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Stiff Records' six-week dispute with Island — which led to the independent company's entire catalogue vanishing from retailer's shelves — has been resolved.
Stiff directors Jake Riviera and Dave Robinson have re-negotiated a three-year pressing and distribution contract with Island, which means that the albums Damned Damned Damned (SEEZ 1), A Bunch Of Stiffs (SEEZ 2) and Nick Lowe's Bowi EP (LAST 1) are available immediately.
All singles on the Stiff label up to the Adverts' "One Chord Wonder" (BUY 14) have been deleted. "We are running a record company, not a museum," commented Riviera.
Under the previous agreement negotiated in March, Island handled press and promotion. Now Stiff is to look after this side of the operation for itself. Vinyl Mogul remains as press and promotions officer until Fay Hart arrives to take up this post in early August.
The dispute — the cause of which remains a mystery — was finally resolved after Riviera, Robinson, Island managing director Tim Clark flew out to New York for talks with Island chief Chris Blackwell.
The first offering under the new deal will be the Elvis Costello album, My Aim Is True (SEEZ 3), which is rush-released on July 22. In an unusual marketing campaign, the first 1,000 copies of this LP contain a Help Us Hype Elvis leaflet. Customers will be able to send a free album to the person of their choice for the cost of postage. The Costello album retails at the normal Stiff price of £3.49.
Commented Tim Clark: "We are happy to have come to a new agreement with Stiff. They thought the original deal was too restrictive, but our new arrangement allows Stiff more autonomy and the freedom to promote in their own inimitable style."
Coinciding with the new pressing and distribution deal, Stiff has announced the appointment of Paul Conroy as general manager and Suzanne Spiro as general manager.
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