The UK division of pan-European record company PIAS will today announce a new joint venture with London based label Wall Of Sound which will see the two independents combining their operations.
The new company, PIAS Wall Of Sound, will take on responsibility for all of PIAS's UK roster, including Mogwai, Soulwax, Tiga, Little Barrie and Iain Archer, as well as key Wall Of Sound signings Royksopp and Infadels. Negotiations are reportedly "in progress" regarding the inclusion of other WOS acts Diefenbach, The Girls and Blak Twang in the deal. WOS top man Mark Jones will be MD of the new company, working closely with Nick Hartley, CEO of the PIAS UK Group, and Kenny Gates, Co-President of the overall PIAS Group.
Confirming the deal, Gates told CMU: "I have known Mark Jones since 1996 when we first entered into a European licensing agreement which saw Propellerheads' album 'Decksandrumsandrockandroll' sell in excess of 300,000 copies in Europe, including gold-status sales in France. I am delighted to be in partnership with Mark in this new venture - our ambition being to mirror the success of our independent models and peers; Beggars Group or Domino for instance. Mark has the drive, energy, vision and sheer personality that are all too often lacking in an industry which has become frequently led by major label accountants and lawyers. The combination of Mark's skills with our own expertise makes a compelling formula, and together we can boast a tremendous roster with great music."
Jones himself added: "It is an incredibly exciting prospect to be creating a new company with PIAS, fusing the complementary strengths of all of those concerned. With an amazing roster of established talent and developing artists poised to break, PIAS / Wall Of Sound starts off in an enviable position for a new label. The new venture gives us the chance to actively compete in the market for new acts at a time when the independent option is proving a natural and successful route for so many artists. On a musical, business and personal level I feel it is the right time to move on and challenge myself and other people's perceptions to create a new force in the sector. Music Is Life."