KOCH Entertainment Distribution Inks with RUNT

For Multi-Label Deal

(Port Washington, New York) September 29, 2004--KOCH Entertainment Distribution, the leading independent distributor of music, video and DVD, announced today that it has signed a distribution deal with RUNT Distribution to handle seven of the company’s labels.

Under this agreement, KOCH will have exclusive distribution rights for the following RUNT labels: 4 Men With Beards featuring audiophile 180 gram vinyl reissues of best-selling rock, soul, and jazz, Ampersand specializing in music from avant-garde masters such as John Cage, Henry Flynt, and Derek Bailey, Arcanum Entertainment, a Los Angeles based DVD and music purveyor specializing in unusual, arcane and sometimes bizarre, films and soundtracks, Dagored specializing in Italian soundtracks and DVDs of select Italian films of the 1970s,

DBK Works, an eclectic label with releases by established indie artists as well as quality major label CD reissues, ESP-DISK’, the legendary avant music label formed in the 60s that introduced the world to Albert Ayler, Ornette Coleman, Pharoah Sanders, Pearls Before Swine, and many others, and Revenant, (vinyl) LP versions of the releases from the Grammy-winning “raw music” label.

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, RUNT Distribution was formed in 1996 by music industry veteran Filippo Salvadori. Salvadori has been instrumental in the early careers of several established indie artists, including releasing the debut album from Cat Power. The company has a growing number of exclusive labels and manufactures and markets releases on their in-house imprints, which also includes an impressive catalog of vinyl product.

"We're excited to bring these labels to KOCH and look forward to the increased market penetration that KOCH can provide for 4 Men With Beards, Ampersand, Arcanum Entertainment, Dagored, DBK Works, ESP-Disk', and Revenant (vinyl),” said Filippo Salvadori, Founder and President of RUNT Distribution.

Michael Rosenberg, President of KOCH Entertainment Distribution adds, “We are very excited to be distributing these key labels for RUNT and look forward to bringing their eclectic product line to a broader retail base.”

KOCH Entertainment
KOCH Entertainment is the leading and fastest-growing independent music and video company in the U.S.  KOCH's operations encompass record and video labels and distribution companies in the U.S. and Canada.  KOCH Entertainment is the market leader among independents in both the U.S. and Canada and its record labels had the largest number of Billboard charting albums among independents in 2002/2003.