• UK indie distributor’s first hire in France
• Martin Daniels joins Proper London HQ as National Account Manager

12th September 2016, London :- Proper Music Group has recruited its first team member in France, as Logan Gilles is appointed Label Manager for the region. Separately, UK-based Martin Daniels joins from Recordstore.co.uk as National Account Manager.

Working from the Paris offices of Proper’s long-standing label partner Bertus, Gilles will provide full time press and promo support for Proper-distributed labels going through Bertus in France - including Megaforce Records, Navigator Records, Just Music and Tin Angel Records. Upcoming noteworthy releases include the new album from Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople fame (Proper Records) and Joan As Police Woman & Benjamin Lazar Davis’ collaboration LP, out next month (Reveal Records). With an on-the-ground relationship with key regional publications, radio, and retail outlets, he will also proactively assist Bertus’ salesforce to work Proper’s schedule. He was previously Label Management Assistant at Kartel Bertus Music Services.

The hire comes after Bertus Group’s recent expansion and relocation from Lille to a larger office in central Paris. Bertus have also recruited Sales & Marketing Manager Raphael Bouvier, previously of Socadisc, boosting its Paris team to eight. With its central warehouse in Rotterdam, the distribution company has been in operation for over 40 years and has been a long-standing partner of Proper’s for over 15 years.

Meanwhile back in the UK, Martin Daniels takes up the role of National Account Manager, beginning with HMV and shortly adding the major multiples. Named as one of Music Week’s ‘30 Under 30’ earlier this year, he joins Proper after five years as Manager at Recordstore.co.uk where he quintupled revenues. Daniels previously ran online D2C stores at Universal and EMI, for the likes of Tame Impala, Coldplay, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Jack White and Daft Punk.

Said Drew Hill, Managing Director at Proper Music Group: “In the wake of Brexit we certainly don’t seem to be losing ground with any of our European partners! Employing a Label Manager in Paris with expert, native knowledge will bolster our relationships within the ever-important French music market. We also look forward to welcoming Martin and have no doubt the energy and expertise he will bring to the team.”

“Further integrating our work with Proper, we’re excited to welcome Logan into our Paris office.” commented Jan van Ditmarsch, Managing Director at Bertus Group. “We’re proud to be expanding our business in France, and pleased to have such a highly regarded figure in the French music industry as Raphael Bouvier joining us.”

Logan Gilles, Label Manager, Proper Music Group, commented: “I’m looking forward to working with Proper’s labels to get the full potential out of their releases in the French marketplace, as well as continuing to reinforce the long-standing, strong relationship that Proper and Bertus have.”

Martin Daniels, National Account Manager, Proper Music Group added “After working with some of the biggest artists in a D2C remit for the past seven years, I can’t wait to work with HMV and the supermarkets, and of course the lovely Proper team!”


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 Bertus Group
Bertus Group is the Continental European leader in music distribution & services. Bertus owned labels include the award winning Music On Vinyl and Music On CD.

With a global network and state of the art software systems, Bertus Group is the missing link between labels and retail. Services include sales, distribution, promotion, marketing and VMI.

Bertus has a fast expanding network of local offices, currently in The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.

www.bertus.com