Chrysalis Music

Chrysalis Music is a British independent music-publishing business associated with the Chrysalis music group. Its origins trace to west London in 1967, when Chris Wright and Terry Ellis established the Ellis-Wright Agency to manage and book artists including Ten Years After, Clouds, and Jethro Tull. Wright managed Ten Years After, while Ellis handled Clouds and Jethro Tull. A 1968 arrangement with Island Records helped lead to the creation of Chrysalis Records, a name formed from elements of Wright's and Ellis's names, and provided the broader business foundation from which Chrysalis Music developed. The early Chrysalis operation was closely connected to the expanding British rock scene. Chrysalis Records achieved success with artists such as Jethro Tull, Ten Years After, and Procol Harum, while other acts associated with the label included Racing Cars and Brian Protheroe. The business later broadened its musical reach through a relationship with the 2 Tone label, whose roster included The Specials. Although the recording company attracted public attention, publishing became an important and increasingly international part of the Chrysalis enterprise. Ann Munday joined Chrysalis Music in 1975 as professional manager after earlier work with Elton John and Bernie Taupin. She became general manager in 1980 and was subsequently moved to California to develop the United States operation, which she ultimately called the Chrysalis Music Group, USA. From the Los Angeles office, she worked with and signed or administered material associated with artists and songwriters including Generation X, Blondie, Jack Lee, Huey Lewis and the News, Billy Idol, Eric Troyer, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, Simon Climie, Leo Sayer, and Rory Gallagher. Munday later worked from New York after Terry Ellis relocated the company. She was also described as the first woman and first non-American nominated for the ASCAP board of directors. Chris Wright bought out Terry Ellis in 1985. Wright sold Chrysalis Records to EMI in 1991 but retained the music-publishing business, Chrysalis Music Ltd. The publishing operation continued independently of the former recording company and worked with a range of songwriters and catalogs. In the 2000s, it partnered with Rephlex Records on publishing material connected with releases such as Aphex Twin's Analord series. Other writers and acts associated with the publishing catalog included former Echo and Chrysalis Records artists, Grant Lee Buffalo, Dinosaur Jr., Cee Lo Green, Senses Fail, Underworld, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. In 2010, Chrysalis Music Ltd was sold to BMG Rights Management for £107 million. This transaction transferred the publishing business and its catalog to BMG, distinguishing the later ownership of Chrysalis Music from the earlier history of Chrysalis Records, which had been sold to EMI in 1991. Publicly available reference material identifies Chrysalis Music primarily as an independent music publisher and does not establish a separate current corporate operating structure, headquarters, or publicly traded status.

Chrysalis Music emerged from the artist-management and recording activities established by Chris Wright and Terry Ellis in west London. In 1967, the pair formed the Ellis-Wright Agency to manage and book blues and rock acts. Their early clients included Ten Years After, Clouds, and Jethro Tull, with Wright managing Ten Years After and Ellis managing Clouds and Jethro Tull. A 1968 agreement with Island Records was followed by the creation of Chrysalis Records, whose name combined elements of the founders' names. The development of the label created an institutional base for the associated publishing business. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Chrysalis became associated with successful rock releases by Jethro Tull, Ten Years After, and Procol Harum. The wider roster also generated hits for acts such as Racing Cars and Brian Protheroe. The group subsequently extended its involvement into ska and reggae through a relationship with the 2 Tone label, which included The Specials. These recording activities helped establish a catalog and network of artists whose compositions could be exploited through Chrysalis Music. The publishing business became more structured under Ann Munday, who joined in 1975 as professional manager and became general manager in 1980. Munday was later sent to California to build the United States operation, known as the Chrysalis Music Group, USA. From Los Angeles she worked with a broad range of punk, rock, pop, and songwriter material, including work associated with Generation X, Blondie, Jack Lee, Huey Lewis and the News, Billy Idol, Eric Troyer, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, Simon Climie, Leo Sayer, and Rory Gallagher. She later moved to New York after Ellis moved the company. Her industry profile also included nomination as the first woman and first non-American for the ASCAP board of directors. In 1985, Wright bought out Ellis. Six years later he sold Chrysalis Records to EMI, while keeping Chrysalis Music Ltd and its publishing interests. This separation meant that the recording-label business and the publishing business followed different ownership paths. During the 2000s, Chrysalis Music partnered with Rephlex Records to publish material connected with projects including Aphex Twin's Analord EP series. The catalog also included or represented material connected with former Echo and Chrysalis Records artists, Grant Lee Buffalo, Dinosaur Jr., Cee Lo Green, Senses Fail, Underworld, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The decisive ownership change for Chrysalis Music came in 2010, when Chrysalis Music Ltd was sold to BMG Rights Management for £107 million. The transaction placed the publishing catalog within BMG. The available reference material does not provide a detailed account of the brand's post-acquisition operating structure, current executives, headquarters, or whether Chrysalis Music continues as a separately marketed active business. It does, however, establish the company's historical significance as a British independent music publisher with a catalog spanning rock, punk, pop, alternative, reggae, and electronic music.

• 2010

  Chrysalis Music acquired by BMG Rights Management

  [1]Chrysalis Musicen.wikipedia.org

  BMG Rights Management acquired Chrysalis Music Ltd and its publishing business for £107 million.

• 2000

  Publishing relationship with Rephlex Records

  [1]Chrysalis Musicen.wikipedia.org

  During the 2000s, Chrysalis Music partnered with Rephlex Records on publishing material, including work connected with Aphex Twin's Analord EP series.

• 1991

  Chrysalis Records sold to EMI

  [1]Chrysalis Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Wright sold the recording company to EMI while retaining Chrysalis Music Ltd and its publishing activities.

• 1985

  Wright bought out Ellis

  [1]Chrysalis Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Chris Wright acquired Terry Ellis's interest in the Chrysalis business.

• 1980

  Munday became general manager

  [1]Chrysalis Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Ann Munday advanced to general manager before being assigned to build the United States operation.

• 1975

  Ann Munday joined Chrysalis Music

  [1]Chrysalis Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Munday was appointed professional manager and later became general manager, helping develop the publishing business and its international relationships.

• 1968

  Chrysalis Records founded

  [1]Chrysalis Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Following an arrangement with Island Records, the founders created Chrysalis Records, providing the broader business platform associated with Chrysalis Music.

• 1967

  Ellis-Wright Agency formed

  [1]Chrysalis Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Chris Wright and Terry Ellis established the west London agency to manage and book artists including Ten Years After, Clouds, and Jethro Tull.

An independent-oriented music publisher built around artist, songwriter, and catalog rights, with roots in British rock and later activity across international popular music.

• Music publishing

  Music publishing catalog

  The core offering was the administration and commercial exploitation of musical compositions and songwriter rights. The catalog grew from the artists connected with Chrysalis and expanded across British rock, punk, pop, alternative, reggae, and electronic music. It included material associated with former Echo and Chrysalis Records artists as well as writers and acts such as Grant Lee Buffalo, Dinosaur Jr., Cee Lo Green, Senses Fail, Underworld, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

• Electronic music publishing

  Rephlex-associated publishing

  In the 2000s, Chrysalis Music worked with Rephlex Records to publish selected material. The relationship included projects connected with Aphex Twin's Analord series and demonstrated the publisher's activity beyond its original rock-oriented base.

• 2010

  Sell Chrysalis Music to BMG Rights ManagementM&A

  Background

  Chrysalis Music Ltd remained the retained publishing arm after the 1991 sale of Chrysalis Records to EMI.

  Action taken

  The publishing business was sold to BMG Rights Management for £107 million.

  Aftermath

  BMG became the owner of the Chrysalis Music publishing catalog. The available reference does not establish whether the Chrysalis Music brand continued as a distinct operating entity after the acquisition.

  Acquisition price. £107 million (2010)

  Source

• 1991

  Separate the recording and publishing businessesM&A

  Background

  After Chris Wright acquired Terry Ellis's interest in 1985, the Chrysalis businesses reached a major ownership transition. The recording company was sold to EMI, while the music-publishing operation was retained.

  Action taken

  Wright sold Chrysalis Records to EMI and kept Chrysalis Music Ltd, preserving the publishing business as a separate asset.

  Aftermath

  The recording and publishing operations subsequently followed different ownership paths, allowing Chrysalis Music to continue as an independent-oriented publishing business until its later sale to BMG.

  Source

1. 1Chrysalis Musicen.wikipedia.org