One Liners: Lana Del Rey, Skrillex, Alexi Cory-Smith, more

completemusicupdate.com:

DEALSFormer BMG UK President Alexi Cory-Smith has formally launched her new business, Bella Figura Music, and confirmed a number of deals that are already in the bag.

Backed by private equity fund Freshstream, the firm has acquired a stack of rights over the last year from the likes of Guy Chambers, David Gray and Darrell Brown.

Bella Figura, which also involves another former BMG exec – Neelesh Prabhu – describes itself as “a purpose-built, artist-centric music company, bringing together leading technology and a relentless focus on creative excellence”.Iconoclast – headed up by the former CEO of Irving Azoff‘s Iconic Artists Group, Olivier Chastan – has bought the catalogue of Diplo’s Mad Decent Publishing, which sounds like fun.

Chastan’s business is another entity splashing the cash on acquiring artist and music rights, spending monies provided by its investment fund backers.Seeker Music – the music rights firm headed up by songwriter Evan Bogart – has confirmed that it has acquired the catalogue of Christopher Cross, with work already underway to reissue and newly promote that music. “I’ve been a Christopher Cross fan going back to when I was a kid”, says Bogart. “I’m so proud to have the opportunity to carry his legacy forward and of what we’ve already been able to do with his catalogue, and will continue to do this year to keep introducing music fans to Chris’s incredible songs and timeless songwriting”.Influence Media has announced a deal with pop producer and songwriter – and frequent Harry Styles collaborator – Tyler Johnson.