Exceleration Music Cooking Vinyl acquisition

Cooking Vinyl managing director Rob Collins (left) and chairman Martin Goldschmidt, who’ve sold their company to Exceleration Music. Photo Credit: Cooking Vinyl

Now touting itself as a “viable alternative to the major label-owned distribution and services models,” Exceleration Music has purchased UK-based indie Cooking Vinyl.

The expansion-minded Exceleration and “the originator of artist services” Cooking Vinyl formally announced their deal today. Founded just shy of 40 years back, Cooking is poised to leverage Exceleration’s Redeye Worldwide distribution platform and wider global infrastructure, the parties summed up.

Meanwhile, the Bloodshot Records and Mack Avenue owner Exceleration intends to tap into Cooking’s “renowned artist marketing expertise.” And as the newly united businesses see things, that’ll fuel “a more powerful, integrated, multi-territory offering.”

On the logistics and personnel front, Cooking – which has released projects from The Jesus & Mary Chain, Shed Seven, The Fratellis, and Roger Waters, to name a few – “will continue to operate independently” post-transaction.

With Cooking’s Rob Collins remaining MD and founder Martin Goldschmidt still serving as chairman, this presumably means the label will keep on offering what it describes as “bespoke services-only contracts that claim no stake in artists’ copyrights.”

In any event, the freshly inked deal doesn’t extend to Cooking Vinyl Publishing UK, Cooking Vinyl Publishing Australia, or licensing platform Motus Music, per the involved companies, which opted against divulging price-tag particulars.

But in a statement, Collins billed the sale as a major win for his label, which has also released works from Swim Deep, the Wandering Hearts, Ladytron, and Kiefer Sutherland.

“Our artists will still benefit from our close-knit, highly personalised team that combines deep industry expertise with old-fashioned hard graft,” Collins said in part. “But now, with the expanded U.S. 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.”

Additionally, Exceleration managing partner Glen Barros described the Cooking Vinyl buyout as “a significant step forward” in his company’s “mission to invest in market-leading independents globally.”

“Cooking Vinyl not only brings a set of remarkable artists into our orbit,” proceeded the former Concord head, “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 U.S. Their history of chart and commercial success aligns perfectly with our long-term vision.”

Not even halfway finished, 2025 has already delivered a long list of label sales – including but not limited to plays for !K7, Monstercat, Dome Records, Gotee Records, New State, and the aforementioned Mack Avenue.