New Signings & Team Ups: Elevnth tears into Paper Lions; Chet Faker co-signs artist; SoundHound integrates Apple Music; Pandora acquires Next Big Sound

Elevnth tears into Paper Lions

New Brisbane punk, metal and alt label Elevnth Records has made its first international signing with Canada’s indie pop four-piece Paper Lions (pictured). The act toured Australia last year and releases the single My Friend from their sophomore long player of the same name. The act hails from the village of Belfast on Prince Edward Island off the east coast of Canada.

Sydney’s Aver has a Ripple

Sydney stoner-metal band Aver gets global distribution for its sophomore album Nadir in November through a deal struck with US indie Ripple Music. The record was previously self-released.

Buddy Holly’s legacy goes to BMG

Since the airplane death of 22-year-old rock pioneer Buddy Holly in on February 3, 1959 (cue “the day the music died”), his widow Maria Elena Holly has been the custodian of his evergreen catalogue and image. Now she has entrusted it to BMG. It will assume the US publishing rights to classics as That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue and Not Fade Away. BMG will also administer royalties worldwide of Holly's recordings and rights to his name and image in ads, film and TV. Holly has officially sold 1.3 million albums since 1991 and most of his publishing is owned by his super-fan Paul McCartney.

Chet Faker's Detail label brings in Cleopold

Chet Faker’s boutique label Detail Co. inked Cleopold, releasing debut single Down In Flames. Based in LA, he’s penned singles for Miami Horror and Cassian (he does vocals on MH’s new single Love Like Mine), collaborated with Chet and Bag Raiders and done film scores for Roman Coppola. Chet has given him the keys to his Melbourne studio, so when Cleopold returns to Australia in August to tour with Miami Horror, he’ll start work on an album.

Bandai Namco to distribute Persona 4 in ANZ

Bandai Namco Entertainment Australia will collaborate with Nippon Ichi Software America to publish the Persona 4: Dancing All Night game in Australia and New Zealand late 2015. Limited stock of Disco Fever EU Edition will also be available.

Double deal for Dividem

Melbourne based DJ producer duo Dividem, who formed at a Berlin rave, celebrate their return to live gigs this month with two deals. These are a record pact with onelove who are releasing an EP, and booking agency New World Artists where they will be repped by Edwin Tehrani.

Remote Control gets U.S. Girls

Remote Control has the Australian and NZ rights to the September release of Half Free by U.S. Girls through a deal with 4AD. U.S. Girls is the stage moniker of Illinois-born and Toronto-based artist Meg Remy.

SoundHound integrates Apple Music

Australian users of the SoundHound music discovery app will be able to listen to track via Apple Music on both the homescreen and within song pages. Beats 1 is also on offer via song pages. Australia is one of 100 countries where SoundHound is available, which claims 265 million users globally.

WAM expands involvement in gigs

Perth association WAM is contributing to the next generation of blues performers. It is partnering with the Perth Blues Club’s regular Next Gen Blues showcase initiative at the Charles Hotel. The club was set up in 1992. The next Next Gen Blues is tonight (July 7) with Morgan Bain, Old Blood and The Bonekickers.

WAM also teamed with Perth outdoor ice skating rink Winterland, programming live WA acts on the weekend, and again on July 12.

Warner Classics takes in one-handed pianist Nicholas McCarthy

Warner Classics signed English pianist Nicholas McCarthy with his September due debut Solo featuring 17 pieces. Born without his right hand, he began playing the piano at 14. When he tried to enter a school for pianists, he was refused an audition and told he’d be wasting everyone’s time. In 2012 he graduated from the Royal College of Music in London, the only left-hand-alone pianist to do so in its 130 year history. That year he developed a global following after performing alongside Coldplay at the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Pandora acquires Next Big Sound

Pandora acquired music analytics provider Next Big Sound. By tapping on its data and insights about artists and their fans, Pandora adds to its data-driven Artist Marketing Platform (AMP). It was launched last September to allow musicians on the service to view their entire listening history. Pandora co-founder Tim Westergren said, “By folding in their broad data architecture and applying it to our nearly 80 million active monthly users, we will be poised to become the most powerful and effective marketing and promotions tool for artists, managers, agents, publishers, promoters, labels and brands across the music industry.”

Twitter gives media account to Bohemia

Twitter in Australia has given its media account (said to be less than $1 million a year) o independent media agency Bohemia after a four-agency pitch. Mumbrella reports Twitter is also looking for a creative agency.

Audio Active takes over Tannoy distribution

Melbourne based Audio Active recently landed the distribution of Danish pro-audio giant Tannoy’s residential products for the local market. Audio Active’s GM of Sales and Marketing Paul Clarke says some excellent product are expected here in the next 12 months which should see the Tannoy brand (now under new ownership) “once again become a force in the Australian market."

Edifier tries another crack at Australian market

Edifier, the Chinese designer and manufacturer of high-end consumer audio electronics, has been dogged with a low presence in the Australian market in the last six months. Now it’s appointed its first Australian rep, Melbourne-based Audion Innovision, and planning social media, online media and brand partnership campaigns and an Australian website for consumers.