This seems very odd to me. I bought 2 Topic albums from a well known chain within a month of release. Both had CM cards (actually Music by Mail which is a CM company) inside. I cant believe CM would go to the trouble and expense of buying CDs from a distributor such as Proper then sell them on to HMV. The price you pay from a distributor for most new full price CDs is aprox £7 - £8 plus VAT. Would CM actually pay this amount to sell at a similar price to the shops. Somehow I don't think so.

I checked with a friend who works at HMV. He says they certainly order many titles on assorted labels from CM. Apparently many labels use more than one distributor! He says they buy "product" (his term not mine) from CM and even gave me some pof the labels they have bought from DBs company. These have included include Topic, Fuse, Fellside, Making Waves, Edsel, Wooden Hill as well as labels CM or DB owns such as Trailer, Leader, Black Crow, etc.

I'm sorry if this goes against the general opinion, but I say again: If all these reputable labels and businesses are prepared to deal with CM on a long term basis, then he must be doing something right.

Anyway..time for bed

all the best and happy new year