The Dutch vinyl pressing plant Artone has officially announced the acquisition of the UK-based online record store Townsend Music as of September 18, 2024. This strategic move is set to enhance both companies, aiding Townsend's European expansion while providing Artone with a significant presence in the UK market.
Artone, which boasts 14 offices throughout Europe, is already a key player representing several influential labels and companies, including Bertus Distribution, V2, and Music On Vinyl. With the addition of Townsend, known for its direct-to-consumer (D2C) model and connections with notable dance music acts like 808 State, Fatboy Slim, and Peggy Gou, Artone solidifies its role as a global leader in physical music distribution.
Jan Willem Kaasschieter, CEO of Artone, expressed optimism about the partnership, stating, "We’re excited about the opportunities this will bring and look forward to driving the future of physical music together." For Townsend, the acquisition opens avenues for robust sales and marketing capabilities through Artone's existing infrastructure. Bruce McKenzie, Sales Director at Townsend, emphasized the synergy of the partnership, aiming to enhance service offerings and to attract more artists and labels across various genres to explore the untapped potential of vinyl and CD sales.
The vinyl market continues to flourish, marked by a significant spike in sales that reached the highest levels in the UK since 1990, according to data from The British Phonographic Industry (BPI). As vinyl outsells CDs for the first time in decades in the US, companies like Artone and Townsend are poised to capitalize on this resurgence in physical music formats.
For more details, visit the full article at Mixmag.