Services company Essential Music & Marketing is moving its entire UK and Irish physical distribution to Proper Music Distribution – creating a partnership that will handle physical product for over 1,200 labels.
The moves arises sue to Gem Logistics’ decision to quit primary music distribution by the start of 2014. Essential will continue to distribute through Gem until August 26th, from which date Proper will handle all new releases.
Essential will continue to run its own sales operation after the move. The company works with the likes of Julian Casablancas’ Cult Records, Cherry Red, Cooking Vinyl, FatCat, Tru Thoughts, R&S, Silva Screen, Sumerian and Wall of Sound, as well as Nettwerk‘s label.
Proper had a turnover in excess of £26m in 2012, handling physical distribution for Adele’s record-breaking 21 and shipping 8.2 million units in the same year. The company additionally distributes Kobalt Label Services, Snapper, Real World and legendary folk label Topic.
With changes taking place in the distribution marketplace, this strategic deal may well establish the Proper/ Essential partnership as the largest suppliers of independent music in the UK.
Said Drew Hill, Managing Director at Proper: “We are delighted to be starting what will hopefully be a fruitful, long-term partnership with Essential, which is, like Proper, a company that is passionate about music from top to bottom.
“The synergies between the two companies will only serve to strengthen what Proper and Essential can offer to their existing clients, both labels and retailers, as well as being able to offer THE go-to solution for artists and labels looking for a truly independent distribution or label services deal.”
Commented Mike Chadwick, Managing Director at Essential: “Proper has a great reputation within the industry, especially for its support of independent retailers. The people at Proper intimately understand physical music products and the needs of a company like Essential. Gem Logistics has been a great partner, and it’s a shame that the company is leaving the music space.”
In 2012, Essential helped delivered 14 UK Top 40 albums, and in 2013 it scored its first Platinum hit single, Passenger’s Let Her Go, on Nettwerk Records.
Essential is a member of the CV Group of companies, which include Cooking Vinyl Records, CV America, Cooking Vinyl Publishing and Cooking Vinyl Property.Music Business Worldwide
