Hooj Choons no more!

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    Fri, Sep 19, 2003, 06:14
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  • UK label, Hooj Choons, may have released their last record with Aphasia's 'Acapulco'. The label, which has been around record stores for 13 long years, appears to be another victim of the slump in worldwide vinyl sales. The label has gone into liquidation, and their current situation doesn't offer much hope when such a large and respected label is struggling to survive. The label has been home to many classics cuts. Brilliant artists such as Oliver Lieb, Energy 52, 16B, Nalin & Kane, Medway, Pete Lazonby and Peace Division have all called Hooj home at one stage or another. This was the official word given about the label.
    It is with deep regret that we have to inform you that Hooj Choons, as we know it, is no more. Following two years of fairly horrendous financial struggle, during which time we fought to trade our way out of mounting debt problems, we've had to call in the professionals to resolve matters once and for all. Naturally, this has come about as a direct result of: Sept 11/ any middle eastern conflict you care to name/ downloading/ the slump in the global economy/ music industry/ dance music industry... No, the truth is that as distinguished labels, clubs and magazines shut down around us, we failed to react quickly or effectively enough to what was going on. We thought we'd seen this happen before, and could work our way out of it, but this was a different kind of slump... ...Its been a long, and until recently, enjoyable ride and we thank everyone for their support over the past twelve years.
    Despite the fall of Hooj Choons the label, other parts of the Hooj empire are not immediately affected.
    Saddened as we all are by the situation, please be assured that none of this affects hooj.com in the immediate future. Key members of staff involved in Hooj.com, one of the few parts of the Hooj set up to do well despite current industry problems, will be running Hooj.com as usual for the time being. Over the next month however, there will be a name and ownership change and a whole new look to the site as time and resources spent fighting the fight over at Hooj Choons are redeployed towards the site. Expect to see a wider range of available music (in all formats) as redeployed additions to the team spend time delving into deeper, leftfield waters. Also look out for a proper DVD section specializing in culty/ arthouse/ quality independent films, as well all music related titles.
    A label like Hooj Choons will be sorely missed by the legion of fans that it conjured from the early years of Dance Music to the current day.
RA