UK-based Correct Music Group Ltd (PMG) went into administration on Friday (February 28). The corporate’s property, together with bodily distributor Correct Music Distribution (PMD), have been acquired by Netherlands-based distributor Artone.
Correct says that it distributes bodily music for over 5,000 unbiased labels and companies corporations and claims to have a 13% share of the UK’s bodily music market.
The corporate reviews to have paid out £63 million to musicians and labels within the final two years.
Information of Correct Distribution’s acquisition by Artone marks the top of its tumultuous affiliation with Switzerland-born Utopia Music.
In line with the announcement on Friday (February 28), Correct Music Group’s buying and selling corporations will not be affiliated with Switzerland-headquartered Correct Group AG, previously often known as Utopia Music, for which chapter proceedings had been initiated in September 2024.
The ‘Correct’ identify was adopted by Utopia round two years after it acquired Correct Music Group (in January 2022), when Utopia expanded into bodily and digital music distribution. It was reported in March 2024 that Utopia was altering its identify to Correct Group.
Drew Hill, who has led Correct Music Distribution for 18 years, will stay its Managing Director. Hill has additionally acquired a stake within the PMG property.
Friday’s press launch added that the acquisition will “allow shoppers of each PMD (together with Absolute Label Providers, Imagine, Cherry Crimson and Chrysalis/Blue Raincoat) and Artone (together with Harmony Music Group and Reveal Information) to unlock sweeping pan-European offers for distribution, manufacturing, packaging, retail and D2C gross sales”.
In line with Correct, the sale has been agreed alongside the signing of a brand new multi-year lease for PMD’s warehouse in Dartford, within the UK.
“This subsequent step is a chance to safe the way forward for the enterprise and proceed to ship a bespoke service to unbiased artists and labels.”
Drew Hill
Hill mentioned: “In its 35 years, Correct Music Group has at all times strived to go above and past for its companions. This subsequent step is a chance to safe the way forward for the enterprise and proceed to ship a bespoke service to unbiased artists and labels.
“I’ve labored intently with Artone and Bertus Distribution through the years, and collectively we’ll proceed to champion a wholesome and aggressive bodily distribution sector which ensures range of alternative.
”Bodily codecs proceed to get pleasure from a rising resurgence as a viable supply of economic income for artists of all sizes. In line with ERA, bodily music revenues within the UK reached £330.1m in 2024, up 6.2% from 2023, with vinyl album gross sales rising quicker than music streaming (7.8%) by 10.5% to £196m.
“By bringing PMD into the Artone household, we guarantee its continued success and supply stability for its companions.”
Jan Willem Kaasschieter, Artone
Jan Willem Kaasschieter, CEO at Artone: “Artone has been actively searching for alternatives to broaden its distribution footprint, and PMD represents an ideal match. PMD has performed a significant function in supporting unbiased labels and artists within the UK.
“By bringing PMD into the Artone household, we guarantee its continued success and supply stability for its companions. Our experience, monetary energy, and intensive community will help the long-term progress of the enterprise and keep a robust, various bodily music market. We stay up for working intently with Drew and the Correct workforce to construct on its legacy.”
Mark Supperstone, Companion at Evelyn Companions and joint administrator to PMG, mentioned: “We’re happy to announce this sale which successfully secures the way forward for bodily music distribution for unbiased labels within the UK.
“There was a excessive stage of curiosity in buying the buying and selling group and, having labored intently with Drew and his workforce for a while, we’re happy to finish the take care of Artone, who’re capable of supply many synergies that may allow the companies to flourish within the years to return. We want all of them the very best.”
“Artone and Drew Hill’s joint acquisition of PMG’s buying and selling corporations is unbelievable information for the unbiased group, which overperforms in its share of the bodily music market.”
Gee Davy, AIM
Gee Davy, CEO at AIM, mentioned: “Artone and Drew Hill’s joint acquisition of PMG’s buying and selling corporations is unbelievable information for the unbiased group, which overperforms in its share of the bodily music market. Drew’s 18 years’ expertise on the helm of Correct Music Distribution mixed with Artone’s pan-European experience will little question be certain that the UK’s bodily music sector continues to thrive.”
“Our members, significantly our 270 indie retailer members, want all of them the very best of their new incarnation.”
Kim Bayley, ERA
Kim Bayley, CEO of digital leisure and retail affiliation ERA, whose members account for greater than 80% of gross sales of CDs and vinyl within the UK, added: “Unbiased music is an important a part of the UK’s music ecosystem and the inventive spine of UK music.
“We’re due to this fact delighted that the UK’s main indie distributor Correct Music Group will now get pleasure from a brand new life below the succesful management of – ERA board member – Drew Hill in partnership with Artone. Our members, significantly our 270 indie retailer members, want all of them the very best of their new incarnation.”Music Enterprise Worldwide
