For Subscribers

On the Record An independent entrepreneur is giving big-label music companies a run for their money.

By April Y. Pennington

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Vital Stats: Michael Koch,40, founder and CEO of Koch Entertainment in Port Washington, NewYork

Company: independent musicdistribution and record company

Projected 2003 Sales:: morethan $100 million

Der Rebel: Inspired by hisfather's music business in Austria, Koch came to the UnitedStates in 1987 to begin Koch Entertainment. By 1991, Koch becamethe first national independent music distributor of domestic labelsin the United States, challenging the system that had relied onregional independent or national major-label distribution.


"I startedeverything from nothing and figured it out along theway."

Solid Gold: By re-releasingrecordings that catalogs have forgotten and signing artists likeCharlie Daniels, Carole King and Ringo Starr (who no longer sell inhuge numbers but still have a solid fan base), Koch has struckgold: "We have the infrastructure to bring [artists] to themarket the same way multinational conglomerates do and give themthe home-type feeling that used to be prevalent in all recordcompanies."

Laissez-Faire Label: Whilethe health of the recording industry is declining, KochEntertainment continues to grow. One reason is, Koch nurtures theartists rather than making demands on them. "We don'tdictate their creative process as much as larger labels would. Wefocus more on the artist and the relationship. Let the music speakfor itself."

Coming Attractions: With thecompany branching out to VHS and DVD licensing and distributionthrough video division Koch Vision, as well as film production withKoch Lorber Films, Koch Entertainment is growing to be a multimediaforce to be reckoned with. Says Koch, "It's all aboutentertainment."

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Here Are the 10 Highest-Paying Jobs with the Lowest Risk of Being Replaced By AI: 'Safest Jobs Right Now'

A new report from career resources platform Resume Genius finds the top 10 AI-proof careers expected to see the most growth within the next decade.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Science & Technology

How I Went From Side Hustle to 7 Figures Using These 4 AI Tools (No Tech Skills Needed)

Scale faster, work less and grow a 7-figure business — no team needed.

Money & Finance

Why This Market Dip Is Your Chance to Accelerate Product Velocity, Win Customers and Own the Next Cycle

When markets go quiet and headlines fade, the founders who keep building, shipping, and listening are the ones who will be ready when the next bull run erupts without warning.

Business Solutions

Manage Clients, Projects, and Sales Without Leaving Your Dashboard

Sellful gives you a suite of tools to run websites, CRM, invoicing, marketing, and more.