Modular Recordings

Last updated

Modular Recordings
Modular Recordings.png
Parent company Universal Music Australia
Founded1998;26 years ago (1998)
Founder Steve Pavlovic
Defunct2015;9 years ago (2015) [1]
Distributor(s) Universal Music Australia
Interscope Records (US)
Island/Polydor Records (UK)
Genre
Country of origin Australia
Location Sydney
Official website 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.

Contents

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 pitied 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, [2] first recognised with The Living End's eponymous debut album and Ben Lee's Breathing Tornados . [2] 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, [3] 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'. [4] 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. [5] 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. [6] 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'. [7] 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. [8] [9] However, he resigned from Modular on 11 March and most of the roster of musicians have since been signed within Universal label group. [10]

Artists

Compilations

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Lee</span> Australian actor, singer (born 1978)

Benjamin Michael Lee is an Australian musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but he focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake (2003). He has released eleven solo studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolfmother</span> Australian hard rock band

Wolfmother is an Australian hard rock band from Sydney. Formed in 2004, the group is centred around vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale, who is the only constant member of the line-up. The band has been through many personnel changes since their formation. The original – and most commercially successful – line-up included bassist and keyboardist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett. Ross and Heskett left Wolfmother after four years in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Presets</span> Australian electronic music duo

The Presets are an Australian electronic music duo of Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes. Formed in 2003 and signed to Modular Records, The Presets released two EPs in advance of their debut album, Beams, released in 2005 to positive critical response. After two years of touring, including as the Australian support for Daft Punk, the band's 2008 release, Apocalypso, debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart, and went on to win six awards at ARIA Awards 2008, including Album of the Year.

Van She were an electropop band formed in 2002 in Sydney, Australia, with Matt Van Schie on bass guitar/vocals, Tomek Archer on drums/sequencer, Michael Di Francesco on synth/guitar and Nicholas Routledge on vocals/guitar. The band's debut album, V was released on the Australian label Modular Recordings in August 2008, and peaked at number 10 on the ARIA Charts.

Stephen Pavlovic is an Australian music entrepreneur. Pavlovic began promoting music tours, events and concerts in 1990. Since then he has toured artists including Nirvana, Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Beck, Foo Fighters, Daft Punk, The Cure, Grace Jones, LCD Soundsystem, and more. In 1998 he founded the record label Modular Recordings home to The Avalanches, Tame Impala and Cut Copy and others.

Like a Version is a weekly segment on Australian youth radio station triple j. It involves Australian and international artists playing two songs live in the triple j studio, one of their own songs and then a cover version, hence the name of the segment. The title is wordplay on the Madonna song "Like a Virgin".

Eleven: A Music Company is an Australian record label and management company known for its small but successful roster, currently including Birds of Tokyo, Cold Chisel, Dustin Tebbutt, Gotye, Midnight Oil, Missy Higgins, Paul Mac, Peter Garrett, The Presets, and Silverchair. The company was founded on 11 November 2000 by artist manager, John Watson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southbound (festival)</span>

Southbound was an arts, camping and music festival. A variety of Australian and international artists performed at this event. The festival occurred annually around New Year at the Sir Stewart Bovell Park in Busselton, Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midnight Juggernauts</span> Australian band

Midnight Juggernauts were an Australian band from Melbourne, composed of Andrew Szekeres, Vincent Vendetta, and Daniel Stricker. The band has been described as anything from 'prog dance meets cosmic film scores', to 'slasher-flick disco' to 'deadpan landscape'. Following the release of numerous 7" and 12" singles, and limited edition EPs, the band released their debut album, Dystopia. After playing festivals and headlining tours worldwide during late 2007–2008, the band finished working on their follow up album The Crystal Axis, touring around its release mid-2010 at festivals and headline shows around the globe. After a few years' break, the band released a third album Uncanny Valley in mid-2013. Members have individually collaborated with various artists including Kevin Parker, Justice, Solange Knowles and Sebastian Tellier. The group also runs the label Siberia Records, through which they release their own music and others including Kirin J. Callinan and Forces.

Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd. (UMA) is the largest Australian music corporation. It is a division of the Universal Music Group. Universal Music Australia's corporate headquarters are located in Sydney, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Island Records Australia</span> Australian record label; imprint of Universal Music Australia

Island Records Australia is an Australian record label that was launched in 2007 by Michael Taylor. It is part of the Universal Music Group and is the Australian variant of Island Records. Taylor describes "Island Australia (as) a home for artists who cut their own path, who start from the left, and who, in time, come into the mainstream on their own artistic terms". Island Records Australia is now headed by Nicole Richards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ladyhawke (musician)</span> New Zealand singer-songwriter (born 1979)

Phillipa Margaret "Pip" Brown, better known by her stage name Ladyhawke, is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She took her stage name from Richard Donner's 1985 film Ladyhawke.

The 22nd annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards took place on 19 October 2008. The nominees for all categories were announced on 10 September, while the winners of the Artisan Awards were announced on the same day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tame Impala</span> Australian psychedelic music project

Tame Impala is the psychedelic music project of Australian multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker. In the recording studio, Parker writes, records, performs, and produces all of the project's music. As a touring act, Tame Impala consists of Parker, Dominic Simper, Jay Watson, Cam Avery, and Julien Barbagallo. The group has a close affiliation with fellow Australian psychedelic rock band Pond, sharing members and collaborators, including Nick Allbrook, formerly a live member of Tame Impala. Originally signed to Modular Recordings, Tame Impala is now signed to Interscope Records in the United States and Fiction Records in the UK.

The discography of Australian electronic music group the Avalanches consists of three studio albums, five extended plays, four mixtapes, sixteen singles, and four music videos.

<i>Lonerism</i> 2012 studio album by Tame Impala

Lonerism is the second studio album by Australian musical project Tame Impala, released on 5 October 2012 by Modular Recordings. Like the band's debut studio album, Innerspeaker (2010), Lonerism was written, recorded, performed, and produced by Kevin Parker, with live member Jay Watson contributing on two tracks. Recorded mostly in Perth, Australia, and Paris, France, Lonerism builds on the psychedelic sound of its predecessor and features fewer guitars and more synthesisers and samples. Parker attempted to incorporate his love for pop music into his songwriting for the record through catchier melodies. Many tracks feature ambient sounds recorded by Parker with a dictaphone. The album's theme of isolation is reflected in the album cover, featuring an image of a fenced-off Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Parker (musician)</span> Australian musician (born 1986)

Kevin Richard Parker is an Australian singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and DJ, best known for his musical project Tame Impala, for which he writes, performs, records, and produces the music. Parker has released four Tame Impala albums: Innerspeaker (2010), Lonerism (2012), Currents (2015), and The Slow Rush (2020). He has won 13 ARIA Music Awards, two APRA Awards, and a Brit Award, and has received four Grammy Award nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vivid Live</span> Annual contemporary music festival in Sydney, Australia

Vivid LIVE is an annual contemporary music festival held by Sydney Opera House as part of Vivid Sydney. Taking place across all six venues at the Opera House, it features a bill of local and international artists, specially commissioned works and the hallmark Lighting of the Sails. It stands as the centrepiece of the Sydney Opera House's contemporary music program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tame Impala discography</span>

The discography of Tame Impala, a psychedelic rock project by the Australian musician Kevin Parker, consists of four studio albums, two live albums, four extended plays, twenty one singles and several collaborations and compilation appearances.

<i>Currents</i> (Tame Impala album) 2015 studio album by Tame Impala

Currents is the third studio album by Australian musical project Tame Impala, released on 17 July 2015 by Modular Recordings. It was released by Interscope Records in the United States and by Fiction Records in the United Kingdom, while Caroline International released it in other regions. Like the project's previous two albums, Currents was written, recorded, performed, and produced by Kevin Parker. For the first time, Parker mixed the music and recorded all instruments by himself; the album featured no other collaborators.

References

  1. "The 50 Most Iconic Australian Music Moments Of All Time". Rolling Stone Australia. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  2. 1 2 Palathingal, George (8 December 2008). "Lord of the Dance". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  3. "The Avalanches: Since I Left You (2001): Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  4. "Cut Copy article 2011" Andrew Murfett, 'Cut Copy move on from the "Modular sound"' Sydney Morning Herald, 3 February 2011
  5. "themusic.com.au".
  6. "BMG Launches Suit Against Universal, Modular Founder Steve Pavlovic Over Tame Impala Royalties". Billboard . Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  7. "I am Kevin Parker from Tame Impala. Ask me Anything! • /r/IAmA". Reddit . Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  8. Brandle, Lars (18 June 2015). "Universal Music Australia Wins Legal Action Against Modular Recordings Founder Stephen Pavlovic". Billboard . Retrieved 13 December 2016 via Prometheus Global Media.
  9. "Modular Recordings Wins Appeal Decision Over Universal Music Australia". Billboard . 6 October 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2016 via Prometheus Global Media.
  10. "theaustrlian" . The Australian . Retrieved 13 December 2016.