Our thoughts go out to our readers overseas, just as they have gone there over the past few days: It’s been difficult to focus exclusively on music news while London has experienced these socially catastrophic riots. And honestly, we haven’t. But while there’s no just or easy way to compartmentalize the events’ devastation, an event last night did bring some unfortunate repercussions pointedly to the music community. The NY Times reports that late on Monday, Sony’s 215,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Enfield was set ablaze. In addition to being Sony property, the warehouse “was the main distribution hub for PIAS, the biggest distributor of independent labels in the Britain and Ireland. More than a dozen influential labels lost stock in the fire, among them Sub Pop, Beggars Group, Domino, Warp, XL and Soul Jazz.” This means that a lot of the labels that put out a lot of your favorite records are facing some potentially crippling setbacks. Here’s PIAS’s official statement:
Sony DADC have actioned their Business Continuity Plan and are back up and running from a new control room in Enfield. PIAS continue to work with them to minimise the impact on the business, a number one priority for all labels and clients. SonyDADC have identified a temporary distribution partner and it is envisaged that they will be in a position to pick, pack and ship orders in the course of next week.
This follows an earlier statement regarding a fire last night at the SonyDADC warehouse, which services the physical distribution for PIAS in the UK and Ireland. PIAS’s UK offices in London and all other areas of our business are unaffected. More information will be communicated shortly to all our labels and partners
Further details will follow tomorrow morning.
We wish to thank everyone for the overwhelming messages of support.
According to Pitchfork, the Beggars Group (Matador, XL, Rough Trade, 4AD, True Panther, Young Turks) lost its entire stock of 750,000 LPs. The Chicago Reader estimates Thrill Jockey’s losses at $300,000. You can stay tuned to the Twitter and official web pages of the various labels affected for more up to date info, but the bottom line is — if you enjoy music released by any of the affected entities, now would be a good time to show your support and purchase some music. You’ll feel good if you do. So will many others who work hard for your benefit. Promise.
Also, if you’re still trying to get a read on the vast ideological chasms involved in the LDN riots, I would suggest watching this. And passing it on.
[Photo via Reuters]
 |
 |
I am amazed by the ability of the youth to be able to do something on this scale but in these three days it has turned into a looting raid and more harm has been done than any message these kids stand for could warrant.
Oh God… please don’t let the Darcus Howe interview be the defining message from our riots. There really isn’t a coherent argument going on in that video… it says nothing.
I understand, I wasn’t trying to be reductive by including the link. I did find the broadcaster’s apparent agenda and her interplay with Mr. Howe to be symbolic of some larger, and charged, disconnect between peoples and social factions, though. As I hoped to express in the post, there’s no one easy message, cause, or lesson, and I am certainly not trying to suggest there is. Which doesn’t stop us from trying to find the sense in it. Anyway, yeah. Very sad stuff.
http://www.democracynow.org/2011/8/10/over_1_000_arrested_in_uk
it’s a real shame about the warehouse. If I had any money at all I would buy some stuff to support the labels.
Pretty good odds the labels have their stock insured. And Duncan: I take it you’re a Londoner. Would you mind filling us in on causes of the riots?
The riots were caused by reaction to the death of Mark Duggan being shot by police in Tottenham, in the northern of London, on AUG 4th.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14412752
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Mark_Duggan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_England_riots
Before this comment section develops into a flamewar (no pun intended), I would just like to express my grievances for all those tiny record labels who will now have an even harder time making good profit during these increasingly recessional times.
This event was a true crime and an even greater tragedy.
geez. british folks used to get pissed off and make all kinds of great music, now they get pissed off and destroy all kinds of great music.
but in all seriousness, good for stereogum to post this i hope people support the bands and the labels, they deserve it.
These riots are absolutely disgusting, definitely going to purchase some music from these labels, probably something I’ve never heard before… any suggestions?
So many things! All the Women and Monroe Mustang albums from Jagjaguwar, or the new Mountains record from Thrill Jockey. And I don’t know anything about Rob da Bank and his label Sunday Best but it sounds like he lost all his stock in this fire, so he could probably use help too.
+1 on Women. Get it.
There is a whole ball of tension in the UK at the moment, and anyone who’s been keeping up with recent events can hardly be totally surprised by the rioting. But don’t believe that the destruction of records, or shops, or the widespread looting, is in any way justified by an ideology. It’s been a case of smash first, theorise later, and any attempt to call it solely a youth, race or class issue will be wide of the mark, and only add to the problem. And maybe you should watch these videos too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCsrcnUy8ao / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvKxCGDiLOI
Also you should definitely read this … http://motowns.blogspot.com/2011/08/im-no-writer.html
Am I the only one who thinks that video is nothing more than incoherent babbling? I am sure there are MAJOR disconnects going on over there, but there is no excuse for rioting and senseless damage. Any empathy outsiders might have had is going to be quickly forgotten. Look at the unforgivable things happening. Anyone who supports these riots is a sociopath.
Howe is leading the interviewer more than she is leading him.
With regard to the indie labels… Even if they are insured, this will still be a huge expense. Sickening.
This just reminds of the song “Heaven’s on Fire” by The Radio Dept., which begins with the following sample:
“Some people see rock and roll as youth culture, and when youth culture becomes monopolized by big business, what are the youth to do? I think we should destroy the bogus capitalist process that is destroying youth culture by mass marketing, and commercial paranoia behavior control. And the first step is to destroy the record companies.” –Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth)
Just bought The Horrors – “Skying” on vinyl yesterday (finally released in America)
It’s an XL record and most likely shipped from that warehouse before the fires.
That is my suggestion to help out. That record is amazing.
Death to all indie labels.