Heinz Records

Heinz Records is an independent record label associated with the Portland, Oregon music ensemble Pink Martini. The label was created to release the group's debut album, Sympathique, in 1997, and subsequently became the principal imprint for Pink Martini's studio albums, compilations, collaborative projects, and selected recordings by artists connected with the ensemble. The label is operated by Pink Martini members rather than presented as a large, separately managed corporate music company. The label's name comes from Heinz, Thomas Lauderdale's dog. That origin reflects the informal and self-directed character of the imprint: Heinz Records functions as an artist-controlled home for a group whose music combines classical arrangements, Latin styles, traditional pop, jazz, multilingual repertoire, and orchestral performance. Rather than building its identity around a broad commercial roster, the label has primarily served the creative and distribution needs of Pink Martini and a small circle of associated performers. Heinz Records' first major release was Sympathique, Pink Martini's independently issued debut. The album helped establish the ensemble's international profile, particularly through the title song and the group's distinctive multilingual approach. It also received recognition in France through nominations at the Victoires de la Musique Awards. Later releases on the imprint included Hang On Little Tomato, Hey Eugene!, Splendor in the Grass, Joy to the World, A Retrospective, 1969, Get Happy, Dream a Little Dream with the von Trapps, Je dis oui!, and anniversary and language-focused compilations connected with Pink Martini's catalogue. The imprint has also been used for releases involving China Forbes, Storm Large, and the von Trapps. These associations are consistent with Pink Martini's collaborative working model, in which vocalists and guest artists participate in recordings, touring projects, and related productions. Heinz Records therefore operates less like a conventional multi-genre label with a large roster and more like a boutique artist imprint supporting a touring ensemble and its creative network. Distribution has included RED Distribution, allowing recordings made or controlled by the independent label to reach wider retail and international markets. Pink Martini's albums released through Heinz Records achieved significant international circulation, with the group's catalogue reported as earning gold certifications in several countries. The label's commercial reach has been tied closely to Pink Martini's touring activity, orchestral collaborations, television appearances, film and television placements, and overseas audience, rather than to a separately marketed Heinz Records consumer brand. As documented in connection with Pink Martini, Heinz Records remains principally known as the band's own independent imprint. Its importance lies in giving the ensemble control over recordings and catalogue presentation while enabling distribution beyond its Portland base. Publicly available material provides limited information about the label's legal structure, staffing, financial performance, or release operations beyond its relationship with Pink Martini and its distribution arrangement.

Heinz Records emerged from the independent recording activities of Pink Martini, the Portland ensemble founded by Thomas Lauderdale in 1994. Pink Martini developed a deliberately broad musical identity, drawing on classical music, Latin traditions, jazz, traditional pop, and songs performed in multiple languages. When the group prepared its debut recording, it established its own imprint rather than relying initially on a major commercial label. The label's first documented release was Sympathique in 1997. The album introduced Pink Martini's distinctive repertoire and helped the group develop an audience outside the United States. Its title track received recognition in France, where Pink Martini later earned nominations connected with the Victoires de la Musique Awards. Heinz Records was named after Lauderdale's dog and was run by members of Pink Martini, giving the band a direct role in the release and administration of its recordings. During the following years, the imprint became the home for Pink Martini's principal catalogue. Releases included Hang On Little Tomato in 2004, Hey Eugene! in 2007, Splendor in the Grass in 2009, and Joy to the World in 2010. The latter presented holiday and seasonal material from several cultural and religious traditions and benefited from retail exposure through Starbucks during the 2010 and 2011 holiday seasons. The label also issued A Retrospective and the Saori Yuki collaboration 1969 in 2011, followed by Get Happy in 2013 and Dream a Little Dream with the von Trapps in 2014. Heinz Records' catalogue reflects Pink Martini's international touring and collaborative model. In addition to core studio albums, the imprint supported retrospective releases, collaborations, special editions, and recordings associated with the group's performers. China Forbes, Storm Large, and the von Trapps are identified with the label's wider artist group. The label's releases circulated internationally through distribution arrangements including RED Distribution, while Pink Martini's concerts with orchestras, appearances on television, and placements in films and television programs helped sustain demand for the recordings. In 2016, Pink Martini released Je dis oui!, another studio project with guest vocalists and material connected with the film Souvenir. In 2018, Heinz Records issued the 20th Anniversary Edition of Sympathique. The expanded edition restored the band's arrangement of Ravel's Boléro, which had not appeared on the original album because of rights considerations and could be included once the composition entered the public domain. That year the label also supported Non Ouais!, a compilation focused on Pink Martini's French-language repertoire. Public descriptions portray Heinz Records as a small, artist-run imprint rather than an independently branded label with a large roster. Its identity and business activity remain closely tied to Pink Martini, whose albums have achieved international certifications and broad distribution. Available reference material does not establish a separate corporate headquarters, public listing, independent financial statements, or a detailed executive structure. The label is best understood as a vehicle for artist ownership, catalogue control, and distribution of Pink Martini-related recordings.

• 2018

  The Sympathique 20th Anniversary Edition is issued

  [1]Pink Martinien.wikipedia.org

  The reissue revisits the debut album and restores the group's arrangement of Boléro.

• 2016

  Je dis oui! is released

  [1]Pink Martinien.wikipedia.org

  The label issues a new Pink Martini studio album featuring several guest performers and songs connected with the film Souvenir.

• 2011

  Heinz Records releases A Retrospective and 1969

  [1]Pink Martinien.wikipedia.org

  The imprint issues a career-spanning compilation and a collaboration between Pink Martini and Japanese singer Saori Yuki.

• 2010

  Joy to the World expands the label's seasonal catalogue

  [1]Pink Martinien.wikipedia.org

  The holiday album draws on music from different parts of the world and receives additional retail exposure through Starbucks.

• 2004

  Hang On Little Tomato is released

  [1]Pink Martinien.wikipedia.org

  Pink Martini continues building its catalogue on Heinz Records with its second major studio album.

• 1997

  Heinz Records is established through Pink Martini's debut release

  [1]Pink Martinien.wikipedia.org

  The imprint independently releases Sympathique, Pink Martini's first album and the foundation of the label's catalogue.

An artist-controlled boutique imprint focused on Pink Martini's internationally oriented, multilingual catalogue and releases by closely associated performers.

• Studio album · 1997

  Sympathique

  Pink Martini's independently released debut album and the foundational Heinz Records title. It established the ensemble's multilingual, cross-genre style and included the song that helped attract recognition in France. The album became the central reference point for the label and was later revisited in an anniversary edition.

• Studio album · 2004

  Hang On Little Tomato

  A later Pink Martini studio album that continued the group's combination of orchestral color, traditional pop, jazz, and international musical influences. It forms part of the core catalogue issued through the band's independent imprint.

• Studio album · 2007

  Hey Eugene!

  A Pink Martini album released through Heinz Records during the ensemble's period of growing international touring and broadcast exposure. It extends the label's central catalogue of eclectic, vocal-led recordings.

• Holiday album · 2010

  Joy to the World

  A festive album built around seasonal songs from different regions and religious traditions. Its broad cultural scope matches Pink Martini's international positioning, while retail placement during the holiday seasons helped the release reach listeners beyond the band's concert audience.

• Collaborative album · 2011

  1969

  A collaboration between Pink Martini and Japanese singer Saori Yuki. The project broadened Heinz Records' international profile and became a notable release in Japan, where it achieved platinum certification according to the referenced Pink Martini material.

• Studio album · 2013

  Get Happy

  A Pink Martini studio album released as the ensemble continued its global concert and orchestral activities. It represents the label's ongoing support for new core repertoire rather than only archival or collaborative projects.

• Collaborative album · 2014

  Dream a Little Dream with the von Trapps

  A collaborative recording pairing Pink Martini with the von Trapps. It illustrates Heinz Records' use as an imprint for projects involving artists within Pink Martini's wider creative network.

• Studio album · 2016

  Je dis oui!

  A studio album featuring guest appearances from artists including Ari Shapiro, Rufus Wainwright, Kathleen Saadat, and Ikram Goldman. Several songs were co-written for or associated with the film Souvenir, giving the release a connection to Pink Martini's film and soundtrack work.

• Anniversary reissue · 2018

  Sympathique - 20th Anniversary Edition

  An anniversary edition of Pink Martini's debut album. The reissue restored the band's arrangement of Ravel's Boléro, which had been excluded from the initial edition and was later able to appear after the composition entered the public domain.

• Compilation album · 2018

  Non Ouais! - The French Songs of Pink Martini

  A compilation gathering French-language songs from Pink Martini's catalogue. It presents one linguistic and stylistic dimension of the ensemble's broader international repertoire.

• 2018

  Heinz Records revisits Sympathique for its twentieth anniversaryGeneration change

  Background

  Pink Martini prepared a commemorative edition of its debut album for the record's twentieth anniversary.

  Action taken

  The label released an updated edition that restored the group's arrangement of Ravel's Boléro.

  Aftermath

  The edition expanded and refreshed the presentation of the album that originally established Heinz Records.

  Source

• 1997

  Pink Martini chooses an artist-run imprint for its debutStrategy

  Background

  Pink Martini needed a release vehicle for its first album and established Heinz Records as an independent label associated with the ensemble.

  Action taken

  The group issued Sympathique through its own imprint and later used the label for much of its catalogue.

  Aftermath

  The decision gave Pink Martini control over its recordings while allowing later distribution through an external distributor.

  Source

1. 1Pink Martinien.wikipedia.org