Liberation to reissue The Birthday Party; Taylor does it for the Keds; Capitol unites Neil Diamond catalogue

Liberation handling Birthday Party catalogue

Liberation Records is representing the back catalogue of The Birthday Party, the seminal outfit put together by Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey, drummer Phill Calvert and the late members, guitarist Rowland S. Howard and bass player Tracy Pew.

There will be reissues of 1980s albums as Hee Haw, Prayers on Fire, Junkyard and Mutiny / The Bad Seed. “We’re very excited to have the catalogue find a good and enthusiastic home for now and into the future,” Mick Harvey said.

Mushroom Group chairman Michael Gudinski pointed out, “Mushroom has a long and proud history with The Birthday Party dating right back to The Boys Next Door’s debut album in 1979.” Liberation already has Howard solo releases and most Bad Seeds’ titles via Mute/PIAS Australia.

Universal Music Publ. signs two Sydney acts

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has signed two Sydney acts. Gang Of Youths are recording their debut album in upstate New York with producer Kevin McMahon for Sony Music. UMPG’s second signing is DJ, producer, singer and songwriter KLP (real name Kristy Lee Peters). KLP has had radio success with projects as the What So Not (Flume and Emoh Instead) track Jaguar, Down South (featuring production from Perth’s Ta-Ku) and her new tune Decide. KLP also just signed management to Jesse Flavell’s Sum Management.

Taylor Swift to continue promoting sneakers

The 100-year old Keds sneakers company has extended its relationship with Taylor Swift. Since first signing her in 2012 (with red sneakers to coincide with her Red album), Keds has been branding the singer as the embodiment of youth, bravery and female empowerment. The latest campaign aimed at her “bravehearts”, is based around the message “Welcome, brave girl. Create your own happily ever after.”

UNFD adds Stories to label, management

UNFD signed Sydney metal band Stories to its record label and management divisions. A new single Dreamwork is out Jan 30 iTunes with its video on UNFD’s YouTube channel, and the band hits the East Coast through February and March. Stories formed in 2012 on the Northern Beaches and their debut EP Voids issued last year as a free download got 40,000 downloads. Their new management is Luke Logemann and Northlane guitarist Josh Smith, the team behind Northlane.

Steven Schram pacts with Alberts

Melbourne-based writer and producer Steven Schram has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Sydney-based Alberts. Schram has worked with Paul Kelly, Little Red, Little Birdy, Eagle and the Worm and The Cat Empire, amongst others, and he co-penned Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes song Love Letter was used in an overseas Heineken ad. Schram came to the attention of Alberts after he produced and co-wrote two tracks with their signing San Cisco. Their Awkward EP went gold and reached #1 on the AIR chart, while the two songs were used in overseas TV ads: Awkward for Vodaphone and Fresh Bar Russia) and Beach in a Hot promo in Israel.

SBS marches with Mardi Gras

SBS scored the TV broadcast rights to the 36th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. It will be shown on SBS2 on Sunday March 2 from 8:30pm, marking the Mari Gras’ return to free-to-air TV broadcast after 12 years. 

Inertia announces label partnership with Fat Possum

Inertia struck a label deal with US indie Fat Possum Records to release its music in Australia and New Zealand. Fat Possum was founded in 1991 by Matthew Johnson, initially dedicated to Mississippi Delta blues. More recently it issued records by the likes of Spiritualized, Wavves, Yuck and Youth Lagoon. The deal also includes the labels Other Music Recording Company (Mutual Benefit, Ex-Cops), Lefse Records (How To Dress Well, Neon Indian), Big Legal Mess (Water Liars, Leo Welch) and Hi Records (Al Green, Willie Mitchell).

Will i. am to promote 3D printing

America’s 3D Systems brought in Will.i.am in the role of chief creative officer to peddle 3D printing to the larger community. This will be through brand partnerships, global campaigns and educational promos.

Warner Chappell brings in Aloe Blacc

Aloe Blacc, the co-writer and vocalist on Avicii track Wake Me Up (#1 in over 100 countries) has assigned his worldwide publishing to Warner Chappell. The deal covers the entire Wake Me Up EP in North America, as well as rights to all songs on the EP across the rest of the world with the exception of the title track.

Warner/Chappell also has global rights for his upcoming third solo album Lift Your Spirit and for all future songwriting. The former rapper’s I Need A Dollar went gold in Australia, as well as in the UK, France and Germany.

Capitol deal unites Neil Diamond’s back catalogue

A new deal between Neil Diamond and Capitol Music Group (under Universal Music Group) unites his entire Columbia Records catalogue with his Bang masters from the 1960s (Solitary Man, Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon, Kentucky Woman, I’m A Believer) and Universal/MCA from the 1970s (Sweet Caroline, Song Sung Blue, Crackin’ Rosie) for the first time. Diamond, who has sold 128 million albums worldwide with 37 Top 10 singles and 16 Top 10 albums in the U.S, is working on a new album.

New World takes on Slumberjack

Sydney-based New World Artists added Perth dance duo Slumberjack to its roster. DJ/producer Fletcher Ehlers and classically trained instrumentalist and producer Morgan Then met at the 2012 Perth Dance Music Awards both as previous winners of Western Australia’s Limelite DJ Competition (2011 and 2012). They bonded over their love for electro-house although their latest music has more of an affinity with bass-heavy, chill-step. They released a slew of original records along with remixes for DCUP, Oso Gato and Wave Racer.