Melanie Cheek launched Spirit River Distribtution in 1995.  Melanie comes from a varied background starting with music performance throughout her youth, training and experience in human services, then back to music in the Music/Vocal Program at Grant MacEwan College.  In addition, during her practicum for the Grant MacEwan Arts Administration Program, she excelled at marketing independently produced recordings.  Soon after, she innovated Spirit River Distribution's method of "targeted product placement"; the company is now a national, FACTOR recognized distributor to retail, wholesale, and internet outlets. 

Titles span the genres: folk/roots, blues, rock , country, jazz, first nations and world.
Spirit River Distribution deals directly with over 250 music stores across Canada including CD Plus stores, Chapters-Indigo, HMV (vendor status as at Feb 2001), Sam s Franchise Stores, Virgin Records and many independently owned stores. Spirit River also ships to several major one-stop distributors who have their own chains of accounts (Downtown Disk, Total Sound Distributors etc). As well, Spirit River provides mail order service to individual buyers via their own Internet Web Site , and on-line retailers Amazon.Com and titles are registered with the National Library of Canada. The company currently has sales reps in Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Vancouver, and Winnipeg.

The company is unique in that it not only delivers the product, it also promotes the artists at the store level by creating poster displays, advising stores of tour dates, inviting buyers as guests for concerts, providing up to date press clippings, and pre-arranging in-store performances. The company is listed in music industry contact publications, and participates in co-op advertising in entertainment magazines and music event programs.

The objective of Spirit River Distribution is to continue providing top-notch customer service, building a strong network and portfolio of services, and adhering to the values of honesty and integrity. Spirit River Distribution believes that independent artists come first, for both service and compensation for their creations.

By offering all of these services Spirit River Distribution ensures that each band is given the quality service which they deserve. Due to this Spirit River Distribution has attracted some of the top performing bands across Canada: The company s first clients were Captain Tractor, The Mike Plume Band, and The Rockin Highliners (second release was nominated for a Juno, and the third album in 1999 released with Stony Plain Records), The Plaid Tongued Devils.

Billy Joe Green was winner of the Aboriginal Recording of the Year at Prairie Music Week 2001, nominated for a Juno for 2001, and named Best Male Artist at the Canadian Aboriginal Artist Awards 2002. Painting Daisies, won Entertainer of the Year for the 2001 Prairie Music Awards, and just won the CBC Great Canadian Music Dream contest. Nicky Mehta s CD Weather Vane was nominated for a Canadian Independent Music Award in the folk/roots category this year, and Katrina Bishop s CD Good Night For Stars won first place in the World category for the 2001 Unisong International Song Contest in California. The Corb Lund Band has just signed to Stony Plain Records for follow-up albums, Fifth Season has toured with Econoline Crush and Tea Party, and Rake opened for the Alberta Nickelback shows this spring. Feeding Like Butterflies have had selected songs included on the soundtracks of popular television series Party of Five and Dawson s Creek.

Other notable artists we are proud to distribute include: George Blondheim, Gaye Delorme, Mike Plume, The Plaid Tongued Devils, The Wailin Jenny s and many, many more.

Spirit River Distribution exists to support independent music in Canada, by providing artists with a means of supporting themselves - through targeted record sales!

For more information, visit our Services page.