“We looked at what was happening with the distribution landscape, [which was seeing] a lot of consolidation,” Exceleration co-founder. “You know, you have each of the majors buying up indie distributors, and we thought it would be good to really preserve and strengthen a great indie option and make sure that indie labels have a fully independent path to market.”
The deal also includes Redeye’s in-house labels, Yep Roc and Sundazed, along with its publishing company, Riff City Sounds. Yep Roc’s roster includes Nick Lowe, Dave Alvin, Aoife O’Donovan,, Chuck Prophet and Jobi Riccio. Sundazed is a reissue label based in the United States. Redeye — which signed a distribution deal with Exceleration in May — represents some of the world’s most prominent independent labels, including Beggars Group, Domino, New West, Saddle Creek, Mom+Pop, Kemado/Mexican Summer, Stones Throw, Warp, Drag City, Real Gone, Innovative Leisure, Carpark, !K7, Thrill Jockey, Luaka Bop, Partisan, Sargent House, Ninja Tune, Barsuk and Daptone.
Founded in 1996 by Hansen and Dicker, the distributor is headquartered in Hillsborough, N.C., and boasts more than 120 employees spread across 15 locations in the United States, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom and Australia. Prior to the acquisition, it was wholly owned and operated by Dicker, Hansen and their team. In 2019, the company merged with Sweden-based distributor Border Music to expand its distribution operation in Europe.
In addition to Hansen and Dicker, Redeye’s leadership structure will remain in place following the acquisition. The list of high-level executives at the company includes