Aussie Indie Distributor Partnering With ABC Music To Bolster US Operations

Independent Australia-bred, US-based company Metropolitan Groove Merchants have announced that they are entering a new creative partnership with ABC Music to distribute the label's releases across North America.

Having eked out a niche for itself from its home in Nashville under the guidance of founder Michael Chase since late 2014, Metropolitan Groove Merchants (MGM) has steered US releases for local artists such as Twelve Foot Ninja, Gurrumul, The Church, Citizen Kay, Closure In Moscow, Henry Wagons, The Vines, San Cisco, The Jezabels, Sticky Fingers and C.W. Stoneking, putting them in a prime position to take on-board the eclectic and diverse artists that call ABC Music home.

"We are very excited to be working with the team at ABC Music with a shared and passionate ambition for furthering Australian culture and innovation throughout the world," Chase said in a statement.

His sentiments were echoed by MGM chief executive Sebastian Chase, who said: "I am very pleased, proud and inspired by ABC Music having the courage and the foresight to support the initiative of an Australian independent distribution platform by partnering with us for North America and thus forming a symbiotic relationship that enables ABC Music to maintain direct access and control over their releases within that market, releasing what the label wants, when it wants, how it wants and as is required to best serve the career development and market strategy plan of each individual artist."

The list of talent under MGM's purview in the United States is only set to grow from here with the new ABC deal, given the label boasts a catalogue filled out by the likes of Tim Rogers, The Audreys, Ben Salter, the Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Mojo Juju, The Snowdroppers, Born Lion, Lee Kernaghan, Justine Clarke and several others. Which artists in particular will be the first projects and campaigns to be given the US limelight will be revealed in the coming months.

"I am thrilled with this new partnership which feels like the perfect home for our ABC Music artists in North America," ABC Music general manager Natalie Waller said. "MGM is a team that I have respected for many years and have watched them create great opportunities for Australian artists. I look forward to working together."