Mottola, Universal resurrecting Casablanca

LOS ANGELES, July 8 (UPI) -- Billboard Bulletin reports the Casablanca label is being revived by a joint venture between former Sony chief Tommy Mottola and Universal Music Group.

Universal controls the Casablanca name and catalog. Billboard said Universal and Mottola reached agreement on a five-year deal that will put Mottola at the helm of the joint venture with Universal Motown Records Group providing support for promotion, marketing and sales.

The label is to feature new artists and producers, with the first singles due out by September and six albums within a year. Mottola, who resigned from Sony in January, said there's no connection between the new label and Casablanca's last incarnation, which was big on disco.