The Orchard and Red Essential Merge
Jun 01, 2017
New company becomes the UK’s premiere label and artist services firm for independents
The Orchard and Red Essential’s two UK based businesses are to merge, it was announced today [01.06.17].
The newly formed company is to be called The Orchard. Ian Dutt and Mike Chadwick, erstwhile co-Managing Directors of Red Essential, will run the new UK business. Combining the companies harnesses the seasoned expertise of both teams, offering artists and labels an unmatched slate of services including physical and digital, sales, marketing, promotion, synch licensing, neighbouring rights, strategy and analysis in more than 30 markets across the globe.
The amalgamated companies represent decades of success in serving the independent music community, currently fostering partnerships with artists such as 2016 Mercury Music Prize and 2017 Ivor Novello winner Skepta as well as Run The Jewels, Giggs, Joey BadA$$, Lower Than Atlantis, Alter Bridge and Anderson .Paak. There are also ongoing relationships with labels including Cooking Vinyl, Cherry Red, Snapper, Red Bull Records, Demon, Thirty Tigers and the London Symphony Orchestra.
The new company – which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and will be based in Farringdon, central London – is the leading Artist and Label Services company with comprehensive delivery, owned supply chain, dedicated sales and business development teams as well as distribution and reporting systems designed specifically to provide a consolidated experience for digital and physical clients worldwide. It is unique in structure, scale and reach, bringing expertise and skilled resources to support labels with global reach and in-market expertise.
Jason Iley, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK and Ireland, said: “Separately, Red Essential and The Orchard have shown they are two great, innovative artist-focused companies. By partnering, and with the backing of Sony Music globally, the merged business will continue to provide support and benefits to independent artists and labels alike that is unparalleled in the UK.”
Co-Managing Directors Ian Dutt and Mike Chadwick said: “There is no other company that comes close to what we offer. Our team’s expertise and first-class business relationships, combined with the global sales and marketing network and cutting-edge technology, gives our clients everything they need to maximize their success.”
Colleen Theis, Chief Operating Officer, The Orchard, said: “The Orchard has always worked on a global scale. Combining forces in the UK with Red Essential to create a single company with an incredible roster of independent artists and labels allows all of our clients to benefit from market strength and a strong competitive advantage, both at home and abroad. The collaboration will create unique opportunities to market and drive revenue for our clients.”
The Orchard was founded in 1997 by Richard Gottehrer and Scott Cohen. Since then, it has grown from an office on Orchard St in NYC to a global enterprise with more than 300 staff. It was wholly acquired by Sony Music Entertainment in 2015. Essential Music & Marketing was founded in 2003. It was acquired by Sony Music UK in March 2016 and merged with Sony Red to create Red Essential.