Proper Distribution restructures classical and jazz division

UK-based Proper Music Distribution is to integrate standalone company Proper Note with its classical and jazz department to form a single specialist division.

After six years of working side-by-side, it will see the Proper Note (formerly New Note) team fully integrated into Proper’s £21 million, 120-staff strong operation.

Proper Note General Managers (and former New Note owners) Eddie Wilkinson and Graham Griffiths (pictured) will take on the new roles of Classical Sales Manager and Commercial Manager respectively.

In addition, David Fraser continues as ECM Label Manager with responsibility for Classical Press & PR, Iain Murray as Jazz Press & PR and Jon Griffiths as Label Manager.

Recent Proper newcomer Ginny Cooper, longstanding Vice Chair of the BPI Classical Committee, will work alongside them in her role as Classical Label Manager.

The newly combined division will be home to long-standing Proper clients ECM Records, who Wilkinson has worked with for over 35 years, Telarc, Challenge, Avie, Arts Music, Simax and more than 40 other classical labels.

“Proper is now positioned as the go-to company in the classical and jazz genres.”

Drew Hill, Proper

Recent signings include reissue label Australian Eloquence and premier German label MDG, with the latter agreeing a UK services deal covering marketing, as well as sales and distribution.

The jazz roster includes ECM’s extensive catalogue of recordings by artists such as Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, Tomasz Stanko, Chris Potter, Andy Sheppard and John Surman. Other long-standing distributed labels are Telarc Jazz and Blues, Mack Avenue, Jazzland, Whirlwind Recordings and Steeplechase.

Proper represents 4% of the UK physical recorded music market overall.

Within the classical and jazz market, it has secured five albums in the Official UK Specialist Classical Chart so far this year.

Drew Hill, MD of Proper Music Distribution said: “Proper is now positioned as the go-to company in the classical and jazz genres.

“I’m extremely proud of the knowledge and experience we have within the team; we are in a better position than ever to be able to offer a tailored, high-level service to our clients and this move further solidifies the power of our proposition.”Music Business Worldwide

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