New Signings & Team-Ups: Sony Aus inks British composer; Remote Control to release U.S. Girls; Taylor Swift sells cars in China; More Anzac celebration songs hit the market

Sony Music Australia inks British composer

Sony Music Entertainment Australia signed British composer and conductor Andrew Skeet, who is also a member of the band The Divine Comedy. His album Finding Time is out in June through the Sony Classical imprint. Starting out as a gifted boy treble at Glyndebourne Opera, Skeet has written 60 TV scores and worked with Sinead O’Connor, Suede and George Michael.

Remote Control to release U.S. Girls

Remote Control has the Australian and NZ rights to Toronto-based U.S. Girls (aka multidisciplinary artist Meg Remy) through its licensing deal with 4AD. First single is Damn That Valley, the inner monologue of a war widow who can find no justification for her husband's death. It takes its title from American author Sebastian Junger’s rar memoir, produced with Canadian hip hop producer Onakabazien while Remy shot the video herself in Washington DC.

Sarah Belkner expands 123 Agency roster

Sydney singer-songwriter, arranger and composer Sarah Belkner joined the artist roster of 123 Agency. She releases a new single and video Humans, following up the buzz-creating With You, and plays Shebeen in Melbourne (Wed April 29) and Brighton Up Bar in Sydney (Thurs April 30). The video was shot by Nils Crompton at the creative Commune space in Erskineville.

Taylor Swift sells cars in China

A leaked video shows Taylor Swift peddling the Toyota Camry Hybrid for the Chinese masses. Swirling about in a red gown, she sings her 1989 track Wildest Dreams while Chinese piano prodigy Li Yundi plonks along.

More Anzac celebration songs hit the market

Following the release of Melbourne band Geisha leader Chris Doheny’s Gallipoli in tribute to servicemen and women who died during 100 years of conflict, four more tracks about Anzac’s 100th celebrations hit the market.

Tex Perkins teamed with comedian Matthew Hardy to pen One Minute Silence, recorded with cameos from AFL legend Ron Barassi and the Australian Welsh Male Choir, and executive produced by the Cherry Bar’s James Young. Perkins will perform the song at the MCG on Anzac Day and all proceeds go to Legacy.

Former Redgum frontman John Schumann, follows the Vietnam soldiers lament I Was Only 19, with On Every Anzac Day to commemorate 100 years of service by indigenous Australians. It is part of the Australian Army’s pledge to recognise indigenous contribution to the war effort. Proceeds go to Trojans Trek, a SA program to assist contemporary veterans adjust in dealing with mental health conditions after combat deployments.

Sydney singer songwriter Pete Colquhoun penned Come in Spinner after a trip to Turkey during which he imagined how they must have felt – and questions why Australia should base its identity on the Anzacs when their lives were in fact gambled away.

On Granddad's Violin, Sydney troubadour and Foghorn Music signing Bob Pigott pays tribute to his grandfather and four uncles, all World War I vets. His grandfather was also a musician but never played the violin again on his return, due to physical and mental scars. It’s also a tribute to “all the brave souls who fought in that terrible conflict. It’s also about the ultimate futility of war.” The accompanying video, by Bob’s cousin Greg Pigott, features his great nephew Daniel Pigott as well as grandfather’s violin.

Meantime, Adelaide singer songwriter Eric Bogle who penned the 1971 Anzac anthem And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda is among those visiting Gallipoli this week. It’s his first visit, after a reluctance to “disturb the ghosts.”

Seven to screen AACTA awards

Channel Seven will telecast the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA)’s screen awards live from the Star in Sydney. It is moved to the new date of December 5, to allow sponsorship partners to set up for the Christmas and New Year period. Seven will broadcast it at the key viewing and ad spend period of 8.30 pm. The Seven connection will also see the awards covered by other Seven media properties including Pacific Magazines.

How Potbelleez’s Don’t Hold Back changed Jeep’s fortunes

A few years ago, Jeep used Potbellez’s Don’t Hold Back for its Don’t Hold Back campaigns in Australia and Korea. Drive.com.au reports that from selling 5975 vehicles in 2010, Australian sales jumped 44% in 2011 and 108% in 2012. By 2014 Jeep sold 30,408, with this year’s sales figures 13% ahead of last year’s record. Its $10—$20 million spend on the campaign yielded a revenue increase of $100 million. Don’t Hold Back was also picked up by Nissan Pathfinder for New Zealand but we don’t have figures for that.

New act for Milwaukee Music

Milwaukee Music is working with Millar Jukes & The Bandits, a Melbourne folk/Americana band who’re just back from the U.S. An EP is due this year, new single Chase The Sun is launched at Workers Club April 24.

CRA, Sony, can’t get by without their mums

An ad campaign by Commercial Radio Australia and Sony is targeting Mother’s Day (May 10) where consumers buy mumsie a new digital radio set. The spots air across 42 commercial radio stations in the five metro capital cities. Sony is introducing a new range of digital radio sets this year.

Songwriting sessions for teachers

Music Australia and Musical Futures Australia offer a free nationwide program of songwriting workshops for teachers. The first sessions start from May 4 through NSW, with Musical Futures’ tutors working with teachers to pass on skills in primary and secondary students. See http://musicaustralia.org.au.

UNFD pull Milk Teeth

UNFD distributes new UK band Milk Teeth in Australia and New Zealand as part of its deal with Hopeless Records.

Festival of Voices expands to second Tasmanian city

Tasmania’s Festival of Voices will expand to Launceston, in mid-July, courtesy the Launceston City Council. It has been in Hobart since it started eleven years ago. The Tasmanian Government sponsors the event at $350,000 a year until 2017.

Addicted To Audio buys Hi Fi Trader

Melbourne-based headphone seller Addicted To Audio bought the Hi Fi Trade school on King Street in Newtown, Sydney. Addicted To Audio founder George Poutakidis believes that with the Melbourne operations doing well physically and online for headphones as well as amps and turntables, there was no reason why the Sydney operations couldn’t be turned around.

Born Licensing strikes deal with 0th Century Fox

David Born’s newly launched Born Licensing secured a deal with 20th Century Fox to represent its clip licensing business in ANZ. It will meet with ad agencies in both territories about properties as The Simpsons and Family Guy, live action shows Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, 24 and American Horror Story as well as its theatrical side which includes the likes of Avatar, Titanic, The Sound of Music and Home Alone.

Above & Beyond broadcast show from Allphones Arena

The 150th episode of Above & Beyond’s radio show Group Therapy falls during their Australian tour in September. So in partnership with promoter Totem Onelove Group, they will broadcast the show live from Allphones Arena in Sydney live on Saturday September 26. On the band’s last visit to Sydney to play New Years Eve at the Hordern Pavilion, tickets sold out in an hour.