New Signings & Team-Ups: WMA to issue The War on Drugs; Beyonce takes her music back; Dot Dash and the art of Zhen; Sprite debuts cans with hip hop lyrics; WA acts head to Singapore

Warner Music Australia to issue The War on Drugs

Warner Music Australia will issue The War on Drugs product in this region. It’s part of a two-album deal that the US band signed with Warner imprint Atlantic Records. The War were previously on the indie Secretly Canadian alongside Animal Collective and Yeasayer. The Philadelphia-based act’s last album Lost In The Dream was deemed among the best of 2014.

Beyonce takes her music back to CAA

Beyonce has moved her live representation back to the CAA agency from ICM Partners. She initially moved to ICM in 2006 to follow her long time movie agent Andrea Nelson Meigs. The singer retains her film affairs with ICM. Beyonce’s On The Run stadium tour in 2014 with husband Jay Z grossed over $100 million from 19 North American dates.

I Oh You in a flap over Green Buzzard

Sydney band Green Buzzard has not played a live date or released any product. But a Soundcloud link to ten tracks cut in a farm outside Bathurst, NSW, got to the ears of I Oh You founder Johann Ponniah who admits he was instantly hooked. Debut single Zoo Fly will also be released Stateside by NYC-based Mermaid Avenue/Mom + Pop.

Dot Dash and the art of Zhen

Remote Control’s Australian artists-only imprint Dot Dash, has inked Melbourne-based electro-popster Sui Zhen (real name: Becky Sui Zhen). New single Take It All Back is from the upcoming album Secretly Susan which is inspired by "Japanese lovers rock, '80s electro-bossanova and dubby-lounge pop."

Brisbane’s Smack Face to distribute USA’s Roll Call

After releasing up and coming overseas acts as Guantanamao Baywatch, The Wands, The Coathangers, The Growlers and Dot Hacker in the local market, Brisbane’s Smack Face Records has struck a distribution deal with groovy Los Angeles based Roll Call Records for Australia and New Zealand.

Roll Call founder Rob Abelow thought both labels share the same ethos (“hustle, teamwork, innovation and non-pretentiousness”) and Trina Massey, SFR A&R // Label Manager added, “The energy, talent, work ethic and attitudes that they demonstrate embodies what a innovative and successful label should be.”

Search for Creative Freedom curator

Arts North West in partnership with Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council is seeking to appoint a Regional NSW Aboriginal artist as Creative Freedom Curator to work with artists and students to deliver the opening ceremony for the 2016 Aboriginal Cultural Showcase.

Applicants must be “experienced in, or ready to deliver an innovative, quality and artistic opening ceremony through high impact displays and performances by showcasing and highlighting the diverse cultural and artistic expression and talents of Aboriginal artists and performers from the region and nationally.” Deadline is July 31, apply to project manager Lorrayne Riggs via email: aao@artsnw.com.au

Sprite debuts cans with hip hop lyrics

Soft drink company Sprite licensed 16 memorable verses from hip hop acts to be reprinted on cans and bottles for a US summer campaign. The rhymes come from endorsees Drake, Nas and Rakim as well as The Notorious B.I.G. Sprite’s relationship with hip hop goes back to 1986 when the genre was still to hit the mainstream and they starred Kurtis Blow in a prime-time ad.

123 Agency smells out Bad News Toilet

123 Agency pacted Bad News Toilet, a duo from Ballarat in regional Victoria who now reside in Melbourne. Bryce Spratling and Stagehand Sam (Sam Morely) built up a following matching songs to getting audiences to get into costumes, playing festivals and, soon, on Australia's first cruise ship festival Sea N Beats alongside Alison Wonderland, Hayden James and Touch Sensitive.

Presto now on Samsung

"The big screen experience for Presto has proven to be incredibly popular since we arrived on Chromecast, and we're thrilled to announce direct availability on a range of Samsung's smart TVs," Presto director Sean James said. The app is available on 2012 to 2015 makes.

‘Beat The Freeze’ takes electronica theme

The Sydney Youth Music and The Salvation Army’s Oasis Youth Support Network team to present the fourth Beat The Freeze concert. Held on Saturday June 27 at 107 Projects in Redfern, Sydney, from 5pm. the electronica-themed initiative is to raise awareness about youth homelessness.

Three WA acts head to Singapore

For the second year running, three West Australian acts will showcase at Beerfest Asia in Singapore. It is part of the Singapore WA Music Exchange (SWAM) initiative between Perth-based peak music association WAM and Singapore’s Timbre Group. Beerfest is Timbre’s signature event, and attracts 30,000 over four days. The WA acts are blues pop The China Blue Experiment, rock duo Foreign Architects and previous Indigenous category winners of WAM Song Of The Year Jake & The Cowboys.

Matrix Vinyl announces distribution deal

Sydney-based vinyl pressing plant Matrix Vinyl Australia announced it now represents German vinyl plant Pallas for ANZ, a premium vinyl facility in Europe. Matrix Vinyl has been trialling Pallas services for the past 15 years, reports GM Mark Sequeira (Mark.Sequeira@matrixvinyl.com) and using it for clients as Ball Park Music Dan Sultan, DZ Deathrays and Adalita. Sequeira’s other business iDigital Australia continues its work with CDs and DVDs.

Festival of Voices, WAM, Events Tasmania offer free workshop

Perth-based WAM, Tasmania’s Festival of Voices and Events Tasmania are jointly offering Perth singers and songwriters the chance to workshop with German a capella metal band Van Canto. Recipients work, learn and perform with Van Canto over six days of workshop and singing experience that will culminate in a showcase performance at the Van Canto Concert on Saturday July 11.

The workshop is valued at $298 per participant and is an accredited course through the Conservatorium of Music, Tasmanian College of the Arts, UTAS. But two WA recipients get two free passes plus $500 towards flights and accommodation. The two join 18 artists from QLD, NT and Tas selected through their respective state associations.

Wiggles recall Woolworths starts

The Wiggles’ manager Paul Field and band member Anthony Field continue their relationship with Woolworths supermarkets in its latest campaign. They recall how they worked there in their early days. Other ex-employees in the campaign, to spruik Woolworth’s credentials, include stuntwoman Ky Furneaux and Braaap Motorcycles owner Brad Smith.