A major UK distributor of vinyl for record labels such as 2020 Vision, Dubsided and Freerange has filed for liquidation

A major distributor of vinyl for record labels such as 2020 Vision, Dubsided and Freerange has filed for liquidation. UK based Amato Distribution will close its doors next week, with their 50 or so employees unfortunately losing their jobs.

Some will argue that this could signify the final death of vinyl, given exactly how many major labels were represented by Amato. In fact, we noticed a large number of the labels on their list don't actually release on anything but vinyl, like Dubsided, Counterfeet and Rekids.

However, there are also many that give digital releases, so it may actually signal a more disturbing trend; that not only is releasing dance music on vinyl unprofitable, but all forms of dance music sales. Given that huge names like Kompakt, Innervisions, Buzzin’ Fly, Freerange, Bpitch, Border Community and Playhouse were on Amatos roster, it would seem that there isn’t a lot of money being made from even the most popular stuff.

Of course, the truth is probably much more complex than that, perhaps the distributors aren’t necessarily responsible for all the sales by labels, perhaps their digital distribution model was flawed, after all, it somehow still takes longer for Freerange tracks to appear for download than it does for the vinyl to appear. Indeed, maybe people just aren’t buying music anymore, and piracy really is killing music (distributors).

To look on the bright side, we have to imagine that the few labels connected with Amato who still refuse to part with vinyl might take this opportunity to make the move into the digital world, or the ones who already do might be convinced to speed up their distribution methods.

What do think of this latest twist in the vinyl saga? Why do you think Amato went under? Let us know in the comments.