New Signings & Team-Ups: April 5

Image: Bullet For My Valentine

Morgan Bain joins Select, Verge, rosters

Perth-based multi-instrumentalist Morgan Bain has signed with Sydney-based Select Music for bookings and its artist management division Verge Management for personal representation alongside Gang Of Youths, Jackie Onassis, The Meeting Tree and Halcyon Drive. The 21-year-old is working on a still-untitled EP with producer and collaborator Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe, Meg Mac) along with playing shows across WA and the East Coast behind its June release. His recent self-released tracks Why Don’t You Stay and Lift You Up hint at a sophisticated and soulful direction.

El Hefe’s label signs Fenix TX

Cyber-Tracks, the LA-based record label, owned by El Hefe (guitarist of NOFX) and wife Jen Abeyta has welcomed Houston, TX and SoCal’s Alternative Pop Punk Rock clan Fenix TX to their roster. Fenix TX joins Unwritten Law, Implants, and This Legend on the roster and are set to release EP Cre.Ep, with details set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Nahko & Medicine for The People join US label

Nahko & Medicine For The People, the rock, hip hop and alt-folk Californian collective with members from all over the world and who were in Australia last month for Bluesfest Byron Bay, have signed a record deal. It is with LA-based SideOneDummy Records, which is distributed in Australia through Cooking Vinyl. Their last album Dark As Night made it into a number of Billboard charts – 4 on Top Alternative, #6 on Heatseekers and #36 on Independent Album – and was #7 in Australia on triple j’s Top 10 Roots Albums of 2013. The Huffington Post called it “beautiful and stirring,” and compared Nahko to Bob Marley and a “musical prophet.”

Niche welcomes SKIES

Niche Productions welcomed Adelaide trio SKIES to its artist agency roster following the release of their new single Speed Boy. The band had some traction with two self-produced singles Call For My Heart and Too Young in 2015. The act plans to hit the touring trail behind Speed Boy.

iHeartRadio, The Edge, help emerging DJs

iHeartRadio Australia and The Edge 96.ONE worked together on the first iHeartRadio LIVE Masterclass in Sydney. It gives 10 emerging DJs the chance to attend a one-hour session with a major act. The first was held yesterday (April 4) with platinum-spinning American DJ duo The Chainsmokers, who’ve sold 10 million singles. iHeartRadio Australia’s Content Director Brett “Nozz” Nossiter said: “The iHeartRadio LIVE Masterclass is just another way that iHeartRadio is creating unique and special events that get true fans closer to the artists they love.”

Iron Maiden fly in with Revell

Iron Maiden teamed with German-based model company Revell to produce a limited-edition version of the British heavy metal band’s plane Ed Force One. Piloted by singer Bruce Dickinson, Ed Force One carries the band, crew and gear around the world on their current world tour behind 2015’s The Book Of Souls. No release date has been given for the 1:144 scale model, which will be distributed by Global Merchandising.

“As soon as we knew that Bruce would be piloting the plane for Iron Maiden’s world tour,” says Global Merchandising Services’ Licensing Manager Jens Drinkwater, “we knew that we had to do something special to celebrate the occasion, and Revell are an obvious partner for this fantastic collaboration. Their model kits have been a synonym for plastic modelling for over 60 years, and this detailed model of Ed Force One will appeal to both traditional builders and hobbyists as well as the dedicated Iron Maiden fanbase.”

Maiden are currently playing through North America after wrapping up South American dates. In fact the real Ed Force One had an accident at a Santiago, Chile airport two weeks into the trek. The March 12 incident saw the port side engines damaged while the Boeing 747 was being towed for refuelling, which required the replacement of both engines at a cost of $4 million each.

Caroline gets Bullet For My Valentine

The next Bullet For My Valentine album will be released locally by Caroline Australia. This comes as the result of a worldwide deal that the British rock/metal outfit pacted with Search and Destroy/Spinefarm Records (UMG). The band, formed in Wales in 1998, has sold five million albums worldwide of The Poison (2005), Scream Aim Fire (2008), Fever (2010), Temper Temper (2013) and Venom (2015). They’re about to embark on a world tour that will see them back in Australia.

Spunk to release M. Craft

Spunk Records will release Canberra-born London-based M.Craft’s third album Blood Moon on June 17. The mood of the record takes its inspiration from his stay in an isolated cabin on the edge of the Mojave Desert in California. “The silence around Joshua Tree is other-worldly, deep, almost impossible,” he says. “But once immersed in this silence, you notice that it’s not really silence at all. Little flecks of sound, which would have gone unheard on a city street corner, become like splashes of neon.” The piano based record includes experimental works played on a 100-year old Mason and Hamlin concert grand piano he found in a studio.

New chapter for Melbourne’s Gregor

Melbourne’s Chapter Music signed local guitarist Gregor, who “makes eccentric, inquisitive home recordings recalling Durutti Column, Arthur Russell or Talking Heads, then plays them live with a full band.” His Thoughts & Faults is out this week as the first of the label’s cassette recordings this year.

Imagem Music UK inks Eddy Atlantis

Independent music publishing company Imagem pacted a worldwide publishing agreement with London-based producer, songwriter and remixer Eddy Atlantis. He has written and produced for the likes of Raye, Chloe Leone, Caitlyn Scarlett, J$tash and Jelani Blackman.

Kim Frankiewicz, MD at Imagem Music UK, said: “Eddy is a unique artist who has really captured something special in the way he writes and produces. We’ve had an eye on him for quite some time, so are thrilled be his publisher and look forward to a very bright future.”

SO Recordings get Deaf Havana

SO Recordings signed British alt-rock band Deaf Havana to its e Silva Screen Music Group sub-division. It is home to Dinosaur Pile-Up, Fenech-Soler, Demob Happy and Broken Hands. The band will record its fourth album in a few months with producer Adam Noble. SO’s GM Adam Greenup promised, “We are committed to supporting Deaf Havana’s standing as one of the biggest and most relevant bands in the alt-rock genre and build the story internationally.”

Etihad Airways, Opera House, extend partnership

Etihad Airways and the Sydney Opera House extended their partnership for a further five years. The airline will continue as the iconic venue’s Major Partner and Opening Nights Presenting Partner. It will support Opera House programming by flying guest artists and performing arts companies to Sydney from across its extensive network of 116 international destinations. It will further leverage its investment in Australian tourism – through its partnership with Tourism Australia – to bring more visitors to Sydney and to the Sydney Opera House.

JB Hi-Fi hit airport deal

JB Hi-Fi cut a 6 ½ year deal to become technology partner with Heinemann Tax and Duty Free at Sydney International Airport. Heinemann is a leading tax & duty free operator. JB’s CEO Richard Murray explained, “Consumers today are getting to airports early they are in holiday mood and don’t mind spending. The vendors that we have spoken to about this deal are stoked as they recognise the value that airports deliver and are keen to work with us as part of this deal”.

Fine Music seeking new generation composers

Sydney radio Fine Music 102.5 team again with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and Choir to find new generation of Australian composers with the annual Fine Music 102.5 Young Composer Award. It offers young composers up to 30 years the opportunity to enter an original composition set to a theme for the prospect of winning generous prizes including $5,000 and a world premiere performance for the winning original entry.

Steve Tyler at WME

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler joined the WME for all areas including Australia. The band will continue to be represented in North America with Paradigm and by Rod MacSween of International Talent Booking (ITB) the rest of the world. Tyler releases his currently untitled debut solo album later this year via Dot Records/Big Machine.

Live Nation buys majority stake in Founders

Live Nation is to acquire a majority stake in Founders Entertainment, producers of New York’s Governors Ball festival, reports Billboard. It is held for the sixth year on Randalls Island June 3-5, headlined by Kanye West, The Killers and The Strokes.

The move will see Live Nation go head to head with Coachella promoter AEG, which is launching a new music festival, Panorama, in nearby Queens from July 22-24.

ACMI gets heated

Melbourne-based ACMI (the Australian Centre For The Moving Image) and the Victorian Government join together for the Hothouse program. It is a week-long intensive course for Victorian students, to nurture creativity and moving image skills. Ten students will be selected each year and work in a fast-paced production studio to gain first hand production experience, contacts in the industry and career inspiration.

Guvera expands Indian presence with cricket team

Australia’s Guvera is expanding its presence in India, one of its largest markets. It is now the music streaming partner of the Mumbai Indians cricket team. It will launch a Mumbai Indians brand channel and curate exclusive content including playlists dedicated to Indian cricketers and coaches. There will also be a crowdfunding area dedicated to ‘Education for All’, the team’s initiative to educate underprivileged children, and the chance to win match tickets and signed merchandise. Team and streamer will do some projects together during the 2016 IPL season.