Industrial Strength: New signings and team-ups – October 10, 2013

Dan Sultan to spread Rock for Recognition message

Dan Sultan will promote the Rock for Recognition message on his Back To Basics national solo tour, which kicks off this weekend. It takes in 13 shows from Saturday October 12 to Sunday November 17. He also joins Bruce Springsteen and The E-Street Band at AAMI Park in Melbourne (Feb 15, 16) and Hope Estate in NSW’s Hunter Valley (Feb 22, 23). Rock for Recognition is a growing movement of artists and fans who support recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution. “This isn’t just an Aboriginal issue or a Torres Strait Islander Issue, it’s not just a left wing or a right wing issue or a black or white issue, it’s a people issue, it’s a human issue and it’s an Australian issue,” Sultan remarked.

The Rock for Recognition tour is an initiative of ANTaR and Oxfam Australia, who are working with Recognise – the campaign for Constitutional Recognition – to raise broad public awareness of the need for recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia’s founding document. Oxfam Australia’s Indigenous Rights Policy Advisor Andrew Meehan said, “Having Dan Sultan get behind this critical issue is fantastic. The support from music fans across Australia for Rock for Recognition has been extraordinary and demonstrates a growing movement of people who want constitutional change.”

NRMA BusinessWise enters country music sphere

NSW and ACT car motoring and services NRMA BusinessWise will have a major presence at the 2014 Tamworth Country Music Festival supporting a range of premium events. Its head of BusinessWise and Membership Strategy, Matt Beattie, said, “NRMA BusinessWise is proud to be making a major investment in the festival which supports the Tamworth community – we’re keen to use this opportunity to meet with new business customers about how we can better meet their needs, while supporting Aussie Country Music in the process!” NRMA secured the naming rights for the Country Music Cocktails event. It will also sponsor a series of concerts by Dianna Corcoran, Paul Costa, Amber Lawrence and Aleyce Simmonds. Corcoran has her own reasons to approve the team up: “My dad was an NRMA approved mechanic in Parkes for many years and I know how proud he would be of this partnership.” Added Lawrence, “We spend so much time as country singers driving the great open road of Australia so it’s great to have NRMA Motoring & Services’ support on and off stage.”

INXS catalogue at Universal Publishing worldwide

Universal Music Group Chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge and Chairman/CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group Zach Horowitzannounced that INXS’s catalogue has been signed to Universal Music Publishing worldwide. This marks the first time that the Australian band’s publishing has been under one roof. “This is an extraordinary moment in time for all us involved in INXS,” said their creative adviserCM Murphy this week. INXS have sold 30 million albums, striking up six Top 10 albums in the UK and five US Top 20 albums.

Coopers AMP: PPCA back, Spotify arrives as industry sponsor

The 9th Coopers AMP (Australian Music Prize) announced that PPCA are returning as a Principal Partner for the ninth consecutive year. PPCA CEO Dan Rosen said, “PPCA is delighted to again be on board as the $30,000 major prize sponsor of The AMP – a prize that is close to our hearts, having been a principle partner since day one”.

Music streaming service Spotify has signed on as new Industry Sponsor. The alliance will allow the AMP site to play the music of the Longlisted artists, as well as feature playlists of former winners and former Shortlisted artists. There will be further announcements where the two will team up on events. “We’re proud to be supporting one of Australia’s most respected music prizes, and the artists it aims to reward,” said Serena Leith, Spotify’s marketing manager for Australia & New Zealand. “2013 has been a truly amazing year for excellence in Australian music and we can’t wait to see the winners announced, it’s going to be a hotly contested trophy.”

Coopers AMP also added another seven names to its Longlist. These are Surrender To Victory by The Tongue, Hex Lover Killer by The Delta Riggs, Deleted Scenes by Standish/Carlyon, Homosapien byPVT, In Blood Memory by Jen Cloher, She Beats by Beaches andEmbracism by Kirin J.Callinan. Already announced were The Drones, Bob Evans, Abbe May, Big Scary, Dialectrix, and Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds. The deadline to enter is 3 weeks away, see australianmusicprize.com.au.

Sony Music signs up Dewayne Everettsmith …

Sony Music Entertainment Australia has signed Tasmanian singer-songwriter Dewayne Everettsmith. He enjoyed a spike in his profile last year when his song It’s Like Love was used in an international Tourism Australia marketing campaign which had 20 million views. The song will feature in his debut album due next March. Descended from the Aboriginal community of Cape Barren Island and the Gunai/Kurnai people of Victoria, Everettsmith was this month appointed finalist for Australian of the year. In the last 12 months, he’s built his profile up, working with The Black Arm Band, opening forGeoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu through Australia and Europe, made a live music ambassador by the Federal Government, featuring in a 30th anniversary video release of Great Southern Land and appointed national ambassador for the official Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal. Everettsmith is managed by Mark Grose and Michael Hohnen from Skinnyfish Music, the team behind the outstanding success of Gurrumul and a growing roster of indigenous acts.

… and extends DNA deal

Sony Music also extended its association with Australian songwriting and production team DNA aka David Musumeci and Anthony Egizi. Since their first deal, in 2012, tracks written and produced by the pair have exceeded 2 million units, Sony Music said. These includedTimomatic’s Set if Off (which they co-wrote with him) and which won two APRA awards this year. Other songs have been recorded byRicky Martin (Come With Me), Timomatic (If Looks Could Kill),Samantha Jade (What You’ve Done To Me, Firestarter), and Reece Mastin (Good Night, Shut Up and Kiss Me and Shout It Out). They’re about to work with new Sony signing Geri Halliwell. The DNA label through Sony has launched with a single You by former X Factorcontestant Nathaniel Willemse.

“This is an outstanding creative partnership with David and Anthony, not only in the sales success but in the amazing range of tracks they have produced and written with our artists,” commented Denis Handlin AM, Chairman and CEO Sony Music Australia and NZ, and President Asia. “They have established an incredible interaction with our artists and our A&R team and we are very excited about continuing to produce such great music together.”

Nielsen’s acquisition of Arbitron completed

Nielsen, the global provider of metrics and statistics on consumers’ cultural consumption, has completed its US$1.3 billion buy-out of marketing and media research firm Arbitron Inc. Arbitron, best known for the US radio ratings, will have its name changed to Nielsen Audio. It will generate insight and information into television, online, mobile and radio consumption for media and advertising companies.

Oddessa takes Pilot seat

Adelaide’s Pilot Records has inked South Australia’s Oddessa – akaPhil Rogers, owner of Cuckoo bar/nightclub and techno label Cuckoo Music. His debut album Intrigue is out this month, with guest appearances from long time friends Surahn Singh Sidhu (Empire Of The Sun) and Ben Smith (Urtekk).

Big Day Out, Headspace, alliance leads to band comp

Big Day Out has partnered with youth mental health foundation Headspace, and will be rebranding the Red Stage as the Headspace Stage. It will now be home to four winners of a new band competition. Bands (aged 15 +) can apply via the BDO/Headspace website, submitting an original recording (no covers), and an image with a brief bio. Each entry is given a dedicated profile that they can plug, share and link to. The public will select a shortlist of bands, with a panel of music industry figures then choosing the three final winners. Triple M will also choose one winner. Entry deadline is Friday October 25. The winners play on the Headspace Stage at every BDO show in Australia.

Pod/Inertia wade out to Morgan Kibby

Inertia’s Pond imprint has signed Morgan Kibby, recording under the moniker White Sea. She’s best known as collaborator and touring member of French electronic group M83, co-writing the global million selling single Midnight City which is close to Platinum in Australia. She has also remixed School of Seven Bells, Lord Huron, The Naked and Famous, Britney Spears and Active Child. Her debut album is due next year.

New World go loonie

New World Artists added triple j Unearthed High winning trio Lunatics On Pogosticks to its agency roster. It is made up of Calum Newton(guitar/ vocals), James Whitfield (drums) and Bryce Wilson (guitar).

Okenyo joins Niche Agency

Niche Agency’s latest addition to the roster is Sydney theatrical actress-turned-composer Okenyo (full name: Zindzi Okenyo). Inspired by writers and novels as well as by Erykah Badu, Theophilus Londonand Grace Jones, she teamed with the band Ictus. First single is titledBroken Chest.

Pink Floyd celebration tour attracts brand support

CCEntertainment’s tenth The Great Gig In The Sky Pink Floyd themed tour is sponsored by Floyd’s long associated JBL studio monitors and Len Wallis Audio. The star-studded tour which covers all of Floyd’s material, kicked off on the weekend in Wollongong and has six more shows from October 11 to November 9. Each ticket bought goes into a draw to win a $825 JBL audio package at each show. Joining the seven-piece house band lead by guitarist Joseph Calderazzo are guest vocalists Mitchell Anderson (The Voice), Spencer Jones, Emma Kirk, Jenelle Watkins and Krishna Jones (ex Juice).

Melbourne theatre rebrands as The Coopers Malthouse Theatre

The Malthouse Theatre on Melbourne’s Southbank has been renamed as The Coopers Malthouse Theatre after a multi-year naming rights deal with South Australian brewery Coopers. ChairmanGlenn Cooper stated, “Of course, it’s impossible to ignore the name ‘Malthouse’ and its association with beer and brewing, but Coopers has had a long held commitment to support of the arts which has highlighted the natural affinities existing between our organisations. For many years Coopers has been synonymous with support for the arts in Adelaide, and this new partnership with The Malthouse is by far our most significant commitment outside of South Australia.”