Green Linnet
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn American independent record label that became one of the most influential international publishers of Celtic music.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Green Linnet Records was an American record label specializing in Celtic music, including Irish, Scottish, and Breton traditional and contemporary fusion. Active from the 1980s to the early 2000s, it released works by many notable artists before ceasing operations.
History
Green Linnet Records originated in 1973 as Innisfree Records, an independent label founded by Lisa Null and Patrick Sky. The operation was initially run from Null's house in New Canaan, Connecticut, reflecting the small-scale infrastructure common to specialist folk labels of the period. In 1975, the business adopted the name Innisfree/Green Linnet, and Wendy Newton joined as an operating officer. Newton's commitment to Irish music had developed after she heard traditional performers during a visit to a small pub in County Clare. Newton took control of the label in 1976 and became its sole owner in 1978. In 1985 she moved the company to Danbury, Connecticut. During her tenure, Green Linnet became a major independent force in Celtic music. It released hundreds of albums by Irish, Scottish, Breton, Galician, and Irish-American artists, combining traditional repertoire with contemporary arrangements and original songwriting. The label's roster included influential acts such as Altan, Capercaillie, and the Tannahill Weavers. Its significance came from sustained artist development and from making regional traditions accessible to listeners in North America and other international markets. The company built a broader family of imprints around its core Celtic identity. Xenophile Records was introduced in 1992 to present world music from countries and regions including Madagascar, Nigeria, and Cuba. In 1997, Celtophile Records was created for budget-priced compilations. A Green Linnet/Redbird series further extended the company's output into singer-songwriter material. These initiatives gave the business multiple price points, repertory categories, and discovery paths while retaining a common association with folk and roots music. The label's management practices later became controversial. In 2002, several prominent artists and acts, including Cherish the Ladies, Altan, Mick Moloney, Joanie Madden, and Eileen Ivers, sued over alleged unpaid royalties. Most artists were paid or had their claims settled by 2006, but some matters reportedly remained unresolved. Wolfstone and Lúnasa were among the acts associated with leaving the label amid criticism of its management. The disputes complicated Green Linnet's reputation despite its substantial contribution to Celtic-music recording. In May 2006, Newton sold Green Linnet to Digital Music Group, a company specializing in downloadable-music aggregation. Digital Music Group subsequently transferred the physical compact-disc manufacturing and distribution rights for Green Linnet and Xenophile to Compass Records. The catalogs have remained available through Compass. The supplied reference material does not establish whether Green Linnet continues as an independently operating label, so its present corporate status cannot be stated with certainty.
- 2006
Label sold and physical distribution transferred
[1]Digital Music Group acquired Green Linnet, and Compass Records later obtained physical manufacturing and distribution rights for the Green Linnet and Xenophile catalogs.
- 2002
Royalty lawsuit filed
[1]Several artists and acts sued the label over alleged unpaid royalties.
- 1997
Celtophile Records launched
[1]The imprint introduced budget-priced folk and Celtic compilations.
- 1992
Xenophile Records launched
[1]The subsidiary expanded the label family into international world music.
- 1985
Move to Danbury
[1]Green Linnet relocated to Danbury, Connecticut.
- 1978
Newton became sole owner
[1]Newton became the label's sole owner.
- 1976
Newton assumed control
[1]Wendy Newton took control of the label.
- 1975
Innisfree/Green Linnet identity introduced
[1]The label adopted a combined name and added Wendy Newton to its operating leadership.
- 1973
Innisfree Records founded
[1]Lisa Null and Patrick Sky established the independent label in New Canaan, Connecticut.
Products and positioning
An artist-focused independent label and catalog curator specializing in Celtic, folk, and related world music, with particular strength in Irish and Scottish traditional music and in introducing regional performers to international audiences.
Celtic and folk music recordings · 1973
Green Linnet Celtic catalog
The core Green Linnet catalog consists of artist albums and related recordings rooted in Irish, Scottish, Breton, Galician, and Irish-American traditions. The label released both traditional performances and contemporary folk material, building a roster that included Altan, Capercaillie, the Tannahill Weavers, and many other significant performers. The catalog's combination of regional specificity and international distribution made it a major reference point for Celtic music listeners.
World-music imprint · 1992
Xenophile Records
Xenophile was established as a Green Linnet subsidiary for world music outside the parent label's principal Celtic focus. Its repertory included music associated with Madagascar, Nigeria, Cuba, and other countries and regions. The imprint allowed the label group to apply its independent-curation model to a wider range of international traditions.
Budget compilation imprint · 1997
Celtophile Records
Celtophile was created to offer lower-priced compilations. The imprint provided an accessible entry point to Celtic and related folk repertory and complemented Green Linnet's full-price artist-album program. Its budget positioning broadened the label family's reach among listeners seeking introductory or thematic collections.
Singer-songwriter recordings
Green Linnet/Redbird series
The Green Linnet/Redbird series presented singer-songwriter material within the broader label family. It extended the company's folk-oriented scope beyond strictly traditional Celtic ensembles and demonstrated the label's interest in adjacent acoustic and roots repertory.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2006
Sale to Digital Music GroupM&ABackground
After decades under Wendy Newton's ownership, the label entered a period of ownership and distribution transition.
Action taken
Newton sold Green Linnet to Digital Music Group in May 2006.
Aftermath
Digital Music Group later transferred physical compact-disc manufacturing and distribution rights for Green Linnet and Xenophile to Compass Records, while the catalogs remained available through Compass.
1997
Launch of a budget compilation imprintStrategyBackground
The label sought to make Celtic and related folk repertory available in a lower-priced compilation format.
Action taken
Green Linnet launched Celtophile Records for budget-priced compilations.
Aftermath
The label family added a lower-price catalog segment alongside its artist-focused releases.
1992
Expansion into world music through XenophileStrategyBackground
Green Linnet had established a strong identity around Celtic and folk music but sought a vehicle for international repertory beyond that core.
Action taken
The company created Xenophile Records as a subsidiary imprint for world music from countries including Madagascar, Nigeria, and Cuba.
Aftermath
The label group broadened its catalog while retaining separate branding for non-Celtic releases.
Sources2 sources
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