New Signings & Team-Ups: July 5
TEG BUYS MALAYSIAN TICKETING FIRM
Australian ticketing and data analytics firm TEG has acquired Malaysian ticketing company TicketCharge. TEG will set up an Asian division to focus on the growth of live entertainment in the region, based in Singapore.
TEG’s ticketing software licensing business Softix will soon announce partnerships through Asia. It already has clients in 20 countries.
“Our strategy puts us on course to becoming a truly international promoter and service producer,” says TEG CEO Geoff Jones.
TEG’s assets include Ticketek, self-service ticketing platform Eventopia, promoter TEG Live and data business TEG Analytics.
MIDNIGHT OIL JOIN PLASTIC FREE JULY
Midnight Oil are the latest Australian music act to join the Plastic Free Julymovement. Coordinated by Green Music Australia, they are spreading the word to ditch disposables and protect the environment from plastic pollution.
“None of us want to see a world where there’s more plastic in our oceans than fish,” says Green Music Australia’s Executive Director, Tim Hollo.
“And who better to lead the way to a greener world than musicians, singing the songs that tell us another way is possible?”
The Oils said: “Let’s stop bingeing on plastic – it’s strangling our natural world.”
The band join Killing Heidi, Bernard Fanning, Katie Noonan, Paul Kelly, Killing Heidi, Missy Higgins, Ash Grunwald, Katie Noonan, Ben Lee, Mia Dyson, Regurgitator, Ball Park Music, Tinpan Orange and Vince Jones.
Among latest ambassadors are Montaigne, Vika and Linda Bull, GL, All Our Exes Live in Texas, Sex on Toast and Mighty Duke and The Lords.
Green Music Australia is calling for more artists to join #BYOBottle.
MINISTRY OF SOUND RECORDINGS LAND AT SONY
As of July 1, Sony Music Entertainment Australia has taken over distribution of future recorded music releases under the Ministry of Sound brand in Australia and New Zealand.
The change in arrangements follows Sony Music UK’s acquisition of Ministry of Sound Recordings in October last year.
Under the acquisition Sony Music UK purchased the Ministry of Sound recorded music label, comprising its artists, back catalogue and compilations business.
Artists whose future recordings will now be released through Sony Music Australia under Ministry of Sound Recordings include Sigala, TCTS and Riton.
Upcoming releases include The Annual: Big Tunes, Laidback Beats and Chillout Sessions.
The Sony deal does not include Ministry of Sound Australia headed by Tim McGee. As reported in TMN, McGee changed the Australian operations to TMRW Music, and will release acts and tracks through its in-house labels.
REMOTE CONTROL AND BEDROOM SUCK IN LABEL DEAL
Remote Control Records has partnered with Melbourne indie Bedroom Suck Records to provide publicity and marketing support. First release is Perth duo Hamjam.
Hamish “Ham” Rahn and James “Jam” Ireland make “blissed out sadness”–a mix of psych, electronica and West Coast soul. Following single ’Lean’ is an album titleda/s/l? in mid-August.
When not working together, Ham and Jam tour the world with Methyl Ethel and Pond respectively.
IHEART MEDIA INTEGRATES AUDI INTO LAYER3
iHeartMedia has integrated its digital radio and on-demand streaming products into Layer3 TV’s television service, Billboard reported.
The deal with iHeart includes as an app within Layer3’s “homepage environment,” which will place it alongside the television service’s extensive list of cable, on-demand and live-stream channels.
DRY JULY FOR HORRORSHOW
In the middle of their national Bardo State tour, Horrorshow announced they will keep away from alcohol to raise $5000 for people affected by cancer.
They explained, “Every year in Australia there are around 135,000 new cancer cases diagnosed. It can happen to anyone.
“Dealing with serious illness is one of the most challenging things anyone can go through, so we’re doing our part to fundraise for patients and their loved ones to help support them through these difficult times.
“We’re also conscious of the affects alcohol can have on physical and mental health.
“We like to party but sometimes it’s also important to step back, take stock of your lifestyle and ask yourself – could I be looking after myself better?”
You can donate onlineor at the donation bucket at the merch desk at the remainder of the shows.
MATTHEW YOUNG HOPS ABOARD NICHE
Niche Productions signed songwriter and producer Matthew Young to its agency roster. The New Zealander emerged in 2015 uploading tracks on SoundCloud, which drew interest from blogs, labels and publishers.
After a difficult and “blurry” 2016, Young is back with the R&B/soul track Collect.
EXTENDED DEAL FOR HIT DISCIPLES SONGWRITER
UK publisher Phrased Differently extended its deal with The Disciples songwriter and producer Nathan Duvall. Aside from writing for others like Little Mix (Move) he also helmed The Disciples’ five million selling collaboration with Calvin Harris (How Deep Is Your Love) and with David Guetta (No Worries) and their current hit On My Mind.
LIVING END, AREA 7, TEAM FOR ANIMAL RESCUE
The Living End and Area 7 are playing a fundraiser for the Animal Rescue and Sanctuary Centre at Melbourne’s Croxton Hotel on Saturday October 28.
The shelter, run by TLE’s long time manager Rae Harvey, was hit by fire last year. All funds go to Wild 2 Free, which Harvey describes as a quicker way to find hurt or orphaned animals.
DEUTSCHE SETS UP LABEL FOR RICHTER
Universal Music Berlin-based classical imprint Deutsche Grammophon has extended its long term partnership with its highly successful composer Max Richter – which also includes setting up a new label StudioRichter as a home for his film score projects and collaborations.
His solo albums will continue to be released under Deutsche Grammophon.
Richter’s film and TV works have included Waltz With Bashir, Taboo, Black Mirror, Shutter Island and Arrival.
He recently intensified his relationship with Universal Music by finalising a new publishing deal with Decca Publishing.
CAMP COPE RUN TO US DEAL
On the eve of their debut 15-date US tour, Camp Cope landed a US deal with Boston’s Run For Cover Records, home to Modern Baseball and Pinegrove.
Their self-titled debut album gets a release in September, around the time they return to Australia for a run of headliners.
HABIT MUSIC ON WITCH HUNT
Habit Music Co. will release the self-titled debut album in LA-based garage punk psychedelia trio L.A Witch in Australia and New Zealand on September 8. The record is issued elsewhere on Suicide Squeeze.
The band has been relentlessly touring for the last three years, and a single Untitled has already been released in this market.
KKR BUYS MAJORITY STAKE IN DIXON
US-based private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) has bought a majority stake in Dixon Hospitality, whose 48 no-pokies venues include those showcasing live music. The deal was for $190 million.
Dixon initially pondered an IPO but dropped the idea after a number of private equity firms showed interest in becoming involved. The idea now is to expand the company with help from KKR’s operational skills, before it lists on the ASX.
DECCA SIGNS 13-YEAR-OLD TV FINALIST
Decca Records announced it has signed 13-year-old Britain’s Got Talent finalist Beau Dermott, with an album out next month. Following her audition for the show last year, Dermott has impressed the judges.
In March she performed at Dame Vera Lynn’s 100th birthday celebrations at a concert in London, and impressed with a rendition of Glad Rag Doll which Dame Vera herself sang as a teenager.
IGGY POP, NICK CAVE, FOR PETA
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds and Iggy Pop team up with PETA in a new video which spreads the message about being kind to animals and providing them with security.
Iggy plays a superhero in his dog’s daydream, helping a turtle cross the road and coming to the aid of a rabbit as Cave sings:“The rabbit hides beneath the ground / For he is defenceless without you”.
PETA President Ingrid Newkirk says. “If everyone acted like the people our dogs think we are and depend on us to be, the world would be a far kinder place.”
SONY/ATV PURCHASES EUROPACORP MUSIC CATALOGUE
Sony/ATV has bought the music catalogue of Luc Besson’s studio, French-based EuropaCorp, for US$16.5 million. It gains 1500 new titles, 100 of these linked to the studio’s movies as the Taken trilogy and Lucy starring Scarlett Johansson.
Other names are acts as Massive Attack and composers like Eric Serra and Alexandre Desplat.
Sony/ATV will also administer all EuropaCorp’s music royalties for future TV and movie titles. EuropaCorp’s next two movie are the $180 million Valeria,which is said to be the most expensive independently-financed movie ever made, and Kursk, the submarine thriller starring Colin Firth and Lea Seydoux.