Founded Windham Hill Records in 1976 as a way of promoting his own
music (the first record released was his own first record: The Search
for the Turtle's Navel - now renamed In Search of the Turtle's Navel).
The record company quickly became the number one independent record
company in the United States, known for its incredibly unique and
unclassifiable music. Throughout the late 80s, Windham Hill fell into a
slew with other pseudo-"New Age" record companies, which in turn hurt
the label. Although the label did incredibly well even through the 90s,
Ackerman sold his interests to Sony/BMG music in 1992, claiming the
company was too big for his interests. The record company continues to
do well, though the artists who recorded during the "Ackerman" era
subsequently left recording with the album in order to keep their music
independent. Ackerman currently runs and produces a new independent
record company: Imaginary Road Music and Imaginary Road Studios.
