I've always assumed the overseas markets for the American boutique Soundtrack labels we all know and love must be too small for them to consider doing anything meaningful for the few of us out there.
When you hear of limited runs of 3,000 or 5,000 and they are hanging around in stock for years it probably doesn't make much sense in trying to promote a slow burner abroad just for a handful more sales.
Here in the UK though boutique classical labels flourish by being a part of the Naxos Music Distribution Group: naxosmusic.co.uk/about/ There are over 100 independent labels who cross promote each others releases which boosts sales. There is a noticeable gap for orchestral soundtracks in this stable which is only partially touched on by Chandos' "Movies" division of highlights re-recordings of classic films.
I suspect though that the very specific and unique deals the US soundtrack labels have forged with the studios wouldn't permit a more mainstream approach - which seems counter-intuitive but I guess we have to accept this is now just too niche a market to expect anything different.
