Chrysalis builds overseas position with European publishing network. (International).

Chrysalis Music is billing itself as a genuine alternative to the major publishers across Europe, after completing a network of operations in every key territory.

The UK independent last week unveiled new publishing ventures in Italy and the Netherlands, which will run alongside its existing companies in the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Scandinavia where, in just a year, it has risen from 70th to seventh place on the region's market share league table.

According to CEO Jeremy Lascelles, the newly-formed network places Chrysalis in a unique position among independent publishers. "We are the only independent with companies across Europe, as well as in the UK and US," he says. "What we've set ourselves up as is a genuine alternative to the majors, offering a pan-European publishing arrangement."

In the Netherlands, the company has launched Chrysalis Music Benelux as a joint venture with Dutch-based independent media group Stengholt's music publishing arm. It is headed by former Warner/Chappell Holland's A&R creative manager Lucas Van Slegtenhorst as general manager.

Lascelles says he was attracted to Stengholt -- which becomes a partner in Chrysalis's French company as part of the deal -- because it has a similar structure and similar strengths to Chrysalis. "They have media interests not only in music publishing and a record company, but TV and radio companies as well. We found we were extraordinarily similar in many ways and clearly had a ...