Proper Records

What Proper Records does

Proper Records is a UK-based independent record label founded in 1996 and operating as Proper Records Ltd from Dartford, Kent. The company's core business is the reissuing of classic and cult albums on audiophile-quality 180g vinyl, with strict replication of original packaging including gatefold sleeves, lyric booklets, and inserts. Catalog is licensed from major labels including Polydor, Island Records, Virgin Records, and Decca, spanning folk, progressive rock, jazz-funk, electronic, reggae, and Americana genres across artists such as John Cale, John Martyn, Level 42, Shed Seven, Joan Baez, Wishbone Ash, Ladyhawke, Max Romeo, and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs.

The product portfolio is organised under the UMCLP vinyl catalogue numbering series and extends beyond reissues into distribution and retail of new album releases from contemporary artists including Graham Nash, Amy Speace, Gretchen Peters, Cowboy Junkies, and Diana Jones. The label runs a multi-channel direct-to-consumer e-commerce operation through propermusic.com and proper-records.co.uk, supplemented by physical retail distribution through independent record stores and online marketplaces. Founder Malcolm Mills leads the company, which employs 1-10 people and operates as part of the broader Proper Music Group.

Revenue is generated through one-time-purchase vinyl sales (and ancillary CD/digital for new releases) with no subscription or licensing-recurring model. Go-to-market is event-driven: new release announcements on the website and social channels, plus anniversary-driven editions (e.g., Level 42 World Machine 40th anniversary). Marketing is conducted organically across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Spotify, with no paid acquisition infrastructure disclosed. The customer base is horizontal, targeting vinyl collectors and music enthusiasts seeking out-of-print and premium-pressed catalog titles.

Name

Proper Records

Legal name

Proper Records Ltd

Website

https://proper-records.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Proper Records is a UK-based independent record label founded in 1996 that specialises in reissuing classic and cult albums on audiophile-quality 180g vinyl, licensing catalog from major labels and selling through propermusic.com e-commerce and indie record stores. It serves vinyl collectors and music enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vinyl Record Reissues

NAICS

Record Production and Distribution (51225)

SIC

Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)

akta.pro primary industry

Record Labels (Major & Independent) (MPAIAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Master Rights Ownership & Catalog Management (MPAIAAAB)

Keywords

• Vinyl record reissues
• Record label
• Audiophile vinyl pressing
• Album reissue catalog
• 180g vinyl pressings

Headquarters

HQ city

Dartford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Vinyl Record Sales: Proper Records generates revenue through the sale of vinyl record reissues. Albums are pressed on high-quality 180g vinyl and sold as new releases through their e-commerce platforms and retail distribution.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Proper Records is a UK-based record label specializing in vinyl reissues of classic and cult albums from artists spanning multiple decades and genres. The company licenses catalog from major labels (Polydor, Island Records, Virgin Records, Decca) and re-presses albums on high-quality 180g vinyl, faithfully replicating original packaging including gatefold sleeves, lyric books, and inserts. The label also distributes new album releases from contemporary artists through its propermusic.com platform.

Product overview

Proper Records operates as a vinyl record re-issue specialist and music retailer under the Proper Music Group umbrella. The core offering consists of vinyl re-issues of classic and cult albums from artists spanning multiple decades and genres, including Britpop acts (Shed Seven, Cast), progressive rock (Caravan, Fairport Convention, Wishbone Ash), folk (Joan Baez, Fairport Convention), electronic (Level 42), and contemporary artists. Re-issues are produced on high-quality 180g vinyl with faithful replication of original packaging. The company also distributes and retails new album releases through its propermusic.com e-commerce platform and physical store. All products are distributed under catalogue numbers (UMCLP series for vinyl) and barcodes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vinyl Record Re-issues Proper Records specializes in re-issuing classic and cult albums on vinyl format. The company licenses catalog from major labels including Polydor, Island Records, Virgin Records, and Decca to re-press albums on high-quality 180g vinyl. Each re-issue faithfully replicates original packaging including gatefold sleeves, lyric books, and inserts.
• New Release Album Distribution Distribution and retail of new album releases from contemporary artists including Graham Nash, Joan Baez, Amy Speace, Gretchen Peters, Cowboy Junkies, and Diana Jones. Albums are available on CD and digital formats alongside vinyl through the propermusic.com storefront.
• Propermusic.com E-commerce Storefront E-commerce platform for the Proper Records catalog, allowing purchase of vinyl re-issues, new releases, and catalog titles. Operated as part of Proper Music Group.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cherry Red Records: Larger UK independent label with a substantial reissue catalog (and reissue-focused sub-labels like Esoteric Recordings); broader scope than Proper Records but overlapping in licensed catalog reissues on physical formats.
• 4AD: Established UK/US independent record label with a long history of vinyl-forward releases and curated catalog; comparable as an independent label with strong vinyl DNA but with a much broader artist roster.
• Rhino Records: Major-label affiliated (Warner) catalog and reissue specialist with deep vinyl reissue catalog across rock, pop, and jazz; broader incumbent offering overlapping audiophile reissues but at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Music On Vinyl: Dutch vinyl reissue specialist pressing classic albums on premium 180g vinyl; very similar operating model — licensing catalog from major labels and selling audiophile reissues globally.
• Light in the Attic Records: US-based independent label specializing in vinyl reissues of cult and overlooked classic recordings; directly comparable in its audiophile-grade 180g presentation and curated catalog approach.
• Real Gone Music: US-based vinyl reissue label focused on classic rock, soul, country, and jazz catalog on 180g vinyl; comparable boutique-scale, catalog-licensed reissue business with similar collector target audience.
• Demon Records: UK-based vinyl reissue label and part of Demon Music Group; operates directly comparable reissue and catalog-focused business with similar major-label licensing model and audiophile vinyl positioning.

Emerging players

• Daptone Records: Independent label with strong vinyl identity focused on soul, funk, and Afrobeat; smaller-scale peer with vinyl-led operations and a collector-audience overlap, though more focused on new recordings than reissues.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ProperRecords
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/propertv
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProperRecords
• Instagraminstagram.com/proper.records
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/proper-records-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Proper Records