Vinyl Distributor Nu Urban Music Closes Due To Bankruptcy
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Written by Elliott Batte
Nu Urban Music - one of drum and bass’s biggest vinyl distributors - has allegedly gone bankrupt, meaning certain artists and producers may never be paid for what they are owed in record sales, and a dent in the resurgence of vinyl that the music scene has seen in recent years.
Drum and bass is one of the leading genres involved with the use of vinyl in modern times, with most labels still pressing records despite the recent rise in mp3 and digital DJing. While the apparent loss of Nu Urban may not affect everyone - distributors such as ST Holdings are still doing well - they are a huge loss for the genre, and were also one of the only distributors dealing with drum and bass in the USA.
One of the main areas of drum and bass who will be hit by the loss of the company is jump-up drum and bass, who’s vinyl is almost 100% distributed by Nu Urban.
One jump up DJ known as Jaydan wrote via Twitter:
@mampi_swift my entire back catalogue, my house bags for both labels and money for a quarters worth of sales #Poof gone lol
Labels that are known to deal with Nu Urban include Doctor P and Flux Pavilion's (dubstep label) Circus Recordings, Playaz, Viper, Undiluted, Spearhead, Congo Natty, Charge, Clear Skyz, and Audio Porn. While some labels such as Circus and Playaz are most likely big enough to go unaffected by the company’s bankruptcy, some of the smaller labels could find themselves with a massive problem.
Twitter is starting to full with messages thanking Nu Urban for their work over the years, while some have started to point fingers, claiming quality control is the major cause of the bankrupty.
One DJ wrote:
Business is business and this recession has killed off many types of businesses. We're greatful for what nu urban has done for us, 100%
Tony Colman - a.k.a world famous producer and DJ London Elektricity and boss of drum and bass super label Hospital Records - told Stereoboard that he has ‘sympathy with the labels affected’ and that it was ‘very sad’.
It will be interesting to see what happens with drum and bass vinyl in the coming years; will another distributor step up to the plate, or is it downhill from here?
Let us know your opinions in the comments section below.
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