Schwann (legal predecessor of KOCH Schwann, aka VMS until 1987 + since 2002)

FRANCO-BELGIAN roots:

• Founded in 1948 by the FRANCO-BELGIAN abbot Carl de Nys.
• Initially specialized in FRANCO-BELGIAN music.

First "VMS" period:

• Later, it became a GERMAN label for classical music, specialized in "lost musical treasures", whereas the German translation of "lost musical treasures" is: "Verlorene musikalische Schaetze", abbreviated: "VMS".
• Accordingly, old catalog numbers had the format VMS 0000 - until 1987, incl.

Discussion:

Even though in most sources prior to 1988 the label is referred to as "Schwann" (in contrast to "KOCH Schwann" since 1988), it's likely that "VMS" has been a part of the label's name already BEFORE 1988.

>>> Y O U <<< can help me out: Have you got any cover of this label - older then 1988!??

There's at least one LP listed at discogs (wrongly under the label "KOCH Schwann"), but unfortunately without a cover scan.

>>> First, I'll add "VMS" as an alias and label comment. Maybe, we can clarify it at a later time?

"KOCH Schwann" period:

"Schwann" (old VMS) had been purchased by KOCH International and renamed to KOCH Schwann in 1988.

Closed down by Universal/Bertelsmann:

In 2002, Universal Music and Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) formed a joint venture in Germany, called Universal Music Group (UMG). After UMG purchased the German branch of KOCH Schwann's parent KOCH International, the label KOCH Schwann officially has been closed down, but...

New "VMS" period:

...Dieter Heuler (producer and artistic director of KOCH Schwann) and Joe Morscher continued the concept and all open projects under the formally new founded label with the "old" name VMS Musical Treasures, thus VMS Musical Treasures is not exactly a legal successor, but a successor in terms of name, staff, projects and spirit: to find and make live "lost musical treasures".

You can find a catalog of the RE-founded VMS label at premieremusic.net.