New Signings & Team-ups: September 14
ASTRALWERK RELAUNCHES WITH NEW SIGNINGS
Universal Music Group’s dance label Astralwerks is relaunching with a new roster, new team, a move from New York to Los Angeles and a greater emphasis on a global presence.
In 1993 it launched with Kraftwerk, The Chemical Brothers, deadmau5, Porter Robinson and Fatboy Slim.
This year its relaunch acts include future-bass melody man Illenium and Swedish duo Axwell Λ Ingrosso.
Toby Andrews remains GM, Capitol Music Group SVP of A&R Jeremy Vuernick will oversee the label’s A&R team, and Joe Mortimer (Kygo, Snakehips) its creative director.
CYANIDE THORNTON AT BEDROOM SUCK
Melbourne band Cyanide Thornton, which melds elements of alt-rock and folk, have signed on the dotted line with Bedroom Suck.
Formed in early 2016, they feature members of Two Steps On The Water.
Weight is the lead-off single from their self-titled debut album which lands on November 9.
Cyanide Thornton plays in Melbourne at Moreland Band Hall on Friday, October 5 as a part of Bedroom Suck’s Spring Fling tour with Good Morning, Rabbit Island, Evelyn Ida Morris and Peak Twins. Head over to the official Facebook event for more details.
Bedroom Suck is distributed by Remote Control.
VOICE EXPERT TORB PEDERSEN JOINS BLACK PEARL STUDIOS
Globally acknowledged voice expert Torb Pedersen arrives in Melbourne to work at Black Pearl Studios.
Pedersen will also be shepherding past artists from two previous workshops tailored for the talents and professional goals in an Advanced Specialty Vocal Workshop this weekend.
In the past two years he’s been abroad working with Gloria Estefan (as lead vocal coach on her sold out Viva Broadway tour), Michael Franti and Spearhead, Fantine, Wes Carr and Troy Cassar-Daley.
Pedersen takes a scientific approach to his coaching, explaining the physical causes and the neurology behind the necessary skillsets to becoming a world performer as well as potential vocal issues most famous recording artists ultimately face.
“Understanding the technical functioning of the voice not only protects a singer from falling victim to habits and errors that cause long term damage but it will give the singer much greater control over the instrument that is their voice,” he says.
TWITTER STRIKES PARTNERSHIPS IN AUSTRALIA
Twitter has struck 50 video content partnerships through the Asia Pacific covering music, sports and news.
One of these is with Sony Music, with Twitter giving brands custom content opportunities with Sony artists, and behind the scenes clips and action that’s on Twitter first.
The first act will be Guy Sebastian.
A tie-up with youth media company Vice will deliver premium content to young audiences consuming news and culture.
In 2019, SBS will bring video content about Mardi Gras and Eurovision as well as major sporting events.
Kay Madati, Twitter’s global vice president of content partnerships, said, “The Asia Pacific is accelerating growth for Twitter
“Our unique and strategic value proposition that positions Twitter as a compliment, not competitor, to traditional media companies has delivered great success and we seek to drive forward with more live stream and premium video content partnerships in the region.”
NEW ERA FOR MUTE SONG
Mute Song, the sister independent publishing company of the UK’s Mute is entering a new era in North America, Music Business Worldwide revealed.
After a long run with sub-publishers in the region, Mute Song has appointed Rough Trade Publishing USA to assist with administration of the catalogue.
Best known as home to Nick Cave, Underworld, Max Richter, Jóhann Jóhannsson and Swans, among its dozen 2018 signings were Australian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Carla dal Forno.
A member of Mole House when living in Melbourne, she is now based in Berlin where she is a member of the bands F Ingers and Tarcar.
CRAZY RICH ASIANS GETS TV OFFSHOOT
With Crazy Rich Asians generating a global box office gross of US$167.2 million by last month, it was inevitable that a TV offshoot would follow.
US network ABC is looking at the still untitled script, which has been written and executive produced by Emmy winner Jessica Gao (Rick and Morty) with CBS Television Studios and Imagine TV.
The TV version has first-generation Chinese-American Janet Zhao suddenly the centre of attention from her dreaded family after her rich grandmother leaves her considerable fortune as sole heir.
NO TOBACCO FOR WA MUSIC FESTIVALS
The WA government has stipulated that tobacco can no longer be sold at music festivals as part of stringent anti-smoking laws passed yesterday.
There’ll be a concerted effort to stop WA folk from smoking.
In 2004, 16% of WA citizens smoked each day. By 2016 it dropped to under 9%, and the current figure is 200,000.
ALICE IVY TO GUEST ATUNISOUNDS FINAL
The September 16 grand final of Unisounds ’18 at the Lansdowne in Sydney, sees Alice Ivy added on as headlining guest performer and part of the judging panel.
The electro-soul performer and sought after remix producer released her debut album I’m Dreaming in February and the first Australian female artist to sign with Last Gang Records in Toronto.
The winner of the national university band competition lands an international recording deal from Dine Alone Records.
PIAS HAS STRINGS ATTACHED
PIAS finalised a digital distribution deal with the London Symphony Orchestra through its own LSO Live label.
The LSO had a huge campaign behind recent tours of the US and China, and just climbed aboard Apple Music with its own playlist.
CAROLINE, VFILES CUT DISTRO PACT, FOCUS ON FEMALE TALENT
Caroline has a new distribution deal with fashion-focused brand and social media platform VFILES which will see a release of a single each week by a female performer for the next six weeks.
The acts profiled include Alex Mali, Coi Leray, Maya Hirasedo, La Goony Chonga, Penelope and Evoni, concluding October 12.
JACK WHITE EP, DOCO, THROUGH AMAZON
A Jack White live EP and tour documentary recorded in Washington DC will be released via Amazon Music and Amazon Prime Video respectively on September 21.
The documentary, Kneeling at the Anthem DC, was filmed by director Emmett Malloy who made The White Stripe’s 2009 Under Great White Northern Lights film and mixes live footage with White’s travels around the US capital, including a surprise set for students at Woodrow Wilson High School.
KELSEA BALLERINI FINDS HER VOICE
US country music star Kelsea Ballerini is joining the US edition of The Voice as its fifth coach for the show’s inaugural Comeback Stage.
WU TANG’S ODB GETS HOLLYWOOD SUPPORT
The long-discussed biopic about the late Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ol’ Dirty Bastard now has Hollywood studio backing.
Columbia Pictures has come on board to produce, alongside Wu Tang’s leader RZA.
The search for a director is underway Wu-Tang have moved to get the project going after the global success of the NWA movie Straight Outta Compton.
BELIEVE REBRANDS
Australian creative agency BELIEVE Branding has now become Believe You Me.
Working across Australia, Asia and the Middle East, the company explains, “The rebranding better reflects the changing world that we live in, and re-affirms our belief that successful brands are built from equal parts empathy and creativity.”
ARN LAUNCHES CHEMIST WAREHOUSE REMIX STATION
Australian Radio Network launched a Chemist Warehouse REMIX digital station with national news, sport, weather and music.
The music will be favourite songs and fresh hits every day and, like the other topics, updated hourly from 7am to 10am and 3pm to 6pm weekdays.
Like broadcast radio, The Breakfast Show, Workday and Drive Shows across weekdays will be hosted by Whippy and Zoe Sheridan.
Chemist Warehouse REMIX is set to reach approximately 1.8 million customers every week across more than 400 Chemist Warehouse stores nationally and will also be heard on iHeartRadio and DAB+.
HOMMES RUN
Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Hommes’ Beats 1 radio show, Alligator Hour returned this week for its third season.
He began the show in 2015, playing his favourite tracks and talking to celeb buddies as Alex Turner, Fred Armisen, Brody Dalle, Savages and Iggy Pop.
ALBANY BLUES CLUB AT BACKROOM
The Albany Blues Club wet back into active duty last weekend at local venue Six Degrees, and coordinated by local musician Geoff Waldeck.
The WA club began in 2008 but ran out of puff. It will be held every month on a Saturday.