New Signings & Team Ups: 28 September
NICHE AGENCY BRINGS I.E. TO ROSTER
Niche Talent Agency added mysterious Sydney based R&B and trap-beat artist I.E. to its roster.
The name comes from the Latin ‘id est’ which means “in other words”.
The question is asked: “What happens when we separate the idea of artist and their music from their person?
“Are we able to connect with music more, or less, when it’s presented on a blank canvas?”
A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, emcee, vocalist and producer, I.E. has spent the last decade developing his talent alongside friends & peers – B Wise, i.amsolo, BLESSED, Manu Crook$ and Dopamine.
A. SWAYZE & THE GHOSTS AT IVY LEAGUE
Hobart based A. Swayze & the Ghosts, who caused a stir at BIGSOUND with a hard driven unpredictable live set, have joined the Ivy League Records family.
They join the likes of Hatchie, The Rubens, Rolling Blackouts C.F, The Teskey Brothers and I Know Leopard.
New single Suddenly follows their 2017 self-titled debut EP, and to be followed by shows around the country through October and November.
Singer Andrew Swaye said:
“We’re elated to join the Ivy League family!
The team have made us feel right at home, and we already know that they recognise what we want to achieve and understand the music we want to make.
“Suddenly is a song we are all incredibly proud of, and we feel it’s the perfect song to introduce to audiences with the Ivy League/Sunset Pig banner attached.”
PRINCE GETS UNI DEGREE
Prince was posthumously awarded an honorary Degree by the University of Minnesota to recognize his influence on music and his role in shaping his hometown of Minneapolis.
University president Eric Kaler and regent Darrin Rosha presented the school’s highest honour, the Doctorate of Humane Letters, to Prince’s sister, Tyka Nelson, in a ceremony on campus.
APPLE COMPLETES SHAZAM ACQUISITION
Following approval from European regulators, Apple has completed its $400 million buy-out of UK audio-recognition mobile app Shazam – and gifted Shazam’s 150 million monthly users by soon dropping ads from the free version.
BARELY DRESSED BRNGS IN HUNTLY
Barely Dressed Records signed Melbourne electro-pop trio Huntly.
They just released new single Drop Gear which they launch at their ‘Homecoming Ball’ in Melbourne on Saturday, October 6.
Lead singer Elspeth explains:
“Drop Gear is set at the tipping point of two relationships. It starts messy on a hot night in summer, and it builds with the momentum of wanting someone and trying to hold it back from them.
“Drop Gear is that energy, that distance I needed to put between me and someone else before it imploded.”
VICTORIA GETS NEW HARD ROCK FESTIVAL
Resist Promotions, Metalbilly, Forte Magazine and Young Henry’s Present are behind new Victorian hard rock festival Blaze Music.
It is held on Saturday, January 26, with 18 local and national acts playing over two stages at the Karova Lounge in Ballarat, including Dreadnaught and Frankenbok.
KEITH URBAN, 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER, AT E! AWARDS
Two Australian acts are nominated for the E! People’s Choice Awards, held in Santa Monica, California, on November 11.
Keith Urban is up for male artist against Drake, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes and Bruno Mars, as well as for country artist of 2018.
5 Seconds of Summer vie for best group of 2018 against Twenty One Pilots, Panic! At the Disco, BTS and Super Junior.
WARNER CHAPPELL PICS UP SOLO JOE STRUMMER
Warner/Chappell picked up the solo catalogue rights of Clash frontman Joe Strummer, covering those from the ‘70s to his death in 2002.
The deal covers the three Mescaleros‘ albums, his works on the final Clash album Cut The Crap, and his song during his pre-Clash band The 101ers.
Coming is a double album put together by Robert Gordon and includes previously unreleased material, demos, rare collaborations and fan favourites of his solo career.
COURTNEY ACT GETS OWN DATING SHOW
Australian drag entertainer Courtney Act hosts a new groundbreaking bisexual+ reality dating series called The Bi Life.
The first of the 10 episodes airs on E! Australia on October 30 and set against the backdrop of Barcelona.
TWO ADDITIONS FOR UMPG
Universal Music Publishing Group announced the addition of two names — electrocumbia artist Raymix and hit songwriter Brian Lee.
Trained as an aerospace engineer, the 27-year-old (real name: Edmundo Gonzalez Moreno) was working at NASA when he began experimenting with electronic music.
His Oye Muje is in the Top 10 of the US Latin charts and ver 300 million views on YouTube.
Korean-American classically trained violinist and songwriter Lee, previously with Warner/Chappell, has contributed to major hits as Havana by Camila Cabello, Work From Home by Fifth Harmony, Let Me Love You by DJ Snake & Justin Bieber, Wolves by Selena Gomez, It Ain’t Me by Kygo & Selena Gomez, and Let Me Go by Hailee Steinfeld and Alesso ft. Florida Georgia Line.
IMPALA WARNS AGAINST SONY/EMI PUBLISHING DEAL
European indies trade body IMPALA is urging European regulators to fully investigate Sony’s planned acquisition of EMI Music Publishing, which it says “will disrupt competition”.
It argues that precedent was set by the European Commission in 2012, when it ruled that divestments were required for Sony to become a minority shareholder of EMI.
NEW FACES AT ST PAUL’S CREATIVE CENTRE
Adelaide’s St. Paul’s Creative Centre cluster has had a few new names move in.
They are Glen J Films (who made the doco Decks In The City about Adelaide’s electronic scene), video makers Life’s Reel and using the Hot Desks, recently arrived UK songwriter, producer and engineer Michael Cutayar, The Ukulele Death Squad and digital creative Gerry Travers.
BMI TAKES CONCERT PROMOTER GROUP TO COURT
US performing rights organization Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) is pushing for concert promoters to increase the rates they pay by seven times, and also give a cut of the revenue they make from sponsorship, merch and scalpers.
It is taking the North American Concert Promoters Association (NACPA) to court saying it is currently paying just between .3% to .15% of revenue, based on the size of the venue.
But it says it makes $20 million annually from the concert business, or.19% of the $10.5 billion revenue that the live entertainment industry generates annually..
Therefore it can bump up its payments, BMI says.
NEW SA FESTIVALTO INCREASE AWARENESS OF DISABIILITIES AND REGIONAL SERVICES
Regional Development Australia Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula – Disability Workforce Hub presents a new free South Australian festival, Ability Awareness.
Its aim is to raise awareness and to normalise disability with the support of disability service providers from across the region. 25 exhibitors will demonstrate their products and services.
It takes place at Civic Park in Whyalla on Saturday, October 27 with Taylor Henderson topping the bill.