Zomba-affiliated Studio Announces Its Closure
By KAI R. LOFTHUS
Saturday, September 9 2000
Saturday, September 9 2000
Published on AllBusiness.com
Rediscovering the entrepreneurial ambitions of its '80s heyday has persuaded the Stockholm-based production house Cheiron Studios to abandon its trademark and prepare for the closure of its 4-year-old joint production and publishing venture with the Zomba Group (BillboardBulletin, Aug. 28).
However, before wrapping up the highly successful business venture and launching three new separate production companies on Jan. 1, 2001, Cheiron's producers are working in high gear to finalize Christmas releases from Backstreet Boys (Jive/Zomba) and Westlife (BMG), as well as upcoming albums from Steps and Jessica Folcker (both on Jive/Zomba).
While both Zomba and Cheiron claim their working relationship will continue, Billboard understands that the new constellations pave the way for the producers to have more control over their own copyrights and to cultivate their creative capacities independently from both each other and Zomba.
Songs published under the expiring deal will continue to be administered by Zomba Music. No new publishing deal has yet been signed.
The respective companies, whose names haven't yet been determined, will be headed by Tom Talomaa and Max Martin, Kristian Lundin and Jake, and David Kreuger and Per Magnusson. The remaining producers, Alexander Kronlund, Alexandra, Andreas Carlsson, Jörgen Elofsson, and Rami, will be hired on a project basis by the individual companies. Talomaa, who handles business affairs for Cheiron, takes on similar responsibilities, including being an adviser, for all companies.
As for studios, Lundin and Jake are understood to be remaining in Cheiron's adjoining offices with Jive/Zomba at Kungsholmen in Stockholm, while the others will be setting up separate studios elsewhere.
With these moves, the company—formed in 1993 under a deal with BMG Ariola in Munich—discontinues its formal affiliation with other music companies and will operate on an independent basis.
A prepared statement from Talomaa and Martin, who co-owns Cheiron with Zomba, and the estate of Dag "Denniz PoP" Volle says, "Cheiron was created with the intention of having fun, making a few hits, and not getting too serious about it. At the end of this year, we have fulfilled our commitments and are able to do as we please. We feel that the hype of Cheiron has become bigger than itself, and it's time to quit while we're ahead. Denniz made all the incredible success we have experienced possible, and we want Cheiron to be remembered like it is today."
From being a production/record company (as SweMix in 1986), releasing eight albums by six artists and 43 singles by 18 artists, the company has (as Cheiron since 1993) evolved into a genre-defining production outfit, writing and producing
However, before wrapping up the highly successful business venture and launching three new separate production companies on Jan. 1, 2001, Cheiron's producers are working in high gear to finalize Christmas releases from Backstreet Boys (Jive/Zomba) and Westlife (BMG), as well as upcoming albums from Steps and Jessica Folcker (both on Jive/Zomba).
While both Zomba and Cheiron claim their working relationship will continue, Billboard understands that the new constellations pave the way for the producers to have more control over their own copyrights and to cultivate their creative capacities independently from both each other and Zomba.
Songs published under the expiring deal will continue to be administered by Zomba Music. No new publishing deal has yet been signed.
The respective companies, whose names haven't yet been determined, will be headed by Tom Talomaa and Max Martin, Kristian Lundin and Jake, and David Kreuger and Per Magnusson. The remaining producers, Alexander Kronlund, Alexandra, Andreas Carlsson, Jörgen Elofsson, and Rami, will be hired on a project basis by the individual companies. Talomaa, who handles business affairs for Cheiron, takes on similar responsibilities, including being an adviser, for all companies.
As for studios, Lundin and Jake are understood to be remaining in Cheiron's adjoining offices with Jive/Zomba at Kungsholmen in Stockholm, while the others will be setting up separate studios elsewhere.
With these moves, the company—formed in 1993 under a deal with BMG Ariola in Munich—discontinues its formal affiliation with other music companies and will operate on an independent basis.
A prepared statement from Talomaa and Martin, who co-owns Cheiron with Zomba, and the estate of Dag "Denniz PoP" Volle says, "Cheiron was created with the intention of having fun, making a few hits, and not getting too serious about it. At the end of this year, we have fulfilled our commitments and are able to do as we please. We feel that the hype of Cheiron has become bigger than itself, and it's time to quit while we're ahead. Denniz made all the incredible success we have experienced possible, and we want Cheiron to be remembered like it is today."
From being a production/record company (as SweMix in 1986), releasing eight albums by six artists and 43 singles by 18 artists, the company has (as Cheiron since 1993) evolved into a genre-defining production outfit, writing and producing