New Signings & Team-Ups: Jan 19
US record deal for RUFUS
US label Foreign Family Collective was so impressed with early hearings of Sydney trio Rufus’ (pictured) upcoming second album Bloom that it abandoned its singles-only policy and will release the entire album in the American market (where they’re known as Rufus Du Soul). The deal came after the Aussies toured America last November with Odesza and the FFC team. The band is with Sweat It Out in Australia.
Hacktivist become first international band signed to UNFD Worldwide
UK quintet Hacktivist have become local label UNFD’s first international global signing. The label will release the band’s debut albumOutside The Box worldwideonMarch 4. The LP features guest appearances from RouReynolds (Enter Shikari), Jamie Graham, Astroid Boys and grime hip hop artistJot Maxi.
UNFD also has international deals with local acts Northlane and In Hearts Wake, among others.
Sony Music to distribute Rick Ross
Sony Music Entertainment Australia will now release the product of US rapper Rick Ross, as a result of a deal he struck in America with Sony imprint Epic Records. Ross was previously ten years with Def Jam, and had his records distributed locally by Universal Music.
Remote Control glued to Liima …
Remote Control will locally release the debut album of new European group Liima (“glue” in Finnish). It was formed by Finnish percussionist Tatu Rönkkö plus Mads Brauer, Casper Clausen and Rasmus Stolberg of Danish act Efterklang. The album, ii, was features songs written in Finland, Berlin, Istanbul and Madeira during four week-long residencies to soak in their local culture, after which they’d play a show at each of the new songs. The album was recorded in Berlin in three days, everything played live. First track recorded online is Amerika.
…and releasing LNZNDRF’s first
Remote Control will release the self-titled debut album of New Zealand trio LNZNDRF on Friday February 19, also through a deal with 4AD. Ben Lanz, Scott Devendorf and Bryan Devendorf, who formed in Auckland in 2011, recorded the eight tracks on the album in three days in Cincinnati.
How brands worked at Falls
Music rights management and experiential agency Secret Sounds Connect showed how the brand partnerships it brought to the Falls Festivals worked.
Foxtel Movies, on board for the first time, set up an air conditioned marquee where attendees could indulge in their fave flicks with lounge seating, a complimentary tablet and headphones, free popcorn and the Foxtel Movies catalogue. They also received a Foxtel Movies portable mobile phone charger with email database sign up. Via a digital pre-promotion, a Foxtel Movies winner got a ‘glamping’ experience with luxe tent, a private bar and pamper parlour.
Five:am yoghurt held a yoga class and invited patrons to their meditation corner which had a branded kombi van, daybeds, and mindful colouring books.
Chandon had a VIP champagne bar to ring in the New Year at Byron Bay and Mt Duneed Estate activating a 5pm Rosé hour complete with flower head garlands for patrons, and shot a romance themed film on site for use through its digital channels post event.
Koppaberg Premium Cider had bars in all three sites, with the Hill Bar at Mount Duneed converted to a Swedish cottage.
Redds Apple-Ale had its own shaded chill-out zone and bar where customers could test out different tastes and capture the moment in the Redds photo booth.
Fashion sponsor Adidas Originals’ “win a ticket with a purchase” comp with online retail partner Surfstitch drew 10,000 entries.
Captain Morgan’s two storey pirate ship returned to Byron Bay, providing a birds eye view of the festival site from the top deck, a live DJ dance floor, bar area within the first floor hull, and rum available at the ship and Falls bars nationally.
Fat Yak’s stand-alone craft beer bar tempted punters with its range and tunes.
Other sponsors included Coca-Cola, Transport Accident Commission, Road Safety Advisory Council, Kotex, Red Bull and Imperial Tobacco.
Secret Sounds Connect Managing Director, Kristy Rosser, noted in the release: “It’s wonderful to see so many brands getting involved with experiential engagement at The Falls Festival. Festivals provide a fantastic opportunity for brands to connect with people when they are at their most passionate and engaged, and brands are playing an increasing role in making the festival experience better and adding value for fans.
“We’re seeing smart, integrated campaigns that take advantage of a number of engagement tools to extend partnership campaigns through digital mediums, providing fans with online and offline experiences and reach into the millions. Festival sponsorship is really an incredibly powerful tool for brands to engage with a mass millennial audience and build brand advocacy.”
Adele launching own fashion line?
Adele is reportedly planning to launch her own fashion line, currently in the process of designing loungewear aimed at stylish but busy mums. These use high quality but soft fabric to keep the wearable comfortable. A signature piece is her signature poncho, which the singer wears in winter.
Hopeless gets confident
Hopeless/Unified signed Sydney’s With Confidence and released new single We’ll Be Okay, which bassist/singer Jayden Seeley explains was written when he was bed-ridden with bad writer’s block. Formed in 2012 they made the iTunes chart with the Distance EP and now touring with Neck Deep and State Champs.
Imagine Dragons movie in Australian cinemas
British band Imagine Dragon’s concert film Smoke + Mirrors Live – based on their current tour – will be screened through Australia for one night only on March 2. It is part of a global screening through a team-up of UK/Australia events cinema producers and distributors CinemaLive, UK based TV, DVD, digital media and blu-ray distributor of music programming and Eagle Vision.
Dolby Atmos will present sound in a three-dimensional space in some international cinemas, but it is not known if Australia will get the treatment. For a complete list of cinemas, to purchase tickets online and see the trailer for the one night only event, visit www.imaginedragonsfilm.com.
Maiden here for the beer
Iron Maiden, whose team up with UK brewery Robinsons in 2013 lead to the release of the Trooper 666 beer products, will release a second line later this year. This one is described as “somewhere between a stout and a porter”, with singer Bruce Dickinson overseeing the production.
New brands for Sydney Mardi Gras
Condom brand Ansell and Facebook are among the new sponsors for the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. The celebration, in its 40th year, is a huge draw for brands with a target audience with numbers as 10,000 participants and 250,000 spectators for the parade and 70,000 for Fair Day.
Ansell replaces Durex as a major sponsor in a new three-year deal. It will launch its new Skyn condoms line around the event and its message of sexual wellness.
Facebook, which has supported gay rights events around the world, will enter its own 50-person manned float in the parade in its inaugural involvement. Its Director of Policy for ANZ, Mia Garlick, said, “Amongst the 14 million Australians who regularly use Facebook, the topic of marriage equality was one of the top 15 most mentioned topics on the site in 2015 – and around the world, more than 26 million people added a rainbow pride filter to their profile pictures.”
Concord Bicycle Music rides further into country music
Concord Bicycle Music expands further into US country music with two new acquisitions. The first is Americana, folk and blues label HighTone Records, which includes 350 master recordings from acts as Buddy Miller, The Blasters, Dave Alvin, Joe Ely, Dick Dale, Robert Cray, Clarence Gatemouth Brown and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott.
It now also has the assets of Bandit Records, the label set up by the late country music superstar George Jones.
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