  24. ↑ "Shout! Factory To Release More Marvel Animated Titles". Geeksofdoom.com. 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  25. ↑ "Shout! Factory, Saban Sign Home Entertainment Distribution Deal". The Hollywood Reporter. 2012-12-03. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  26. ↑ "Scream Factory". Shout! Factory. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  27. ↑ "Site News DVD news: Press Release announcing Shout! Factory acquires Timeless Media Group". TVShowsOnDVD.com. 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  28. ↑ "DownBeat Magazine". Downbeat.com. 2008-02-04. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  29. ↑ "Majordomo Records". Majordomo Records. 2009-02-03. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
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