- Proper Music Group partners with renowned D+B label
- Appoints Dan Gilbert to lead dance music sales
15 August 2016, London: - The UK’s largest indie distributor, Proper Music Group, has signed iconic independent label, Hospital Records, to manage its physical distribution for the UK and Ireland and shipping to Europe.
In its 20th year, Hospital is the biggest drum and bass label in the world, with a roster including London Elektricity, whose founding members also started the label, as well as Danny Byrd, Netsky and Camo & Krooked. The agreement, commencing end of September, will also cover experimental imprint, Med School.
As well as distribution in UK and Ireland, Proper will act as a central hub for Europe; holding finished goods and fulfilling orders from its London warehouse into Hospital’s network of overseas partners. The model is more efficient than traditional deals, as Proper is able to consolidate several deliveries together and also coordinate overseas partners, collecting excess from one market and reassigning to others that need more.
The agreement with Hospital highlights the continued expansion of Proper’s roster, which is to be further boosted via the appointment of Dan Gilbert in the newly created role of Dance Specialist Sales Representative. With a background in retail, he previously managed a dance specialist record shop, Massive Records. Gilbert also spent time as Head of Independent Sales at Amato and has been a touring DJ for over 15 years.
Other dance labels at Proper include Skint Records (Fatboy Slim), Olsen Records (Todd Terje), as well as Styles Upon Styles, Principe Discos and Prah Recordings, among others. Proper start internal fit out work on their new warehouse next month, before a planned move in January 2017, increasing capacity fivefold.
Chris Goss, Managing Director, Hospital Records, said: “We're delighted to be starting a new relationship with Proper this Autumn. After so many years of hard graft and good times with our friends and supporters at SRD, who have played a significant role in the growth of our label, Hospital are looking forward to building on that success with Drew and his team, and their expanding facilities and operations. I'd also like to say how good it feels to meet a chairman (Malcolm) whose record collection is the dominant feature of his office.”
Added Drew Hill, Managing Director of Proper Music Group: “Working with as distinguished a label as Hospital is going to be great and their commitment to providing quality, creative physical records is inspiring. I also couldn’t think of a better person to head up our dance sales than a DJ with retail experience.”
Dan Gilbert, Sales Representative, Proper Music Group, commented: “I’m excited to be joining Proper at a time when the business is not only expanding, but also diversifying its reach across different genres. Even though I come from an electronic music background, it’s also great to see indie shops that were specifically dance in the past, now expanding into other areas, as DJs continue to play more eclectic sets and the record buying public follow suit; Proper’s hugely varied catalogue is in a great position to capitalise on this.”
About Proper Music Group
Proper Music Group is a full services company providing everything from global physical and digital distribution to artist and label services, publishing, online retail and its own record label. Clients are able to tap into as much or as little of Proper’s offering as fits their needs.
Its distribution arm, Proper Distribution - the largest totally independent distributor in the UK - is renowned for having the knowledge, experience and personal service of an independent specialist coupled with the reach and power of a major. The company represents over four percent of the UK physical recorded music market, handling over 600,000 titles at any time.
Latest accounts show the year to 31st March 2015 was one of Proper’s best yet with profits of £200,000 - nearly three times that of the previous year - and an overall turnover of over £21 million.
Proper is listed in the 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2015 report compiled by the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG).
www.propermusicgroup.com
About Hospital Records
Hospital Records was founded in 1996 by Tony Colman and Chris Goss and over the past 20 years has grown to be the biggest drum & bass label in the world and a key player in the UK independent music sector. The label has discovered artists such as High Contrast, London Elektricity, Netsky, Danny Byrd, Camo & Krooked, Logistics, Nu:Tone, S.P.Y, Fred V & Grafix and Metrik but also releases tracks from a whole host of other artists across the D+B genre. From its HQ in Forest Hill, South London, Hospital also runs the more experimental label Med School which has developed uprising talents such as Etherwood, Keeno and their first band, The Erised.
The bloodline of both labels remains in its physical releases. They are deeply committed to creating unique, physical products for every release; in twenty years exporting over 300 products including various pictures discs, coloured vinyl, bespoke packaging, intriguing artwork and a range of additional content custom made for each artist.
Their events brand Hospitality has been instrumental in taking drum & bass music worldwide with annual tours in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and regular shows across the UK. They've hosted stages at every festival worth its mention including Glastonbury, Bestival, Secret Garden Party, Outlook and more. Hospitality has already sold out London’s biggest venues and with the label now reaching its 20th year they’ve grown their annual Midsummer BBQ into a five stage, one-day outdoor event in Finsbury Park, aptly named Hospitality In The Park.
Hospital Records is an impressive multifaceted organisation with its own publishing company Songs In The Key Of Knife and their newly founded agency Clinic Talent which represents and develops emerging drum & bass artists, MCs and club nights.
www.hospitalrecords.com
