The Dutch vinyl pressing plant Deepgrooves has announced its closure amid claims of “fraud” from some of its customers.
The plant, which is based in Leeuwarden, declared bankruptcy on October 25, but several labels and artists who worked with the plant are now claiming that they are still owed substantial sums of money that they had been promised.
As reported by Resident Advisor, clients of Deepgrooves, including Into The Deep Records, Clutching At Straws and Rocco.fx, are now claiming that they are owed thousands of Euros for vinyl deliveries that never arrived in what amounts to a fraud by the pressing plant.
Into The Deep boss Arthur Lastmann says he sent £3,500 to the plant in January this year for a vinyl order of an upcoming release, but only received a defective test pressing. He was then sent a series of email contacts but did not receive his order before the bankruptcy notice was filed.
Brian Ring, owner of the Clutching At Straws label, has said, “I think Deepgrooves knew back as early as 2023 it was in a dire financial state and still took orders it could never complete.”
Ring paid the company in June this year, but experienced faulty communications before learning of the bankruptcy.
Deepgrooves’ affairs are now controlled by a trustee, Wybe Molemma, who told Resident Advisor: “Products that have already been produced are available and can be delivered. For products that haven’t yet been manufactured, there is potential for these to be fulfilled in the event of a restart. Unfortunately, these are difficult circumstances, and it may not be possible to assist everyone affected.”
Artist Kylian Van Beem says he is owned over £4000 by the company for a printing for his band Ardor Lane, and has said that he and other victims are exploring the possibility of legal action.
Deepgrooves’ website says it intends to “make a fresh start”, with investors Jan’t Hoen and Arnoud Aalbersberg committed to giving “the only green vinyl pressing plant” in the Netherlands a second life.
In August, a report was published examining the environmental impact and carbon footprint of the vinyl industry. The Vinyl Record Manufacturers Association and the Vinyl Alliance found the footprint of a single record is in the region of a 1.15kg carbon dioxide equivalent, slightly less than an 80z steak, but more than a load of laundry or a pint of milk.
Elsewhere in the vinyl production business, independent record labels have expressed worry after a large vinyl distribution company, Utopia Music, has started to involve major labels in its finances.
English (US) · 