Interesting...

http://www.residentadvisor.net/news.asp?ID=7535

Contrary to rumours of a possible shake-up at Ministry of Sound, the UK's largest independent record company, have continued their electronic music expansion plan by acquiring the Hed Kandi record label along with the Enterprise Records division of Smooth FM (formerly Jazz FM) from Guardian Media Group Radio Holdings for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition will include the full scope of the Hed Kandi brand with their strong events presence no doubt a key element of the takeover.

All associated labels of the GMG Radio Records division including One Two Records are also included within the deal. Lohan Presencer, Managing Director of Ministry of Sound Recordings is obviously excited by the development:

"We are very excited at the prospect of bringing our two businesses together. Hed Kandi is a brilliant brand with great integrity, built very skillfully by the team over many years. We look forward to preserving Hed Kandi's core values while helping to build the business still further."

Equally as positive about the move is John Myers, CEO of GMG Radio who clearly understood the Hed Kandi project had outgrown its humble beginnings and required the experience of a larger developed team to manage the label:

"Hed Kandi is a great brand but it is clear to us that it needs to be part of a much larger and experienced record business and this sale will now allow our team to focus on the development of our radio portfolio which is expected to see significant development over the coming months."

Came as a bit of a surprise last week, bit it's still too early to tell what will happen - might be a good thing actually.

.............maybe the video for your next single could be a scantily clad group of laydeez in a gym - or running down a street - or doing something sexually provocative played 74 times a day on 10 music channels.... argh!
MOS usually go into overkill with branding for the sake of commercialism - but hopefully the guys @ Hed Kandi can keep a reign on the integrity values of the brand - please don't let them destroy our Kandi!! Please say they won't Stone - please say they won't

You have to look at this thing from several angles. It is true that MoS is a well oiled machine and they definately know how to run their label and clubs. They run a business and they are one of the strongest players out there and it's hard to keep it underground and be massive at the same time. Hed Kandi have gone through some radical changes over the last year and my personal feeling is that the brand itself could need some stability. It might not mean that it will be brought back to the original Nu Cool, but then again, that would probably never happen after all the success they've had over the years. Ministry must know the brand well and why it has become successful so hopefully, they will use the best and fix the rest.

Stoney, you should have a career in diplomacy someday.

Should be interesting to see what happens to HK. Hopefully MoS won't try to recoup their (probably sizeable) investment immediately by cheapening and burning out the HK brand.

I just hope the HK artists MoS inherited are treated at least fairly by MoS and hopefully much much better. Best case scenario is that MoS realizes the talent they now have and do a better job of promoting than HK's smaller resources allowed. Here's hoping that happens.

Since HK lost its original roots i feel like it will just be a money pot to be honest, i think mark did a cracking job building up the kandi empire and since hes left the company it just isnt the same. I feel that HK as a brand has been diminished now and completley think MOS will loose alot of money on keeping it going as they seem to be closing the gap on with thier own brand to what HK actually was. I rate HK for introducing me to all things house from back to love right through to acid lounge ETC but now i think the day of the compilation cd's are coming to an end with more and more people wanting to explore artists and thier material in more depth hence not an easy opt of of buying a mix compliation, plus it dosent do as much justice for the artist in terms of sales although it is a good foundation for promoting awarness.

Plus the artwork is pant for the new HK

Peace out, Buy albums not compilations !!!!

KK/