Across London, as well as other British cities including Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool, rioters have been looting and mindlessly destroying property for the last few days. TV screens have been dominated by clashes with police, theft of clothing and consumer electronics, and the wanton torching of vehicles and businesses. When the riots first started, they were an escalation of a protest against the shooting of Mark Duggan by police, but they quickly deteriorated into nothing more than rampant criminality with no political purpose or moral vindication.
Small independent traders have been hit hard by the riots, dispelling any suggestion that the unrest has a legitimate, or at least definable, anti-capitalist agenda. One big company that was affected, however, was Sony, whose Enfield warehouse has been burnt to the ground. It is believed that as many as 30 million DVDs may have been lost in the blaze, but much of this stock actually belonged to independent British film distributors.
Pias - the UK's largest distributor of independent music - also based themselves at the 3-storey, 20,000 square metre building. Around 200 independent record labels distribute their stock through Pias, with artists such as Adele and Arctic Monkeys being affected.
Also based at the 3-storey, 20,000 square metre building were Pias, the UK's largest distributor of independent music. Roughly 200 independent record labels, with artists like Adele and Arctic Monkeys as well as lesser-known names on their rosters, use Pias to distribute their stock. Many distributors will now be forced to reschedule forthcoming releases.
Labels affected by the fire are being supported through a campaign launched by the LabelLove website. Through the site, fans will be able to donate money, or stay informed about other ways in which they can support the independent labels. There are various benefit events in the pipeline, and it's anticipated that the artists signed to the labels involved will help to publicise the campaign.
Small independent traders have been hit hard by the riots, dispelling any suggestion that the unrest has a legitimate, or at least definable, anti-capitalist agenda. One big company that was affected, however, was Sony, whose Enfield warehouse has been burnt to the ground. It is believed that as many as 30 million DVDs may have been lost in the blaze, but much of this stock actually belonged to independent British film distributors.
Pias - the UK's largest distributor of independent music - also based themselves at the 3-storey, 20,000 square metre building. Around 200 independent record labels distribute their stock through Pias, with artists such as Adele and Arctic Monkeys being affected.
Also based at the 3-storey, 20,000 square metre building were Pias, the UK's largest distributor of independent music. Roughly 200 independent record labels, with artists like Adele and Arctic Monkeys as well as lesser-known names on their rosters, use Pias to distribute their stock. Many distributors will now be forced to reschedule forthcoming releases.
Labels affected by the fire are being supported through a campaign launched by the LabelLove website. Through the site, fans will be able to donate money, or stay informed about other ways in which they can support the independent labels. There are various benefit events in the pipeline, and it's anticipated that the artists signed to the labels involved will help to publicise the campaign.