Industrial Strength: New signings and team-ups – September 11, 2013

Moshtix signs Laneway, re-signs Boomtick 

Independent ticketing provider Moshtix has been hitting goals since managing director Harley Evans took over as owner in July. In the latest move, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, produced by Michael Chugg Entertainment & Lunatic Entertainment, has appointed it its official ticketing partner. It also renewed its ticketing partnership with Perth promoter and venue operator Boomtick. Both Laneway director Jerome Borazio and Boomtick director Liam Mazzucchelli revealed that their decisions were made on Moshtix’s recent track record. Mazzucchelli added, “Moshtix’s day to day service, adaptability, and recent investment in their people and technology were aligned with what we need as a venue operator.” These new signings follow recent team-ups with Sydney’s Merivale Group and Oxford Art Factory.

Evans said, “The decision for Laneway Festival to partner with us reinforces the hard work and investment we have made in the business over the past two years. Our re-signing with Boomtick is another example of us listening to the specific needs of our clients and building better solutions for them.”

The Cat Empire’s Ollie McGill joins Alberts 

Alberts will represent and manage the published works of composer, jazz-trained musician and producer Ollie McGill of The Cat Empire. His co-writes with TCE include Days Like These, Won’t Be Afraid and Prophets In The Sky. But his work outside the band have been receiving global attention as well. He was responsible for Melbourne Metro’s campaign Dumb Ways To Die to make young people more careful around trains. The video has now clocked up over 58 million views on YouTube while the radio version ad won the Golden Siren at the Commercial Radio Australia Awards and took an astounding 28 wins at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. McGill, who also writes jingles for his father’s ad agency, was behind ads for The Age Classified, Mayne and Melbourne Motor Show. McGill joins The Cat Empire bandmates Harry James Angus (ex ANZ) and Felix Riebl who recently joined Alberts.

Shock Records pacts with UK label services company Kartel 

Shock Records pacted with London-based artist management and label services company Kartel. Australian gets acts as Filthy Boy (Stranger Records), California’s The Drowning Men (their album All Of The Unknown is out Sept 27 and first release under the new deal), acclaimed Faroese artist Teitur and folk troubadours To Kill A King – all whom have albums scheduled for release this year.

Kartel’s labels include Xtra Mile Recordings (Frank Turner, Against Me!) and Borstal Beat Records, the newly created label of punk ensemble Flogging Molly. Charles Kirby-Welch, who founded Kartel in 2003, observed, “We’re delighted to have inked this deal with Shock at such an exciting time for both their and our businesses.

There’s many synergies between the cultures and ambitions of us both that from our first meetings with the team it felt like Shock was the perfect partnership for delivering success in Australasia for Kartel and our growing roster of labels and artist.”

Select unveils six new roster additions

Select Music unveiled six new signings. They are Sydney troubadour Dustin Tebbutt (see elsewhere this column for his recent management deal) Melbourne seven-piece Eagle And The Worm, Melbourne rock-outs Apes, Brisbane’s Holy Holy, Adelaide rapper Tkay Maidza whose stomping Brontosaurus is getting online traction and Perth trio Crooked Colours.

Miller comes on board for EMC’s second year

Miller is a new sponsor for the second Electronic Music Conference (EMC), while inthemix.com, Moshtix and Rdio have returned. The other new sponsors are still to be announced. It is held in Sydney over three days December 2–4 at Carriageworks. EMC this year takes a close look at the growing scene in Asia. Its first round of speakers include performers Tommie Sunshine, Ferry Corsten, Tommy Trash, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Krewella, Stafford Brothers, M4SONIC, Destructo, Grant Smillie, MaRLo and Nina Las Vegas, as well as Richard Slatter (GM, Twitter Music), Gary Richards (HARD Events, LA), Matthew Adell (CEO Beatport), Kerri Mason (inthemix USA & Billboard), Richie McNeill, (MD, Stereosonic), Adam Zammit (CEO Big Day Out), Jon Hanlon (Sony/Konkrete) and Dan Rosen (CEO, ARIA).

John Watson confirms Dustin Tebbutt signing 

Manager supremo John Watson confirmed that triple j fave, New England folk singer Dustin Tebbutt has been added to his stable. It is believed the two began working quietly together earlier this year. Tebbutt lived in Sweden for two years to make his Breach EP. Watson told us, “I first heard Dustin’s music on JJJ and some friends were also talking about him a lot. He’s a genuine artist. We believe he can build a enduring connection with music fans both here and overseas and we’re looking forward to helping him do that over the years ahead.” Watson manages Silverchair, Missy Higgins, Birds of Tokyo, Katy Steele and co-manages Pete Murray, Cold Chisel and Gotye.

Ones, Thundamentals, launch T-shirt design comp 

Streetwear collective Ones Clothing and Sydney hip hop trio Thundamentals have a comp to design a T-shirt inspired by their new single Smiles Don’t Lie. Prize includes $500 cash. Deadline is Sept 23. Check onesclothing.com or email info@onesclothing.com for details & design templates.

New deals for Our Last Enemy

Sydney heavy metal band Our Last Enemy’s Los Angeles-made album Fallen Empires and Wolves Of Perigord EP reached #1and #2 on the iTunes Metal Charts. They recently joined Sydney based booking agent Big Tree Artists and global digital distribution Alt Strum Productions while their track 10,000 Headless Horses included on Rock Band 3 and Rock Band Blitz. Their latest project Engineering The Enemy features remixes of their songs by the likes of Mortiis (ex Emperor), Travis Neal (Divine Heresy), Angel (Dope/ Team Cybergeist) Dismantled, Angelspit and Beano (The Berzerker)

Overseas tie-ups for Bonjah 

After a good response during their first European visit last year, Melbourne’s Bonjah are returning there next May. To set it up, they’ve struck a partnership with Live Nation to look after bookings and Plug n Play to work radio. Bonjah got a particularly strong response in Germany, where they played before 10,000 at a festival, and in the UK where they quickly sold out a London show. Their records got airplay in both countries. “We’ll keep going back to Europe and the UK, it’s a priority for us,” member Regan Lethbridge said. In Australia, Bonjah have a new single out titled Blue Tone Black Heart, which they promote with a national tour. The track was produced by Jan Skubiszewski {Way of the Eagle} and a taster for their third album, due in March. Earlier this year, the band broke into mainstream airplay, while their triple j Like A Version cover of Lorde has had 230,000 YouTube views.

Strains of Harmony added to Poison City 

Poison City Records added Harmony to its roster, releasing its second album Carpetbombing early in 2014. The band said in a statement, “Harmony have been very fortunate to surround ourselves with people who are as fiercely passionate about music as we are.” The blues, ballads and gospel vocals lineup includes ex-members of The Nation Blue, McLusky and Ukeladie.

Ginger Spice signs with Octagon 

Sports and entertainment marketing agency Octagon will represent one-time Ginger Spice, Geri Halliwell for the two months she’ll be in Australia as a judge on Australia’s Got Talent, B&T Marketing and Media reported. She arrives on September 21. Octagon’s athletes and personalities client service director Rene Wright told B&T that the company was successful in working with celebs as Katy Perry and Robbie Williams when they were in Australia. “Geri Halliwell is certainly an artist of the same calibre. With marquee events like the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the AFL and NRL grand finals, and the ARIA Awards all happening around this time, we are looking forward to brokering partnerships that increase exposure and awareness for all involved.”

Iron Mind learns to Resist 

Melbourne hardcore band Iron Mind have signed with Resist Records. The band, who formed in 2006, are set to follow up their 2011 debut Hell Split Wide Open. They moved into a cabin in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges with Melbourne producer Mike Deslandes (Blkout, Robotosaurus, Coerce, Lead Sketch Union, Confession) at the helm.

Lou Reed extends Sony/ATV deal 

Lou Reed’s deal with Sony/ATV has been extended in a new, long-term global deal, Music Week reported. The new agreement covers his entire catalogue, including his Velvet Underground material. Reed was 20 years with EMI Publishing, which is now administered by Sony/ATV. Reed said, “I have had a harmonious relationship in the past with EMI and now with Sony and it is a reason to stay with them.”

Foostomp takes over Eden Mulholland management

Brisbane-based Footstomp Music has taken over management of Melbourne-based singer songwriter Eden Mulholland. The NZ-born writer who moved to Australia in 2009 told Industrial Strength that he and Footstomp founder Graham Ashton have been working together for about three years. “He’s been looking after my marketing and publicity.”

Next month, Mulholland heads to New York for meetings behind his current album Feed The Beast. The album, released here in June, was inspired by his compositions for theatre and dance. The video for his single Blueprint, shot in Wellington, reflects his early beginning as a dancer. Mulholland signed his publishing to Mushroom Music in 2009. He is also a member of the band Motocade who have an album set for release in 2014 titled Science Fiction.

Xbox NZ sponsors music awards 

Xbox New Zealand this week announced it has become a Gold sponsor of the 2013 Vodafone NZ Music Awards, which are held in Auckland on November 21. At midnight on the day, Xbox NZ will launch the new generation Xbox One console, the first country to do so.

MusicNT, City of Darwin, set up poster boards 

Northern Territory’s peak music association MusicNT was behind the City of Darwin have set up poster boards around the Darwin CBD. It provides space for local bands to promote their events, as well as for community-based arts and cultural events and activities.

Entertainment logistics: ATS, AEL, merge 

International entertainment and events logistics businesses Australian Touring Services (ATS Logistics) and Australian Entertainment Logistics (AEL) have merged, effective September 1, bringing with them their road and freight fleet and clients from the film and music industries. AEL’s Chris Woods and Glen Hubbert have returned to ATS where they worked before they set up AEL in January 2011. Woods assumes the role of general manager and Hubbert is national operations manager.

“It was about synergy,” Woods told Industrial Strength. “This can be an expensive business, and this is a way for both businesses to grow.” ATS was set up in February 2002 by Phil Duncan and Terry Turner (respectively, director of Freight Operations and National Linehaul manager for the entertainment logistics division of the Ansett Group of Companies) with Chris Nicholson and worked on Australian tours by The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Bee Gees and U2.