Rise of the Replicants

The news that Clone is returning with no less than six sublabels is good news for fans of electronic music, but of equal importance and significance is the Dutch operation's decision to embrace a range of specialities. Focusing on German club techno, Drexciyan electro, classic NY house as well as the Chicago and Italo Disco sounds they are better known for sends out a strong signal that they are taking a wider view of what constitutes contemporary underground electronic music. In so doing, Clone is following a modus operandi that has been advocated a few times on this site over the past few years, albeit with their own spin on it. The approach that I advised was for a group of small labels to come together, form their own physical/digital distribution operation and sell directly to shops, cutting out the middle man. Given that Clone already have a third-party distribution firm in place as well as a virtual and 'real world' shop, the launch of the six outlets provides the missing part, well since the mother label closed a few months ago, of the picture. Clone now not only have the sales and distribution sorted, it looks like they will also own a huge bulk of music they will sell. What impact if any this development will have on the other independent labels that Clone distributes is unclear-  my feeling is that it won't make any difference - but the next burning question is whether Clone  have plans to take total control and to open a digital download store or to acquire a pressing plant. Given what they've just announced, it doesn't seem too far-fetched...

Comments

[tom/pipecock]

while i am happy to see Clone returning in full force, it makes me a bit irritated that they decide to chop everything up into subgenres. i guess this is because too many deejays play only things from labels that put out same sounding music? that's not how it should be! but if that's how they think they can make their business model work, so be it.

[star trek voyager]

I love your blog so much, and there are just some differences with others'. Hope there will be more wonderful things in your blog. Happy every day! http://www.star-trek-dvd.com/star_trek/Voyager/index.html

[dillinjaxx]

I really like that lately u post almost everyday and the best thing is I have time to read it :D Give us a mix man!I'd like to hear your taste in house.Btw I really enjoyed the Don mix.thnx

[Brophy]

Tom, I'm not sure why they are doing it the way they are - maybe because they saw how successful the Classics sublabel is?

Dillinjaxx: glad you like reading the site - I'm getting new monitors this week or next week so soon after that I'll post a mix...