25/11/2013

Interview of Danièle Feuillerat (ex-Disques Dreyfus), 2013



In January 2013 DISQUES DREYFUS, veteran and legendary French label founded on the effort and artistic flair of its promoter FRANCIS DREYFUS (1940-2010), ceased to exist as an independent entity and was going to be part of the giant BMG. Inevitably the future of plump nude woman illustrating the characteristic company logo appears indistinct and its extensive catalog of recordings artists, among them names like CHRISTOPHE, FRANÇOIS DE ROUBAIX, BLUE VAMP, BAHAMAS or JEAN MICHEL JARRE , abandoned the possibility of a hypothetical republication or forgotten, in the worst case.

With the death of Francis Dreyfus, producer in mid-2010 because of cancer, few people can relate with great detail and based on comprehensive information that was “the adventure Motors”, the seed of FRANCIS DREYFUS MUSIC and its label DREYFUS JAZZ, the rise and demise of the company that allowed JEAN MICHEL JARRE to be a star. One of those few people is Danièle Feuillerat, for more than 30 years publishing director of FRANCIS DREYFUS MUSIC (FDM), plus production assistant in shows like ” Rendez -Vous Houston” or the intriguing concert tour in China 1981. She met a young JARRE as a lyricist, he witnessed his departure from the maison after publication ” Metamorphoses ” and return to ” Essentials & Rarities”.

Daniele has agreed to collaborate closely with FAIRLIGHT JARRE with a project that began more than a year ago, lending itself to review carefully the history of JEAN MICHEL JARRE and DISQUES DREYFUS, that is, in a sense, our own story.

Part I  Interview with Daniel Feuillerat
Part II  PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
Part III  RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWN

For all JARRE’s fans, and for lovers of music in general, the announce of the purchase of DISQUES DREYFUS by BMG Group was a hard impact. DREYFUS label means the success of a romantic project that grew to become a global reference thanks to the richness of its catalog and its great work in the world of jazz. When did you know the intention of selling DISQUES DREYFUS? What was the reason for the sale? 

When Francis died his wife, Hélène, was named new President and she decided to keep the company running for a little while. Early 2011, the shareholders decided to sell the company in order to pay the inheritance taxes (very high in France). We almost made a deal with Universal by the end of 2011 but they had to withdraw their offer because of the Virgin-Capitol-Emi purchase. The second best offer was that of BMG Rights. The sale was finally concluded on May 25, 2012.

Did FRANCIS DREYFUS ever intend to sell the record label?

Maybe 4 or 5 years before he died, Francis had mentioned several times that in the future he might decide to sell the label and keep the publishing. But in fact it was always postponed to later days.

Thanks very much again to Daniéle for her involvement in this interview that lasted three months of work. She is answering more questions on the coments below the spanish version of the interview. Click here to make some questions to her.


Very much thanks for sharing this interview for Fairlight Jarre - en.jeanmicheljarre.es

Fairlight Jarre is a website made by the Spanish Jean Michel Jarre Fanclub, which started in 1995 as Fanzine and continued later as a website.

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