[PIAS] has fully acquired Inertia Music – Australia’s largest independent music sales, distribution and label services business.
The synergies between the two parties are fairly obvious: like [PIAS], Inertia runs an in-house record company while also fulfilling distribution/services contracts with famed independent labels including 4AD, Fat Possum, City Slang, Dead Oceans, XL Recordings and Secretly Canadian.
Inertia’s own label operation has signed successful artists such as Robyn, M83 and pop superstar Sia – whose albums, including last year’s This Is Acting, are released through Inertia in Oz.
Sources tell MBW that the annual revenue of Inertia Music, which was founded 17 years ago by Ashley Sellers and Justin Cosby, typically tops AU$15m (US$11m).
Under [PIAS], Inertia Music will continue to be overseen by CEO Colin Daniels, with no plans to alter the current staff structure.
The acquisition does not include other businesses in the Inertia Group, which include Fairgrounds Festival, Handsome Tours, Gaga Music and Collective Artists.
As [PIAS] acquires Inertia Music, so the representation of the artist and label roster of the [PIAS] Group in Australia will be taken over by Inertia from April 1, 2017.
Kenny Gates, Co-founder & CEO of [PIAS] said, “We are very excited to have Ashley, Justin, Colin and the whole Inertia team joining the [PIAS] network and family.
“[PIAS] and Inertia share the same values and vision for our industry and that is why our new partnership is such an obvious and natural fit.
“The combined offering of the [PIAS] network and Inertia’s expertise and experience will make a true difference for the independent community in Australia and New Zealand.”
Kenny Gates, [PIAS]
“The attention, the focus and the investment we both put into the artists and labels we represent is our raison d’etre.
“Over and above the focus we both have for building a strong and prosperous business, we believe there is a heartbeat that pulses through our shared passion for music.
“The combined offering of the [PIAS] network and Inertia’s expertise and experience will make a true difference for the independent community in Australia and New Zealand.”
Ashley Sellers, Founder of Inertia Music said: “Inertia’s mission has always been to empower artists independently – a vision and passion that we share with [PIAS].
“This partnership will plug Inertia Music’s existing operations into the world class services offered by [PIAS], strengthening our connection with the international stage for our incredible roster of local artists.”
“This partnership will plug Inertia Music’s existing operations into the world class services offered by [PIAS], strengthening our connection with the international stage for our incredible roster of local artists.”
Ashley Sellers, Inertia Music
Founded in Belgium by Kenny Gates and Michel Lambot, [PIAS] is celebrating 35 years as one of the world’s leading independent music companies in 2017.
The company has three core divisions: [PIAS] Recordings, that signs and develops artists, [PIAS] Cooperative, an associated label group that partners with labels to help fund and develop their repertoire on an international basis, and [PIAS] Artist & Label Services, a sales, distribution and marketing team that takes repertoire to market, physically and digitally, on a global basis.
[Pictured: Ashley Sellers, Justin Cosby and Colin Daniels]Music Business Worldwide
