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Modular Recordings

{{Short description|Australian record label}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}

{{Use Australian English|date=October 2014}}

{{Infobox record label

| name = Modular Recordings

| image = Modular Recordings.png

| image_size = 250

| parent = Universal Music Australia

| founded = {{start date and age|1998}}

| founder = Steve Pavlovic

| distributor = Universal Music Australia
Interscope Records (US)
Island/Polydor Records (UK)

| genre = {{hlist|Rock|electronica|electropop|neo-psychedelia|psychedelic rock}}

| country = Australia

| location = Sydney

| url = {{URL|modularpeople.com}}

}}

Modular Recordings (known simply as Modular) was an Australian record label founded in 1998 by Steve Pavlovic that by 2015 was owned by Universal Music Australia. It has released music from local artists such as Eskimo Joe, Ben Lee, The Avalanches, Wolfmother, Cut Copy, The Bumblebeez, Bag Raiders, Van She, Rocket Science, Ghostwood, The Presets, Pond, and Tame Impala, and local releases of international artists including Dom, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Chromeo, Colder, Klaxons, Ladyhawke, NYPC, MSTRKRFT, and Softlightes.

After its establishment, the label was first recognised by the successful releases of The Living End's eponymous debut album and Ben Lee's Breathing Tornados, with the former becoming the highest-selling rock debut, and the latter being nominated for the ARIA Award for Album of the Year. It then grew during the early 2000s, defining itself through its assortment of parties, artists, and the "electronic, rock-leaning dance music" that became known as the "Modular sound". However, in 2015, a lawsuit filed by BMG Rights Management pitted the label against UMA, with UMA originally winning in July against owner Pavlovic, but the courts overturned the decision in October towards Pavlovic's favor. Thereafter, Pavlovic resigned in March 2016, leaving the label under renovations.

History

Modular Recordings was founded in 1998 by Steve Pavlovic,{{cite news |url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/music/lord-of-the-dance/2008/12/04/1228257191327.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 |title = Lord of the Dance |access-date = 2008-12-08 |author = Palathingal, George |date = 2008-12-08 |newspaper = The Sydney Morning Herald }} first recognised with The Living End's eponymous debut album and Ben Lee's Breathing Tornados. Both were successful, The Living End became the second highest-selling debut rock album in Australian music history at the time; Breathing Tornados was nominated for the "Album of the Year" ARIA Award. The Avalanches's Since I Left You (2000) was also another critical success,{{cite web |url = http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/avalanches/sinceileftyou |title = The Avalanches: Since I Left You (2001): Reviews |access-date = 2008-12-08 |website = Metacritic }} earning the group nine ARIA Award nominations.

In 2004, with the emergence of Cut Copy, The Presets and The Bumblebeez and the development of regular Modular parties and tours, the label began to grow, defining its 'electronic, rock-leaning dance music' the "Modular sound". Dan Whitford of Cut Copy described it as 'discovering dance music played live with a more musical aesthetic, rather than just a DJ on stage'.[http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/cut-copy-move-on-from-the-modular-sound-20110203-1aeqz.html "Cut Copy article 2011"] Andrew Murfett, 'Cut Copy move on from the "Modular sound"' Sydney Morning Herald, 3 February 2011 In 2004, an office was established in New York, followed by London in 2005. Van She, a new wave electropop four piece from Sydney were signed in August 2005, as well as NYPC in mid-2006.{{Cite web|url=http://www.themusic.com.au/im_m/archive/2005/050830-470_eliezer.php|title=themusic.com.au}}

An office in Los Angeles opened in 2007, along with the signing of Ghostwood, Plug-In City and The Whitest Boy Alive.

In June 2015, Modular and Universal Music Australia were sued by BMG Rights Management for failing to honour an agreement made over $1 million worth in royalties from Tame Impala recordings, including Innerspeaker and Lonerism and the group's self-titled EP.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6583260/bmg-launches-suit-against-universal-modular-founder-steve-pavlovic-over-tame|title=BMG Launches Suit Against Universal, Modular Founder Steve Pavlovic Over Tame Impala Royalties|magazine=Billboard|access-date=13 December 2016}} Frontman Kevin Parker himself claimed in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) that 'Someone high up spent the money', and that he 'may never get that money'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/34clpm/i_am_kevin_parker_from_tame_impala_ask_me_anything/cqthpc5|title=I am Kevin Parker from Tame Impala. Ask me Anything! • /r/IAmA|date=30 April 2015 |publisher=Reddit|access-date=13 December 2016}} UMA claimed that on 24 December 2014 Pavlovic agreed to sign a separation deal, giving half of Modular to UMA, together with music, trademarks, websites and other assets, but refused to and claimed the deal wasn't binding and is owed $32,500 in holiday pay. UMA initially won the lawsuit against Pavlovic in June at the New South Wales Court of Appeal, but the court overturned the decision in favor of Pavlovic in October, stating that Pavlovic did comply and recognised the deal, which was technically non-official since it wasn't signed.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6605271/universal-music-australia-wins-legal-action-against-modular-recordings-founder|title=Universal Music Australia Wins Legal Action Against Modular Recordings Founder Stephen Pavlovic|last=Brandle|first=Lars|date=18 June 2015|magazine=Billboard|access-date=13 December 2016|via=Prometheus Global Media}}{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6721806/modular-recordings-wins-appeal-universal-music-australia|title=Modular Recordings Wins Appeal Decision Over Universal Music Australia|date=6 October 2015|magazine=Billboard|access-date=13 December 2016|via=Prometheus Global Media}} However, he resigned from Modular on 11 March and most of the roster of musicians have since been signed within Universal label group.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/royalties-stoush-threatens-mogul-stephen-pavlovics-rock-star-lifestyle/story-fn91v9q3-1227385307760|title=theaustrlian|newspaper=The Australian|access-date=13 December 2016|url-access=subscription }}

Artists

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Compilations

See also

References

{{refbegin}}

  • Jam, James (2006-09-16). "We Heart Modular". New Music Press, pp. 16–17.

{{refend}}

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{webarchive |url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20101201001744/http%3A//www.modularpeople.com/ |title=Official Modular website |date=2010-12-01}}
  • [http://www.myspace.com/modularpeople Official Modular US MySpace page]

{{Navbox

|name = Modular Recordings

|title = Modular Recordings artists

|titlestyle = background:pink;

|list1 = Australian  • The Avalanches • Ben Lee • Cut Copy • The Presets • Rocket Science • Van She • Wolfmother• Tame Impala

International  • Chromeo • Colder • Klaxons • Ladyhawke • MSTRKRFT • New Young Pony Club • The Softlightes • Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Previous  • Ben Lee • The Living End; Eskimo Joe; Gary Jules; Jack Johnson

}}{{Universal Music Group}}{{Authority control}}

Category:Australian record labels

Category:1998 establishments in Australia

Category:Record labels established in 1998

Category:Record labels based in Sydney