Record Industry, one of Europe’s largest vinyl pressing plants, and Bertus Distribution, one of Europe’s largest independent distributors of vinyl and CDs, are merging.
With 33 presses, Netherlands headquartered Record Industry claims to be one of the largest, most automated vinyl pressing plants in the world.
Established in the early ’70s, Bertus, also headquartered in the Netherlands, claims to be “an essential international link between record stores, wholesalers, record companies and e-commerce businesses”.
Record Industry and Bertus Distribution have been longstanding partners in the Music On Vinyl record label.
The companies say that the label has since grown into one of the largest vinyl-only labels in the world.
The companies say that the merger will allow the newly-formed group to further invest in “wide-ranging services in the music industry to artists, labels, publishers and consumers”.
The combined entity says that its pressing capacity will be “practically doubled” to around 25 million units per year.
The Group will also make further investments in IT and logistics systems “to ensure smooth growth”.
Record Industry and Bertus Distribution’s merger follows a year in which sales of vinyl records soared worldwide.
According to recorded music body IFPI, combined, CD and vinyl grew their global trade revenues to $5.0 billion in 2021, up from $4.3 billion in 2020.
In the US, vinyl revenues grew 61% to $1.04 billion in 2021, according to RIAA, marking the format’s 15th consecutive year of growth.
Revenues from CDs also rebounded in the US from the Covid lockdown-hit 2020.
In 2021, US revenues from CDs grew 21% to $584 million, the first year-over-year increase in CD revenues since 2004.
“With the new vinyl presses we will not only improve delivery times, but we will also be able to supply more artists and bands with vinyl.”
Ton Vermeulen, Record Industry
Record Industry’s owner Ton Vermeulen said: “With the new vinyl presses we will not only improve delivery times, but we will also be able to supply more artists and bands with vinyl.”
“The joint knowledge and expertise in the field of music distribution resulting from this merger is unparalleled in Europe and will be the basis for further growth.”
Jan van Ditmarsch, Bertus
Jan van Ditmarsch, CEO at Bertus added: “The joint knowledge and expertise in the field of music distribution resulting from this merger is unparalleled in Europe and will be the basis for further growth.”
Music Business Worldwide
