New Signings: Warner/Chappell, 123, Mobs, Led Zeppelin & more

WARNER/CHAPPELL & STEPHEN SCHWARTZ

Warner/Chappell Music (WCM) finalised a worldwide publishing agreement with multi-award winning acclaimed prolific musical theatre composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz.

The composer of hit musicals Godspell, Pippin, and Wicked, Schwartz also contributed to movies as The Prince of Egypt, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Enchanted.

Longtime vocal human rights, civil rights, and LGBTQ rights advocate Schwartz rates forcing apartheid-era South Africa to stage Wicked before integrated audiences as one of his greatest achievements.

Warner/Chappell Music’s SVP for theatrical & catalogue development Kurt Deutsch said,  “Stephen is a legend. In every story, he finds that thread of beauty, that self-reflection and resolve, and challenges audiences to be more empathetic.”

123 AGENCY & YOURS TRULY

123 Agency added Sydney hardcore band Yours Truly, on the eve of UK shows at Download and The Great Escape.

They will be repped by Vienna Bradley.

Since their debut EP Too Late For Apologies in 2017, they’ve opened for sold-out dates by Say Anything, We The Kings and Tonight Alive, signed to UNFD and in February became a triple j Unearthed feature artist.

123 Agency, along with UNFD and Capital Artist Management have them doing five shows in May with Hellions.

LED ZEPPELIN & VANS

US sports retailer Vans, which has stores in Australia in all the capital cities, is spreading a whole lotta love.

As part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the first Led Zeppelin album, it is releasing a series of T-shirts and sneakers featuring the record’s striking artwork.

These will be available from Feb 22 from Vans stores, wholesale partners, Vans.com and store.ledzeppelin.com.

RUDE RECORDS & MOBS

Melbourne synth power pop band MOBS signed a worldwide deal with European label Rude Records.

Its roster includes Set It Off, Blood Youth, Less Than Jake, The Maine and Emery.

The band have wasted no time getting into the studio to cut their first album, due in late 2019.

Starting out as an acoustic duo Move On Be Strong with guitarist Michael Ashfield and singer/keyboardist Jordan Clarey, they changed their name as the lineup expanded.

In 2017 they released music which got picked up on commercial radio and led to live appearances on MTV and Channel 9.

SYDNEY SHOWGROUND & HARRY THE HIRER

After a four-month review, Sydney Showground and the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) appointed Harry the Hirer Productions for all in-house audio-visual requirements.

The news comes as the venue sets up for a major Wi-Fi upgrade.

Following a successful trial, an integrated Wi-Fi system will be implemented across the venue providing free access to all visitors ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2020.

SYDNEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & ABERCROMBIE & KENT

A multi-year team-up between the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and luxury travel experts Abercrombie & Kent will see the first Abercrombie & Kent Masters Series, the first two performed on the weekend.

In announcing the partnership, both talked about how their audiences travelled to see SSO shows as well as their “passion for excellence (and) inspiring experiences.”