Redeye Teams Up with UK’s Lasgo and Netherlands’ Bertus: A New Era for Indie Distribution!

Ah, the independent music world—a place where labels are smaller, dreams are larger, and the distribution game is about as intricate as deciphering the menu at a fancy French restaurant. Enter Redeye Worldwide, a music distributor that has recently decided to give its European operations a sprinkle of fairy dust, quite literally, with some shiny new partnerships in the UK and the Netherlands.

Now, if you’ve been keeping track, Redeye was swept under the welcoming wing of Exceleration Music in 2023. It’s like being adopted by a cool aunt who knows everyone at all the best parties. Their latest escapade? A partnership with Lasgo Worldwide Media that promises to make them the belle of the ball in the UK and Ireland with their physical fulfillment services. Just imagine a bevy of records dancing their way across the continents, each groove eager to find its way to a devoted fan.

In addition to their UK soiree, Redeye is also hand-in-hand with Bertus, a partner based in the Netherlands, ensuring that their European operations are not just stamped with a “Made in the USA” label but are genuinely international in spirit. All of this is to enhance the sales and marketing clout of their partners—because what’s a good partnership without some strategic marketing magic?

And let’s not forget about Redeye’s Swedish sidekick, Border Music. They’ll continue to be the cool kids managing operations in the Nordic markets, making sure every Scandinavian folk tune gets its day in the sun—or at least, the fjords.

Michael Petkov, the mastermind behind Redeye’s international strategy, appears to be as optimistic as a cat in a sunbeam. He shared, “After years of continued growth in the UK and Irish markets, we are excited to partner with Lasgo Worldwide Media to further increase our local presence.” It’s a bit like saying, “We’ve been doing well, but why stop there?” Petkov is convinced these partnerships are not just the icing on the cake but a whole new tier.

Ever the pragmatist, he adds, “Our goal is to further expand our business to offer current and future label partners a highly efficient, transparent, and fully independent distribution and services setup, whether locally or globally.” Because why settle for mediocrity when you can be extraordinary?

But a company can only thrive with a dedicated team, and Redeye seems to be gearing up to expand its ranks, planning to hire additional sales and label support staff in the UK to work alongside Lasgo’s team. A counterpoint to any skeptical observer who might wonder if this is just another corporate merger is Dave Hansen, a partner at Exceleration Music. He states, “Exceleration’s mission is to strengthen the global independent community.” It’s like a musical version of “We Are the World”—with a lot more vinyl.

Garry Elwood, the Managing Director of Lasgo, weighed in with his excitement, gushing about how “Lasgo are delighted to welcome Redeye into our UK distribution operation.” I can almost hear the confetti falling as he adds, “The labels distributed by Redeye collectively offer a great diverse range of both music and artists to the UK marketplace.” It’s the kind of announcement that can make a music enthusiast giddy with anticipation.

Founded in 1996, Redeye has had quite the journey, and in 2023, it was adopted into the Exceleration family. With more offices than I have pairs of socks—spanning New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, and even Sydney—Redeye is truly a globetrotter. And let’s not forget their Canadian adventure, launching a direct physical distribution service up north in 2018. Now that’s what I call a busy schedule.

Their roster boasts some of the most influential independent labels in the world. It’s a lineup that could make any music lover weak in the knees: Beggars Group, Domino, and Ninja Tune, to name a few. So, as Redeye takes these audacious steps toward expanding its global footprint, one can only hope they maintain that perfect equilibrium between the raucous joy of music and the often absurd challenges of distribution—a true reflection of life, love, and, of course, the magic of a well-placed vinyl record.