New Signings & Team-Ups: FRUKT teams with Authentic; Hakkasan in a spin with Calvin Harris; Thundamentals to launch own imprint

FRUKT teams with Authentic Entertainment to set up Sydney office

Global brand and entertainment agency FRUKT teamed with Australian entertainment, media & events company Authentic Entertainment. It will use its Sydney office (adding to FRUKT offices in London, New York, LA, Milan and Rio) and work with its 100-strong global staff.

Authentic has 30 years of connecting Australian brands to consumers via their music media properties and represents music video and entertainment platform Vevo in A/NZ.

Said John Wardley, CEO of Authentic Entertainment: “FRUKT represent the most respected music marketing consultancy in the world, and we have long admired their insight-driven approach to creating music and entertainment connections, content and experiences. FRUKT and Authentic will represent two halves of a very compelling value chain in the Australian market; FRUKT’s unique service model, strategic smarts, insight capability, international reach and brand activation capabilities in combination with Authentic’s local media portfolio, content creation capability and phenomenal brand activation experience will be a potent combination for any brand.”

FRUKT clients include MasterCard, Sprint, AB-InBev, Diageo, Coca-Cola, Jägermeister and O2. The new alliance will launch a new initiative in a few weeks. FRUKT will also be locally launching two studies in coming months. Brands & Bands: The Value Exchange is a look at how brands and artists value one another in today’s new partnership economy. The second is Field Work: The Definitive Guide to Brand Activations at Music Festivals.

Hakkasan Group in a spin with Calvin Harris

Global hospitality company Hakkasan Group signed a three-year deal with international DJ Calvin Harris. He will hold residencies at three Hakkasan venues in Las Vegas – the Hakkasan Nightclub, Wet Republic at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino and the soon-to-be-open Omnia Nightclub at Caesars Palace.

Harris will also act as its music consultant as it moves from restaurants and nightclubs to hotels, and develop new experiences and event concepts. The Hakkasan Group has enjoyed massive growth in the past two years, its revenues leaping from $100 million to $500 million. It is expanding globally, in the US, Middle East and Asia with 15 venues set to open in 2015.

Perth gets new concert venue courtesy BHP Billiton

BHP Billiton will provide $10 million to develop the interactive water park at Elizabeth Quay. The site, will among other facilities, have an area to hold concerts for 7,000 music lovers. The State Government is calling for the entertainment industry to express interest in holding events there from 2016.

Thundamentals to launch own imprint via Island/Universal

NSW hip hop crossover act Thundamentals launch their own imprint (details to be unveiled) through a tie-up with Island Records/ Universal Music Australia. DJ Morgs, Tuka and Jeswon are currently in the studio writing their next album, before they embark on their 14-date Elephant In The Room national tour (March 5 to May 8). The triple j staples, who got three entries in the Hottest 100 with last year’s So We Can Remember, have received nominations for ARIA, Carlton Dry Independent Music, FBi, J Award, AMP and SMAC awards.

Island MD Michael Taylor calls them “one of the most exciting artists making music today. They push the envelope – sonically, lyrically and conceptually. Yes, they are fully ingrained in the Aussie hip-hop scene, but they draw influence from all different genres and spaces, and from that, they cross boundaries. Island and Universal are honored to be able to work with them, and help them achieve the next stages of their career and musical vision.”

Spotify strings landmark pact with ACO

In a first for an Australian orchestra, Spotify will release exclusive recordings from the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s live performance back catalogue as Live Sessions On Spotify as part of its 40th anniversary. The ACO joins Kylie Minogue, Franz Ferdinand, Lily Allen, Band of Horses and Mumford & Sons who have exclusive live recordings available on the service.

Stan expands movie offers with Roadshow

Within a week of going live in Australia, Nine Entertainment Co and Fairfax Media’s ad-free film/TV streaming service Stan expanded its offer of titles from distributor Roadshow Film. The catalogue includes The Matrix Trilogy, Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Sex and the City: The Movie and Sex and the City 2, Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and Australia’s Red Dog, Mad Max and The Man from Snowy River.

Jack Daniel helps turn FBi HQ into a live performance space

Sydney community station FBi Radio’s Redfern studios will become a live performance space called FBi Live, courtesy whisky brand Jack Daniel. They will jointly stage events and for the first time, live-to-air showcases from new and established acts, said station Music Director Stephen Goodhew. FBi ran its FBi Social venue at the Kings Cross Hotel until last November.

Jack Daniel’s involvement is via its Future Legends initiative. Overseeing the fit-out is Bob Barton, who did the Golden Age Cinema & Bar and Melbourne’s Rooftop Cinemas. Sydney band Little May’s Annie Hamilton and photographer Callum Van De Mortel are involved in the visuals.

V Energy back to Sydney Mardi Gras

V Energy returns for a third year to sponsor the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, again releasing a limited edition run of cans in rainbow colours.

Metldown on HopeStreet, Blank Tape

Meltdown is a Melbourne soul-country band formed by Simon Burke (back from a hiatus from the music biz flying small planes out of small airfields in the dusty backcountry) and saxophonist and arranger Lachlan McLean. HopeStreet Recordings and Blank Taoe Music snapped them up, with a single Better Days out in March and a launch March 12 at Shebeen Melbourne.

Rowena Wise booked through Heartstop

Melbourne indie folk pop troubadour Rowena Wise locked in a booking deal with Heartstop Music, just as she prepped the release of her debut single Words.

She launches it in Sydney at Sydney’s Newagency (Feb 20) and Melbourne’s Wesley Anne (21), tours with Jordie Lane (Feb 27 to April 23) and does festival appearances. Her Pozible campaign for her March due Nick Huggins-produced EP (pozible.com/project/189247) has almost hit target with prizes including a house concert and a ukulele lesson.

Tenplay debuts on Apple TV

Network Ten’s digital platform, Tenplay, is available on Apple TV, offering its shows content from Ten, Eleven and One on-demand. Tenplay achieved 282 million page views in its first year, and 50% of its streams are on mobile and tablets, Ten’s Chief Digital Officer, Rebekah Horne pointed out.

Sydney’s Marco Polo joined by Baku / Ginja & Venroy

The Ivy Pool Club Sydney’s weekly Sunday house session Marco Polo signed with Australian swimwear labels Baku / Ginja & Venroy for a month long activation. Marco Polo runs October to April and draws 1,000 patrons a week.

Ride, BSP, join Sunshine HQ

Ride and British Sea Power are the latest to join direct to fan retail platform Sunshine HQ. Ride reform this year for dates in Europe and North America, and British Sea Power are releasing a new album. The London based site has an Australian connection: consultant Neil Goulding lived in Melbourne for a time, managing the Screaming Jets and Anotherrace.

Carosa’s Crowd Mobile initiative buys HK start-up

Australian digital music pioneer Domenic Carosa’s mobile entertainment Crowd Mobile, continues its global expansion. Launched in 2009, it operates a platform where users pay for crowd-sourced answers to questions on everything from fashion to religion to gossip. The Bongo and Bongo Thinks apps concentrate on entertainment questions and drawn 13 million answers. Crowd Mobile operates in New Zealand and eleven European countries. Last month it made its first move into Asia, buying out Hong Kong social media app operator Kiss Hugs. Crowd Mobile just raised $3.8 million before an IPO.

Back in the ‘90s, Carosa founded Destra Corporation, at 25 the youngest CEO of an ASX-listed company. It launched the country’s first music download company MP3.com.au, facing hostility from record companies who offered only a limited supply of tracks and insisted they be sold at $6 each.

Snapchat introduces Discover feature

Australian users of the Snapchat app, which offers daily content from major media players, now have a Discover feature to find music. Warner Music has posted short clips of major names David Guetta, Drake and Blake Shelton and new signings. Snapchat is apparently in discussions with Sony Music.