Hed Arzi Music

Hed Arzi Music, also known simply as Hed Arzi or הד ארצי, is an Israeli record company whose name means approximately “Echo of My Country.” Founded in 1946, it became one of the foundational recording and music-distribution businesses in Israel and is described as the country's oldest recording company. The business was established in Tel Aviv by Zvi Levin, also known as Hirsch Lewin, together with Josef Grossman, Alexander Borowitz, and Ephraim Ruttenberg. Levin had previously operated the Semer bookshop and record label in Berlin. Semer’s recording masters and inventory were destroyed during Kristallnacht, and Hed Arzi represented a postwar continuation of Levin’s involvement in Jewish and Hebrew-language recording activity. Hed Arzi began operating in September 1947 under the management of Ephraim Felix Rzeczynski. Its early activity focused on the manufacture and distribution of 78 rpm gramophone records, including reissues of recordings originally associated with Semer. Among the label’s early popular releases were Yaffa Yarkoni’s “Agala Vesoussa” and “Bab El-Wad,” as well as Shoshana Damari’s “Kalaniot” and “Ani Mitzfat.” These releases helped place the company close to the center of the emerging Israeli popular-music industry, at a time when local recording, pressing, and distribution infrastructure was still developing. The company expanded its manufacturing capabilities during the 1950s. It began constructing a plant in Ramat Gan in 1951 and manufactured its first long-playing record in 1955, a six-song Shoshana Damari release. In 1958, Hed Arzi recorded its first stereo record. Contemporary descriptions presented the company as a leading Israeli manufacturer and distributor and as one of the most modern record manufacturers in the Near East. Its activities also included exports to international markets; by the end of the 1950s, its records had reportedly reached nearly 30 countries. By 1960, the company had produced more than 1,250 conventional record titles, approximately 700 seven-inch records, and more than 320 LP records. Hed Arzi’s catalog has included mainstream Israeli music, Hebrew-language popular recordings, and work by performers who became important figures in Israeli cultural life. Associated artists include Shoshana Damari, Yaffa Yarkoni, Ofra Haza, Yehoram Gaon, Gidi Gov, Sarit Hadad, David D'Or, Harel Skaat, Dana International, Boaz Mauda, Teapacks, Poogy, the Dudaim, the Churchills, and others. The company also issued historical and documentary material, including a 1961 LP documenting echoes of the Eichmann trial. In addition to recorded music, its broader activities have included music publishing, distribution, and a multimedia-related subsidiary associated with the Piposh video-game franchise. Ownership changed over time. In 1980, Modi’in Publishing House, the parent company of the newspaper Maariv, acquired a 50 percent share. Modi’in was subsequently owned, from 1993, by Israel Land Development Company. Since 2008, Hed Arzi has been held by NMC United, an Israeli music company that also owns NMC Music. The label’s historical importance rests not only on its artist roster but also on its role in building Israel’s recording-manufacturing infrastructure, preserving earlier Hebrew recordings, and connecting Israeli music with overseas markets.

Hed Arzi Music was founded in 1946 in Tel Aviv by Zvi Levin, also known as Hirsch Lewin, in partnership with Josef Grossman, Alexander Borowitz, and Ephraim Ruttenberg. Levin was a refugee from Berlin who had operated a bookshop and the Semer record label there. Semer had been active from approximately 1932 until its recording masters and inventory were destroyed during Kristallnacht. Hed Arzi therefore emerged within a broader effort to continue Jewish and Hebrew recording work after the destruction of Levin’s earlier business. The company started operating in September 1947, with Ephraim Felix Rzeczynski as manager. It became the oldest recording company in Israel and participated in the formation of the country's local recording industry. Its initial output consisted largely of 78 rpm gramophone records, including reissues of Semer material. Early popular recordings included performances by Yaffa Yarkoni and Shoshana Damari, two singers whose work became closely associated with the development of Israeli popular music. During the 1950s, Hed Arzi moved beyond a primarily small-format record operation and developed industrial manufacturing capacity. Construction of a plant in Ramat Gan began in 1951. In 1955, the company manufactured its first LP, consisting of six Shoshana Damari songs. Three years later it recorded its first stereo record. At the end of the decade, contemporary descriptions characterized Hed Arzi as a leading Israeli manufacturer and distributor and as one of the most modern record manufacturers in the Near East. The company also developed export activity, with its records reportedly distributed in nearly 30 countries. The scale of production was substantial for the period. By 1960, Hed Arzi had produced more than 1,250 conventional record titles, around 700 seven-inch records, and more than 320 LPs. Its catalog covered popular music as well as documentary and historical material. In late 1961, it released an LP titled “Echoes of the Eichmann Trial,” reflecting the company’s role in issuing recordings connected to major public events as well as commercial music. Over subsequent decades, Hed Arzi became associated with a wide range of Israeli performers and groups. Its notable artists have included the Dudaim, Shoshana Damari, Yaffa Yarkoni, David D'Or, Gidi Gov, Sarit Hadad, Ofra Haza, Poogy, Harel Skaat, Teapacks, Dana International, Boaz Mauda, Yehoram Gaon, and the Churchills. The company’s role extended beyond the release of individual records: it helped maintain and distribute significant Hebrew-language catalogs and remained connected to the physical production, publishing, and distribution of music. The ownership structure changed in the 1980s and 2000s. In 1980, Modi’in Publishing House acquired a 50 percent stake. Modi’in was the parent company of the Maariv newspaper and was owned from 1993 by Israel Land Development Company. Since 2008, Hed Arzi has been owned by NMC United, which also owns NMC Music. Hed Arzi has additionally been associated with multimedia through Hed Arzi Multimedia, publisher of the Piposh video-game franchise. Its historical identity remains that of a major Israeli record company whose significance derives from its early manufacturing infrastructure, its extensive Hebrew-language catalog, its role in preserving earlier recordings, and its connection to generations of Israeli performers.

• 2008

  Ownership transfers to NMC United

  [1]Hed Arzi Musicen.wikipedia.org

  NMC United became the owner of Hed Arzi.

• 1980

  Modi’in Publishing House takes a half share

  [1]Hed Arzi Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Modi’in Publishing House acquired 50 percent of Hed Arzi.

• 1961

  Documentary LP on the Eichmann trial

  [1]Hed Arzi Musicen.wikipedia.org

  The company issued an LP documenting echoes of the Eichmann trial.

• 1960

  Production exceeds 1,250 conventional titles

  [1]Hed Arzi Musicen.wikipedia.org

  By this year, Hed Arzi had produced more than 1,250 conventional record titles, about 700 seven-inch records, and more than 320 LPs.

• 1958

  First stereo record

  [1]Hed Arzi Musicen.wikipedia.org

  The company recorded its first stereo record and was described as a leading modern record manufacturer in the region.

• 1955

  First LP manufactured

  [1]Hed Arzi Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Hed Arzi manufactured its first LP, a six-song Shoshana Damari release.

• 1951

  Ramat Gan manufacturing plant begins development

  [1]Hed Arzi Musicen.wikipedia.org

  The company began building a plant in Ramat Gan to expand its record-manufacturing capacity.

• 1947

  Operations commence

  [1]Hed Arzi Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Hed Arzi began operating in September under manager Ephraim Felix Rzeczynski.

• 1946

  Company founded in Tel Aviv

  [1]Hed Arzi Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Zvi Levin, Josef Grossman, Alexander Borowitz, and Ephraim Ruttenberg founded Hed Arzi as an Israeli recording enterprise.

A historically important Israeli record company and music catalog owner associated with mainstream Hebrew-language music, physical record manufacturing, music distribution, and preservation of early Israeli recordings.

• Physical recordings · 1947

  78 rpm gramophone records

  Hed Arzi’s earliest commercial output consisted of 78 rpm records. The catalog included new Israeli recordings and reissues of material associated with the earlier Semer label. Early releases by Yaffa Yarkoni and Shoshana Damari helped establish the company’s identity as a central supplier of Hebrew-language popular music during the formative years of Israel’s recording industry.

• Physical recordings · 1955

  Long-playing records

  The company entered the LP era in 1955 with a six-song Shoshana Damari release. LP manufacturing allowed Hed Arzi to issue longer artist programs and larger catalog projects, supporting the transition from short 78 rpm releases to the album-centered format that became dominant in popular music.

• Audio recordings · 1958

  Stereo recordings

  Hed Arzi recorded its first stereo record in 1958. This represented a technical advance for the company and formed part of its wider modernization as a record manufacturer serving Israeli and export markets.

• Music catalog · 1947

  Hebrew-language popular-music catalog

  Hed Arzi has released and distributed recordings by a broad roster of Israeli singers and groups, including Ofra Haza, Yehoram Gaon, Sarit Hadad, Dana International, Gidi Gov, Teapacks, Harel Skaat, and many others. The catalog spans popular music and important strands of Israeli cultural history.

• Spoken-word and documentary audio · 1961

  Documentary and historical recordings

  Alongside commercial music, Hed Arzi issued documentary material. A notable example is the 1961 LP “Echoes of the Eichmann Trial,” demonstrating the company’s participation in recording and distributing audio connected with significant public events.

• Video-game multimedia

  Piposh

  Hed Arzi Multimedia was associated with the publication of Piposh, an Israeli video-game franchise. This activity extended the Hed Arzi name beyond recorded music into multimedia publishing.

• 2008

  Transfer of ownership to NMC UnitedM&A

  Background

  The company’s ownership changed after its earlier association with Modi’in Publishing House and Israel Land Development Company.

  Action taken

  NMC United became the owner of Hed Arzi.

  Aftermath

  Hed Arzi became part of the NMC United music group, alongside NMC Music.

  Source

• 1980

  Sale of a 50 percent ownership stakeM&A

  Background

  Hed Arzi underwent an ownership change as the Israeli publishing and media group around Maariv expanded its involvement.

  Action taken

  Modi’in Publishing House acquired a 50 percent share in the company.

  Aftermath

  Hed Arzi became partly connected to the Maariv publishing group and its subsequent corporate ownership structure.

  Source

• 1958

  Adoption of stereo recordingGeneration change

  Background

  Stereo technology was becoming an important development in recorded sound.

  Action taken

  Hed Arzi recorded its first stereo record.

  Aftermath

  The release reinforced the company’s reputation as a technologically modern regional record manufacturer.

  Source

• 1955

  Move into LP manufacturingGeneration change

  Background

  The record industry was moving from short 78 rpm releases toward longer-playing formats.

  Action taken

  Hed Arzi manufactured its first LP, featuring six songs by Shoshana Damari.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened the company’s capacity to issue album-length programs and established its participation in the LP market.

  Source

1. 1Hed Arzi Musicen.wikipedia.org