Pinnacle goes into administration

NOTICE: David Harry Gilbert and William Matthew Humphries Tait were appointed Joint Administrators of Windsong Holdings Ltd and Pinnacle Entertainment Ltd on 3 December 2008. Please note that the joint administrators act as agents of the companies and wihtout personal liability. This does not affect Arvato Entertainment and Vibrant Music Group.

Sad end to a great company

i've been working for company for 18 years. think they should have waited till new year,to give us the news. i'm one of the ones that still got a job. some of the ones that have gone been there 20 years. we all upset about it. most have been crying there eyes out.

What does this mean to ADA UK? To Matador and Sub Pop?

This is very, very sad and such a shock to us all, but don't believe it when they say it was due to the UK economy - we know the real reason. Anybody got a job?

Shocking and very sad. I worked for Pinnacle on reception for 10 years in the earlier days. Sending my thoughts and big hugs to all my old colleagues who are still there and wondering how Steve (Mason) is feeling about it all. Jayne x

More terrible news in these harsh economic times. Having just gone through this myself I really feel for all the staff at Pinnacle - expecially hideous at this time of the year.

think steve mason will be gutted to see his company he founded go to pot like that.he be really sad to see the end of "his business".

yes it is sad news for those who have already lost their jobs but the most devasting part of it all is the way they selected the staff to stay and go. Those who were loyal and reliable have gone and a lot of those left have not been with the company very long well done

martine - do explain real reasons?

I was very distressed to be told that I had to leave. I worked at the Teardrop Centre near Swanley for 3 years and 2 months, but I never got made up to be "proper" staff. Due to the fact that I was an agency worker I was one of the first to go. Everyone was hugging each other and I cried - I couldn't help it. I drove away from the Teardrop Centre in my black Corsa with a tear in my eye.

I'm still in shock, it happened so quickly! I have such fond memories of my 7 years working at Pinnacle, i made some great friends, most of which i hope will stay in touch. There is so ideal time to lose your job but just before Christmas seems so harsh, and some people had to just pack straight up and leave, had i still have been working there i would have been pretty distressed as i know most people were. Good luck to everyone, i hope the New Year brings better things. End of an Era indeed!

As an artist who was about to see a retrospective release after 30 years of waiting to put the album out we are among countless bands affected by the collapse. Our story is not as directly affecting as people who worked there who have lost their jobs just before Christmas but it is still a disaster nonetheless. My career was built on the foundations of the independent music business. Which has gone to shit in most respects, resist globalisation of culture and art and support local artists wherever you live. Your plasma screen will still be there when you get home after a good night out.

myself and my wife had worked at pinnacle for 17/18 years and we both knew when it was bought out by the mangement earlier this year it would not see the year out and it was a lot more than 94 that went if you count the 30-40 full time warehouse staff and 83 agency in the warehouse

I started at Pinnacle in 1983 as a rep before even before Steve Mason purchased it. I have had some crazy times in those 25 years! I feel I have been hit with a sledgehammer! This industry is imploding fast

i'm still in shock at how they picked the people to go and stay just waiting for the news when we are next, not a nice way to spend xmas

I was one of the originals, joining Windsong in 1983 to a small but obviously growing business that proved it's strength by twice winning the Queens Award for industry. It was like a family: hectic, long hours but there was always a social side and you were awarded for your labours even if only verbally.. That all but vanished when the founder moved on - he probably knew the writing was on the wall - but Steve was always visible and aproachable. That is what has been missing and Martine, you are so right! I will miss everyone and I pass on my best wishes to those who have gone and even more to those who are left. It is a very very sad factor of life today but of no surprise to anyone. I sincerely hope the company survives. I really enjoyed my time and would do it all over again. Who knows what the future holds now?

I agree with Martine, had it been sorted out correctly in the first place maybe we would all be looking forward to a merry christmas instead of wondering what the hell we are going to do in the new year. I worked for Pinnacle for 22 years, and unfortunately the loyalty only went one way, pity we can't go back to the Steve Mason days, he knew his stuff... good luck to all my unfortunate colleagues and my friends over the years xxx

It's a shame, a real shame. I was there and I think we were just starting to move forward again, the previous couple of weeks had been some of the most productive for a very very long time. Sadly it was all too late and even worse Windsong got dragged down with Pinnacle. I dont belive they had a choice on timing there was good managment there towards the end, They just had no choice Administrators called the shots. STEVE MASON SOS

I worked for Pinnacle for just over 16 years. It was my first job after leaving school and I can't begin to imagine working outside the music industry. 3 days on and I'm still wandering around in a daze. However, I made some fantastic friends during my time so walk away with memories that they can't take from me. I will genuinely miss everybody, Nicky x

You can't help but think that Avarto knew what they were doing when they offloaded Pinnacle to the MBO in January : and you can't help but think the MBO knew what they were doing as well. With Pinnacle in admin, it's the government that pay redundancies - not avarto. Call me a cynic!

Very sad, Pinnacle and Windsong have been a wonderful company and Steve Mason was very good to us over the years.

Very sad to read this...I worked as a Rep for 13 years at Pinnacle, had some smashing times and met some truly unique people. I wish all the best to those who have suffered and hope next year brings better fortune. Loz.

I have made some wonderful friends over the years, so much so that they have become almost 'family' . I wish you all good fortune and good health. kiss kiss

Gutted , absolutely gutted, 7 years at this place, and I'm still numb with it all. I was over the moon earlier this year to see the back of Arvato, BMG, I hoped we could all get back to normal but gutted completley at the finish of Pinnacle/Windsong, good luck everyone, I wish you all well and hope to bump into you at some time.

Pinnacle was, in the true sense of the word, a family company. Most of the staff had been there for between 10-20 years. Not because it paid the greatest wages, but it had the greatest atmosphere and comradery. The staff was very loyal. Well it certainly is true that loyalty only goes one way. Where were the owners whilst their staff were being fired in such as appalling manner? Shame on you both.

We think it stinks the way managment picked the staff to STAY and go

I worked at Pinnacle for 20 years as rep and Field Sales Manager i had some fantastic times and met some great people none of whome deserved to be treated like this. under Steve Mason this would never have happened. Good Luck everyone and i hope our paths cross in the future.Mr Sullivan hang your head in shame

I had only been there a wee while compared to most but managed to meet some brilliant and enlightened people, it really does feel like you have lost a close member of your family.

No warning nor a redundancy consultation? Picking who stays and who goes - without any consultation? Was this decision made a couple of months ago - in secret? Will the companies be sold on? Am I going taking legal procedings?

the word morgue springs to mind.. miss every very much

I started at Pinnacle in November 1991. I'd just been made redundant and working on telesales was to be my stop gap job to see me though Christmas... didn't imagine it would see me through 16 of them... and I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Good Times... Good Friends... Good luck everyone!!!

The fact that labels are being charged to get back their own stock despite being owed huge amounts in many cases is outrageous. They know that many labels are stuffed without the stock and many labels used Pinnacle for all their stock storage. why were the labels not alerted by staff there was an issue so they could at least get some stock back to carry on with for the short term?

I am Very sad that this has happened.

I agree with all the comments above : lovely company to work for, family atmosphere , great people , really ! The way it all ended was the worst posible scenario : to be told by administrators whilst the owners walk away with no liability and the loyal staff are left to pick up the pieces is truly shameful. Nobody had the guts to call a meeting at any point to say that we were facing turbulent times.

Dear peed off label, Really sorry to hear of your predicament, the reason the "labels not alerted by staff there was an issue" was because we genuinely didn't know. We where all booted out Wednesday morning, no notice, no redundancy, and where not paid for three days, do you honestly believe that we'd seen that coming! This is a nightmare for all of us!

whilst i appreciate that all the staff at Pinnacle must be gutted to lose their jobs at this time of year, please spare a thought for the labels (customers) as i in particular have been taken for a mere 75k will most likley lose my house my car be made bankrupt to boot some sort of info from the staff would have been nice so thanks for that merry xmas

Dear Label, As mentioned in my comment to "peed off label", we really, really did not know. At worst we thought there was going to be a restructure and some redundancies, not total and complete collapse. I am also very sorry about your predicament, I really am, but we couldn't help... Perhaps now 2 weeks on and if Sean and Andy's heads have come out of the sand, they could be brave enough to post an explanation to all. I wish you all well for the future!

Dear Label, From what I can gather, I can honestly say that the staff had no idea of what was going to happen. They could never help any labels let alone themselves. Sir Harry

Dear Long Standing employee You clearly all deserved far better treatment than what you got. It seems that this was something that happened quite suddenly which usually goes hand in hand with a bank or investor withdrawing an overdraft with little or no notice or calling in loans etc, rather than a slow decline in trading conditions , after all in a declining market their were options, Pinnacle could just have dropped non profitable labels who just didnt turn over enough business, slimmed the warehouse down, made some redundancies etc. Maybe the EUK business and Zavvi and the indebtedness there to Pinnacle caused the bankers to pull the plug pronto and without warning (and they can do so). In those situations, if you cannot pay back all at once by law the directors have to go for admin or liquidation as they are technically insolvent and can become totally responsible for the whole debt of the company if they fail to do so. Doesnt excuse this debacle but maybe is the reason that nothing was discussed prior to the action taken.

Got the "Sean & Andy" letter today. Not sure if I have any belief in their reason for the company's death. Heard a rumour that Fujitsu were supposed to be moving back into Heather Court Mid-09 and that their staff knew this. If it is true then when were S&A going to tell us? I'm also sure that there are other reasons which we have not been told about.

I was sorry to hear of the Pinnacle situation. I worked for the company from not long after Steve bought the business until 1994, & I know some of the 'long standing employees' well. I hope they find alternative employment as soon as possible. There are some good people at the Pinn & they don't deserve what has happened. My best wishes to all my old collegues.

A couple of weeks on and its still raw! originally only intended to stay a couple of months and 7 years later still with Pinnacle, just goes to show it was too hard to leave the people, it truly was a family atmosphere, gutted gutted gutted. Its been an absolute pleasure working with you all, and sincerely wish you all the best xx

I am not sure why they felt compelled to send a letter to 'all staff' 2 weeks too late, personally I am more interested in what is owed to me and when it is due... A very sad day the 3rd December'08 will miss everyone x

Still here, warehouse is so quiet. So many people gone so many people I never had a chance to say goodbye. NIGEL - GL mate have a pint of pride on me if we ever meet again "topman". Cherrio Robert and martine :-( gl. BRIAN Cuuuttingham see ya! EVERYONE Else who pulled there weight GL ALL OF YA . Still me and terry (POSTROOM) around so it aint that quite! Good luck GMAK & harry potter, MW and Smelly! Windsong, Weird feels like ive lost family........13years lucky for some aye? To all the labels, staff that's left will do there best to get your kit out the door just like we allways did. Dont blame us you .....

Not often you get a job you really enjoy but this was the case with me and looks like a lot of ex employees.Thought the banks/insurance people would have milked at least the Dec selling period before throwing in the towel.So no Dec paypacket..although a wee warning..those of us that got laid off on the 3rd have to claim any Dec pay/bonus directly from ERA solutions while the people that got kept on after the 3rd get their wages as normal.Why? Good luck and Happy Xmas to everyone from Bonnie Scotland

I hold some great memories of Pinnacle. I left some years back but the guys (a lot of who have posted here) were the best bunch of people that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I feel deeply sorry for all of those that have been affected by this situation and from what I can see, the way that things were handled were disgusting but probably not much of a shock. Not once did we ever see any sight of Sean Sullivan around the building, driving things forward, lending some words of encouragement to the staff - like Steve Mason used tgo do. In fact, sometimes I wondered if Sean Sullivan actually existed in the physical? He could have been a phantom. But for the head of the UK's leading indie distributor, he seemed to have zero presence. Best of luck to you all guys, you all deserve much better.