Picap

Picap is a record label based in Castellar del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain. Founded in 1984, it developed around the promotion and publication of Catalan music while remaining open to artists working in other languages and musical traditions. The label gives particular support to Catalan-language expression, making it an important part of the modern Catalan music infrastructure rather than a conventional mass-market multinational label. Picap entered the market with four maxi-singles released simultaneously by the synthpop group Programa, Javier Asensi, the pop group Oslo, and the hard-rock performer Rockson. Its early catalogue also included artists such as Héctor Vila, Maria-Josep Villarroya, Josep Tero, Gato Pérez, and Joan Soler Boronat. The label's first significant commercial success came from the recordings of Catalan humorist Eugenio Jofra Bafalluy, better known as Eugenio. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Picap became closely associated with the expansion of Catalan rock, cançó, and related popular music. The band Grec participated in the period's interest in funk-influenced sounds. Sau achieved success with Picap's release Quina nit before moving to a multinational label, while Sangtraït remained with Picap and recorded Contes i llegendes during the high point of Catalan rock. Rock and cançó subsequently became two of the label's central areas. Picap's reputation helped it attract established and influential performers. Lluís Llach joined the label in 1991, and the company later established relationships with artists and groups including Companyia Elèctrica Dharma, Tomeu Penya, Raimon, Maria del Mar Bonet, and Marina Rossell. Valencian folk and popular-music group Al Tall also released material through Picap in the late 1990s. In 1993, the company received National Music Awards in Catalonia for its releases, according to the label's Wikipedia history. In addition to new releases, Picap has operated as an archival and reissue house. It began issuing compact-disc editions of historically important Catalan recordings, including material associated with EDIGSA, as well as recordings originally released through PDI and Als 4 Vents or retained by individual artists. Its reissue activity has covered artists and groups such as Iceberg, Pegasus, Xesco Boix, Grup de Folk, Ara Va de Bo, Jaume Sisa, Música Dispersa, Max Sunyer, and Santi Arisa. This combination of contemporary artist development, regional-language repertoire, and catalogue preservation has defined Picap's distinctive position in the Spanish recording sector. The available reference material does not establish Picap's current ownership structure, leadership, financial performance, or a definitive corporate website. It does, however, document activity including a 2006 agreement involving major Cuban companies and a 2007 planned tribute release for Lluís Llach. Picap is best understood as a culturally focused Catalan record label with a catalogue spanning rock, cançó, pop, folk, humor, funk, archival recordings, and related popular-music genres.

Picap was established in 1984 in Catalonia as a record label oriented toward local-language and regional music. Its stated cultural approach was to support Catalan authors and performers while respecting the language chosen by each artist. Catalan received preferential support, placing Picap within the broader institutional and cultural development of Catalan popular music after the restoration of democratic cultural expression in Spain. The label launched with four maxi-singles appearing at the same time. The debut set represented a varied musical identity: synthpop from Programa, a release by Javier Asensi, pop from Oslo, and hard rock from Rockson. Early Picap artists also included Héctor Vila, Maria-Josep Villarroya, Josep Tero, Gato Pérez, and Joan Soler Boronat. The company gained its first major commercial success through the work of Catalan humorist Eugenio, demonstrating that its catalogue extended beyond conventional pop and rock. By the end of the 1980s, Picap was participating in the changing Catalan music scene. Grec, one of its artists, adopted funk-related influences that were also appearing among other emerging bands. Picap's catalogue increasingly reflected the growth of Catalan rock and the continuing importance of cançó, the singer-songwriter tradition associated with Catalan-language music. Sau achieved notable success with the Picap release Quina nit and subsequently moved to a multinational record company. Sangtraït remained with Picap and prepared its fourth album, Contes i llegendes, at a time when Catalan rock had reached a particularly prominent position. A major expansion of the label's artistic prestige followed in 1991, when Lluís Llach joined Picap. His arrival helped consolidate the company's reputation as a trusted home for important Catalan performers. Picap subsequently developed ties with Companyia Elèctrica Dharma, Tomeu Penya, Raimon, Maria del Mar Bonet, and Marina Rossell. In 1993, the record company received National Music Awards in Catalonia for its releases. During the late 1990s, the Valencian group Al Tall also published through Picap, extending the label's regional reach beyond Catalonia. Picap later developed a substantial reissue and preservation role. It issued compact-disc versions of historic Catalan recordings, including material from the EDIGSA catalogue. Its archival activity also drew on catalogues associated with PDI and Als 4 Vents, along with recordings originally released by artists themselves. The reissue programme included music by Iceberg, Pegasus, Xesco Boix, Grup de Folk, Ara Va de Bo, Jaume Sisa, Música Dispersa, Max Sunyer, and Santi Arisa. This work helped move older vinyl-era recordings into newer formats and kept important parts of Catalan musical history commercially available. The documented history also shows Picap pursuing external relationships. In 2006, the company signed a further agreement with principal Cuban companies, suggesting cross-border catalogue or production cooperation. In 2007, press coverage reported plans for a tribute album dedicated to Lluís Llach. A 2004 company publication, Picap 20 anys, del vinil al DVD, reflects the label's first two decades and its transition from vinyl releases toward audiovisual and digital-era formats. The available sources do not provide reliable details about present ownership, executive leadership, revenue, or the label's current release schedule.

• 2007

  Planned Lluís Llach tribute release

  [1]Picapen.wikipedia.org

  A newspaper report says Picap is preparing a tribute album for Lluís Llach.

• 2006

  Agreement with Cuban music companies

  [1]Picapen.wikipedia.org

  Picap signs a further agreement with major Cuban companies.

• 2004

  Picap marks twenty years

  [1]Picapen.wikipedia.org

  The label publishes Picap 20 anys, del vinil al DVD, documenting its first two decades and format evolution.

• 1993

  Picap receives National Music Awards in Catalonia

  [1]Picapen.wikipedia.org

  The company receives National Music Awards in Catalonia for its releases.

• 1991

  Lluís Llach joins Picap

  [1]Picapen.wikipedia.org

  Lluís Llach joins the label, strengthening Picap's standing among established Catalan-language artists.

• 1984

  Picap is founded and launches its first releases

  [1]Picapen.wikipedia.org

  Picap begins operations with four simultaneously released maxi-singles by Programa, Javier Asensi, Oslo, and Rockson.

A culturally focused Catalan record label that combines support for Catalan-language artists with new releases, regional popular music, and preservation of historically significant recordings.

• Record-label releases · 1984

  New recorded-music releases

  Picap releases albums, singles, and other recordings by Catalan, Valencian, Spanish, and related artists. Its catalogue has included rock, cançó, pop, hard rock, funk-influenced music, folk, humor, and singer-songwriter material. The label's repertoire is especially associated with artists who work in Catalan or whose work forms part of the Catalan cultural music scene.

• Archival reissues

  Historic Catalan music reissues

  Picap has reissued historic Catalan recordings in newer formats, particularly compact discs. The programme has included material from the EDIGSA catalogue and recordings associated with PDI, Als 4 Vents, and individual artists. The catalogue covers groups and performers such as Iceberg, Pegasus, Xesco Boix, Grup de Folk, Ara Va de Bo, Jaume Sisa, Música Dispersa, Max Sunyer, and Santi Arisa.

• DVD and audiovisual releases

  Audiovisual music editions

  Picap's documented format history extends from vinyl to DVD, reflecting activity in audiovisual music editions as well as conventional audio recordings. The available sources do not identify a complete current product range or specific continuing DVD series.

• 2006

  Cross-border agreement with Cuban companiesStrategy

  Background

  Picap was operating as a Catalan-focused label while also seeking relationships that could extend the reach of its recordings and production activities.

  Action taken

  The company signed a further agreement with major Cuban companies.

  Aftermath

  The available reference does not document the agreement's commercial results or its precise scope.

  Source

1. 1Picapen.wikipedia.org