Dutch vinyl company Artone acquires UK online record store Townsend Music

The Dutch vinyl pressing plant and distributor Artone has announced its acquisition of the UK-based global online record store Townsend Music.

The move is forecast to help Artone achieve its goal of creating a comprehensive end-to-end solution for physical products in the music industry by giving the company presence in the UK and expanding its global reach.

With 14 offices across Europe, Artone already represents a number of leading labels and companies including Bertus Distribution, Record Industry, V2, Music On Vinyl and Music On CD.

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By adding Townsend to its roster, a company that is widely considered a D2C market leader distributing a number of dance music acts including 808 State, Fatboy Slim, Laurent Garnier, Groove Armada, Peggy Gou and Fred again.., Artone strengthens its position as a worldwide "leader in physical music distribution” as its CEO Jan Willem Kaasschieter said.

“We’re excited about the opportunities this will bring and look forward to driving the future of physical music together, developing further global reach and innovative solutions for the benefit of the music industry.” he continues.

For Townsend, the benefits are mutual, as the partnership gives the company access to Artone’s well-established sales, distribution and marketing facilities, and label services across Europe.

Read this next: UK vinyl sales hit highest level since 1990

“Our goal has always been to become a truly global D2C company for music and merchandise,” the company’s Sales Director Bruce McKenzie said, adding that by joining Artone, Townsend can now “upscale very quickly” in order to “push its European expansion strategy forward” and give its clients and customers "a super charged service.”

"We already work with some incredible artists but we're looking forward to talking with more DJs, musicians, labels and artist managers from all genres of music who can see the real potential of vinyl, CD and merch sales to bring back serious levels of revenue for music makers," McKenzie told Mixmag when asked for comment.

The vinyl record business is becoming an increasingly lucrative industry with a report published this year by The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) revealing that UK vinyl sales rocketed in 2023 reaching their highest level sincxe 1990. This marked the 16th consecutive year that sales have risen.

Meena Sears is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram