New Signings & Team-Ups: September 20

JOHN FOGERTY LANDS AT BMG

Forty eight years after John Fogerty first burst on Australian airwaves with Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Proud Mary, he continues to forge ahead with new projects.

Billboard reported that he has just signed with BMG for a new solo album and a series of reissues.

The new record is a follow up to 2013’s Wrote A Song For Everyone where he collaborated with Foo Fighters, Keith Urban, Bob Seger and Brad Paisley.

The reissue of his solo catalogue begins in November, and covers records as Centerfield, Eye of the Zombie and Deju Vu (All Over Again).

Fogerty said of his new association with BMG, “Their enthusiasm and confidence, affording me the creative freedom to make the music I want to make, has been absolutely refreshing.

“We have so many new and intriguing ideas that I look forward to sharing with everyone soon.”

PAUL KELLY SMELLS IT OUT

I Smell Trouble, a track off Paul Kelly’s #1 album Life Is Fine, is being used by Channel Ten on its promo for its new mini-series Wake In Fright.

It was pitched and placed by Sony/ ATV Australia’s sync and licensing team.

NICHE DELIVERING THE GOODS

Niche Productions has taken over the bookings for much-talked-about Sydney outfit The Goods. The band just issued a new funk RnB and soul single Glow on Personal Best Records and off their October-due EP Make Your Move.

Badmandela, Rosario and Black Tree burst onto the scene last year with their self-titled EP, with the music generating comparisons to both Outkast and Gorillaz.

THE UGLY KINGS GET KOZMIK

Melbourne hard rock band The Ugly Kings have signed an agreement with German label Kozmik Artifactz, releasing their debut album in early 2018.

The band, featuring Devil Electric guitarist Christos Athanasias, opened for Airbourne on their East Coast tour earlier this year. Airbourne’s Joel O’Keefe said, “The Ugly Kings have really got their own thing going on and it rocks! I love all the dynamics, pushing and pulling and then always smashing it out. Great intensity and power.”

NATALIE MARCHANT HEADS DOWNTOWN

Downtown Music Publishing will administer 100 songs from Natalie Marchant, covering all tracks from her eight solo albums and some from her band 10,000 Maniacs.

In June, Marchant’s albums were issued as part of a 10-CD box set through Nonesuch Records which included one called Butterfly with new and reinterpretations of her past work.

Downtown CEO Justin Kalifowitz noted that her writing and singing continued to inspire new talent and “as a New Yorker, she has also long been a role model in using her artistry and gift for storytelling to advocate on behalf of issues important to our state and the world at-large.”

LIVE NATION TAKING OVER ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL

Live Nation has been allowed to take over the legendary Isle Of Wight Festival by the Competition And Markets Authority (CMA). This followed an investigation after the Association Of Independent Festivals complained that the promoter was near 25% market share of all UK festivals with a 5,000 capacity.

The CMA found that the take-over would “not materially strengthen Live Nation’s position in booking artists, and that a sufficient range and quality of artists will continue to be available for rival organisers of live music events”

ZIGGY RAMO CONFIRMS BOOKING DEAL

Perth indigenous hip hop artist and social activist Ziggy Ramo confirmed on social media that he has assigned his booking to Village Sounds.

Ramo has got the thumbs up from his peers, including Briggs who exclaimed, “This kid is a legit talent!” while Jeswon of Thundamentals reckons the first time he heard his work, he responded, “Man, this kid is the future.”

AMEX NEW PRESENTER FOR OPENAIR CINEMAS

American Express has replaced Ben & Jerry’s as presenting partner of Fairfax Events’ national film series, Openair Cinemas. Card members get privileges as buying tickets before others, a 15% off ticket price, and complimentary blanket hire.

MOTOWN ROLLS OVER ZAYTOVEN

Motown, part of the Capitol Music Group, secured Grammy-winning trap star Zaytoven through his Familiar Territory Records.

Motown SVP Ezekiel Lewis called him “one of the hottest and most influential producers in hip-hop. We look forward to helping Zay and Familiar Territory release some of the best collaboration albums in existence and become a magnet for amazing new talent.”

INERTIA: DISTRIBUTING VISIONIST

Inertia will be distributing the works of Visionist in Australia and New Zealand, through a deal he signed overseas with Bog Dada, First release through the agreement is an album Value on October 20.

His first album Safe captured the soundscape of an anxiety attack while Value “follows this trajectory of strength and vulnerability by examining broader themes of machismo and effeminacy, self-deprecation and self-love, and self-preservation and validation.”

AMY WINEHOUSE DOCO COMING

A partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and London Live will see a behind-the-scene documentary of the late artist. The Foundation helps young musicians get on the Up escalator, and the documentary will cover a number of these working on a new track.

NIGHTLIFE MUSIC GOING GLOBAL

Following the roll-out of its crowdDJ app to 800 sites across Australia and 5 million user engagements to be allowed to choose a song to play in a public place, Nightlife Music is expanding it globally.

It reported on its website that one is through electronics manufacturer AOPEN which operates in 100 markets, and which will initially take the product to New Zealand.

Nightlife will also have existing Virgin Active, Anytime Fitness, Snap, Bounce and Carnival take crowdDJ outside Australia through their international affiliates.

VIRAL TEEN STAR LANDS ATLANTIC DEAL

14-year old Danielle Bregoli has used her viral fame to launch herself as a rapper and now signed a multi-million deal with Atlantic Records.

Bregoli came to fame last September on an episode of The Dr. Phil Show which looked at parents unable to cope with unruly teens.

During the show while her mother lamented of how she stole her credit cards and ran away numerous times, the daughter got angry with the studio audience laughing at her.

She called them “whores” and challenged them, “Catch me outside, how about that?”

After her debut single These Heaux received 21 million views and entered the Billboard charts, Atlantic Records announced it had signed her up.

HOLLICK JOINS PREMIER ROSTER

Folk blues country singer songwriter Freya Josephine Hollick, one of the significant names from regional Victoria’s buoyant Ballarat music scene, has joined the roster of Melbourne-based booking agency Premier Artists.

Hollick who traced back the roots of her parents’ record collection and says her songs seem to “fall out of the sky at any time of day” began performing 12 years ago and now expanding into the festival circuit.

SONY EYING CLASSICAL UK CROSSOVER

UK contemporary composer and classically trained pianist Alexis Ffrench who’s generated 50 million streams and 100,000 active Spotify listeners per month has been signed by Sony Music through its Sony Classical imprint.

Ffrench injects his classical penchant with R&B and roots, is managed by Modest Management alongside Little Mix and Olly Murs.