New Signings & Team-Ups: August 23
BMG DELIVERS BOY GEORGE’S FIRST RECORD DEAL IN 30 YEARS
Boy George has signed with BMG in his first record deal in over 30 years. The Boy already has his publishing with the company after it bought out Virgin’s publishing in 2012.
Two projects are in the pipeline – a solo album of covers of “songs I wish I’d written” (like Bob Dylan’s I Want You) and a Culture Club set.
The singer, who’s back in high profile in Australia as mentor on The Voice, is also landed a lucrative residency in Las Vegas in the wake of Celine Dion and Britney Spears, and says that staying in the same place for a couple of weeks allows him to try out some extravagant effects.
He’s inspired most by the extravaganza shows of Cher and Liberace, and will also be featuring a number of major acts as his guests.
He’s also been collaborating with a young London trio called Brando.
George attributes giving up alcohol for the reverse of his career. “That, and the fact I’m smiling all the time and I’m surrounded by fantastic people.”
Korda Marshall, EVP of New Recordings at BMG, said: “We’re incredibly delighted and proud to be signing such an amazing international artist like George.
“We’re all looking forward to working with him and his manager Paul Kemsley.
“His global legacy allows BMG to do what BMG does best – work together in delivering extraordinary music. A very big welcome to BMG.”
DEEZER CUTS RETAIL DEAL WITH YAMAHA AUSTRALIA
French-based streaming service Deezer has entered a retail partnership with Yamaha Australia. It will cover musical instruments, professional audio equipment and home audio.
Yamaha customers get access to 43 million tracks while Deezer is featured as the sole streaming provider on Yamaha’s multi-room audio eco-system MusicCast displays in over 300 retail outlets
Deezer’s CEO of Asia Pacific, Henrik Karlberg, called Yamaha “one of the most prominent brands in the audio space and emphasised, “We’re on the same mission – to provide the best audio experience possible to our customers. The ultimate benefactors are fans and creators of great music.”
“As a company that is passionate about all things musical, we see this partnership as the perfect opportunity for homes to access a world of music with our products”, explained Russell Wykes, Yamaha Music Australia’s Marketing and Sales Support Manager.
“We’re always looking to innovate and this partnership is indicative of how technology is changing how we are consuming entertainment in the home.”
YODELLING MARY SCHNEIDER LANDS AFL SYNC
The music in the new Australian Football League’s Auskicks TVC is 82-year old Australian yodelling queen Mary Schneider. The track Yodelling Mozart from her Yodelling The Classics album. The deal was struck through ORiGiN Music and Australasian music supervision company Level Two Music.
SONGS FOR HUDSON MOHAWKE
SONGS Music Publishing inked Scottish DJ, writer and producer Hudson Mohawke to a global deal.
His collaborators include Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Bjork, R. Kelly, Big Sean, Pharrell, Mark Ronson, Future, Rick Ross. Drake, A$AP Rocky, Pusha T and John Legend. He co-produced the 2016 Mercury Prize-nominated album Hopelessness by Anohni.
UNIVERSAL WORKS ON MUSIC PROJECTS WITH GRACE/BEYOND
Universal Music and entertainment production house Grace/Beyond are working together on three new TV projects using music from the major’s recording and publishing catalogue.
27 is a fictional drama of 27 year old meeting up, inspired by the large array of musicians who died at the age of 2.
Animated children’s series Melody Island sees each episode inspired by a Universal-connected song.
The 12-series Mixtape is described as “an episodic drama that mirrors the way a mixtape works – fast forwarding, pausing and rewinding on the pivotal moments that define the relationships, love and heartbreak of the stories’ characters.”
The two are also working on the highly anticipated Untitled Motown Project, with new versions of Motown classics by current superstars from the Jobete and Stone Diamond catalogues.
Smokey Robinson is its Executive Music Producer and UMG is a primary investor in the series.
The soundtrack will be released on UMG’s Motown/Capitol label through GB’s Melodia imprint.
Grace/Beyond – with principals Josh Wakely, Mikael Borglund and Trevor Roy – earlier won an Emmy for Netflix/ Seven’s Beat Bugs, where Beatles classics were reinterpreted by the likes of P!nk, Sia, Eddie Vedder and Rod Stewart.
Mellodia released the soundtrack through UMG’s Republic Records.
BRISBANE UNKNOWN LANDS ‘WOLF CREEK’ SYNC
20-year-old Brisbane student Sabrina Schultz who uploaded four cover songs recorded in her bedroom onto YouTube has struck gold with one of them.
ABC Radio reported that a music supervision company heard her acoustic rendition of Men At Work’s Down Under and has licensed it as the theme for Wolf Creek season two, a spin-off online series from the movies.
PRINCIPAL RELEASE VIA SPUNK/CAROLINE
Principal, a new Melbourne act “Inspired by the intersection between Kraftwerk and Robert Palmer” – and featuring Henry Wagons, Gena Rose Bruce and Richard Bradbeer – release their debut nine-track Go To The Principal on October 13 via Spunk!/Caroline Australia.
The album was written and recorded on synthesisers in Los Angeles and Melbourne.
PENULTIMATE GETS SLEEPY
Perth DIY label Penultimate Records has enlarged its roster with the addition of Launceston four-piece The Sleepyheads.
It will re-release their debut seven track EP Cold Hands Hold It Together which was recorded at guitarist/singer Pat Broxton’s house, and which they self-issued online in March through Spotify, iTunes and Bandcamp.
WIGGLES EXPAND CAR SEAT DEAL
The Wiggles’ partnership with Australian-owned child car restraint manufacturer Infasecure (which includes sponsoring their tours) has been extended to 2021 and now includes retail rights.
Big W’s Baby Week catalogue has put The Wiggles’ new line of car seats in a prominent position.
Infasecure Marketing Manager Tom Hubbard said, “The consumer engagement developed through Wiggles IP and activations, in both quality and quantity, has surpassed anything we have done before.”
Paul Field, Managing Director of The Wiggles International, observed, “Young families are excited about what we do together and it is showing in their engagement with us.”
GLASSHOUSE PICKS UP SNNY
It took just one song uploaded to his SoundCloud for new New York R&B sensation SNNY to get his moniker on a Glasshouse Records contract.
Born in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and raised in Boston, the 26-year old attributes his sound to the eclectic records his mum played in the house, including Prince, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis.
Debut EP Learning To Swim includes the tracks Arizona and Young Boy, which stirred up much interest in the trendier areas of the United States.
BLUE 449 HEADS TO DESERT WITH PRISCILLA
Theatrical producer The Michael Cassel Group extended its media representation with Blue 449 for Priscilla Queen Of The Desert Musical. The account is reportedly worth $2 million.
The musical begins in Melbourne in January.
Since 2015, Blue 449 worked with MCG on Les Misérables and Kinky Boots, and on Beautiful: The Carole King Story which launches in Sydney next month.
PERTH ARENA TAKES IT TO BANKWEST
A new three-year deal between Perth Arena and Bankwest will give the bank’s customers access to a Backstage With Bankwest lounge to hang out in before the show, and a 10% discount for food and drinks at most shows if they pay with their Bankwest Mastercard.
SECOND NOVA PODCAST WINNER
The second winner for Nova Entertainment’s Podquest series— set up to find and support new Australian podcasts – is Wendy John’s Doomsday.
John now gets a production and marketing grant, and access to Nova’s production facilities, technical support and distribution channels for the anxious-about-the-end-of-the-world podcast.
MARDI GRAS, ANZ, EXTEND PARTNERSHIP
The 12-year award winning Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and ANZ partnership has been extended to 2020.
The refresh also sees ANZ introducing from next year the SGLMG grants for LGBTQI community organisations and charities.
It covers arts, music and culture, as well as education and training, sporting and community groups.
RHINO/WARNER GETS WHITESNAKE
David Coverdale’s Whitesnake are returning, with a deal signed, sealed and delivered with Rhino/Warner Music.
Billboard reported that in October comes a 30th anniversary reissue of the 8 million selling Whitesnake album with unreleased studio, live and video stuff.
Record Store Black Friday (November 24) brings a home video and coffee table book. In 2018 the band embarks on a world tour behind a new album.
KOBALT TO SERVICE STEVE ANGELLO
Kobalt entered a worldwide label service deal with Grammy winning platinum-spinning DJ and producer Steve Angello It also offers digital and physical distribution, marketing and sync licensing for his label Size Records.