New signings and team-ups: November 7, 2013

Universal sets up Sinatra label

Universal Music Group has gone into a licensing agreement with Frank Sinatra Enterprises to set up a new imprint called Signature Sinatra. It will bring under the one umbrella Ol’ Blue Eyes’ output with Capitol in the 1950s and Reprise in the 1960s. Centennial celebrations are starting around the singer’s birth date (December 12, 1915) so expect recordings from his albums, films and television appearances to be given the repackage treatment.

Abbey Road Studios widens merchandising offer

The famous Abbey Road Studios in London has teamed with Bravado merchandising to roll out a new range of branded T-shirts, apparel and accessories over the next 12 months. They will be sold in clothing and music retailers with particular emphasis on Europe, North America and Asia.

Coopers beer and Spotify kick off campaign

South Australia’s Coopers brewery extends its long history with Australian music to team with streaming music platform to develop a new on-premise eight week promotion and give away 1,000 premium Spotify memberships.

Tinie Tempah fronts PlayStation 4 campaign

British hip hop act and video games enthusiast Tinie Tempah fronts a UK ad campaign for PlayStation 4, reported Music Week. He appears in an “interactive documentary” in which fans with smartphones can access competitions and PS4-related content. The brand also sponsors his UK tour next month.

Born Lion joins Trusty Chords Music management

Sydney punk band Born Lion is now managed by Trusty Chords Music, which also looks after Apes. The band came to their attention through triple j Unearthed and created a buzz at Big Sound in Brisbane. “How can we say no to a band that writes killer punk rock, smashes it live and names Fugazi as an influence!!! No Frickin’ way!!!” said the firm’s Lachlan Hodgson.

Gossling album gets Vevo lift

Harvest Of Gold, the debut album from Melbourne-based Gossling, will get a huge boost from Vevo. Its emerging artist program Lift series has hosted Tonight Alive in Australia and internationally, John Newman, Bastille, Oh Land, Karmin, Jessie J, Rita Ora, Tinie Tempah, One Direction and Labrinth. Over eight weeks, Vevo’s Australian audience of 2.2 million get video premieres, interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and a live show at The Kelvin club on November 14. Vevo Lift is sponsored by Ford, coinciding with the launch of the new Fiesta whose technology includes SYNC which provides users with greater control of their music.

Universal Music Publ. signs M-Phazes to global deal

Universal Music Publishing Group Australia signed ARIA-winning songwriter, producer and DJ, M-Phazes, to a worldwide deal, the company announced today. “M-Phazes is a songwriter and producer of the highest order – a creative visionary with serious technical ability,” said UMPG’s Sydney-based director of A&R, Heath Johns.

Born on the Gold Coast and now based in Melbourne, M-Phazes’s track record over the past five years includes Kimbra, 360, Bliss N Eso, Drapht, Illy, Amerie, Eskimo Joe and Talib Kweli. Most recently, he teamed with Grammy winning US producer S1 to produce the intro track Bad Guy on Eminem’s eighth studio album Marshall Mathers LP 2. As part of UMPG’s strategy to have M-Phazes engaged on international projects, he will split his time between his studio in Melbourne, the US and the UK. He is currently working on a follow up to his 2010 debut Good Gracious won the ARIA for Best Urban Album. He just finished Executive Producing Illy’s album Cinematic.

Red Bull joins Larykan’s Eminem bid

Red Bull has thrown its support behind Sydney hip hop artist Larykan to land the support slot for Eminem’s early 2014 Australian tour. Red Bull offered a branded Land Rover for eight dates (until November 17) in which he could arrive at events and festivals to do a flash set and get the 10,000 signatures needed on a petition.

MT joins Dew Process roster

MT, the new project for former Yves Klein Blue singer/guitarist Michael Tomlinson, will release its debut single Alpha Romeo through Dew Process. The band’s gigging in the UK has won praise from BBC Radio 1 and the NME which included the Brisbane act in their ten Ones To Watch list.

More concerts for Hanging Rock

The Macedon Range Shire in Victoria extended an agreement with Michael Gudinski’s Mushroom Group to stage more shows at tourist spot Hanging Rock. The new five year deal, effective October 2014, calls for up to four concerts a year. The initial 2009 deal saw two by Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart and Leonard Cohen. The Springsteen shows in particular saw the Council reap the financial and tourist visitor benefits. They drew 31,000 fans (5,000 from outside Victoria) and injected $10 million to the local economy.