New Signings & Team-Ups: Risqué, Concord, Sony/ATV, Checked Label Services & more

RISQUE SEALS WITH KULT KYSS

Melbourne duo Kult Kyss, who “merge future pop with ritual noise” with Haxx’s production and beats and Rromarin’s vocals, have signed with Risqué, part of the TMRW Music Group, it was announced this morning.

The news of the signing coincides with the release today of new single “EKKO”.

Rromarin, recently heard on collaborations with Golden Features, The Presets and Lucianblomkamp, says, “In creating EKKO we wanted to capture the magic of human connectivity and shared freedom, and the result is our most upbeat and vivid work to date.

“The song is designed to convey the spirit of a human collective, which we explored through the use of chanting group vocals, euphoric synth lines and a driving breakbeat to act as the heart of the track.”

Kult Kyss flexed their live muscle this year on Presets’ 9-date HI VIZ tour, By The Meadow and BIGSOUND, and round off the year at NYE On The Hill.

Simon Lewicki, A&R manager for TMRW Music, said of the signing:  “I’ve been a big fan of Rromarin and HAXX’s Kult Kyss project for a while now, and after seeing them perform live at BIGSOUND this year I knew I had to work with them!

“I can’t wait for the rest of the world to fall in love with them like I have.”

MARK RONSON EXTENDS GLOBAL DEAL WITH CONCORD

Mark Ronson, currently on an up-curve of his career, has extended his global publishing deal with Concord Music.

It continues his long-term creative relationship with Concord Music EVP worldwide creative, Kim Frankiewicz.

Ronson has a smash hit in a collaboration with Miley Cyrus on “Nothing Breaks Like A Heart”, co-wrote “Shallow” on the chart-topping A Star Is Born soundtrack, and also enjoying chart success with his Silk City project with Diplo.

Frankiewicz said: “Mark is without doubt a creative that is without equal – he is also one of the nicest guys in the business to work with.

“His ability to seamlessly transcend genres and artists makes him both an incredibly exciting as well rewarding artist to work with.

“With Mark no idea is ever off the table, a true artist that is acclaimed for his instinctive ability to create songs and music that connect with a multitude of audiences.

“He serves as a true music force not only for songwriters, producers and artists but also for everyone involved in music.”

TROY KEMP SIGNS TO CHECKED LABEL/KOBALT MUSIC GLOBALLY

N the eve of a new album next year, multi-award winning Australian country music performer Troy Kemp signed to Checked Label Services | Kobalt Music Publishing globally.

The deal covers all past and future recordings.

Will Osland, founder of the Checked Label Services Group said: “Troy is not only an extremely talented artist, but an incredible songwriter as well.

“What he has in the pipeline may just be the best of his career so far.

“Troy joins a great roster of other publishing artists including Bill Chambers, Lyn Bowtell, Luke O’Shea, Aleyce Simmonds and Brad Butcher.”

With McAlister Kemp folding in March 2015, Kemp continued to grow his profile in both Australia and overseas as a solo artist.

His hard-hitting country rock debut solo album Against The Grain was released in December 2015.

EMPIRE OF THE SUN SWITCH TO UTA

Australian electro-pop duo Empire of The Sun has switched to United Talent Agency in the US across all areas.

Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore were previously with WME.

Aside from being in demand by blue-chip festivals as Ultra and Coachella, EOTS has amassed more than 1.75 billion collective streams while singles as “Alive”, “We Are The People” and “Walking On A Dream hit multi-platinum status.

Their 2016 album Two Vines topped the US dance/electronic charts.

The duo remain managed by Bernie Cahill and Activist Artists Management.

TRAFFIK ISLAND AT FLIGHTLESS

Traffik Island is the new project from Zak Olsen, singer and guitarist of ORB, Hierophants and The Frowning Clouds.

After years of recording bits and pieces at home, Olsenis set to release Nature Strip, his first proper full-length album as Traffik Island, through Flightless in February 2019.

The band will tour Australia in early 2019.

The first single “17” features a jangly homage to the 60’s west coast sounds of The Byrds and Love, and features vocals from Carolyn Hawkins of Parsnip, School Damage.

ASHA JEFFRIES REPPED BY SELECT MUSIC

Emerging Brisbane singer and songwriter Asha Jefferies has assigned her live bookings to Select Music.

The agency’s Rob Giovannoni put together her first headline six-date Hold Yourself Together Tour in February behind her debut EP of the same name.

The trek sees her hit Perth for the first time, with a slot on the Nannup Music Festival.

The EP was produced by the singer-songwriter with Brisbane’s Simon Nelson and LA-based Miro Mackie and Demetry Malahoff.

This year Jeffries played two packed out BIGSOUND performances and first full triple j addition for current single “Everybody Talks”.

To celebrate the news, she recorded a live and acoustic piano version of the song at the Tivoli in Brisbane.

SONY/ATV STRIKES WHEN THEY’RE HOT

Sony/ATV Music Publishing has struck with two hot names.

Swedish Grammy-winning songwriter Noonie Bao has extended her worldwide deal, first struck in 2007.

The new deal with the writer behind Avicii’s “I Could Be The One” and Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Run Away With Me” continues the relationship she began with the publisher in 2007.

Bao regularly collaborates with Charli XCX and has also worked with David Guetta, Katy Perry and Camila Cabello.

Also joining the global publisher is “Boo’d Up” singer Ella Mai, one of 2018’s breakout artists whose self-titled debut album reached #5 in the US.

“Boo’d Up” is nominated for song of the year and best R&B song at the Grammys

It remained on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart for 16 weeks — longer than any female artist in the chart’s history.

MELBOURNE’S RVG SIGN OVERSEAS DEAL

Melbourne band RVG finalised an overseas deal with Seattle-based Sub Pop Publishing who will represent their catalogue around the world. It does not cover ANZ.

RVG join a roster which includes U.S Girls, Chad Van Galen, La Luz, Bully, Still Corners and Melbourne’s Deaf Wish.

The Sub Pop signing comes at the end of an extremely busy 2018 for RVG.

There were two UK tours and Europe which saw them support Shame as well as playing Denmark’s Roskilde Festival, along with a trip to the USA for SXSW and key shows in Los Angeles and New York.

RVG are now prepping the release of their second album, will tour Australia with Kurt Vile & The Violators in April, and perform some festival slots during the summer.

ASK FOR ANGELA ARRIVES IN SA

Ask For Angela, the global association to promote safety in licensed venues., has arrived in South Australia.

If a patron feels unsafe, they can discretely ask the staff for ‘Angela’.

This simple code word alerts venue staff that the person requires assistance.

Staff can then follow their own procedures to help the person appropriately and respectfully.

Ask for Angela’s SA arrival is in a partnership between Consumer and Business Services, The Office for Women, South Australia Police, The Australian Hotels Association and is supported by YWCA, Yarrow Place and Music SA.

Venues are encouraged to join. For industry feedback and queries about the campaign email CBSCommissioner@sa.gov.au

Feedback from patrons about their experience can be provided to the venue, or to:

Women’s Information Service, 101 Grenfell Street.  Phone is 08 8303 0590 or 1800 188 158 (rural callers). Email wis@sa.gov.au.

WARNER LABEL SETS UP FACET

Warner Bros Records has launched Facet Records in association with hit writer Justin Tranter and Katie Vinten, most recently co-head of A&R for Warner/Chappell Music.

Tranter has seven billion streams to date on Spotify for songs written or co-written, including Justin Bieber’s “Sorry”, Dnce’s “Cake By The Ocean” and Julia Michaels’ “Issues”.

“AROUND THE SOUND” GOES WEEKLY IN PRINT

Perth’s music website Around The Sound celebrates its second anniversary next week by going weekly in print.

Powered by the Gigsauce.com.au event-listing site it will publish 10,000 copies every Thursday available from 250 outlets.

Readers can also scan the QR codes on ATS articles to view expanded content online or book tickets from the ads on the spot.

“It’s a good, old-fashioned one-stop-shop,” says managing editor Bob Gordon.

“If you know what you’re looking for online you’re fine; it’s just harder these days if you’re looking to be surprised.

“We hope to be full of surprises.”

ELECTRIC FIELDS’ JOURNEY ON SBS/NITV

Voice From The Desert, the story of Adelaide-based electro-soul duo Electric Fields was screened earlier this week as part of its Our Stories series of documentaries made by emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators.

Co-directors Daniel Clarke and Amy Pysden followed Zaachariaha Lowah Fielding and Michael Ross back to their roots and captured a poignant moment at last year’s National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin when Fielding played to her parents for the first time.

Voice From The Desert is streaming on SBS On Demand.

SOCIAL FAMILY PREPS GLENN SHORROCK ALBUM

Social Family Records has the rights for the March 8 release of Glenn Shorrock’s solo album, Glenn Shorrock Sings Little River Band.

Produced by Steve Balbi, it has interpretations of Shorrock’s favourite LRB songs.

They include “It’s A Long Way There”, “Help Is On Its Way”,  “Home On Monday”, “Cool Change”, “The Night Owls” and “Reminiscing.”

The latter song was mooted to be recorded by Frank Sinatra and included John Lennon among its fans.

NETFLIX ADAPTS MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE SINGER’S BOOK …

Netflix has adapted My Chemical Romance’s former frontman Gerard Way’s The Umbrella Academy and announced it will start streaming in mid-February.

Starring Mary J Blige and Ellen Page, it will appear as ten, one-hour episodes about a dysfunctional family of superheroes.

…AND PREPS FYRE FESTIVAL DOCO

Netflix has put together a documentary on the disastrous Fyre Festival, which failed to deliver promises of a glamorous camping event in the Bahamas.

The celebs who arrived spent most of their time trying to get off the site.

Fyre festival founders Billy McFarland and Ja Rule were hit with lawsuits totalling $100 million and McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison for wire fraud.

RØDE HOUSE OFFERS AUSSIE ACTS EXPOSURE IN US

Australian pro-audio company RØDE Microphones announced it is opening The RØDE House in The Momentary arts precinct in Bentonville, Arkansas in 2020.

The state of the art live music and arts space will showcase Aussie acts and artists.

As part of the funding, RØDE will provide audio equipment to assist musicians, sound artists and media teams with live concerts, audio installations, event streaming and podcasts.

RØDE founder and chairman Peter Freedman AM has committed an initial US$1 million.

The announcement was made before Joe Hockey, Australia’s ambassador to the US, who wrote the forward to the company’s book RØDE TRIP – Inside 50 Years of Freedman Electronics and RØDE Microphones.

AUSSIE FIRM SIGNS WITH AFRICAN STREAMING SERVICE

Australian innovative turnkey platform Tuned Global signed an agreement with startup Tunelet that plans to service both consumer and business markets.

Its first initiative is a music streaming service for Africa, initially targeting Nigeria, which has a fast-growing economy and with half of the population under 18 years old.

Tuned Global has vast experience in the Asia Pacific region, having deployed and managed music services in similar fast-growing emerging economies, including Indonesia, India and Nepal, as well as Japan and Australia.

Tuned Global will provide its full backend and frontend technical capabilities, licensing consultation, content delivery, reporting, coupled with an extensive user acquisition and engagement strategy.

DEADLINE FOR REGIONAL SONG CONTEST

Entries to the Regional Song Contest organised by fRETfEST close at 5pm on Saturday, December 15.

fRETfEST is a music mentoring program and live music concert provider

Now in its fifth year, the competition has prizes including a professional remix of the winning song, iTunes release of the track, on-air radio interview to accompany the release, a new Tanglewood acoustic guitar, a six month music mentorship and guaranteed live performances at the Tamworth Country Music Festival 2019 for the winner, runner-up and the 10 finalists.

The winner will be announced on Friday, January 5.

COUNTRY MUSIC SUICIDE CAMPAIGN

Young Australian country singer Phoebe Jay joins with Tommy Emmanuel to raise funds and awareness for Rural Aid’s suicide prevention campaign.

Jay wrote and recorded “Free Air” aimed at someone contemplating ending their lives because they think they’ve run out of options.

Emmanuel features on acoustic guitar on the track, which strikes a chord as the drought hits more parts of rural Australia.

MTV CONFIRMS AUSSIE “TEEN MOMS”

MTV Australia announced that a local version of its international reality TV sensation Teen Mom has been commissioned for Australia.

The 10-part series, Teen Mom Australia, will premiere in 2019 exclusively on MTV on Foxtel, Foxtel Now and Fetch and produced by WTFN.

MTV says that 7.4 million Australians watched the franchise since its launch in 2010.