New Signings & Team-Ups: October 25

Image: Kurt Cobain

SONY/ATV SIGNS ABC’S MARTIN FRY

Martin Fry, the lead songwriter and lead vocalist of iconic British band ABC, has inked a worldwide deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

Covering pop classics such as The Look Of Love, Poison Arrow, All Of My Heart and When Smokey Sings, the deal encompasses all publishing and rights related to their sound recordings (aka neighbouring rights) whenever they are commercially exploited in outlets including radio and TV airplay or a public performance.

Martin Fry said: “I’ve been writing songs for 30 years now. I can’t stop. I guess I’m still searching for the perfect beat.”

GUY OSEARY, HEATHER PARRY, TO MANAGE COBAIN ESTATE

Maverick’s Guy Oseary (Madonna, U2) and Heather Parry, President of Live Nation Film and Television, will co-manage Kurt Cobain’s estate. They were appointed by the former Nirvana frontman’s daughter Frances Bean and widow Courtney Love. They will oversee his name, likeness, artwork, digital and licensing. Kurt Cobain’s estate is also represented by the United Talent Agency.

Two years ago, Cobain’s estate was valued at US$450 million. In 2013 Nirvana sold 350,000 albums and 900,000 singles, with sales estimated at $4.4 million. Their debut album Nevermind initially sold 9.9 million in the US. Cobain killed himself at his home in Seattle in 1994.

I KNOW LEOPARD SIGN TO IVY LEAGUE

Sydney-basedindie pop quartet I Know Leopard have signed to Mushroom Group’s Ivy League, joining a stellar roster of local acts, including The Rubens, Alpine, The Vines and Bad//Dreems.

The band has just release new single Rather Be Lonely, the first single since the release of the band’s EPAnother Life,which spawned three high-rotation singles at triple j and saw them sell out their national headline tour.

FUTURE CLASSIC FINDS ITS FORTUNES

Future Classic, the EDM label home to Flume and Nick Murphy / Chet Faker, have made their first signing in a year with Fortunes. The duo knew each other in their native New Zealand and reconnected after moving to Melbourne. Their new single 501’s is about Levi Jeans and, specifically, “about when the weather is hot and you see a hot guy and he looks real good in his jeans.” It includes the lyric, “Daaamn that dude’s jeans look tight / I don’t mean skinny”.

123 AGENCY ADDS SHAPESHIFTER…

New Zealand’s Shapeshifter plan to increase their profile in Australia by signing on with Melbourne-based 123 Agency. They play a one-off at Sydney’s Subsonic Festival (Dec 2 – 4) before returning next year after a run of sold-out shows in NZ. “Looking forward to getting back to Australia which has always been one of our favourite places to play!!” said the band’s Nick Robinson. Their sixth album, Stars, is out on November 4, following up the successful 2013 platinum-selling LP Delta.

…AND BEC SANDRIDGE

Nomadic pop/punk logomaniac Bec Sandridge has also assigned her booking to 123. Following on from her single High Tide slotting into high rotation on triple j, she just wrapped up a national tour alongside Montaigne and currently opening for seven dates by Cub Sport. There is also a string of summer festival appearances and spot on the freshly announced Zoo Twilight series with The Rubens.

GUY SEBASTIAN ON FLIGHT WITH AIR ASIA

Budget airline Air Asia recruited Guy Sebastian as its Ambassador, following a recruitment of Australians to its flight personnel. The airline intends to beef up its local presence through support of Australian musicians, with Malaysian-born Sebastian an obvious first face of the brand to promote it in the region.

“It’s great to be back in Australia promoting artists again,” said Air Asia X Group CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun. Air Asia founder Tony Fernandes headed Warner Music in Singapore before setting up the airline.

AMAZON STRIKES EXCLUSIVE WITH GARTH BROOKS

A week after its launch, streaming service Amazon Music Unlimited struck an exclusivity deal with US country music superstar Garth Brooks. It will cover most of his albums, and marks Brooks’ first appearance on any streaming service.

SOOTHSAYER’S FUTURE WITH SAM WESTON

Melbourne label signed Sydney house producer Sam Weston, who is one half of influential Sydney techno duo Alba. New 13-minute single Don’t Save Face was written during a two-month stint living alone in the remote desert in South Australia where “I had inconsistent access to electricity for my synths so this track is more sample-based than previous pieces”. It includes samples Weston collected while travelling through Thailand in 2015, when he was drawn to luk thung, a style of Thai ‘country’ music.

THUNDAMENTALS SPREADS LOVE TO NCIE

Hip hop act Thundamentals’ charity Got Love Initiative will this year direct all funds to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence. All proceeds from their new song Ignorance Is Bliss, written especially for the Got Love Initiative, and the sale of brand new ‘Got Love’ merchandise, will go directly to NCIE.

The act’s Tuka said, “It is important to stress the fact that we are by no means social justice experts. We are musicians first and foremost, not politicians.

“But we are also citizens who are passionate about the entirety of our society. We wanted to help support an organisation that is on the front line day in and day out serving the community, in a tangible way”

NCIE’s General Manager of Programs & Partnerships, April Long, pointed out that not only would the royalties allow 50 more students to enjoy the Centre’s after-school arts and cultural, enjoy a healthy dinner and participate in sporting activities, “more importantly (they’ll) be connected as a young generation of Indigenous leaders who are going to pave the way for the future of Australia.”

ROBIN SCHULZ PUBLISHING FOR BMG

BMG has finalised a global publishing deal with DJ Robin Schulz and his songwriting and production crew Junkx, made up of Stefan Dabruck, Dennis Bierbrodt, Guido Kramer and Jürgen Dohr. The deal covers their hits Headlights and Show Me Love.

MORE CLIENTS FOR BRETT OATEN SOLICITORS

Sydney-based Brett Oaten Solicitors’ client list now includes Fairground Festival in Berry (December 2, 3) and Totem, a social video advisory and studio in APAC, who assist major brands, including Sony, BBC, Telstra and the Queensland Government with their digital strategies.

The legal firm also reports that staff member Julia Kosky has relocated to Los Angeles with her producer husband and two boys. She remains at Brett Oaten Solicitors, “working in the same time zone as our many clients who are touring or working in the US.”

PLUS1 MATCHES FUNDS WITH 40 ORGANISATIONS

Creative Partnerships’ Plus1 announced that $1,245,500 in matched funding has been pledged to 40 arts organisations over 2016/17. The program supports small to medium arts organisations to attract new donors, build relationships and networks and boost their fundraising skills.

Among the 40 projects are Brisbane Metro Arts’ Lift the Lift, Nexus Multicultural Arts Centre Incorporated’s 100 Rejections, Geelong Performing Arts Centre’s Women for Change: The GPAC Giving Circle, The Song Room’s The Song Room Playathon, Shepparton Festival Inc’s Shepparton Festival Patrons Program, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts’ Supporting A New Era of Performance and Four Winds Concerts Inc’s I’m For ADA.