Sony Merges The Orchard and Red Essentials

Sony Music's two independent artist and label services firms in the UK – The Orchard and Red Essentials – are merging. Could Sony Music, now under new leadership, be planning a similar combination for The Orchard and Sony RED in the United States; and if so, which company would come out on top?

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The Orchard and Red Essentials are merging their indie label services operations in the UK. The newly formed, Sony owned company will be called The Orchard.Ian Dutt and Mike Chadwick, currently the co-Managing Directors of Red Essential, will run the new business. Essential Music & Marketing was acquired by Sony Music UK in March 2016 and merged with Sony Red to create Red Essential."Combining the companies harnesses the seasoned expertise of both teams, offering artists and labels an unmatched slate of services including physical and digital, sales, marketing, promotion, synch licensing, neighbouring rights, strategy and analysis in more than 30 markets across the globe," the company said in a statementThe amalgamated companies have partnerships with artists including 2016 Mercury Music Prize and 2017 Ivor Novello winner Skepta as well as Run The Jewels, Giggs, Joey BadA$$, Lower Than Atlantis, Alter Bridge and Anderson .Paak. There are also ongoing relationships with labels including Cooking Vinyl, Cherry Red, Snapper, Red Bull Records, Demon, Thirty Tigers and the London Symphony Orchestra.