New Signings & Team-Ups: May 17
PERFECT PITCH SIGNS CAIROS’ ALISTAR RICHARDSON…
Sydney-based Perfect Pitch Publishing has formally announced it has signed former frontman ofBrisbane outfit Cairos Alistar Richardson (pictured above)to a global deal.
His solo project Zefereli, formed two years ago, is about to embark on tours through Australia, Asia, Europe and the U.S. with afive-piece live band. An album is due in late 2017.
In between, Richardson continues to produce an array of artists in his recording studio, which he built on his family’s farm in the Scenic Rim west of Brisbane.
During their seven-year stint, The Cairos followed up the May 2014 release of their Nick Didia-produced Dream of Reason album (through Island Records Australia) with dates through China, Nepal, England, France, Italy and finished in New York City at CMJ.
…AND RORY ELLIS
Perfect Pitch also inked a deal with Rory Ellis, the Melbourne-born NSW North Coast-based Americana-styled singer songwriter, to a global publishing deal.
His current album One Skin wasreleased independently last month, showcasing a husky voice and exploring folk, country and blues. It will be followed up later in the year with dates in the UK and Germany (he’s been steadily touring Europe for the past ten years) after an Australian East Coast run.
MANAGEMENT, GLOBAL AGENT, FOR HATCHIE
It’s been a whirlwind few days for Brisbane act Hatchie (Harriette Pilbeam). An upload of her debut single Try on triple j Unearthed saw it picked up elsewhere.
She’s since picked up management with Jacob Snell of Perth-based Monster Management (Tired Lion, Cloud Control, Methyl Ethel) as well as Paul Buck from the UK’s Coda Agency, who will be handling her bookings across the UK and Europe.
Buck also reps King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, Confidence Man, Savages, Daughter and Jay Som, among other acts.
ALICE COOPER AT SONY MUSIC
Sony Music Entertainment Australia will release Alice Cooper’s next album, following the veteran theatre-rocker’s global deal with earMUSIC.
Paranormal, Cooper’s first album in six years, is out on July 28, which he follows up with Australian dates in October.
The album was recorded in Nashville with long time collaborator Bob Ezrin, and features guests U2’s Larry Mullen Jr., ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and Deep Purple’s Roger Glover. It comes with a bonus CD featuring three tracks written and recorded with the original Alice Cooper Band, and live cuts.
TWO MORE FOR WARNER CHAPPELL
Warner/Chappell’s UK operations continues its run of fresh signings under new Managing Director Mike Smith who joined last November, Music Week reported. Smith is on a mission to re-establish the company in the UK.
The two latest signings are Katy B, a Virgin/EMI act whom Smith told Music Week will also write for other artist, and Andy Partridge who made some masterful pop records with his previous band XTC and who went on to write with Jamie Cullum, Stephen Duffy, Charlotte Hatherley and Miles Kane.
Recent Warner Chappell signings out of the UK have included Liam Gallagher, Mac & Phil, Steel Banglez and Swifta Beater.
POD/INERTIA LIVE THE DREAM
Pod/ Inertia Music have secured fast emerging UK pop punk three-piece Dream Wife. The band is currently the centre of media and social media hyper-interest with breakthrough Hype Machine-topping single Somebody, which they describe as “a ballad for women. The song explores the experience of living in a female body within our society.
“It’s a conversation on the reclamation of bodies by the women who occupy them in a tender, yet direct and empowering way.”
The band formed in 2014 at Brighton University Art School, where they were studying a mix of sculpture, painting and performance art. An album is due in late 2017.
MAZDA PARTNERS WITH NOVA FOR GLOBAL RED ROOM TOUR
Mazda has come on board for the first time for Nova’s Global Red Room Tour 2017 to celebrate its 40th year in Australia.
Qantas remains its airline partner for a fourth year flying winners on board its A380 aircraft between Sydney and Los Angeles. The Star Sydney and Marquee at The Star return as accommodation and venue partner, with the tour’s final show held on site on Saturday June 17.
The tour heads next month to four U.S. cities for 12 days. Katy Perry joins them on the first stop, In Los Angeles. It’s then on to The Chainsmokers on Rhode Island, Calvin Harris in Las Vegas, Miley Cyrus in New York and Peking Duk in Sydney.
Kent ‘Smallzy’ Small will lead a tour party of 50, of partners, media and Nova content producers. He will broadcast his national night show, Smallzy’s Surgery, from each destination.
SCA MOVES MEDIA ACCOUNT
Southern Cross Austereo has moved its media account, estimated to be worth $10 million, to GroupM agency Maxus from July 1. The radio network was with Dentsu Aegis Network agency Carat for five years.
JAY-Z, LIVE NATION EXTEND DEAL
Jay-Z and Live Nation extended their nine-year exclusive tour deal for a further ten years. Live Nation will continue to produce and promote the rapper’s concert events.
REMOTE CONTROL SNAGS MC BIN LADEN
Remote Control Records has the Australia rights to Brazil’s MC Bin Laden, the first release being The É Grau EP through a deal with True Panther Sounds. The 23-year-old is the ruling champion of São Paulo’s baile funk scene.
Born Jefferson Christian dos Santos Lima in an impoverished area of the city, he uploaded his music onto YouTube. In 2014, Bin Laden Não Morreu was a break-out track when it was popularised through local street parties.
The music emanating from their sound systems is Funk Proibidão, which translates to “strongly prohibited” and shares certain sonic and lyrical characteristics with Miami bass, early electro and cumbia. Last year’s Tá Tranquilo, Tá Favorável was another viral hit.
ABC STRIKES AFTRS INITIATIVE
A content deal between the ABC and the Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS) will see many works from students past and present made available on ABC iview.
One of the first of these is Jane Campion’s 1986 Palme d’Or winning short Peel, made when she was an AFTRS student.