Posted December 9, 201311 yr Stock threat hits UK music retailers by Tom Pakinkis http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/stock-t...etailers/056988 UK music retailers are under threat of losing vital Christmas takings, as the country's leading CD distributor apologises for significant stock delays. Music Week has been contacted by a number of music retailers this week expressing concern over a “severe” backlog of orders at Arvato - which handles physical distribution for the likes of Universal Music, Warner Music, Sony Music and [PIAS]. A spokesperson from Arvato told Music Week: “We’d like to apologise to anyone who has been affected by a delay in receiving their stock and can assure them that we’re doing everything we can to rectify the situation as soon as possible." These delays have arisen despite the company’s strict 24-hour turnaround policy, and are believed to have affected HMV, Amazon and independent music retailers across the country. Some retailers have told Music Week said that they are currently receiving orders 4-5 days late in some cases. “Arvato has severely underestimated the amount of orders and the change from bulk ordering on a few lines to singles over more lines,” said one Arvato client under condition of anonymity. "Some shops are waiting on orders from around the 20th November. [Arvato] appears to have completely underestimated how busy Christmas would be – especially with vinyl sales, which face the longest delays." The Arvato spokesperson added: “If anyone has a question relating to a delayed delivery, they can contact our customer services team on 0330 100 0640 for more information.” Pick up next week’s issue of Music Week for an update and full reaction from the UK entertainment retail world. http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/stock-t...etailers/056988 'A disaster for labels, artists and fans': music stock crisis angers UK retailers by Tom Pakinkis http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/disaste...-deepens/056995 Significant stock delays at the UK’s leading CD distributor have sparked “huge anger” among retailers and could spell disaster for labels, artists and music fans at Christmas. That’s according to the Entertainment Retailers Association - the trade representative of retailers including Amazon and HMV in the UK. ERA told Music Week that the distributor’s backlog, resulting in delays of up to a week, is “simply not good enough”. “There is huge anger among retailers who rely on timely deliveries at this important time of the year,” said ERA director general Kim Bayley. “Up to a week’s delay on orders is simply not good enough. What is more galling is that the issue was raised weeks ago and Arvato should have been prepared. “This is not just an issue for retailers – it is potentially disastrous for labels, for artists and for music fans,” she added. “If Arvato do not tackle their problems within days, it is likely that music simply won’t make it into many people’s Christmas stockings at all.” At the end of last week, a spokesperson from Arvato told Music Week: “We’d like to apologise to anyone who has been affected by a delay in receiving their stock and can assure them that we’re doing everything we can to rectify the situation as soon as possible." The apology followed after retailers and wholesalers across the country contacted Music Week expressing concerns over the delays, with one Arvato customer saying that the distributor “appears to have completely underestimated how busy Christmas would be”. The Arvato spokesperson added: “If anyone has a question relating to a delayed delivery, they can contact our customer services team on 0330 100 0640 for more information.” Pick up Thursday’s issue of Music Week for an update and full reaction from the UK entertainment retail world. http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/disaste...-deepens/056995
December 9, 201311 yr I know I'm stating the obvious, but it's rather unfortunate that this would happen right now.
December 9, 201311 yr Maybe this will lead to an increase in digital album sales? Not if the reason you're trying to buy one, is to give it as a present...
December 9, 201311 yr Doesn't seem to have affected 1D and Robbie's album sales though does it? ;) Edited December 9, 201311 yr by Common Sense
December 9, 201311 yr Doesn't seem to have affected 1D and Robbie's album sales though does it? ;)Not really, but they're still under performing compared to past Christmas sales. (If that makes sense)
December 9, 201311 yr So after a year of the underperforming album market, the one month people do want to buy albums there's a shortage. Well done record industry.
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