Exceleration Music Expands Operations through Acquisition of Redeye

Exceleration Music, the prominent global independent music company dedicated to advancing the future of independent music, has announced a substantial expansion of its operational reach with the acquisition of Redeye, a leading worldwide digital and physical distribution and music services company. The acquisition also encompasses Redeye's in-house labels Yep Roc and Sundazed, and its publishing company Riff City Sounds.

Under the terms of this strategic transaction, Redeye founders Glenn Dicker and Tor Hansen have become shareholders in Exceleration Music. Dicker and Hansen will continue to lead Redeye, maintaining its existing team and infrastructure, while benefiting from the additional resources and expertise offered by the Exceleration Music partners and team. Redeye represents several of the world's top independent labels, in the USA and globally, including Beggars Group, Domino, New West, Yep Roc, Sundazed, Saddle Creek, Mom+Pop, Kemado/Mexican Summer, Stones Throw, Warp, Drag City, Real Gone, Innovative Leisure, Carpark, !K7, Thrill Jockey, Luaka Bop, Partisan, Sargent House, Ninja Tune, Barsuk, Daptone, the Exceleration labels and more. Much more.

This acquisition marks a pivotal moment for Exceleration Music which, since its inception in 2020, has concentrated on investing in the acquisition, production, and optimization of music rights. The expansion provides independent music partners of both Exceleration and Redeye with a fully independent and well-resourced path to market; comprising worldwide physical and digital distribution, as well as label, marketing, and technical expertise.

Exceleration Music's scope of operation now consists of two divisions:

1. The established rights group, which comprises investments and partnerships with culturally significant labels and catalogs such as +1 Records, Alligator, Azadi, Bloodshot, Candid, Heroic, Kill Rock Stars, Mom+Pop, SideOneDummy, The Ray Charles Foundation/Tangerine Records, and now Yep Roc and Sundazed.

2. The newly acquired distribution and label services business, which will continue to operate under the Redeye brand, helmed by its current leadership. The Exceleration partnership and executive team will provide additional support and resources.

Exceleration is led by its group of original founders, five of independent music’s most influential executives: Glen Barros (former CEO of Concord Music Group), Dave Hansen (Executive Chairman of Merlin and former GM of Epitaph), Charles Caldas (former CEO of Merlin), Amy Dietz (former GM of Ingrooves) and John Burk (GRAMMY-winning producer and former president of Concord Records).

Founded by Tor Hansen and Glenn Dicker, Redeye is headquartered in North Carolina and maintains a team of over 120, dispersed across 15 locations spanning the US, Canada, Europe, the UK and Australia. The company has been wholly owned and operated by Dicker, Hansen, and their team.

“The addition of Redeye, Yep Roc, Sundazed and Riff City Sounds represents an important expansion of Exceleration’s overall strategy to strengthen the independent community,” says Exceleration Music partner Glen Barros. “Redeye already provides a great service to an impressive set of first-rate indie labels looking for a distributor that can service both physical and digital channels on a global basis. Together with Glenn, Tor and the Redeye team, we plan to expand Redeye’s already impressive network and to collectively help our current, and future label partners to truly thrive.”

“Working with the Exceleration team feels like expanding the family,” says Redeye co-founder Glenn Dicker. “Sharing strong ideals and a strategic vision, it feels like the next natural step on our journey towards providing our world class distribution service to an expanded independent community.”

Redeye maintains a robust European distribution operation in Sweden (acquired through its merger with Border Music in 2019), and has emerged as a vital player in the realm of independent distribution and label services.

Redeye also owns and manages two significant US labels: Yep Roc, home to esteemed artists like Nick Lowe, Dave Alvin, Aoife O’Donovan, Alejandro Escovedo, Chuck Prophet, and Jobi Riccio, as well as the Sundazed label, a prominent reissue label in the United States.

Exceleration views this acquisition as a means to strengthen its mission of supporting the independent music community comprehensively. The deal empowers Exceleration to manage all aspects of music's journey to the streaming and physical markets, delivering fully independent worldwide distribution and label services to its labels, strategic partners, and distribution clients. The company is funded by investments from each of its partners, as well as institutional and private investors who are committed to providing the resources necessary for Exceleration to execute its strategy and mission.

The integration of Exceleration's expanding catalog into Redeye's systems is set to bolster their market offerings, driving additional revenue. The expanded entity aims to provide a robust, self-sustaining, fully independent path to market for artists and labels.

Redeye's operational structure remains unchanged, with founders Tor Hansen and Glenn Dicker retaining their leadership roles. Key executives, including Michael Petkov, Head of International; Jason Taylor, Director of Global Sales (Physical and Digital); Laura Pittard, Director of Global Marketing; Michael Howard, Associate V.P. of Global Operations; Hank Stockard, Global Business Development Director; Sean Pecor, IT Director; and Jim Trenner, Global Accounting Director, continue to be instrumental in Redeye's ongoing success.

### About Exceleration Music

Exceleration Music is a company formed by global music industry leaders Glen Barros, John Burk, Amy Dietz, Charles Caldas and Dave Hansen, to invest in the future of independent labels and artists. Established in 2020 with the core founding values of integrity, fairness, openness, humility and excellence, Exceleration offers personalized solutions to entrepreneurs seeking capital to achieve growth as well as those trying to achieve liquidity or an honorable exit. The company’s growing team of data, sales, and marketing experts works to preserve and enhance the legacies of both entrepreneurs and their artists alike. To date, Exceleration has acquired or formed strategic relationships with leading independents including +1 Records, Alligator, Azadi,

Bloodshot, Candid, Heroic, Kill Rock Stars, Mom+Pop, SideOneDummy and The Ray Charles Foundation/Tangerine Records. Learn more at www.excelerationmusic.com.

### About Redeye

Founded in 1996, Redeye has grown into one of the most respected digital and physical distribution companies in the world. Charting a course of steady, sustainable growth by developing a strong worldwide physical and digital distribution network, Redeye provides a multitude of services to its partners. Inspired by a relentless passion for music, Redeye connects independent artists and labels to an expanding global marketplace through extraordinary customer service and sales and marketing expertise. Redeye is represented worldwide with offices in more than 13 cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, London, Toronto, Berlin, Gothenburg, Paris, and Sydney, and has its home office and warehouse in Hillsborough, North Carolina. https://www.redeyeworldwide.com/