New Signings & Team-ups: December 13

Image: SAFIA

SAFIA ‘TAKES OVER BMG

BMG has signed multiple APRA award-winning, Canberra-based electronic trio SAFIA to a worldwide music publishing deal. This comes at the end of a successful breakthrough year for the act.

Their debut album Internal debuted at #1 on iTunes and #2 on the ARIA chart. They received nominations for ARIA’s Best Breakthrough and J Award’s Australian Album of the Year Their recent sold-out national tour saw them reach over 25,000 people across eleven shows, and their Spotify streams have exceeded 30 million worldwide.

BMG Australia Managing Director Heath Johns said, “I would be confident putting SAFIA on any stage in the world playing for any audience. Internal is a showcase of progressive production and masterful melodic songwriting – I can only imagine how good the new music will be. It is a true honour to have the band sign a global deal with BMG”.

BMG Australia VP Creative Rachel Kelly added, “SAFIA’s debut album points to a bright future and countless possibilities. We’re beyond excited to welcome our newest signing to BMG and can’t wait to ‘Make Them Wheels Roll’ with our global sync team!”.

123 WAVES IN GOOCH PALMS

123 Agency has signed Newcastle duo The Gooch Palms, who will be repped by the company’s Adam Montgomery. After extensive tours through the US and Europe, the act returns to Newcastle over the holiday break. They charge into 2017 with 14 shows, starting on December 31 in Brisbane and winding up in Bondi on March 8, taking in some festivals as Mountain Sounds and Hard Grime.

SONY/ATV TUNE UP ‘FADED’ ALAN WALKER

Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed Norwegian DJ, songwriter, recording artist and producer Alan Walker to a worldwide contract. His song Faded was one of the biggest global releases of the past 12 months. Spotify said it had become the most-streamed song by a Scandinavian artist of all time.

The deal for Walker was overseen by Sony/ATV’s pan-European A&R team, which works to develop songwriters from across Europe as Avicii, Kygo and Martin Solveig.

The team is headed by Guy Moot, Sony/ATV UK Managing Director and President, European Creative, who said: “This is a great signing for our European A&R team whose policy of working with the best of local talent and taking it international reflects the global music industry we operate in and has allowed countless acts to fully reach their worldwide potential. Alan Walker is an amazing artist and surrounded by an incredibly professional team who we cannot wait to work with.”

OPTUS, SSO, STRIKE PARTNERSHIP

In a new partnership, Optus has become the official Technology Partner of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for an initial two years. Optus will provide telecommunications services and will also support the enhancement of the SSO’s technology and digital activities to reach wider and younger audiences. Optus will provide the SSO with mobile and fixed carriage services under this new agreement.

The partnership was officially launched with the SSO brass quintet performing Christmas carols at Optus’ campus in Macquarie Park. After the performance, SSO Managing Director Rory Jeffes stated, “Just as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra connects with audiences around Australia and the world through its performances and digital activities, Optus is passionate about connecting people through its advanced telecommunications and technology services.”

CHILDISH GAMBINO HEADS TO WME

Atlanta performer Childish Gambino has headed to WME for bookings, the Hollywood Reporter has learned. His creator Donald Glover is already represented by WME for films and television. Heading shortly to Australia, his new Awaken, My Love!, which he calls his “love album”, sees him depart from rap and hip-hop in favor of more funk stylings.

SBS CREATES SCHOLARSHIP WITH AFTRS

In an Australian first, SBS Radio and the Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS) have created a scholarship program to develop more bilingual Aussie radio talent. The recipient, selected on merit from eligible students across several language groups, will enter the AFTRS Graduate Diploma in Radio course and offered a one day per week 12-month placement with SBS Radio.

LOGIES TAKE A PILL

The 59th TV Week Logies awards have secured a major partner in Chemist Warehouse. “This is an ideal partnership for us,” says Jayne Ferguson, Bauer Media’s GM for Women’s Lifestyle and Entertainment.

“The TV Week Logie Awards are synonymous with looking and feeling your best, and Chemist Warehouse is the number one pharmacy retailer in Australia, providing the best in health and beauty for millions of Australians.”

BRISBANE’S HYDRIC MEDIA CREATES APP FOR GYM FREAKS

Brisbane technology studio Hydric Media has created the Gatorade Amplify app for fitness freaks to work out to, and used Spotify’s playlist recommendations technology to curate the music. Also involved in Amplify were Gatorade and and VML Chicago, with the app currently being marketed in the US.

Hydric Media co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Eoin McCarthy says the Australian company has been working with Spotify and its music science department Echo Nest “for some years now”.

Echo Nest’s Commercial Head explained, “It was essential for the application to tap into and harness extensive information and data. And beyond that, also understand what acoustic attributes drive users to want to train to music.”

QUICKFLIX GETS REVITALISED

Perth SVOD Quickflix’s new owner Karma Media Holdings has started to revitalise its new acquisition. A new Access pay-as-you-go tier is aimed at Australians who want to access latest overseas releases without waiting for months or pay a monthly subscription. Quickflix has also secured the digital rights to the Hollywood hit Finding Dory.