Chrysalis Records
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Chrysalis is a record label that was created in 1969. The name is an amalgam of its founders names; Chris Wright and Terry Ellis. Chrysalis was formed through a licensing deal with Chris Blackwell's Island Records based on the success of bands like Jethro Tull and Procol Harum, which were promoted by the label.
Towards the end of the 1970s, the Chrysalis offshoot 2Tone Records brought us bands such as the Specials, the Selector, Madness and the Beat.
In the 1980s Chrysalis was at the forefront of the British New Romantic movement with bands like Ultravox and Spandau Ballet (on the Reformation label).
The Chrysalis Records label was sold to EMI in 1991, but the music publishing business was retained as Chrysalis Music. Chrysalis Music's songwriters have had their material recorded by artists as diverse as Eminem, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Marilyn Manson, and Michael Jackson.
Chrysalis has expanded into other areas. In 1994, they won one of the first regional FM radio station licences covering the West Midlands region of the UK and launched 100.7 Heart fm. The division expanded rapidly with Heart 106.2 in London being added the following year. Chrysalis's stations now include 4 Galaxy fm's, LBC in London and DAB-only rock station The Arrow. Chrysalis Radio is also a partner in MXR, the DAB multiplex operator. As such, Chrysalis provides much of the audio for the Digital News Network, a DAB-only rolling news service.
As well as Chrysalis Music and Chrysalis Radio, the company also includes Chrysalis Books, a leading publisher of illustrated books, and Chrysalis Mobile, a new division specialising in the delivery of full music songs to mobile phones.
A Selection of Artists who have had work released by Chrysalis Records
- Belinda Carlisle
- Billy Idol
- Blondie
- Boo Hewerdine/The Bible
- Carter USM
- Gang Starr
- Enrique Bunbury
- Icehouse
- Jethro Tull
- June Tabor
- Karlheinz Stockhausen
- Leo Kottke
- Mary Travers
- Mutha's Day Out
- Pat Benatar
- Paul Carrack
- Robin Trower
- Sinéad O'Connor
- Steeleye Span
- Ten Years After
- The Babys
- The Michael Schenker Group
- UFO
- Ultravox
- Was (Not Was)