EXCLUSIVE: Impressed Recordings & ie:east Launch New Physical Distribution Company, ‘Circle Distribution’

A group of music industry veterans with experience in the label, A&R, distribution, and management sectors have teamed up to launch the new physical distribution company, Circle Distribution.

The new company is a joint venture between the artist management company, ie:east and the independent Australian record label, Impressed Recordings. Co-Directors Andre Calman and Luke Bevans will run Circle Distribution, and their first hire is Head of Sales, Scott Bradbury, who joins the group after years of leading sales at Inertia Music and, before that, Shock Records.

ie:east started as the Australian division of British management company ie:music, which was founded by Tim Clark and the late David Enthoven in the early ‘90s.

The Australian office of ie:east is now independent and under the Directors, Tim Clark and James Lancaster. Andre Calman’s current management roster includes Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos, Lanu), BLOKBSTR, and Mondo Freaks. Previously, he’s managed beloved acts such as Jack Ladder and I Know Leopard. Before his career in management, Calman spent over a decade at Inertia.

Founded by Bevans, Impressed Recordings has already had an ARIA Australian Albums Chart #1 with FANGZ, only two years after forming. Bevans started the label after 20 years in senior roles at Universal Music in the UK and Australia, and later running Apple Music.

Impressed Recordings has released limited vinyl releases for artists such as Folk Bitch Trio, Wunderhorse, Royel Otis, Sycco, Chet Faker, Ngaiire, Tasman Keith, Armand Hammer & The Alchemist, The Preatures, Radio Free Alice, and more.

Bevans and Calman first joined forces last year, when they worked together on Impressed releases for The Bamboos and The Ferguson Rogers Process. During that period, they recalled the few options for independent vinyl releases in Australia. That inspired the creation of Circle Distribution, which went from a brainstorm to a reality in a matter of months.

Of the few options to independently release vinyl, Calman said, “Which was in contrast to the numerous choices that labels and artists currently have to release music digitally.

“It felt like the exact reverse of where distribution was at fifteen years ago, when there was so much competition to sign and release vinyl and CDs, while people were just figuring out what digital music was and how it could be viable.”

Bevans added, “Working with ie:east and Andre felt like a natural next step for Impressed. We are fortunate now that we have full control of our D2C customer experience with warehouse space to pick, pack and send great music around the world.

“Then, the experience of buying and selling music into retail in Australia was something I’ve been passionate about for a long time – trying to make sure that stores and record buyers could get as much incredible music on time, in great condition, is something that I’m passionate about as a record buyer myself.”

“Music is a wonderful kind of magic. It comforts us and brings people together,” said Bradbury. “It’s an honour to work with artists, labels, and stores to bring good vibes into the world through the joy and experience of physical music.”

Tim Clark offered, “For a lad who started at Island Records just as the shellac period was ending, I was lucky to live through the heyday of vinyl. Nothing can match the thrill of buying a record with its sleeve and taking it home to play over and over again. Modern fans are discovering that thrill, and real artists know that what the fans want, they should be given. Let us entertain you!"

You can follow Circle Distribution on its website and on its Instagram.