View source for Chrysalis Records

{{Short description|British record label}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
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{{Undisclosed paid|date=April 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2013}}
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{{Infobox record label
| name          = Chrysalis Records Ltd
| image         = [[file:Chrysalis_Records_new_logo.jpg|180px]]
| parent        = <!--Do NOT add anything here as Chrysalis Records catalog was split therefore doesn't have a parent company-->
| founded       = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1968}}
| founder       = [[Chris Wright (music industry executive)|Chris Wright]]<br>[[Terry Ellis (record producer)|Terry Ellis]]
| status        = Europe: Independent record company, owned by [[Reservoir Media|Reservoir Media Management]]<br>Rest of the world: defunct, merged into Universal Music Group
| distributor   = U.S. and Canadian catalogues, as well as those of [[Ramones]], [[Robbie Williams]], [[Billy Idol]] and [[Belinda Carlisle]]: [[Universal Music Group]]<br>
*[[Capitol Records]]
*[[Geffen Records]] (Ramones; US and Canada only)
*[[Island Records]] (Robbie Williams)
*[[Virgin Records]] (Belinda Carlisle)
Most non-North American catalogues, plus the rights to artists not originally signed to Chrysalis: [[Blue Raincoat Music]]/Reservoir Media Management<br>
*Reservoir Media Management
Catalogues of [[Spandau Ballet]], [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]], Ramones and [[the Proclaimers]]: [[Warner Music Group]]
*[[Parlophone]] (Europe)
*[[Rhino Entertainment]] (Rest of the world, except Ramones)
| genre         = Various
| country       = [[United Kingdom]]
| url           = {{URL|blueraincoatmusic.com/chrysalisrecords}}
}}

'''Chrysalis Records''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|ɪ|s|ə|l|ɪ|s}}) is a British [[independent record label]] that was founded in 1968. The name is both a reference to the [[Chrysalis|pupal stage]] of a butterfly and a combination of its founders' names, [[Chris Wright (music industry executive)|'''Chris''' Wright]] and [[Terry Ellis (record producer)|Terry '''Ellis''']].<ref>{{cite news| author=Jason Nisse | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/profile-a-truly-passionate-sport-chris-wright-of-chrysalis-outplayed-bskyb-in-football-with-his-italian-job-and-is-now-revving-up-a-car-racing-deal-jason-nisse-on-a-music-man-with-perfect-pitch-1471486.html |title=Profile: A truly passionate sport: Chris Wright of Chrysalis outplayed BSkyB in football with his Italian job and is now revving up a car racing deal. Jason Nisse on a music man with perfect pitch |newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=7 February 1993 |access-date=22 December 2014}}</ref> It started as the '''Ellis-Wright Agency'''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ben Sisario |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/27/business/media/27bmg.html |title=Music Publisher BMG Buying Chrysalis in $168 Million Deal |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=27 November 2010 |access-date=22 December 2014}}</ref>

==History==
===Early years===
Chrysalis entered into a licensing deal with [[Chris Blackwell]]'s [[Island Records]] for distribution, based on the success of bands such as [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]], [[Ten Years After]], and [[Procol Harum]], which were promoted by the label. Jethro Tull signed with [[Reprise Records]] in the United States, which led Chrysalis to an American distribution deal with Reprise's parent company, [[Warner Bros. Records]]. This lasted from 1972 until U.S. Chrysalis switched to independent distribution in 1976. [[PolyGram]] handled international distribution and [[Festival Records]] covered Australia and New Zealand. In 1973, it signed British rock band [[UFO (band)|UFO]]. Towards the end of the 1970s, the label began to extend its range of music, incorporating acts from the [[punk rock]] scene such as [[Generation X (band)|Generation X]]. The Chrysalis offshoot [[2 Tone Records]] brought in bands such as [[the Specials]] and [[the Selecter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Chrysalis-Group-plc-Company-History.html |title=History of Chrysalis Group plc |website=FundingUniverse |access-date=1 March 2013}}</ref>

In 1979, Chrysalis bought and distributed U.S. folk label [[Takoma Records]], naming manager/producer [[Denny Bruce]] as president, who signed [[the Fabulous Thunderbirds]] and [[T-Bone Burnett]]. [[Jon Monday]], who was vice president of [[Takoma Records]] prior to the acquisition, continued as general manager,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8yMEAAAAMBAJ&q=chrysalis+takoma&pg=PT12 |title=Billboard - Google Books |date=2 June 1979 |access-date=1 March 2013}}</ref> later becoming director of marketing of Chrysalis Records.

In the 1980s, Chrysalis was at the forefront of the British [[new romantic]] movement with bands such as [[Generation X (band)|Gen X]], [[Ultravox]], and [[Spandau Ballet]]. The 1980s proved to be the most successful time for the label, whose roster then included [[Billy Idol]], [[Pat Benatar]], [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]], and [[Huey Lewis and the News]].<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=479}}</ref> Chrysalis also distributed Animal Records, the short-lived label founded by Blondie guitarist [[Chris Stein]]. In 1983, after the label re-established itself in New York, Eric Heckman, formerly of Atlantic and Epic Records promotion, took over as senior director of promotion and marketing. Also in 1983, [[Daniel Glass]] moved to Chrysalis as director of new music marketing, advancing later to senior vice president. During the next two years, Chrysalis broke Huey Lewis and the News, Billy Idol, and Spandau Ballet in the United States, whilst Pat Benatar continued to find success on both the traditional and dance music charts.

In 1984, Chrysalis bought [[Ensign Records]], a record label Nigel Grainge started in 1976 (with the label's name coming from the idea that 'N. signs' as in 'Nigel Signs'). Ensign Records would go on to have The Waterboys, World Party, and Sinéad O'Connor on its roster in the late 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.noise11.com/news/r-i-p-nigel-grange-founder-of-ensign-records-aged-70-20170613|title=R.I.P. Nigel Grange Founder Of Ensign Records Aged 70|first=Paul|last=Cashmere|date=13 June 2017|website=Noise11.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theindustryobserver.thebrag.com/nigel-grainge-ar-legend-founder-ensign-records-brother-lucian-dies-70/|title=Nigel Grainge, A&R legend, founder of Ensign Records and brother of Lucian, Dies at 70|date=13 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/music/news/nigel-grainge-ensign-records-dies-1202462347/|title=Nigel Grainge, Ensign Records Founder and Brother of Universal Music Chief, Dies at 70|first1=Shirley|last1=Halperin|date=12 June 2017}}</ref> Ensign joined TV marketing/compilations company [[Dover Records]] and dance label [[Cooltempo Records|Cooltempo]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.recordoftheday.com/news-and-press/blue-raincoat-music-revives-classic-label-cooltempo-records|title=Blue Raincoat Music revives classic label Cooltempo Records|website=Recordoftheday.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/it-s-a-great-brand-with-a-great-name-blue-raincoat-revives-cooltempo-imprint/072406|title='It's a great brand with a great name': Blue Raincoat revives Cooltempo imprint|website=Music Week}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/media/memories-of-the-music-mogul-who-called-tune-at-chrysalis-8884038.html|title=Memories of the music mogul who called tune at Chrysalis|date=16 October 2013|website=Evening Standard}}</ref> as part of the Chrysalis family,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.piasgroup.net/blog/i-cant-think-of-a-single-artist-whos-benefited-from-switching-to-a-major-label/|title='I can't think of a single artist who's benefited from switching to a major label'|date=2 June 2016|website=[PIAS]}}</ref> with Grainge staying on to run the label that he founded.

===EMI===
{{main|Chrysalis Group}}
In 1989, 50% of the Chrysalis Records label was sold, then the remaining half in 1991 to [[Thorn EMI]],<ref name="LarkinGE"/> with the [[Chrysalis Group]] (primarily a music publisher with other interests in radio and television production) setting up new indie labels such as [[The Echo Label|Echo]] and [[Papillon Records|Papillon]] in the mid-1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bmg.com/de/artist/echo|title=Echo|date=8 December 2015|website=Bmg.com}}</ref> Chrysalis Records was folded into EMI subsidiary and flagship label [[EMI Records]] in 2005, with catalogue and artists such as [[Starsailor (band)|Starsailor]] being shifted to [[EMI|EMI's]] main imprints. In 2010, [[BMG Rights Management]] bought [[Chrysalis Music]]'s assets (the publishing division and The Echo Label),.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chrysalis agrees to takeover by BMG |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/nov/26/chrysalis-takeover-bmg-bertelsmann |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=26 November 2010}}</ref>

In September 2012, after acquiring EMI's record labels, [[Universal Music Group]] offered to divest several record labels, including EMI's Chrysalis and [[Parlophone]], to meet the [[European Commission]]'s demands.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sweney |first=Mark |date=2012-09-21 |title=Universal's £1.2bn EMI takeover approved – with conditions |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/sep/21/universal-emi-takeover-approved |access-date=2023-08-14 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The deal did not include Chrysalis' North American catalogue (which was folded into [[Capitol Records]] in 2007) or [[Robbie Williams]] (who was transferred to [[Island Records]]).

In February 2013, [[Warner Music Group]] announced that it would acquire many of EMI's European record labels, including Chrysalis and Parlophone, for £487 million. In July 2013, WMG completed its purchase of the Parlophone Label Group.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.wmg.com/news/warner-music-group-completes-acquisition-parlophone-label-group-19711 | title=Warner Music Group Completes Acquisition of Parlophone Label Group | publisher=Warner Music Group | date=1 July 2013 | access-date=22 December 2014}}</ref>

===Later ownership===
Two weeks after announcing its acquisition of Parlophone, Warner Music agreed to sell roughly 30% of its own catalogue to independent record labels.<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/global/1549326/warner-music-working-with-impala-merlin-to-sell-parlophone-assets Warner music working with Impala Merlin to sell Parlophone assets] billboard.com {{dead link|date=February 2024}}</ref>

Chrysalis Records was bought in May 2016 from WMG in a deal led by Blue Raincoat Music's [[Jeremy Lascelles]] and [[Robin Millar (producer)|Robin Millar]]. The agreement had the co-founder and original owner of Chrysalis, Chris Wright, reunited with the label as non-executive chairman, 27 years after selling the company to EMI.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/chrysalis-records-acquired-by-blue-raincoat-music-founders-jeremy-lascelles-and-robin-millar/064930|title=Chrysalis Records acquired by Blue Raincoat Music founders Jeremy Lascelles and Robin Millar|date=1 June 2016|website=Music Week|access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref> Former [[Virgin Media]] boss Robert Devereux was also part of the original consortium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7392773/chrysalis-records-relaunch-blue-raincoat-warner-music|title=Chrysalis Records To Be Re-Born After Acquisition|date=1 June 2016|website=Billboard.com|access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref>

In 2018, the Cooltempo label was relaunched by Blue Raincoat Music<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://completemusicupdate.com/article/blue-raincoat-revives-cooltempo-label-with-armada-music-alliance/|title=Blue Raincoat revives Cooltempo label with Armada Music alliance |website=Complete Music Update|access-date=19 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/blue-raincoat-we-ll-break-artists-on-revived-cooltempo/072398|title=Blue Raincoat: We'll break artists on revived Cooltempo|website=Music Week}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=311790&title+-COOLTEMPO-BACK-ON-THE-BEAT|title=COOLTEMPO BACK ON THE BEAT|website=Hitsdailydouble.com}}</ref> with the release of the ''Eye Ring EP'' by [[Francesca Lombardo]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.internationaldjmag.com/francesca-lombardo-eye-ring-dance-remixes.html|title=Francesca Lombardo - Eye Ring [Dance Remixes] -IDJ Magazine|website=Internationaldjmag.com}}</ref> and [[Infinity Ink]]'s debut album ''House of Infinity''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knightsoftheturntable.co.uk/new-music/infinity-ink-house-of-infinity-lp-cooltempo/|title=Infinity Ink - House of Infinity LP (Cooltempo)|website=Knights of the Turntable|date=27 February 2019 |author1=Griff }}</ref> In August 2019, music rights company, Reservoir, partnered with Blue Raincoat, to make the Chrysalis record label part of Reservoir's extended global infrastructure and network.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/the-iconic-chrysalis-records-has-a-new-home-at-fast-growing-reservoir/|title=The iconic Chrysalis Records has a new home – at fast-growing Reservoir|date=29 August 2019|website=Music Business Worldwide|access-date=15 October 2020}}</ref>

===2020s===
Chrysalis Records relaunched itself as a front-line label in February 2020, marking a return to releasing new music for the first time in over two decades.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/uk-based-chrysalis-records-re-launches-as-frontline-label/|title=UK-based Chrysalis Records re-launches as frontline label|date=26 February 2020|website=Music Business Worldwide|access-date=15 October 2020}}</ref> The first signing was in partnership with award-winning independent label [[Partisan Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/partisan-looks-to-the-future-after-music-week-awards-win/081217|title=Partisan looks to the future after Music Week Awards win|date=22 September 2020|website=Music Week|access-date=15 October 2020}}</ref> The labels came together to sign British singer/songwriter [[Laura Marling]] in a fully co-branded global release. As the first project released on Chrysalis' relaunched frontline label, Marling's album, ''[[Song for Our Daughter]]'', debuted in April 2020 to critical acclaim and a [[Mercury Prize]] nomination.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/23/mercury-prize-2020-stormzy-dua-lipa-and-michael-kiwanuka-among-nominees|title=Mercury prize 2020: Stormzy, Dua Lipa and Michael Kiwanuka among nominees|date=23 July 2020|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=15 October 2020}}</ref>

In September 2020, Chrysalis signed the indie singer-songwriter [[Liz Phair]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/liz-phair-joins-chrysalis-as-reborn-label-s-first-us-signing/081043|title=Liz Phair joins Chrysalis as reborn label's first US signing|date=9 September 2020|website=Music Week|access-date=19 October 2020}}</ref> Phair's first album in a decade, ''[[Soberish]]'', came out later in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/liz-phairs-first-album-in-a-decade-soberish-coming-out-in-2021/ |title=Liz Phair's first album in a decade, 'Soberish,' coming out in 2021 |date=10 September 2020 |work=[[BrooklynVegan]] |access-date=18 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.mxdwn.com/2020/09/09/news/liz-phair-signs-with-chrysalis-records-and-will-release-a-new-album-in-2021|title=Liz Phair Signs with Chrysalis Records and Will Release a New Album in 2021|date=9 September 2020|website=mxdwn.com|access-date=19 October 2020}}</ref>

On 6 August 2021, the second album from Laura Marling and Mike Lindsay's project Lump (styled in all caps),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blueraincoatmusic.com/chrysalis-artists/lump/|title=LUMP|website=Blue Raincoat Music|access-date=19 August 2021}}</ref> titled ''Animal''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/animal_lump|title=Animal|first=Mark|last=Moody|website=Under the Radar|access-date=19 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://diymag.com/2021/01/11/lump-second-album-animal-2021-interview|title=LUMP: "[It's a huge joy] to just dive into something in a completely different world"|website=DIY|access-date=19 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/lump-return-with-news-of-second-album-and-unveil-first-single-animal|title=LUMP return with news of second album and unveil first single "Animal"|website=The Line of Best Fit|access-date=19 August 2021}}</ref> charted at number 65 on the [[UK Albums Chart]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/53434/lump/|title=LUMP &#124; full Official Chart History|website=Official Charts|access-date=19 August 2021}}</ref> and was one of the Top 20 selling albums for that week (6–12 August 2021).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-sales-chart/|title=Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100|website=Official Charts|access-date=19 August 2021}}</ref> Chrysalis also reissued the first six albums by [[De La Soul]] on physical, digital and streaming platforms in early 2023;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dalugdug |first1=Mandy |title=DE LA SOUL'S BACK CATALOG IS COMING TO STREAMING PLATFORMS FOR THE FIRST TIME – THANKS TO DEAL WITH RESERVOIR |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/de-la-souls-back-catalog-is-coming-to-streaming-platforms-for-the-first-time-thanks-to-deal-with-reservoir/ |website=musicbusinessworldwide.com |date=4 January 2023 |publisher=Music Business Worldwide |access-date=2023-03-08}}</ref> those albums were originally released by [[Tommy Boy Records|Tommy Boy]], which, like Chrysalis, is also owned by Reservoir Media.

In July 2023, ''The Endless Coloured Ways'' was released under the Chrysalis Records label. It is a collection of songs by singer/songwriter [[Nick Drake]], performed and recorded by 30 artists, including [[Fontaines D.C.]], [[Guy Garvey]], [[Aurora (singer)|Aurora]], [[Feist (singer)|Feist]], [[Self Esteem (musician)|Self Esteem]], and [[David Gray (British musician)|David Gray]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chrysalis-records.com/nick-drake|website=Chrysalis Records Website|title=The Endless Coloured Ways Album on Chrysalis Records' website|access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[The Echo Label]] (a Chrysalis Group indie label)
*[[Papillon Records]] (a Chrysalis Group record label)
*[[Lists of record labels]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.blueraincoatmusic.com/chrysalisrecords/ Official site for Chrysalis Records at Blue Raincoat Music]
* [http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/warner-music-group-buys-emi-assets-for-765-million/?_r=0 Ben Sisario, "Warner Music Group Buys EMI Assets for $765 Million".  ''New York Times'', "Media Decoder" blog, 7 February 2013]
* [http://www.discogs.com/label/Chrysalis Discogs page on Chrysalis Records]
* {{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/chrysalis-records-acquired-by-blue-raincoat-music-founders-jeremy-lascelles-and-robin-millar/064930|title=Chrysalis Records acquired by Blue Raincoat Music founders Jeremy Lascelles and Robin Millar|website=Music Week|access-date=7 December 2017}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.completemusicupdate.com/article/newly-independent-chrysalis-records-extends-catalogue-with-more-emi-divestments-from-warner/|title=Newly independent Chrysalis Records extends catalogue with more EMI divestments from Warner - Complete Music Update|website=Completemusicupdate.com|access-date=7 December 2017}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1968 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:2005 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:2016 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Record labels established in 1968]]
[[Category:Record labels disestablished in 2005]]
[[Category:Record labels established in 2016]]
[[Category:EMI]]
[[Category:Defunct record labels of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Pop record labels]]
[[Category:IFPI members]]
[[Category:Progressive rock record labels]]
[[Category:New wave record labels]]
[[Category:British independent record labels]]
[[Category:Labels distributed by Universal Music Group]]
[[Category:Labels distributed by Warner Music Group]]
[[Category:British subsidiaries of foreign companies]]