U.K. DISTRIBUTOR UTOPIA COLLAPSES

One of the U.K.’s biggest physical distributors, Utopia Distribution Services, is being taken over by Dubai logistics company DP World after filing bankruptcy paperwork 12/13 in London.

The news was first reported by CMU, which has closely followed the collapse of Swiss startup and UDS owner Utopia Music and its subsidiaries. Last month, Utopia was forced into bankruptcy in Switzerland.

UDS' 25k-square-meter Bicester warehouse opened in 2023 following Utopia’s acquisition of physical distributor Cinram the prior year. It is said to distribute 70% of the U.K.’s physical music, for clients like Universal, Sony and [PIAS], as well as 35% of the U.K.’s physical video market.

DP World, which was UDS' landlord, told CMU that it is now taking on full responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the distribution center.