Aussie label, Modular Records, has come up trumps following long-winding legal battles with both Universal Music Australia and German entertainment behemoth BMG, relating to around $1 million worth of missing Tame Impala royalties.
Firstly, the NSW Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of Modular founder, Steve ‘Pav’ Pavlovic in the “David-vs-Goliath” court case, thereby reversing Universal Australia’s win in the NSW Supreme Court back in June.
What it all boils down to is that Pav, who founded Modular 18 years ago, developing the careers of such beloved Aussie artists as The Avalanches, Wolfmother, The Presets, Ladyhawke, Cut Copy and Tame Impala, will get to retain his position as a 50% Shareholder and Director of the company.
“I’m obviously greatly relieved…” he said in a statement. “I built Modular out of sheer passion and a belief in unique creativity. I regret terribly that the bands I have nurtured and adored all these years were caught in the cross-fire between Universal and I.
“It’s stressful to be one man staring down a corporate giant the size of Universal however I felt I had no choice but to fight for myself, the label I created and for the bands that we represent.”
As triple j points out, another statement, presumably written by Pav on the Modular People Facebook Page announced his plans to move forward with releasing new music, including the long-awaited Holy Grail-esque second album from The Avalanches.
“After 12 months of litigation, a waste of time, a waste of energy, a waste of money and a shit ton of stress the NSW court of Appeal just ruled in my favour and blocked Universal Music from taking my 50% shareholding in Modular Recordings,” he writes.
“We’re thrilled with the outcome and look forward to getting back to the business of releasing great records. Stand by for news on forthcoming releases from Movement, Bag Raiders and The Avalanches.” The mysterious Avalanches follow-up which is now 15 years in the making since their debut Since I Left You.
Universal Music Australia, who are co-owners of Modular, had claimed that Pav was in breach of a legal agreement with them. But now, having lost the long-running court case, have been ordered to fork out all the costs of litigation.
Simultaneously, it has been reported that Tame Impala’s current label, BMG, has also had its claim against Pavlovic – relating to the band’s mechanical royalties in the US – dismissed by the Southern District Court Of New York.
BMG had been trying to recover up to $1 million worth of missing Tame Impala royalties from Pav, Modular, and Universal, and Pav says he’s glad that the “misunderstanding” has finally been resolved.
“I’m deeply sorry for any upset caused to Tame Impala given that I’ve always been a staunch supporter and fan of the band; and to BMG given the relationship we’ve always enjoyed with them,” he said.
“I also regret the heavy handed press coverage of this aspect of Modular’s affairs which was completely inaccurate and out of hand. However I hope that with Universal and Modular’s respective obligations to BMG on behalf of Tame Impala now resolved that a line can finally be drawn under this unfortunate chapter.”
It’s unclear what the outcome of the case means for Tame Impala’s missing money, but we’ll keep you updated with any new information as it emerges.
At the time of writing, neither Universal Music Australia, BMG or Tame Impala have yet to issue any statement on the outcome of the legal proceedings.
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