The UK division of China’s largest independent record label and promoter, Modern Sky Entertainment, has formed a joint venture with DJ Yousef’s Circus Recordings.
The JV will see Modern Sky UK invest in Circus Recordings as well as seeking opportunities for the label in Asia, while DJ Yousef will continue to run the company and fulfil A&R duties.
Circus Recordings is the record label founded by DJ Yousef in 2009. It operates across the house, techno and electronic genres and has released music from artists such as Carl Cox, Sven Vath, Marco Carola, Scuba, Green Velvet, Steve Lawler, and Yousef himself. The label has also broken newer names like Kydus & David Glass.
Circus Recordings released Green Velvet’s underground anthem, Bigger Than Prince, in summer 2013 and saw it go on to worldwide success.
Founded by Lihui Shen in 1997, Modern Sky Entertainment is a multi-faceted entertainment company, operating across records, publishing, live and video. It is the largest independent record label in China as well as being promoter of the largest music festivals in the territory under the banner of Strawberry Festivals.
As well as its Beijing headquarters, Modern Sky Entertainment has offices in New York, while Modern Sky UK is based in Liverpool.
“Modern Sky wants to support exciting, boutique record labels like Circus Recordings and invest in the creative personalities behind them”
Dave pichilingi, modern sky uk
Modern Sky UK is headed by Sound City founder Dave Pichilingi (pictured), who said: “Modern Sky wants to support exciting, boutique record labels like Circus Recordings and invest in the creative personalities behind them such as DJ Yousef. We hope to be able to announce plenty more partnerships like this one, as a strong independent sector benefits both artists and music fans alike.”
DJ Yousef said: “I am delighted to have signed a collaborative global deal between Modern Sky and Circus Recordings for our future albums. Their ambition is strong and matches my goal to develop the label, along with both new and established electronic music artists in territories around the world – both digitally and physically.”Music Business Worldwide
