New Signings & Team-Ups: Nick Cave has official skateboard; Pandora sponsors Twilight at Taronga; MoS expands to headphones

Nick Cave: Something for skate

A team-up by Nick Cave and Melbourne skate company Fast Times will result in a limited edition board based on Cave’s song Nature Boy from the Abattoir Blues album. San Francisco artist Chuck Sperry provided the artwork, which includes the song’s lyrics.

Nightmare, Pushworth, create new alt-rock tour partnership

Sydney tour promoter Nightmare Music and Brisbane boutique agency The Pushworth Group set up a partnership to collaborate on alternative music tours. These will include The Bellrays & Supersuckers mid-year, the B-Boys World Champions in autumn, with another double-headline set for winter.

Pushworth started out as Manick Promotions and celebrates its 25th year in 2015. Nightmare Music, set up 27 years ago, were the first to tour Suicidal Tendencies, Anthrax and Cheap Trick.

Pandora sponsors Twilight at Taronga series

Internet radio service Pandora signed up as a sponsor for the Twilight at Taronga concert series. It runs each Friday and Saturday night from Friday January 30 to Saturday March 21 at Taronga Zoo in Sydney to 30,000.

The 17 concerts include Bernard Fanning, Paul Kelly presents the Merri Soul Sessions, You Am I, Sarah Blasko, Dan Sultan, Something For Kate, Belle and Sebastian, Conor Oberst and Rufus Wainwright.

“At Pandora our commitment to artists is an important part of how we work amongst the music community,” said Pandora ANZ’s Industry Relations Manager, Hazel Savage.

Pandora will also stream the artist channels after the event. Pandora has streamed 190 million hours to Australian ears over the last two years.

Spotify switched on digital marketing

Switched on Media (SoM) agency will handle Spotify’s digital and social media summer campaign. Phase One was to drive use of its gift cards, premium subs and Year In Music campaign. Phase Two will, in the lead up to Australia Day, use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to highlight music’s role in Australian summer culture and recap how diverse the Spotify catalogue is.

Dog Whistle in distro pact with Universal Australia

Young country label Dog Whistle Music cut a distribution deal with Universal Music Australia. It was set up last year by HSF Artist Services owner and former EMI and Festival exec Tom Inglis and Brisbane producer Andrew Cochrane of FX Productions.

The first cab off the rank under the deal is the self-titled debut EP from Sydney country pop trio Victoria Avenue. Mercury / Universal Music signing Melanie Dyer of The Voice 2012 fame, will release an EP in the first quarter through Dog Whistle.

Ministry of Sound expands to headphones, speakers

UK-based global dance music brand Ministry of Sound expands into headphones and speakers from May. It teamed with audio product manufacturer Bullitt Group for a new range of devices including high-quality headphones, including a DJ-spec over-ear model, and wireless Bluetooth and connected multi-room speakers. These will have built-in access to Ministry of Sound’s radio channels and the live feed from its London nightclub.

Two additions for Creative Records

New Melbourne publishing, record label and management company Creative Records struck two deals – indie/dream/rock band Diamonds of Neptune for management (they launch an EP on January 10 at the Evelyn, with a regional tour in the pipeline) and publishing with Brisbane’s Pear and The Awkward Orchestra, a multi-instrumental folk-rock act with a compelling vocal.

Niche agency counts in NZ’s Six60

Niche Agency added another New Zealand act, Six60, to its Australasian roster. The band, which has European tours under its belt, releases its self-titled sophomore album next month on its own label Massive Entertainment through Universal Music NZ. Its lead single Special topped the NZ charts. The band formed six years ago in Dunedin. Its debut album (also self titled) debuted at #1 in NZ, went quadruple Platinum and won six NZ Music Awards.

In STEP with Collarts

Melbourne’s Society of Tastemakers and Elegant People (STEP) will expand its activities with Collarts (College of the Arts) coming on board as partner. Set up last year, STEP hosted three acclaimed panel nights ('Young Labels', 'The Critic’, 'The Managers'), Big Sound’s No Sleep ‘Til Wednesday party and curated The Mavericks of Modern Music panel at Face The Music.

Collarts provides courses for those wanting to enter the music industry. The team-up allows STEP “to further its reach, bring interstate performing artists and speakers to the events,” said Ashley Sambrooks, one-half of STEP.

A new website has launched at www.step-events.com with the next panel session The Artist held Wednesday Jan 21 at Toff In Town with Chela, Remi (and Sensible J), Banoffee and Oscar Key Sung and moderated by Nick Clarke.

Third Day visualises World Vision Australia

Grammy winning US Christian band Third Day’s February tour will be under the umbrella of Christian relief and development organisation World Vision Australia. The Make A Difference tour, covering eight arenas and theatres between February 11 and 21, is with Levi McGrath and NEEDTOBREATHE.

Parkes Elvis Festival lights latest flame with estate

After 23 years in operation, the Parkes Elvis Festival became endorsed by the Elvis Presley estate, signing a licensing deal with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. and Graceland. “It will take the festival to new heights,” said Parkes Mayor Ken Keith, citing the knowledge and global reach of EPE and its affiliates. On the weekend, the festival drew 18,000 to the NSW town.

New operator for Stadium Mackay

Casey Ave Stadium Limited will take over from Mackay Regional Council in operating the sports and concerts venue Stadium Mackay. Its duties also include facility management, promotion and field maintenance. A new naming right sponsor is being negotiated for the 10,000-capacity venue, after Virgin withdrew in January 2014 after two-and-a-half years.

Stan want their MTV after Viacom deal

Nine Entertainment Co and Fairfax Media’s joint venture Stan will host a number of MTV shows as part of a new deal with Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN). These include Teen Mom, Geordie Shore, The Hills and 16 & Pregnant as well as shows from Nickelodoen, Nick Jr. and Comedy Central.

Vicaom International Media Networks Australia & New Zealand SVP and GM Ben Richardson said: “It’s no secret that audiences of all ages are evolving and demanding access to their favourite shows when and where they want.”

Stan announced its pricing: $10 per month, similar to Presto and Quickflix. Netflix, out in March, has options of $US7.99, $US8.99 and $US11.99.

Pacha Sydney pacts with The Squared Division

Award-winning nightclub Pacha Sydney brought in production house The Squared Division as Creative Directors. They will produce weekly shows at Ivy from Saturday January 24. The Squared Division, set up by Australian directors and choreographers Antony Ginandiar and Ashley Evans, worked with Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Ke$ha, Rita Ora, Ed Sheeran, Jessie J and Kylie Minogue, and design the production of X Factor Australia..

Telstra Mobile connecting Tesla Model S

Telstra Mobile Network will provide machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity for electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors’ Model S car in Australia. It will include infotainment, which includes music streaming.

Vevo on Xbox One

Music video platform Vevo is available on Xbox One, where users can now experience its full 100,000-strong catalogue of music videos, live concert events and original shows. Last year, Vevo app viewership increased by 136% to reach 4.3 billion total worldwide monthly viewers.

L-FRESH The Lion enters Elefant Traks den

Sydney hip hop artst L-FRESH The Lion is the latest to join Elefant Traks. Its

Label Manager Tim Levinson aka Urthboy noticed him six years ago when he booked him to open events at The Factory and was knocked out by his “powerful presence, optimism and unexpected lyrics.”

L-FRESH, who released his The One album last year, is an ambassador for the anti-racism strategy All Together Now and founder of the Power To The Peaceful Community, a clothing label and online community that exists to encourage peace.