New signings and team-ups, October 18, 2013

Cooking Vinyl Australia and PledgeMusic formalise relationship

The recently launched Cooking Vinyl Australia and the Australian operations of direct-to-fan site PledgeMusic have formalised an agreement. They will work together on any Australian signings that need PledgeMusic’s services. While Pledgemusic is primarily perceived as a crowd-funding site, it sees itself as a wider fan experience in which consumers and artists start a record’s journey together: from funding it, to marketing it, to gaining rewards from the alliance. The Australian pact reflects the partnership that the artist-friendly UK label has with PledgeMusic abroad, one of which saw Amanda Palmer raise $1 million.

Cooking Vinyl Australia, set up by Leigh Gruppetta and Stu Harvey, currently has one signing, with another to be announced shortly. The roster is expected to rise to three or four by the end of the year. PledgeMusic’s Australian operation has a 93% strike rate, with Kate Miller-Heidke and Pseudo Echo exceeding their targets in recent weeks.

PledgeMusic Australia and NZ’s GM Scot Crawford said, “There is a goldmine of music marketing knowledge and a history of innovation that comes with Leigh Gruppetta and Stu Harvey. Being able to have the opportunity to work what we do at PledgeMusic into potential future campaigns and bring our learnings and experience to the table is an exciting opportunity.” Gruppetta added, “Cooking Vinyl and PledgeMusic have shared great success in the UK and Europe on projects such as Amanda Palmer, and to now further strengthen this relationship into Australia as both companies expand operations is a very exciting prospect for us.”

Lorde’s Royals on global Samsung campaign

Lorde has landed her first sync, with her US chart topper Royals used in a new global ad for Samsung. It promotes the product of its consumer tech company Gear, with the lyrics sung by children on the streets of Barcelona. The ad agency was initially seeking an old show tune and then realised there was a new song which would fit perfectly.

Nando’s presents Katy Perry’s Sydney show

Nando’s is presenting Katy Perry at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday October 29, to launch its new customer loyalty program PERi-Perks. It is giving customers the chance to be in the front row to hear her roar, meet her and have a photo taken. Kim Russell, Nando’s Australia and NZ Marketing Director said, “This initiative was only made possible through true partnership and collaboration with EMI, Seven West Media (Sunrise), and Southern Cross Austereo (2DAY). We are looking forward to this generating some positive results for all partners and some very happy customers.”

Jason Singh lands on Million Dollar Minute

Former Taxiride member Jason Singh’s new single Hold On Forever is featured as the music bed for new Seven Network game show Million Dollar Minute. The evening show drew 811,000 viewers last week. The promo began on the weekend to run for 10 weeks, with an option to extend over summer.

America’s Adult Swim goes local with MCM Media

Turner Broadcasting System owned US cable network Adult Swim partnered with MCM Media to launch an online channel in Australia. The young male-skewed channel will put 1,500 short form videos on MCM’s Movideo platform, which already features Vevo. Adult Swim is home to Seth Green’s animation Robot Chicken. Adult Swim is already available locally on Comedy Central.

Bellusira signs US management

Melbourne band Bellusira signed management to Florida-based Stephanie Christie Management and Publicity, which includes co-management with Evanescence drummer Will Hunt.  The pair spotted the band’s Cachango video on musician’s website Tunelab and were struck by the stage presence of singer Crystal Ignite. They are working on touring the U.S. in early 2014.

Australia’s Ben Frost signs global deal with UK publisher

Australian-born Iceland-based classical/electronic composer and producer Ben Frost signed a worldwide music publishing agreement with London-based Mute Song. This month sees the UK premiere of his first directed and scored opera The Wasp Factory.  Born in Melbourne in 1980, Frost moved to Reykjavík Iceland in 2005 where he formed the Bedroom Community record label/collective with two friends and released three sound art records

CommBank inspired by 67-year old Voice contestant

The Commonwealth Bank has used the latest installment of its inspire and empower ‘Can’ campaign around 67-year old musician Steve Clisby’s “life-long love of music and his perseverance to achieve his goals.”  Clisby, who taught himself piano and sax at the age of six, was a finalist on The Voice this year. He also sings a song for the campaign called Three Little Letters which was written by M&C Saatchi’s Andy Fleming.

Paramore singer named Pinktober ambassador

Paramore singer Hayley Williams was named this year’s Pinktober “Artist Ambassador” by Hard Rock International. Pinktober helps to raise global awareness of breast cancer. Williams will donate the outfit and bicycle she rode in the Still Into You video to the Hard Rock Cafe on Hollywood Boulevard, give away 10 tickets to each of their 27 US shows to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation so survivors can see the show and meet the band, and will sell pink Hard Rock T-shirts at HRCs.

Frankie Rose gets Aussie release on Caroline

Caroline Label Services will release New York-based Frankie Rose’s second solo album Herein Wild on November 1. Rose emerged as the drummer with Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls and Vivian Girls and signed a solo deal with USA’s Fat Possum Records.

Presets team with J&B for mash-up

The Presets teamed with J&B Scotch Whisky to create a new mash-up to mark the brand’s latest drink, J&B Mash-Up. It is streamed via the J&B Australia Facebook page.  The track saw Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes scour ten years of their back catalogue and using elements from many tracks.

New World Artists to represent Alys

Sydney’s New World Artists has live representation of Queensland singer songwriter Alys, after they spotted her at Big Sound. “Alys is clearly talented beyond her years,” said director Owen Orford. The act, managed by Steve James, has just returned from a US tour and is working on her debut album.

Dew Process enters Bear’s Den

Dew Process signed London trio Bear’s Den, releasing their debut EP Without/Within on November 1. The band kicked off its national Australian club tour on the weekend. Bear’s Den emerged in England via UK label Communion – home to Ben Howard, Michael Kiwanuka and Daughter.

UNFD turn believers

Hardcore label UNFD signed West Australian six-piece Make Believe Me, who came together in November 2011. They hail from the south west, more than two hours from the nearest city. To celebrate, they’re giving away their track Home as a free download.

Deadmau5, Astralwerks, strike deal

Electro label Astralwerks Records and dance superstar deadmau5’s label mau5trap recordings teamed up as global label partners. Astralwerks Records is released here through EMI. Out first is new mau5trap compilation We Are Friends Vol. 2 on November 15.  Mau5trap will be based at Astralwerks’ Toronto headquarters but the DJ maintains creative control.

Rap message for young South Australian drivers

The Motor Accident Commission of South Australia uses rap music to target young drivers. It funded a tongue in cheek Lights-Out attributed to Adelaide rappers Krazy-K and DJ Got-Bangers. They brag about how cool it was for them to lose their licence for six months, until the reality of losing their job, girlfriend and social life kicked in. MAC Chief Executive Officer Jerome Maguire said more than 3,900 SA drivers aged 16-24 years lost their licence this year so far. People aged 16 to 24 years make up 12% of the population, but account for 26% of all fatalities and serious injuries in South Australia.

Brooklyn turns 360

Melbourne dance agency 360 added Gold Coast dancer turned DJ, Brooklyn Elliot. A wildcard in 2013’s Your Shot competition, Elliot is managed by Joey Lamattina of Nitelife Management.

Monster brand rolls out with JB Hi-Fi

San-Francisco based headphone brand Monster has a display campaign through JB Hi Fi’s larger format store. The Monster branded music and interactive visual display will allow customers to listen to the music of artists including  Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatsz and A$AP Rocky. The headphones target seven types of buyers: the young trendies, the business traveller, the luxury seeker, the exercise freak, the gamer, music lovers and DJs.