DeepMatter Records has appointed Matt Brinkworth as co-owner and COO as part of an expansion that includes a new global distribution partnership with Virgin Music Group (VMG) and the launch of a publishing company.
Brinkworth will be based in New York, marking DeepMatter’s first permanent presence in the US. He joins the London-founded independent after more than eight years at Omnian Music Group, where he most recently served as director of global sales.
In that role, Brinkworth oversaw worldwide commercial strategy across Omnian’s portfolio of independent labels, including Captured Tracks, Sinderlyn and 2MR. He also founded management company Parlance Management, where he spent more than seven years working with Los Angeles artist NoSo.
Brinkworth’s appointment coincides with the launch of Matters Of Note Publishing, co-founded with DeepMatter founder Tom Pickford, as well as the label’s new VMG deal.
“I’ve known Tom since 2018, when he was about a year into founding DeepMatter Records, and over that time I’ve had the privilege of watching him, as both a friend and industry peer, build the label into a beacon of taste and curation by trusting his instincts and committing wholeheartedly to the music he believes in,” said Brinkworth.
“Tom and I have always been closely aligned in our views on music and the surrounding business, so when he approached me about joining the company to continue DeepMatter’s growth and build a publishing company together, it made immediate sense.”
Broadening our shared vision with the launch of Matters Of Note Publishing feels like a natural next step for the company
Tom Pickford, DeepMatter Records
Founded in London in 2017, DeepMatter has released projects from artists including Vbnd, The Offline, Sholto, Paul Grant, Blue Earth Sound, Jerk, Myele Manzanza, Quinn Oulton, Don Glori, Ria Moran, Jr. Thomas and Abhi The Nomad.
The new agreement with Virgin Music Group will provide worldwide distribution and support for DeepMatter’s future releases.
“Our mission is incredibly simple, one that I believe should be shared by every independent music business,” said Brinkworth. “But in that simplicity comes an unwavering focus: to discover music we love and help the artists and songwriters behind it build long, sustainable careers by giving them as many opportunities and resources as we can, while growing to meet their evolving needs.
“The team at Virgin Music Group shares that vision for DeepMatter’s future, making them the ideal partner as we enter this next chapter.”
We are longtime fans of DeepMatter. What Tom has built is amazing. His taste and curation are outstanding
Alex Levy, Virgin Music Group
Pickford said Brinkworth had been a trusted adviser to the label since its early days.
“Having spent the last nine years building DeepMatter from the ground up, I’ve been fortunate to have Matt as one of the people I’ve turned to whenever I’ve needed advice,” he said. “From partnerships and strategy to the day-to-day challenges of running an independent label, he’s been an invaluable sounding board throughout that journey.
“Over time, it became clear that we shared the same values and philosophy for what an independent music company should be: one that puts artists and the music first, builds genuine long-term relationships, and always leads with quality over quantity.
“With Matt officially joining the business, I’m incredibly excited for what comes next, and broadening our shared vision with the launch of Matters Of Note Publishing feels like a natural next step for the company.”
Pickford added that discussions with Virgin Music Group began in late 2025.
“I immediately felt they understood the vision I’d had for DeepMatter from day one,” he said. “They share our long-term approach to artist development and our belief in building something meaningful, making them the perfect partners as DeepMatter continues to grow.”
Alex Levy, VP of business development at Virgin Music Group, said: “We are longtime fans of DeepMatter. What Tom has built is amazing. His taste and curation are outstanding. The addition of Matt to the DeepMatter team makes the label an even more potent force, particularly with its increased presence in the US. We are excited to get to work.”
PHOTO L-R: Matt Brinkworth & Tom Pickford. CREDIT: Chantel Simpson
