Candlelight Records and Caroline Distribution today announce their agreement for exclusive distribution for the United States. The agreement will see all Candlelight and affiliated labels Abstract Sounds and Dead Ringer titles distributed by Caroline effective March 1, with the first of the label's 2004 releases scheduled March 9.

Candlelight's Steve Beatty says "due to our growth in the US market the decision to work with Caroline was an obvious one. We are an ambitious and hard working company and need to work with the market leaders in our field." Edward Christie adds, "we are delighted about working with the Caroline team. They are truly the best distributor for our growing roster. We feel confident in their abilities and look forward to a successful relationship."

Caroline VP of Label Relations Michael Bull says, "myself and everyone at Caroline are very pleased to be working with Candlelight. They've been bringing some of Europe's best metal and hard rock artists and labels to the States for years now, and with the release schedule they've got in place for 2004, things are only going to get better."

England’s Candlelight Records have long represented a roster of quality recording artists. Their successful business acumen and catalog, including the likes of Emperor, Opeth, Myrkskog, Zyklon and Christian Death, have seen to continued yearly growth since forming ten years ago. In 2001, Candlelight established US operations with former Nuclear Blast America President Paula Hogan heading up its Philadelphia-based US structure. Since its launch, Candlelight has sold over 100,000 units across its growing US catalog that includes over 80 active titles across its three label imprints.