Exceleration Music acquires leading UK indie label Cooking Vinyl

Founded in 1986, Cooking Vinyl has built a reputation as one of the UK’s most successful and enduring music companies. Its artist roster includes The Prodigy, The Cranberries, Suzanne Vega, Billy Bragg, Shed Seven, Passenger, Deacon Blue, and Roger Waters, among others.

Under the new arrangement, Cooking Vinyl will continue to operate independently, led by managing director Rob Collins and his team. Founder Martin Goldschmidt will remain as chairman.

Exceleration, which was launched in 2021 by five veteran indie music executives, said the acquisition will integrate Cooking Vinyl into its global operations, including its digital and physical distribution platform, Redeye. The deal is expected to significantly enhance Cooking Vinyl’s international reach and growth prospects.

“This deal enhances our mission,” Rob Collins said. “Our artists will still benefit from our close-knit, personalised team, but now with expanded capabilities and resources through Exceleration. I look forward to working closely with their team to spearhead this next phase for Cooking Vinyl.”

Goldschmidt added: “This partnership takes the label to the next level. I’ve known members of the Exceleration and Redeye teams since the 1980s. The shared values of independence, artist care, and industry knowledge make this a natural fit. I look forward to helping guide Cooking Vinyl’s future in my role as Chairman.”

Exceleration’s founding partners include Glen Barros (former CEO of Concord Music Group), Dave Hansen (executive chairman of Merlin and former GM of Epitaph), Charles Caldas (former CEO of Merlin), Amy Dietz (former GM of Ingrooves), and John Burk (Grammy-winning producer and former President of Concord Records).

“The addition of Cooking Vinyl represents a major step in our mission to invest in world-leading independents,” Barros said. “Their legacy of artist success and marketing expertise adds tremendous value to Exceleration’s vision.”

Cooking Vinyl’s publishing arms in the UK and Australia, as well as Motus Music, are not part of the acquisition.

The acquisition comes at a high point for Cooking Vinyl, following two UK No.1 albums in 2024 for Shed Seven, as well as historic chart-toppers from Passenger and The Prodigy. The Darkness also recently debuted at No.2 with Dreams on Toast.

The label has long been considered a pioneer in digital innovation. In 2005, it launched its own digital distribution company, Uploader, which was later sold to the Independent Online Distribution Alliance (IODA). Cooking Vinyl then became a shareholder in Essential Music & Marketing, which partnered with major indie labels before being acquired by Sony RED in 2016, ultimately forming the foundation of The Orchard in the UK market.

Despite its evolving partnerships, Cooking Vinyl remained fully independent until this acquisition.