New Signings & Team-Ups: March 22
Ladyhawke’s Mid Century Records gets service deal
New Zealand singer songwriter Ladyhawke’s Mid Century Records entered into a label services deal with Absolute Label Services. It will provide distribution, sales, marketing, digital services and label management for Ladyhawke’s third studio album Wild Things, due to drop in June. Early tracks have already got support from the BBC and Spotify. The deal was made with close ties with Ladyhawke (Pip Brown)’s management company ie: music.
Ladyhawke’s self-titled 2008 debut album went to #1 in Australia and New Zealand, and peaked at #16 in the UK. Her last album was Anxiety in 2012. Since then, she made and scrapped an entire album thinking it was too dark. Since then, she explained that 18 months ago, she changed her lifestyle in Los Angeles, got healthy and stopped drinking (she’s been a heavy drinker since she was 16) “or I’d end up making the same record.”
Drake unveils whisky brand
Canadian rapper Drake’s online moniker may be The Champagne Papi but he’s just unveiled his own brand of whiskey. Virginia Black Whiskey adds to his brand portfolio of his OVO fashion line and Nike trainers.
He joins a long list of hip hop acts endorsing alcohol like P. Diddy and 50 Cent (vodka), Hilltop Hoods (beer), Jay-Z (champagne) and Nicky Minaj (a moscato beverage).
ABC Music walk in Ruby Boots
ABC Music will represent the publishing for Perth alt-country act Ruby Boots. The performer, born Bex Chilcott, has her recording with Lost Highway/ Universal Music. She is heading back to the US extending her ’I Miss You Already’ tour to 12 shows in a number of southern states between April 8 and May 3. “I am forever grateful for my wonderful growing team and musical family for believing in my songs!” she said.
Little Acorn finds Tom West
Boutique artist services business Little Acorn Music has added Adelaide folk singer/songwriter Tom West to its roster for bookings. Its current roster includes The Audreys, Wasted Wanderers, Taasha Coates, Jimi Beavis and Tara Carragher. Director Sian Walden said, “Having been a big fan of Tom West for a while, I’m thrilled to have him join the roster and am really looking forward to sharing some of the plans we have in the pipeline.”
West is off next month for his inaugural UK tour, taking in nine shows. This year he toured the country, released a single High Again from his forthcoming album Golden Fleeces (to be released through new label Poke In The Eye Records), and a three week stint touring Vietnam for a bit of leisure.
Universal Music Group keeps time
Universal Music Group has partnered with watch company Raymond Weil to launch a radio station with 40 songs curated by the brand to celebrate its 40th anniversary. RW Radio will have “hundreds of songs” in its ad-free playlist. There will also be long form concert videos featuring musical icons at their peak, as well as offers to RW wearers meet & greets with international acts, concert tickets and collector vinyl’s deluxe boxes editions.
Olivier Robert-Murphy, Global Head of New Business and Adrien Garrault, Director of Universal Music Brands said, “Fine watch making is about precision, harmony, elegance, good taste, trendsetting, heritage and innovation, just like great music. Universal Music is delighted to work with Raymond Weil, a company that shares the same passion for music and artists.”
Australia’s Mike Chapman first addition to Blue Raincoat
Australian born Mike Chapman is the first signing to London-based management company Blue Raincoat Music to its newly launched publishing division.
Chapman was born in Nambour, Queensland, and moved to the UK in the ‘60s. With song writing partner Nicky Chinn, the 69-year old created some monsters global hits in the early ’70s including Sweet’s Ballroom Blitz and Teenage Rampage, Suzi Quatro’s Can The Can and Devil Gate Drive, Smokie’s Living Next Door To Alice, Racey’s Some Girls and Mud’s Crazy. In the ‘80s his hits included Tina Turner’s The Best, Pat Benatar’s Love Is A Battlefield, Huey Lewis and the News’ Heart And Soul and Toni Basil’s Mickey.
He also produced breakthrough albums for Blondie and The Knack as well as tracks for Bow Wow Wow and Altered Image.
Blue Raincoat Music was founded in 2014 by former Chrysalis Music CEO Jeremy Lascelles and Grammy-winning British record producer Robin Millar, with backing from Chrysalis Records co-founder Chris Wright and Robert Devereux, who partnered with Richard Branson in setting up the Virgin Entertainment group.
Habit pact Melbourne duo From Oslo
Music company Habit signed Melbourne grunge-punk duo From Oslo to a record deal. It has released a single No Sound, as a preview to an EP. Joshua De Laurentiis and Joel Penman formed in 2013, getting triple j support for Straight To Hell, Reputation and Faking The Benz. Triple j’s Richard Kingsmill said of them, “They have the hooks to match the power. Love that chorus!”
Habit started as a management company (Big White, Bad//Dreems) before expanding as a PR service working with Grenadiers, Caroline Australia, Spunk Records, Kobalt Label Services, Yak, Beach Baby, Hockey Dad, The Ocean Party and Good Boy.
Ipswich creating arts precinct
The Mayor of Ipswich, Queensland, Paul Pisasale, is setting up an arts and cultural precinct in the regional city. Ipswich City Council has bought the large historic Woollen Mills in North Ipswich which is to be turned into artist studios and markets. It is expected that music will be part of the mix. The recently acquired Hancock site nearby will be turned into a botanical parkland to adjoin the precinct.
Pisasale says that the precinct has been put out for tenders, and various businesses have offered “millions of dollars” in sponsorship.
Young Songwriters Awards deadline extended
The deadline for regional NSW’s Young Songwriters Awards has been extended by a week to Sunday March 27. The awards are a partnership between Northern Rivers Social Development Council and Headspace, and with grant funding from Lismore City Council. The awards have a showcase on April 14 for the contestants to show their writing and performance skills, at The Deck at Southern Cross University.
Prizes include paid gigs at The Deck, and at Crankfest for the Best Male and Best Female Singer Songwriters of the year as well as studio time at SAE and Lovestreet Studios., musical equipment, sound system and vouchers.
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