New Signings & Team-Ups: November 29
U2 PREPS FOR ‘EXPERIENCE’ RELEASE WITH AMAZON
In the run-up to Friday’s release of U2’s Songs of Experience, the supergroup has partnered with Amazon Music for an online radio broadcast.
In a first time strategy for Amazon Music, it will put together the content, made up of their major hits, live recordings from this year’s The Joshua Tree Tour and an exclusive U2 interview conducted with Amazon Music’s Global Head of Programming, Alex Luke.
The U2 Experience broadcast (amazon.com/theu2experience) is available to its customers in the U.S., U.K., Germany and Austria from Thursday local time.
Presumably, it will go greater guns than U2’s last “exclusive” idea.
Apple Music stumped up $100 million to push their Songs of Innocence into every iPhone and iPad in the galaxy – and only ended up irritating most of its customers as it (a) arrived unsolicited and (b) took up too much space.
SWEAT IT OUT MAKE MONOLINK
Sydney-based Sweat It Out’s latest add is Berlin-based singer/songwriter and DJ, Steffen Linck aka Monolink.
Emerging as one of the leading acts from the popular growing ‘Desert’ scene, Monolink is now set to release ‘Sirens’, the first single from his upcoming album due 2018.
TRIPLE J UNEARTHED WINNER REPPED AT NWA
This year’s Triple J Unearthed winner, 17-year old producer Arno Faraji, is now booked through Sydney based New World Artists.
He’s appearing on HyperFest in his hometown and about to go into the studios as part of his win.
PERTH’S PORN CRUMPETS LAND OVERSEAS AGENCY
In the wake of assigning their live bookings in Australia to 123 Agency, as announced by TMN, Perth’s Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are now with UK agency 13 Artists.
Other Aussies on its roster include Tame Impala, Alex Lahey, Big Scary, City Calm Down, The Jezabels, Montgomery and Pond.
MUSICA COPA SOCCER GAME RETURNS FOR CHARITY
The Musica Copa 5-a-side charity soccer game returns for its fifth year for charity. It has raised over $40,000 for charity over the years.
Last year, winners Lucky Ent took home $7000 for their charity The Reach Foundation. Runners-up Universal Music secured $3000 for Musicians Making A Difference.
Sweating it out this year are Future Classic, I OH YOU, Inertia, inthemix, Sony, Universal Music, FBi Radio, UNDR Ctrl, WME, Spotify and Select Music.
It’s held this Friday (December 1), at KIKOFF Fraser Park in Marrickville from 1 pm. $10 donation.
GOLDIE TAKES JOURNEY DOWNTOWN
British drum and bass pioneer Goldie who earlier this year released an album called Journeyman, has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Downtown.
It includes all his works back to 1995’s debut Timeless right through to future works, including a collab with Skepta which is in the pipeline.
Goldie issued a statement, “I’ve always had this really weird feeling, from a spiritual level, that everything I’ve ever built has led to this moment.
“Where finally, after the 25 years I’ve had in music, I’ve finally found a home from home, where I can actually create a landscape which creates an even better portrait in the type of architecture that I’ve always desired.”
FOXTEL PREPS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Foxtel announced it has a number of music specials for the party/ veg-out season.
CMA Country Christmas: makes its Australian premiere on CMC on Monday, December 11 at 7pm.
Reba McEntire hosts some powerful voices through classic Christmas songs and shares treasured memories.
A Smooth Christmas with Cameron & Marcia: Australian premiere on Monday, December 25, Foxtel Smooth, with Cameron Daddo and Marcia Hines.
Chris Isaak – A Very Merry Christmas, on Max, December 25, with Isaak and famous friends in carols mode.
A [V]ery Merry Xmas Top 30 on [V] on Christmas Day from 7 am with 30 of the biggest modern Christmas crackers.’’
PEUGEOT LINKS WITH SUNSET CINEMAS
French car brand Peugeot, which recently left its deal with the Port Adelaide team, is now sponsoring with the nationally expanding open-air Sunset Cinemas series kicking off in late December.
RHUBARB TO HANDLE VERVE COLLECTION
Vinyl-focussed Rhubarb will handle the late March release of Perth band Verge Collection’s debut album Flaneur.
It is on pre-order in two colour variations, and an optional limited edition $60 merch package which includes the record, branded rollie papers and stubby holder and a tote bag,
SONY MUSIC BUYS INTO KOREAN FIRM
Sony Music Entertainment Korea is financially investing in Seoul-based record company KQ Entertainment, home of K-Pop boyband Block and R&B singer Babylon.
The deal was struck by Sony Music’s Australia & New Zealand chief, Sydney-based Denis Handlin, in his capacity as President, Asia, Sony Music Entertainment.
KPop is breaking internationally, and Handlin wants Sony Music to be part of that expansion.
He said, “These are exciting times, with the Korean market growing strongly and K-Pop artists continuing to build an even larger fan base around the world.”
This month, boy band BTS appeared on the American Music Awards while massive Korean music and pop culture festival KCON made its Australian debut over two days in Sydney in late September to a strong turn-out and major name G-Dragon did three shows in August.
AUCKLAND FESTIVALS EAT TO THE BEAT
Those attending Auckland Council’s popular Music and Movies in Parks series this summer get a bonus from supporting partner, online food delivery service Menulog.
It will deliver food and drinks from local restaurants direct to the hungry music and movie lovers (who order through its app or website) to save them from waiting in queues.
According to Menulog, it also helps its own business grow while allowing restaurants possibly getting new customers after the shows.
LEMON TREE ADDS RILEY PEARCE
Melbourne based Lemon Tree Music has added Perth alt-folk singer songwriter Riley Pearce to management. The 24-year old’s track ‘Brave’ has clocked up 5 million Spotify plays and this year played his first shows in London.
GREY ESCAPE
UK pop duo Dusky Grey, whose recordings are available in Australia through Warner Music, have signed a worldwide publishing deal with Bucks Music Group.
Their single ‘Told Me’ has more than 5.5 million Spotify streams, and getting airplay in the UK.
UK’S RAINCOAT ACQUIRES GERMAN DJ AGENCY
British veteran executives Jeremy Lascelles and Robin Millar’s Blue Raincoat Artists has acquired Berlin-based DJ and electronic music booking and management agency Spar-ks.
Under the deal, its founder and CEO Katrin Schlotfeldt will join the Blue Raincoat team bringing along her roster which includes Sonja Moonear, Barac, Matthew Dear/Audion and Martin Buttrich.
Blue Raincoat also represents EDM names as The Belleville Three (consisting of techno pioneers Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson and Juan Atkins), Saunderson as a solo artist, Francesca Lombardo, Infinity Ink, Delano Smith and South London Ordnance.