• Agreement covers sales and physical distribution in UK/ROI & Europe
• The deal’s first release, Slash’s ‘Orgy of the Damned’ tops UK Jazz & Blues Albums Chart, and secures UK Albums Chart top 10 in debut week

The UK’s leading physical distributor, Proper Distribution, part of Proper Group AG, has signed a deal with US-based Firebird Music Holdings to service its partner labels, artist management agencies and other creative businesses.

Proper will handle physical sales and distribution for frontline and catalogue releases across the UK, Republic of Ireland and Europe (via Proper’s partner Bertus) for select signed and self-releasing artists on Firebird’s partner rosters.

Firebird’s partners will gain access to Proper’s facilities and resources, specialist knowledge of local record retailers, as well as marketing and sales teams in agreed territories. The deal will also streamline the means by which self-releasing artists under Firebird can release music on physical formats.

The first under the deal is Slash’s new ‘Orgy of the Damned’ (released on 17 May via Gibson Records), has finished top of the UK Jazz & Blues Albums Chart, and no. 8 in the UK Albums Chart with an 84% physical sales majority, according to OCC data. Others to be distributed in 2024 include releases from Chase Rice, The WAEVE, Moonchild Sanelly, Whiskey Myers, Danielle Bradbery and Rainbow Kitten Surprise.

Drew Hill, CEO at Proper Distribution, said: “We're delighted to work with a forward thinking company like Firebird whose unique model offers hugely exciting opportunities for physical music. Our agreement will open new doors for Firebird’s diverse repertoire of partners and artists, with Proper providing essential boots on the ground and helping maximise international reach and sales relationships.”

Kenny Weagly, VP and Head of Artist & Label Services at Firebird, commented: “We’re excited to be working with Proper, and their partners in Europe at Bertus, as we continue to grow our physical business in the UK & EU, adding to the expansion of our global distribution network comprised of best-in-class partners across consumption formats and territories.”