New Signings & Team-Ups: August 16
SONY ENTERS GROUND BREAKING DEAL WITH LATIN SUPERSTAR NICKY JAM
The escalating globalgrowthof Latin music has seen Sony enter a groundbreaking partnership with Sony.
In a post on its website, Sony Music Entertainment Latin announced that Latin superstar Nicky Jam’s hit tracks’El Amante’ and ’Hasta El Amanecer’ from his current album Fénix will be heard through its audio technology products in thousands of retail stores throughout North and South America.
The first video with Nicky Jam was filmed earlier this year in London in support of his album release and product launches for various Extra Bass Sony audio products.
“Here at Sony, we are always working on discovering new ways to inspire through music,” said Noritaka Sawamura, Senior General Manager of Branding and Product Planning, Sony Video & Sound Products, based in Tokyo.
“With the help of Nicky Jam, we hope to reach new music lovers and guide them to enjoy their passions to the fullest!”
The deal also sees Sony place on its official website a number of interviews and docu-videos for access in 100 countries, as well as on the star’s own official YouTube channel which has 10 million subscribers.
RUBY BOOTS KICKS IN GLOBAL DEAL
Perth-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriterRuby Boots, who’s signed locally to Island Records / Universal Music Australia, has finalised an international deal with Chicago-based Bloodshot Records.
Boots, aka Bex Chilcott,has long aimed at a global following. This year she toured Europe and the UK with Nikki Lane.
She returns to AmericanaFest in Nashville, playing a joint showcase by Bloodshot and Pandora on September 15.
She recorded her next album in Texas, with producer Beau Bedford.
It’s out next year, but she returns to Australia in September/ October for club and festival shows to preview the album. A lead single is released then.
She says, “After packing up my life (momentarily) and literally moving the furthest distance possible from Perth, Western Australia to Nashville, TN, it’s a really special chapter for me and an honour to be welcomed into the Bloodshot Records family.
“I have been a superfan of the label, and so many of their artists for several years, and I’m over the moon that my new record has found the right home, allowing my journey in to America, UK and Europe to continue.”
WARNER/CHAPPELL PLAYS FAHEY
As the original lineup of Bananarama head back on the road after 30 years, Siobhan Fahey signed a worldwide publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music.
It covers the songs she co-wrote during her Bananarama and Shakespear’s Sister days, her solo catalogue, and songs written for other artists.
Aside from Bananarama’s healthy global charts strike rate, Shakespear’s Sister had a massive hit with ’Stay’, and Fahey enjoyed success as co-writer of The Bluebells’ version of ’Young At Heart’.
ILLY BRINGS IN KUREN
Melbourne rapper and producer Illy hassigned his mentoree, NSW producer Kuren, to his ONETWO label.
The 19-year-old, who impressed at his Splendour In The Grass debut last month, is currently guesting on Illy’s regional tour.
He released a new single ’Mastercraft’ to coincide with the announcement, which has been added to regular rotation on triple j.
SONY LENDS A EAR
The debut album by Gizmodrome – an all star group formed by The Police’s Stewart Copeland, Mark King (Level 42), Adrian Belew (David Bowie, Talking Heads) and Vittorio Cosma (PFM) – will be locally through Sony Music Entertainment Australia.
The self-titled album is out overseas through earMUSIC on September 15.
Copeland was jamming with Cosma in a studio in Milan when he texted the other two to join him in Italy.
“Gizmodrome took me back to the authentic joy to play music I had when I was sixteen,” says Vittorio. “Just a band and a garage with the walls covered with the posters of all my music heroes.
“Only it happens now that I’m playing with the people on the posters!”
AUSSIE SINGER-SONGWRITERS CAN ENTER ASIAN COMP
With Aloft opening its first Australian hotel in Perth, it’s extended its Asia-wide Project Aloft Star to Australian singer-songwriters. The Australasian finals will be held in Perth.
Project Aloft Star, amplified by MTV, is broken into three contest clusters: Australia and Southeast Asia; Greater China and South Korea.
The winner of each cluster will receive AUD$12,000 and a Believe Distribution Services Deal for mentorship, marketing and distribution.
More details at projectaloftstar.mtvasia.com, deadline is August 20.
DAUGHTER EXPAND INTO VIDEO GAME MUSIC
London indie folk outfit Daughter, who are distributed in Australia through Remote Control, entered an agreement with games development company Square Enix to provide original music for its hotly antipated game Life Is Strange: Before The Storm.
“It was our first experience working on an original soundtrack,” remarks lead singerElena Tonra.
“We loved the story on first read as it centres around realistic female lead characters who are emotional, intelligent, sensitive and badass in equal measure.
“I think the characters themselves have really inspired the soundscapes.”
RADIO SCHOLARSHP OFFERED
A Graduate Diploma in Radio scholarship is offered in 2018 to a multilingual student via a team up between SBS Radio and the Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS).
The successful applicant will also be offered a one day per week 12-month placement with SBS Radio.
The language groups eligible are Arabic, Cantonese, Greek, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Kurdish, Mandarin, Nepali, Portuguese, Spanish and Vietnamese.
SBS Director of Audio and Language Content Mandi Wicks says, “With early 50% of Australians either being born overseas, or with at least one parent who was born overseas, we are hoping to find plenty of potential bilingual radio talent.”
AFTRS Program Leader for Radio Lisa Sweeney adds: “Taking this scholarship to study with AFTRS is an amazing educational opportunity, as our Graduate Diploma in Radio is the best broadcasting course in Australia and leads to excellent employment prospects upon graduation.
“With the internship at SBS Radio included in the year’s study, the chance to learn within the industry and to connect with a network of professionals means a fantastic head start for the student. AFTRS is so grateful to SBS for providing this scholarship.”
Applications close onOctober 16.
HIT MAKING PRODUCER XL GETS PUBISHING DEAL
Successful hip hop producer XL (Trevon Campbell) landed a worldwide publishing deal with Reservoir.
XL’s T-Shirt, performed by Migos, sold 2 million copies in America.
His first hit Your, with R&B singer Oshea, generated 16 million Pandora streams. He went on to work with Future, Li Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, Young Dolph, K Camp, Zaytoven, DJ Spinz and Beat Billionaire.
FOCUSRITE SIGNS AUSSIE AGREEMENT
British audio manufacturers Focusrite will have its recording gear products released locally through Innovative Music Australia.