Warner Music Australia and the [PIAS]-owned independent distributor and label services company Inertia Music are forging a strategic partnership.
The new venture, which will be called the Music Distribution Coalition (MDC), will combine the entire physical distribution and supply chain management for Warner Music Australia and Inertia Music.
Comprised of a team from both companies, MDC will be responsible for all of Warner Music Australia’s physical repertoire operations including production, warehousing, distribution, shipping, shared retail sales and customer service.
The agreement, effective from October 1, will run alongside Inertia Music’s existing physical product activities.
A combined sales and distribution division will be under the wing of Yvonne Cho, Inertia’s Director of Label Services.
Both Warner Music and Inertia will have their own dedicated Sales Managers within MDC who will devise and implement sales and retail strategies, working closely with their respective label teams.
In 2017, Inertia Music was fully acquired by [PIAS], and it has since overtaken the representation of the artist and label roster of the [PIAS] Group in Australia.
That includes record labels such as ATO, Bella Union, Different Recordings, Heavenly Recordings, Mute, [PIAS] Recordings, Transgressive and more.
“This new arrangement enables us to continue providing our dedicated service for physical retailers in a more efficient way.
“our internal resources will be focused on creating even more innovative campaigns for our amazing artists.”
Niko Nordström, Warner Music Australia
Niko Nordström (pictured), President, Warner Music Australia, said: “This new arrangement enables us to continue providing our dedicated service for physical retailers in a more efficient way, while our internal resources will be focused on creating even more innovative campaigns for our amazing artists.”
Colin Daniels, CEO of Inertia Music, added: “Working with Warner Music to establish MDC allows us to rapidly increase the service offering to match the needs of the evolving retail market.
“Working with Warner Music to establish MDC allows us to rapidly increase the service offering to match the needs of the evolving retail market.”
colin daniels, inertia music
“We remain committed to our existing physical business and together with Warner, are determined to ensure that we will always be there for our retail partners.”
Warner Music Australia is the global home for artists including Busby Marou, Client Liaison, Dylan Joel, E^ST, Golden Features, Kasey Chambers, Illy, Perto, Safia, Super Cruel, Thelma Plum, Thomston, Turquoise Prince and Two Can.
Inertia Music provides sales and distribution services for Beggars Group, Elefant Traks, Flightless, Kobalt, Stop Start and others.
It provides additional marketing and PR services for labels such as Farmer & The Owl, Ninja Tune, Pieater, Secretly Group & Warp Records.
Music Business Worldwide
