Exceleration Music, independent music company dedicated to advancing the future of independent music, has announced a substantial expansion of its operational reach with the acquisition of Redeye, a leading worldwide digital and physical distribution and music services company. The acquisition also encompasses Redeye's in-house labels Yep Roc and Sundazed, and its publishing company Riff City Sounds.
Under the terms of this strategic transaction, Redeye founders Glenn Dicker and Tor Hansen have become shareholders in Exceleration Music. Dicker and Hansen will continue to lead Redeye, maintaining its existing team and infrastructure, while benefiting from the additional resources and expertise offered by the Exceleration Music partners and team. Redeye represents several of the world's top independent labels, in the USA and globally, including Beggars Group, Domino, New West, Yep Roc, Sundazed, 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, Daptone, the Exceleration labels and more.
This acquisition marks a pivotal moment for Exceleration Music which, since its inception in 2020, has concentrated on investing in the acquisition, production, and optimization of music rights. The expansion provides independent music partners of both Exceleration and Redeye with a fully independent and well-resourced path to market; comprising worldwide physical and digital distribution, as well as label, marketing, and technical expertise.
Exceleration Music's scope of operation now consists of two divisions:
- The established rights group, which comprises investments and partnerships with culturally significant labels and catalogs such as +1 Records, Alligator, Azadi, Bloodshot, Candid, Heroic, Kill Rock Stars, Mom+Pop, SideOneDummy, The Ray Charles Foundation/Tangerine Records, and now Yep Roc and Sundazed.
- The newly acquired distribution and label services business, which will continue to operate under the Redeye brand, helmed by its current leadership. The Exceleration partnership and executive team will provide additional support and resources.
Exceleration is led by its group of original founders, five of independent music’s most influential executives: 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).
Founded by Tor Hansen and Glenn Dicker, Redeye is headquartered in North Carolina and maintains a team of over 120, dispersed across 15 locations spanning the US, Canada, Europe, the UK and Australia. The company has been wholly owned and operated by Dicker, Hansen, and their team.
“Working with the Exceleration team feels like expanding the family,” says Redeye co-founder Glenn Dicker. “Sharing strong ideals and a strategic vision, it feels like the next natural step on our journey towards providing our world class distribution service to an expanded independent community.”
The integration of Exceleration's expanding catalog into Redeye's systems is set to bolster their market offerings, driving additional revenue. The expanded entity aims to provide a robust, self-sustaining, fully independent path to market for artists and labels.
Learn more at www.excelerationmusic.com.
