Business News Labels & Publishers Top Stories

[PIAS] boss comments on fire

By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 11 August 2011

The boss of [PIAS] has issued a personal statement regarding the fire at the north London distribution centre, caused by rioters in the capital earlier this week, that destroyed thousands of CDs being distributed by the music company for its independent label clients.

As previously reported, the warehouse owned by Sony DADC was a key storage facility for the independent label distributor. Numerous UK indies lost CDs and vinyl product in the fire, and some smaller labels – without the cash flow to order quick replacement stock, and possibly without the watertight insurance to pay for lost product – fear the fire could put their businesses in a very difficult position. The Association Of Independent Music has encouraged music fans to buy digital and remaining physical releases from effected labels, helping ensure those labels get some quick revenue, while [PIAS] are moving fast to get their distribution network back into operation.

In a statement issued yesterday, [PIAS] Co-founder and CEO Kenny Gates first clarified some reports that it was [PIAS]’s own London base that had been attacked, saying: “The news broke through Twitter that the ‘[PIAS] warehouse had burnt out’. It is extremely important for everyone to understand that [PIAS] has no warehouse as such in the UK and that [PIAS] sub-contracts its physical distribution with Sony DADC in Enfield and it is their warehouse which unfortunately went down in flames. Many people called me to ask whether any of our staff had suffered from the blaze and if we were OK. We are. Thank you”.

Referencing an earlier statement on the fire issued by his company, Gates continued: “As you have noticed in our last note, Sony DADC have been remarkably quick and efficient to put together a contingency plan that should allow us to ship to stores some time next week. We are impressed by their efficiency and that is good news”.

He concluded: “These times are difficult for us, our artists, our labels and the whole indie sector which we vastly represent but we are determined to come out of this setback in the best way possible. The [PIAS] team has been working around the clock to limit the damage. We know that the livelihood of many talented, passionate and hard working music people, artists and small and bigger labels is at stake and depend on our actions and those of Sony DADC. We have been getting a lot of words of support and offers of help and that truly helps. Thank you to everybody who cares and supports [PIAS] and the indie sector”.

In related news, one of the artists affected by the fire, Charlie Simpson, has told fans he plans to re-press his self-released solo album ‘Young Pilgrim’, which is due for release next week. He wrote on his website yesterday: “Firstly I want to re-iterate my sadness at the events that destroyed the [PIAS] warehouse in Enfield on Monday night. It’s a totally devastating situation for the independent music sector and my heart goes out to every artist and label affected by it. I’m so proud of my status as an independent artist and [PIAS] and are amazing institution and the figurehead for people who feel the same way as me – I wish them all the best and a speedy recovery”.

He continued: “On a personal note, after a day of despair and total uncertainty, yesterday my team have pulled together AMAZINGLY and we’ve decided to re-press my lost CDs and forge ahead with my original album release date of 15 Aug. You can pre-order it and despite all the statements you may have seen that said we’d be putting the release on hold, it will still be with you on Monday 15th. Thank you so much for your messages of support – I really needed them yesterday! Let’s all pull together to keep the independent music industry flourishing”.