Cooking Vinyl in Formal Tie-up with £Multi-Million Icebreaker VC Fund

Unique partnership represents a new and exciting business model for the music industry“The Music Company of the Future”, 4.15pm, 13^th May, The Great EscapeBrighton, UK, 13^th May 2011:- Cooking Vinyl Group chairman Martin Goldschmidt will today announce that Cooking Vinyl is to become an official introducer of business to a newly established multi-million pound investment fund, being provided by Icebreaker. The announcement will be made during his address to the aptly-titled panel, “The Music Company Of The Future”, part of Brighton festival The Great Escape’s convention strand.Under the new arrangement, artists signing to Cooking Vinyl Records and sister company Essential Music & Marketing will have access to an exclusive pool of music funding. With the company’s long reputation for talent discovery and development (Billy Bragg, the Prodigy, Underworld), Cooking Vinyl’s team will exercise their discretion, introducing Icebreaker LLPs to exciting opportunities to further the careers and profiles of artists both emerging and established.Icebreaker LLPs have already been involved with various projects produced and distributed through Cooking Vinyl and Essential, including Marilyn Manson’s eagerly anticipated new album.  The establishment of the new fund reflects not only the positive experience for both companies of that project, but also the immense possibilities opened up by the pairing of the innovative and open minded label with Icebreaker, leaders of a new breed of venture capital active in the music industry.Cooking Vinyl are already in talks with a number of artists about possible deals that will involve Icebreaker. A number of high-profile signings are expected to be made over the next 12 months.Said Martin Goldschmidt, founder and MD Cooking Vinyl, “This is the first time to my knowledge that Venture Capital has teamed with a record label in such a significant way. We’re excited that Icebreaker have recognised the experience and professionalism that Cooking Vinyl bring to the equation. Between us we have the skills and financial leverage to maximise the chances of a project’s success.”Caroline Hamilton, founder and MD Icebreaker Management added, “Our investors have a huge appetite for professionally managed acts.  We’re delighted to be working alongside the people at Cooking Vinyl and we’re confident that, with their assistance, we will be able to help maximise returns for the Icebreaker LLPs, and at the same ensure that talent is properly rewarded.”About Icebreaker ManagementIcebreaker Management is the adviser and administrator to the Icebreaker LLPs.  Since 2004, when the first LLP started trading, these LLPs have raised over £350 million of capital from private individuals.  These have helped fund the production and distribution of nearly 150 music albums from a range of new and established British, Irish and other artists and musicians.  Recent and current acts include Marilyn Manson, Beverley Knight and Sinead O’Connor.About Cooking Vinyl RecordsCooking Vinyl has developed a reputation as one of Europe’s prime artist-focused independent labels, inspiring an enviable loyalty among its artist roster. It is also in the vanguard of music companies offering innovative services-only deals that claim no stake in artists’ copyrights.Cooking Vinyl take full responsibility for the management of a project whether functioning as a label or in a services-only setting. Adding more than just marketing muscle, Cooking Vinyl devise and implement worldwide sales, marketing and distribution plans for their artists, working alongside booking agents and artist managers.www.cookingvinyl.com