Margold Music Corp.

In the golden era of independent record labels, many companies took strategic steps to maintain control over their music catalog—not just through recordings, but also through publishing. One such example is Margold Music Corp., the music publishing wing of the influential yet short-lived Abbey Records of New York City.

Founded in the late 1940s by industry veteran Peter Doraine, Abbey Records quickly made a name for itself with a diverse array of recordings, spanning gospel, pop, jazz, and rhythm & blues. To retain full control over the music it released, Doraine also established Margold Music Corp., a publishing company designed to manage copyrights, licensing, and royalty collection for Abbey’s catalog.

This move was a common practice among record labels during that era. By owning the publishing rights, Abbey could benefit not only from record sales but also from airplay, cover versions, and sync licensing—revenue streams critical to sustaining a small independent label. Margold Music Corp. essentially served as Abbey’s internal copyright administrator and licensing agent, ensuring the label’s long-term financial interest in the works it helped bring to market.

Although Abbey Records and Margold Music Corp. both faded from the scene by the early 1950s, their business model reflects a savvy understanding of the music industry’s mechanics. Today, collectors and music historians continue to explore the legacy of Abbey and its publishing arm, often uncovering rare 78rpm records that carry the Margold imprint.

For anyone delving into mid-20th-century music history, Margold Music Corp. stands as a fascinating piece of the puzzle—a testament to how even smaller players in the industry sought to shape the business of music publishing.