Industrial Strength: New signings and team-ups – September 18, 2013

Sony Music Australia signs Geri Halliwell…

Sony Music Entertainment Australia signed British singer Geri Halliwell, who’s enjoying high profile as a judge on Australia’s Got Talent. Australian team DNA co-wrote and produced her new singleHalf of Me out October 25. She debuts the song October 3 on Nine’sThe Footy Show Grand Final Special which airs from 8.30 pm. “Hooray, finally I get to share my music!” said Halliwell, whose last album Passion came out in 2005. “I’m really excited to sign with Sony. My new song Half of Me is about love, hope and optimism with a splash of humour (check out verse 2). I’ve been so welcomed by the Aussies – it’s fantastic I wrote my new song there!” Halliwell wasGinger Spice in ‘90s phenomenon Spice Girls who had ten #1 hits, including Wannabe that topped the charts in 29 countries. Her debut solo album Schizophonic (1999) yielded four #1s in the UK where it peaked at #4 and sold 600,000 units.

… and teams with Sanitarium for Weet-Bix program

Sony Music is giving away four Sony Music Recording Sessions as part of

Sanitarium’s Weet-Bix ‘Bix’ incentive program. The sessions will give aspiring recording artists access to the state of the art studio to record up to five songs with help of Sony Music’s studio team. Sony will also produce the cover artwork for the winner’s EP. The first session is up for grabs this month, with one being won each month. More info at weetbix.com.au/ Bix. According to Sanitarium, Australians eat 1.4 billion Weet-Bix biscuits every year.

Budweiser, AIMAs, team to find next superstar DJ/producer

Budweiser has teamed up with MusicOz’s Australian Independent Music Awards (AIMAs) to launch a nationwide search for the country’s next superstar producer/DJ. Entries are open at BudweiserMadeforMusic.com.au to anyone over 18, with the winner announced at the AIMA ceremony at the New Event Centre at The Star in Sydney on November 7. The winner of the inaugural Budweiser Producer/DJ of the Year Award gets to play global nightclubs including the Marquee in Las Vegas, New York and Sydney, media coverage, mixes posted on blogs, DJ equipment and ongoing support.

“ Budweiser has a long history of supporting musicians and we want to further this association by giving young artists in Australia a place to be heard and develop their talent,” says Maddy Stockwell, brand manager for Budweiser. “In this respect we share a commonality with MusicOz and we’re very proud to put our name to the Producer/DJ of the Year category at this year’s AIMAs.” MusicOz’s CEO Tim Dixonrevealed, “The Budweiser Producer/DJ of the Year Award is shaping up to be the most hotly contested category of the 2013 AIMAs. Thanks to the involvement of Budweiser and our prize sponsors we’ve been able to assemble a really attractive prize package and the most credible award for electronic music artists in Australia.”

Kobalt to administer Maroon 5

Maroon 5 struck a global administration deal with Kobalt Music Group for all its new works including its next album. It will also provide creative services and sync licensing for music use in film, TV, ads, games, and other media. “As one of the most popular acts in the world, Maroon 5 have such a broad range of musical talents and have mastered the art of crafting great songs that resonate with audiences worldwide,” said Kobalt president Richard Sanders. In America,Daylight helped Maroon 5 set a record for the most No.1s (six in total) by a group in the Top 40 chart’s 20-year history.

Warner Music, Caplice Management, present Rumble

Warner Music Australia and Caplice Management jointly present Rumble, an artist development workshop designed to help aspiring singers and musicians kearn the basics to success in the pop end of the music biz. The one-day workshop is divided into a morning info and Q&A session, and then a practical session with evaluations of individual performances. It covers questions as do I need a manager, sourcing songs, improving one’s image, the best ways to get a deal and if one should audition for a TV show. Rumble is hosted by David Caplice, who’s guided Human Nature, Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Shannon Noll, Katie Noonan and David Campbell. The workshop stops in Brisbane (Sat Nov 16), Gold Coast (Sun Nov 17), Perth (Sat Nov 30), Adelaide (Dec Sun 1), Melbourne (Sat Dec 7, Sun Dec 8) and Sydney (Sat Dec 14, Sun Dec 15). See www.rumblepop.com.

Alberts gain rights to The Delta Riggs

Alberts have gained the publishing rights to Melbourne rock band The Delta Riggs for Australia and New Zealand. The deal includes their debut album Hex.Lover.Killer and their previous EPs The Delta Riggs, Talupo Mountain Music Vol. 1 and Vol 2. Aside from their single Rah Rah Radio getting picked up by triple j, the band has had its music used on ads (Rebel Sports) and on TV in Australia (Underbelly Squizzy) and America (Bones, Graceland, Awkward, Franklin and Bash, Switched at Birth and Necessary Roughness).

Shock cage in Young Lion

Shock Records has signed young Brisbane five piece Young Lions, releasing its debut album Burn on October 4. It’s been a busy year for the act, which rose out of the ashes of Brisbane bands The Dream The Chase and Amberain and Melbourne’s Dream On Dreamer. They played their first gig earlier this year and began recording withSonny Truelove (Before Their Eyes, Sienna Skies, Creations, Angela’s Dish, For All Eternity) at STL Studios on NSW’s Central Coast. They launch the album Oct 4 at Beetle Bar.

Shock’s Halfcut Records sign Caulfield

Shock Entertainment imprint Halfcut Records have announced a new addition to the family. Sydney post-hardcore band Caulfield have signed to the recently reformed Shock family for upcoming debut album Vanity, set for release November 8. The single Sweet Defeatdebuted on triple j earlier this year, however its lead single Sour Grapes is yet to be released.

Having supported acts like Parkway Drive, Silverstein, Demon Hunter, Vanna, Attila, Confession, Buried In Verona, Northlane and Hands Like Houses, Caulfield will continue to build the label’s heavy music focus joining Japanese metalcore band Crossfaith, English hardcore punks Gallows and our own ARIA Chart record breakers Thy Art Is Murder.

Frontman Mahan Shishineh told TMN: “Being signed to a label that we respect so much is a dream come true, we know we’re in good hands. We join a roster that looks after some of our favourite bands; I’ve been a fan of Crossfaith for a long time – they are mind blowing.”

Warner and Clear Channel sign “landmark” partnership

In America, Warner Music Group and broadcaster Clear Channel Media & Entertainment struck a “landmark” strategic alliance, according to WMG. The idea is to drive digital growth, increase radio listeners, break new music and create new marketing opportunities for established acts. WMG will share in revenue from all platforms as well as gain promotion across Clear Channel’s 850 radio stations across the US which reach 243 million a month.

Opera House lottery to mark 40^th anniversary

A new edition of the Opera House Lottery returns after a 27 year hiatus, after a deal between NSW Lotteries, the NSW Government and Sydney Opera House. The Lottery raised over $105 million from 1957 to 1986 to help finance the its construction. The Lottery returns every Saturday from November. But this time the revenue won’t be to fund the venue. Instead, says deputy premier Andrew Stoner, “(it) will support the anniversary celebrations and a new Opera House Welcome Centre to help enrich the experience of the 8.2 million people who visit the Opera House each year.”

Beccy Cole ambassador for Feast 2013

South Australian-born country singer Beccy Cole is the inaugural national ambassador for Adelaide queer art and cultural festival Feast. Cole will promote the festival as well as pride, community identity, inclusion and celebration. Feast artistic director Catherine Fitzgerald said, “Born and breed in South Australia, Beccy is a perfect fit for the role and she will have no trouble enticing her legions of followers to pack their dancing boots and head to Adelaide for Feast Festival in November.”

Silent reunites with MGM

After nine years of distribution through Vitamin Recordings, Silent Recordings has reunited with MGM Distribution. The first release is the Around The Block soundtrack, to be followed by the reissue of Silent’s back catalogue which includes CODA, Telemetry Orchestra, Prop and Tracky Dax.

Sony/ATV extends Avicii deal

Sony/ATV Music Publishing extended its co-publishing deal with Swedish DJ, songwriter and producer Avicii. It includes his new album True as well as hits as Wake Me Up, Bromance, Levels and I Could Be The One.

New 123 Agency adds Drunk Mums

New Melbourne agency 123 Agency added Cairns-formed Melbourne-based Drunk Mums to its roster. The band’s manager James Youngof Cherry Rock reckoned, “123’s digital marketing arm was a major plus that got me and Drunk Mums keen. That and the fact that Damo (Costin, founder) can seriously ’get on it’ and still answer your calls from his work desk the following morning!”

Country music stars supports Sunrise Way

Major names in country music team up for a planned alcohol, drug and gambling rehabilitation centre in Toowoomba, Qld, called Sunrise Way. They need to raise $800,000 by October 1 or face losing the land and building where it is to be located. Kasey Chambers, Gina Jefferys, Lyn Bowtell, Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole and Shane Nicholson shot a video appealing for donations which was posted on YouTube. See www.sunriseway.com.au.

Future Classic gets Roosevelt

Future Classic has got the ANZ rights for Cologne DJ and producerRoosevelt aka Marius Lauber’s Elliot EP. Its mix of balearic electronica and guitar pop has scored him radio and online airplay and sell out tours of the UK and US.

ABC2 taps on music input

ABC2 tapped Bondi Hipsters, The Bedroom Philosopher and Axis of Awesome to each create two 60-second musical numbers about the national broadcaster’s digital TV channel. Back came branded entertainment pieces with titles as Difficult Second Channel, Censored and Run By Hipsters. ABC2 controller Stuart Menzies said this was the best way to communicate with their audience. “Collectively they really do communicate what ABC2 aspires to be: intelligent, fun and supportive of new and emerging talent. They take our audience seriously but don’t take ourselves seriously at all.”