New Signings & Team-Ups: Three agency deals for Methyl Ethel; Kiss go on a wanderer; Bedlam takes on Kaleidoscope; Industry fights men’s violence against women

Three booking agency deals for Methyl Ethel

On the eve of their US visit in October to play CMJ, Perth’s Methyl Ethel signed with three booking agencies around the world. They are now repped by Marshall Betts of The Windish Agency for the USA, Paul Buck of London-based Coda Agency for the UK and Europe, and Andy Gumley of Village Sounds for Australia and New Zealand.

The deals came as the band put in some impressive showcases at BIGSOUND in Brisbane last week and sold out their first headline East Coast tour. The band came together last year and quickly won the Pop Song of the Year award for Rogues at the 2014 WAM awards, and released its debut album Oh Inhuman Spectacle in June through Dot Dash/Remote Control.

Kiss go on a wanderer

Kiss and the Western Sydney Wanderers Football Club struck a deal to produce one-off commemorative Kiss Red And Black Army T-shirts before their October tour. It follows the launch of the KISS Magpie Army T-shirt in Victoria last month. The tees will be available on www.wanderersshop.com.au until October 9. They also come in a bundle with premium tickets for Kiss’ Sydney show October 10.

Alabama Shakes and Genero work on music films project

Alabama Shakes are inviting filmmakers around the world to create short films that feature their new single Gimme All Your Love as the soundtrack. The three chosen directors will be selected by the band and share $15,000 as part of a partnership with online portal Genero, which connects artists with more than 300,000 filmmakers.

Bedlam takes on Kaleidoscope

Bedlam Records added Wollongong surf-rock trio Kaleidoscope to its roster, alongside Boss Moxi, Gallu$, Essick, The Durries, Blunt B and Jon. Their Neighbourhood Kids EP is out October as they tour with Brisbane’s Walken.

Music, live, sectors, fight men’s violence against women

A team-up between QMusic, Our Nightlife Queensland, White Ribbon Australia, The Valley Liquor Accord and #notON will address the problem of violence against women in Queensland’s live music venues. Over two days at last week’s BIGSOUND conference, they raised awareness at showcase venues of the necessity for safe spaces and that violence is #notON. Performers wore branded T-shirts and spoke to audiences onstage and online about domestic violence.

They also quoted disturbing figures on how domestic violence kills a woman a week on average, is the main cause of homelessness for women and their children, and is the leading contributor to death, disability and ill-health in women aged 15-44.

Melbourne’s music industry group LISTEN, active in the formation of Victoria’s sexual assault taskforce in venues and music festivals, co-presented a panel on issues facing women patrons, performers and workers.

The #notON campaign was set up by Brisbane music identity Deb Suckling in April and has reached 3 million people through social media and received support from the live sector. QMusic will call on the State Government to support a review of the guidelines affecting live music venues, including a specific section on training venue staff and security so complaints can be treated with respect and confidentiality. More info at http://www.whiteribbon.org.au and http://www.facebook.com/notonaustralia.

Turn First teams with Len Blavatnik's Access Industries

British management company Turn First – set up by Sarah Stennett and looks after Zayn Malik, Iggy Azalea, Ellie Goulding and Rita Ora – is inking a joint venture with Len Blavatnik's Access Industries, sources told Billboard. Blavatnik owns Warner Music Group.

None of Stennett acts are on Warner, and Turn First was set up with the backing of Universal Music. But the Access Industries deal will allow her acts to be involved in its businesses. These include film (A1, and a stake in Icon Pictures), music, streaming services (it has a shareholding in Deezer and Spotify), hotels and the fashion industry.

New Canberra festival to aid suicide prevention

The inaugural Canberra festival Spring Carnival is set up with Ozhelp Foundation, which promotes “resilience, wellness and suicide prevention”. It is staged Saturday October 17 at Westside Acton Park with 30 acts including Yahtzel, Slumberjack, Sweat It Out’s Indian Summer, Skin & Bones, Prints, Megan Bones, Fakenswitch and Spenda C.

Sydney Symphony takes to wine

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra has formally extended its partnership with South Australian winery Kilikanoon for a further two years.Kilikanoon wines will be served at all SSO functions including lunches, lectures and fund-raisers. The new deal sees Kilikanoon produce two exclusive wines for the SSO and develop the new Cello Wine Club for SSO members and performers. Kilikanoon owner Nathan Waks was a co-principal cellist for the SSO.

Silver Scrolls announces charity partner

APRA AMCOS chose the NZ Music Foundation as its charity partner for the 2015 50th anniversary APRA Silver Scroll music awards in Auckland on Thursday September 17. This is the second year of their partnership. The awards will be streamed live via www.95bfm.com and www.apraamcos.co.nz.

The NZ Music Foundation provides emergency assistance for people in the NZ music industry experiencing illness, distress and hardship. It also works across New Zealand to influence the lives of people in need through music projects.

NSW Govt, councils put indigenous students on arts career path

A funding partnership between the NSW Government and the Blacktown and Bankstown City Councils will see two indigenous students set out in a career in the arts. They two get 12-month administration traineeships from January under the ArtsReady program at Blacktown and Bankstown Art Centres. The trainees also undertake a Certificate III in Business for the arts and creative industries.

Perth Stadium finds $5 million partner

The 50,000-capacity sports and entertainment Perth Stadium in Burswood, to open 2018, already it has a “sports precinct partner”. BHP Billiton. The deal was brokered by the Westadium consortium which won the rights to the stadium for 25 years from the WA Government. For $5 million, BHP Billiton gets the naming rights to a indigenous-themed waterside boardwalk that runs through the stadium precinct, and a 1000-capacity lakeside amphitheatre which will be used for concerts, outdoor movies and smaller sports events.