Artone and Drew Hill Acquire Proper Music Distribution, UK's Leading Independent Music Distributor
Artone and former Managing Director Drew Hill have acquired Proper Music Group's assets, including Proper Music Distribution (PMD)—the UK's leading independent music distributor. The acquisition was finalized on February 27 following the appointment of joint administrators from Evelyn Partners.
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The deal encompasses all PMG trading companies, including:
- Proper Music Distribution
- Proper Records
- Proper Music Publishing
- propermusic.com website
This strategic acquisition enables clients of both PMD and Artone to access comprehensive pan-European services, including:
- Distribution
- Production
- Packaging
- Retail operations
- Direct-to-consumer sales
Jan Willem Kaaschieter, Artone CEO, states that PMD represents an ideal fit for their expansion plans, ensuring continued support for independent labels and artists in the UK market.
Key developments include:
- New multi-year lease secured for PMD's Dartford warehouse
- Drew Hill remains as Managing Director
- Separation from Proper Group AG (formerly Utopia Music AG)
- Continued service to over 5,000 independent labels
Drew Hill, who has led PMD for 18 years, emphasizes that this transition will secure the business's future while maintaining their commitment to independent artists and labels. The partnership with Artone aims to strengthen the physical distribution sector and preserve diverse market choices.
The acquisition ensures stability for PMD's partners while leveraging Artone's expertise, financial resources, and extensive network to support long-term growth in the physical music market.
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