Exceleration Music Acquires UK Indie Label Cooking Vinyl

Long-standing UK independent label Cooking Vinyl has been acquired by American independent music company Exceleration Music.

The main players:

• Cooking Vinyl was founded in 1986.

• Its roster includes Shed Seven, Billy Bragg, The Darkness, Suzanne Vega, Passenger, The Prodigy, The Cranberries and Roger Waters.

• As per Music Business Worldwide, Exceleration Music was launched in 2021 by Glen Barros (former CEO of Concord Music Group), Dave Hansen (Executive Chairman of Merlin and former GM of Epitaph), Charles Caldas (former CEO of Merlin), Amy Dietz (former GM of Ingrooves) and John Burk (Grammy-winning producer and former President of Concord Records).

• The US-headquartered company combines distribution, investment and label support services.

• It has previously acquired, or formed strategic relationships with, numerous independent labels including Mom+Pop, Kill Rock Stars, SideOneDummy, Yep Roc Records and more.

• In 2023 it acquired independent digital and physical distribution/services company Redeye.

The deal:

• 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 will integrate into Redeye’s distribution platform and gain access to Exceleration’s global infrastructure.

• Exceleration will tap into Cooking Vinyl’s artist marketing expertise.

• Cooking Vinyl Publishing UK, Cooking Vinyl Publishing Australia and Motus Music are not included within the acquisition.

What they 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.”

• Rob Collins, Managing Director Cooking Vinyl: “Our artists will still benefit from our close-knit, highly personalized 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.”