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"There is a gap in the U.S. market for a label that can take ‘starter careers’ up to their first 50,000 or so sales. Once we get to that level, of course, several options are opened, not least upstreaming the artists and bands to major labels."
——Jeremy Lascelles, Chrysalis Music CEO

CHRYSALIS LAUNCHES ECHO
IN U.S. AS VIRTUAL LABEL

Company's U.S. Presence Will Outsource Functions
The Chrysalis Group’s U.K.-based Echo Label will launch in the U.S. as a "virtual" record company at the start of 2005.

The concept, in which all label functions and staffing have been outsourced, has been designed as an entry-level platform for developing acts in the American market.

Chrysalis Music CEO Jeremy Lascelles says the move is a response to "the prevailing market difficulties in the United States.... The corporate culture of the majors increasingly demands immediate sales and success, and it’s ever more difficult to find labels willing to nurture and develop the kind of acts which don’t respond to that kind of ‘ instant hothouse’ treatment.

"There is a gap in the U.S. market for a label that can take ‘starter careers’ up to their first 50,000 or so sales. Once we get to that level, of course, several options are opened, not least upstreaming the artists and bands to major labels."

Similar initiatives have been announced recently in UMVD's Fontana and WMG's two-tier system, including a revival of the Asylum label for up-and-coming Urban product.

Acts for the new U.S. venture will be provided by the Chrysalis Music Division’s network of A&R sources, including the Chrysalis publishing companies in America and Europe as well as The Echo Label in the U.K.

All marketing and promotion for Echo will be handled by the N.Y.-based World’s Fair Label Group, a full service label management agency spearheaded by Kevin Wortis, Scott Booker and Amaechi Uzoigwe. In addition to the company’s label responsibilities, World’s Fair also manages such acts as The Flaming Lips and singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart. ADA will distribute the Echo Label in the U.S.

The first two Echo U.S albums will be released in January 2005. The titles are All Years Standing by the acclaimed Liverpool band The Stands and I Am Kloot’s self-titled debut album for The Echo Label. They will be followed by a first release from American artist Steven Yerkey, signed to Chrysalis Music.

Says Wortis: "We are incredibly excited to be working with Jeremy Lascelles and The Echo Label. Musically and culturally, Echo is exactly the kind of partnership World’s Fair is built for. Both The Stands and Kloot are two of the best albums I’ve heard in 2004 and we’ve got high hopes for both these artists here in the States."

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