Music publisher climbs into world’s top 25

Liverpool-based music publisher Ditto has made into the world’s top 25 labels and distributors for 2016 based on sales.

The research carried out by Music Business Weekly (using stats from the annual report of trusted market monitor, BuzzAngle) includes brand leaders Sony, Warners and Universal, marking out Ditto as the only truly independent company in this list.

Ditto, which now has offices across the globe, remains solely owned by brothers Matt and Lee Parsons who launched the company from their bedroom in 2005.

Ditto made it to Number 24 in the list with 850,703 song sales in 2016 and 328,972,789 streams.

Director Matt said: “Our success is solely down to our artists. When my brother and I started Ditto back in 2007 there were no outlets for releasing music independently.

“Ten years later we are finally at the same table as the majors and we are going to continue to bridge that gap.

“We will continue to champion our artists who are the people that are playing shows, locked in practice rooms, recording music, the people that keep our industry moving forward day every day.”

Ditto has published music for 100,000 bands worldwide and launched over 19,500 record labels. Ditto now have offices in Nashville, San Diego and Texas as well as Melbourne and London, and continues to retain its head office in Liverpool’s Grade II-listed Elevator warehouse.

Tim Speed, director at Elevator, said: “Ditto has reached another level in terms of international sales, competing with massive global concerns that have traditionally dominated the market. It’s fantastic to see what was a relatively small operation, gather massive momentum and make an impact on music sales around the world.

“Ditto are a great part of the Elevator community and are incredibly representative of what the building is about. Housing and supporting creative brands and businesses is what Elevator do and we are very proud of everything Ditto have achieved in such a short time.”

The Parsons relocated from Birmingham to Liverpool, citing the lack of musical inspiration in their home city and the excessive costs of London living as prohibitive, visiting Liverpool during Sound City and making the move soon after.

With two staff on board, Ditto took on small offices initially within Elevator Studios and have continued to expand in the past six years, relocating within the warehouse.