US independent music company Exceleration Music has entered into an agreement to acquire Cooking Vinyl.
Formed in 1986, Cooking Vinyl is a well-established and successful UK indie with a run of chart results. It will now become part of the American company which combines distribution, investment and label support services.
Exceleration’s global, full-service model includes ownership of distribution company Redeye Worldwide.
Cooking Vinyl can claim to be an originator of artist services with its signing of Billy Bragg in 1993. The company was nominated in the Label/Arist Services category at the Music Week Awards.
“The deal will strengthen the companies’ positions in each other’s respective markets and provide their independent artists and labels worldwide with a more powerful, integrated, multi-territory offering,” said a statement.
Cooking Vinyl will integrate into Redeye’s distribution platform and gain access to Exceleration’s global infrastructure, which will expand its growth opportunities worldwide. In turn, Exceleration will be able to tap into Cooking Vinyl’s artist marketing expertise.
“The acquisition underscores Redeye and Exceleration’s shared ambition to be global leaders in independent music distribution and services; a viable alternative to the major label-owned distribution and services models,” added the statement.
This deal takes the label to the next level and offers far greater opportunities for our team and our artists
Martin Goldschmidt
Cooking Vinyl will continue to operate independently, led by managing director Rob Collins and his team. Founder Martin Goldschmidt will remain in his current capacity as chairman.
Cooking Vinyl is home to an eclectic roster of artists across a range of genres, including Shed Seven, Suzanne Vega, Passenger, The Prodigy, The Cranberries, Billy Bragg, The Darkness, Deacon Blue, 47 Soul, Roger Waters and The Jesus and Mary Chain.
In 2005 the label set up its own online distribution company, Uploader, which was sold to the Independent Online Distribution Alliance (IODA). Cooking Vinyl then set up the independent distribution company Essential Music, which was bought by Sony Orchard in 2016 and soon after became The Orchard UK.
In 2024, the company achieved the rare feat of two No.1 UK albums for the same artist with Shed Seven. Previous No.1 albums for Cooking Vinyl include releases by Passenger and The Prodigy. Most recently The Darkness debuted at No.2 in the UK charts with their album Dreams On Toast on substantial week one sales of 27,823 (Official Charts Company).
Cooking Vinyl Publishing UK, Cooking Vinyl Publishing Australia and Motus Music are not included within the acquisition.
Rob Collins and Martin Goldschmidt
Rob Collins said: “At Cooking Vinyl, we’ve worked tirelessly to help our artists achieve both artistic and commercial success – without ever compromising their uniqueness or creative control. This deal enhances that mission. Our artists will still benefit from our close-knit, highly personalised team that combines deep industry expertise with old-fashioned hard graft. But now, with the expanded US capabilities, enhanced resources, and the broader global reach of the Exceleration structure, we’re able to offer even stronger support to our current and future roster. I look forward to working with their team to spearhead this next phase for Cooking Vinyl!”
Martin Goldschmidt added: “I have been running an independent label for over 40 years. This deal takes the label to the next level and offers far greater opportunities for our team and our artists.The cultures and synergies between our companies are immense. Creating a worldwide proposition is the obvious one but more important to me are the shared values of commitment to independence and caring about artists and our team.
“I have known and admired Redeye and key members of the Exceleration partners since 1988 and am very pleased that our future will be with people who understand and appreciate who we are, and where we belong. I look forward to helping guide Rob and his team to realise Cooking Vinyl’s full potential in my role as Chairman for many years to come.”
“The addition of Cooking Vinyl, and their impressive team, to the Exceleration system represents a significant step forward in our mission to invest in market-leading independents globally” said Glen Barros, founding partner of Exceleration. “Cooking Vinyl not only brings a set of remarkable artists into our orbit, but their team adds an important piece to the puzzle for Exceleration’s artist and label services capabilities, including enhancing Redeye Distribution outside of the US. Their history of chart and commercial success aligns perfectly with our long-term vision.”
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