Label Guide: Hickory

Hickory Records was an independent label founded by music publishing house Acuff-Rose in 1955. It was primarily a country music label, and for the first few years, only singles were released; long-play albums didn't appear before 1959.

From its inception in 1955 to 1973, Hickory was distributed independently. Pye distributed Hickory in the UK. MGM Records then distributed the label in 1973, and ABC Records began distributing it four years later. MCA Records inherited the ABC distribution deal when it bought ABC Records in 1979. The relationship between Acuff-Rose/Hickory and MCA turned sour shortly afterwards, so the Hickory label was discontinued, and its catalog was pulled when the distribution deal expired later in 1979.

In 1993, Scotti Bros. began reissuing the Hickory catalog. The entire Hickory output is now owned by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, and the Hickory label was revived in 2007, now distributed by Sony Music's RED Distribution unit.