Sony Music UK artist and label services division RED has acquired independent sales and distribution company Essential Music and Marketing, a member of The Cooking Vinyl Group of companies.  

The deal, which sees a UK major label buy into independent sales and distribution for the first time, will see a a new company launched, Red Essential, which will be based at The Cooking Vinyl Group’s west London offices.

RED’s Ian Dutt and Essential founder Mike Chadwick will assume the ...