Proper Inks Deal to Become Hospital Dispensary

15 August 2016 - Press release

·         Proper Music Group partners with renowned D+B label
·         Appoints Dan Gilbert to lead dance music sales
 
The UK’s largest indie distributor, Proper Music Group, has signed iconic independent label, Hospital Records, to manage its physical distribution for the UK and Ireland and shipping to Europe.
 
In its 20th year, Hospital is the biggest drum and bass label in the world, with a roster including London Elektricity, whose founding members also started the label, as well as Danny Byrd, Netsky and Camo & Krooked. The agreement, commencing end of September, will also cover experimental imprint, Med School.
 
As well as distribution in UK and Ireland, Proper will act as a central hub for Europe; holding finished goods and fulfilling orders from its London warehouse into Hospital’s network of overseas partners. The model is more efficient than traditional deals, as Proper is able to consolidate several deliveries together and also coordinate overseas partners, collecting excess from one market and reassigning to others that need more.
 
The agreement with Hospital highlights the continued expansion of Proper’s roster, which is to be further boosted via the appointment of Dan Gilbert in the newly created role of Dance Specialist Sales Representative. With a background in retail, he previously managed a dance specialist record shop, Massive Records. Gilbert also spent time as Head of Independent Sales at Amato and has been a touring DJ for over 15 years.
 
Other dance labels at Proper include Skint Records (Fatboy Slim), Olsen Records (Todd Terje), as well as Styles Upon Styles, Principe Discos and Prah Recordings, among others. Proper start internal fit out work on their new warehouse next month, before a planned move in January 2017, increasing capacity fivefold.
 
Chris Goss, Managing Director, Hospital Records, said: “We're delighted to be starting a new relationship with Proper this Autumn. After so many years of hard graft and good times with our friends and supporters at SRD, who have played a significant role in the growth of our label, Hospital are looking forward to building on that success with Drew and his team, and their expanding facilities and operations. I'd also like to say how good it feels to meet a chairman (Malcolm) whose record collection is the dominant feature of his office.”
 
Added Drew Hill, Managing Director of Proper Music Group: “Working with as distinguished a label as Hospital is going to be great and their commitment to providing quality, creative physical records is inspiring. I also couldn’t think of a better person to head up our dance sales than a DJ with retail experience.”
 
Dan Gilbert, Sales Representative, Proper Music Group, commented: “I’m excited to be joining Proper at a time when the business is not only expanding, but also diversifying its reach across different genres. Even though I come from an electronic music background, it’s also great to see indie shops that were specifically dance in the past, now expanding into other areas, as DJs continue to play more eclectic sets and the record buying public follow suit; Proper’s hugely varied catalogue is in a great position to capitalise on this.”