Photo Credit: Cargo Independent Distribution
Secretly Distribution and Beggars Group partner with Cargo Records UK to form a new independent distributor.
Beggars Group and Secretly Distribution have announced their new partnership with Cargo Records UK to form a new independent distributor. Helmed by Cargo Records founder and CEO Phil Hill, Cargo Independent Distribution (CID) will expand the services it offers Cargo UK’s current distributed and sub-distributed label roster.
Additionally, CID will provide Ireland and the UK physical distribution and sales support for the Secretly Group labels, as well as sales representation to Beggars Group partner labels. Secretly and Beggars Group will be supporting CID’s investments in technological development and new personnel, as well as providing strategic direction. Hill will retain a controlling interest in the new entity.
Cargo Independent Distribution will maintain its UK/Ireland fulfillment relationship with Proper/Utopia. CID will also continue to provide global physical, digital, and marketing services to its Cargo UK’s distribution client roster, which includes Fire Records, Hyperdub, Planet Mu, and Sub Pop, who just recently transitioned their UK distribution to CID.
“All of us at Cargo are really excited for our new partnership with two of the most important independent music companies in the world, who continue to remain fiercely independent and committed to preserving a totally independent UK distribution outlet,” said Phil Hill, Cargo Independent Distribution CEO.
Cargo Independent Distribution will also provide physical distribution and sales support to Secretly Group and its affiliates, as well as sales representation to Beggars Group partner labels. Secretly Distribution has long worked with Cargo Records UK on UK and Ireland physical distribution and retail marketing for much of Secretly Distribution’s label roster, though Secretly Group and its affiliates All Flowers Group and The Numero Group will be a new addition to CID’s physical catalog.
“The team at Cargo Records UK has faithfully championed outlier labels, artists, and records for nearly three decades — including being the very first distributor to order records from Jagjaguwar — and now we have the great privilege of partnering with them in their next chapter. All of us at Secretly are very excited to be working with Cargo Independent Distribution, to help safeguard an independent route to market in the UK and Ireland,” shared Darius Van Arman, CEO of Secretly Distribution.
“We live in changing and challenging times,” added Paul Redding, CEO of Beggars Group. “Integral/PIAS have handled our sales brilliantly for decades, but right now we see it as crucial that a new independent route to market is established. We very much look forward to being part of a bright new future.”
