New Signings & Team-Ups: December 6
WASHINGTON MOVES TO BMG
ARIA and APRA Award-winning, platinum-selling artist Washington has moved her publishing from Alberts to the company’s new owner BMG. After winning the inaugural Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition in 2009, she went on to spin two albums into the Top 5. Her new single Saint Lo marks the resurrection of the Washington moniker.
BMG Australia Managing Director Heath Johns said, “Meg is a world-class songwriter and we couldn’t be happier to have her sign with BMG. Washington is an amazing Alberts development story and we are grateful to have the opportunity to take her incredible new music and build her story internationally”.
BEE GEES STRIKE GLOBAL DEAL WITH CAPITOL RECORDS
The Bee Gees have signed a long-term worldwide agreement with Capitol Records. It covers their 22-album strong back catalogue and a number of soundtracks including the Saturday Night Fever, which, with sales of 15 million, is the largest selling soundtrack in history.
Capitol will work with Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), Barry Gibb and the estates of Robin and Maurice Gibb on sales and marketing campaigns to ignite sales of the catalogue. Their global album sales are over 220 million. In the US they had nine #1s, making them the third most successful band after The Beatles (with 20) and The Supremes (12).
UNIVERSAL TAKES OVER OFFSPRING CATALOGUE
Universal Music Enterprises, the US version of Universal Music Group, struck a deal with Round Hill, to become the global distributors of The Offspring catalogue. The US band has sold 40 million albums of titles as Ixnay On The Hombre (1997), Americana and Greatest Hits. In most territories outside the US, UMe will distribute The Offspring’s catalogue via UMG’s Caroline International.
JAALA JOIN NICHE AGENCY
Niche added Melbourne’s Jaala to its Artist Agency roster. Jaala began getting rising media and industry attention with debut album Hard Hold (2015) and its follow-up which yielded Junior Spirits (which singer Cosi saw on a pair of overalls he was wearing, and inspired to write a song about maintaining childhood innocence into adulthood) and a spot on the Sugar Mountain festival.
TWO AGENCY DEALS FOR CARAVÃNA SUN
Sydney indie rock/roots outfit Caravãna Sun have signed two booking agency deals – with Melbourne’s 123 Agency and Strike Agency in New Zealand. They are about to embark on a nine-date national run between Friday December 23 and Friday January 27 during which they drop a new single.
The two deals come at the tail end of a successful year for the band. Their third album received critical acclaim, they played 120 shows in nine countries, got global radio airplay, 200,000 Spotify streams and had two songs included in a Red Bull Surfing clip.
ELEFANT TRAKS SET DOWN OWN BEER
Now that they’ve turned 18, Sydney-based label Elefant Traks figure they can drink legally – and what better way than getting their own beer. They’ve teamed up with Marrickville’s Batch Brewing Company, who happen to be based near their HQ. The beer is called The Sun Never Sets, the title of The Herd’s 2005 album, and premieres at the label’s 18th anniversary bash at Max Watts on Saturday December 10.
Co-owner Andrew Fineran explained, “The history of Elefant Traks inspired us along with the story of The Sun Never Sets and we felt that a sessionable red ale with lots of aroma was appropriate considering the name and that nice hue the sky can turn in between daylight and sunset.”
GUNS ’N’ ROSES UNVEIL ONLINE SLOT MACHINE
Guns N’ Roses have launched their own online slot machine in collaboration with digital entertainment company Net Ent. The game features GNR hits as Welcome To The Jungle, Sweet Child O’ Mine and Paradise City, live performance clips and icons based on Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan.
RONAN KEATING WARMS UP WITH AIR NZ
Ronan Keating features in an Air NZ ad during which he rewrites the popular Christmas song Winter Wonderland to put it in a southern hemisphere context. Joined by young NZ actor Julian Dennison, he comes up with Summer Wonderland with lines as “ice-blocks glistening”, “in the arvo we can grab the wickets” and “pass the can of mozzie spray around” which the airline hopes will encourage tourists to spend their Christmas in NZ.
ICE CUBE PACTS WITH FOX
US rapper, actor, director and producer Ice Cube has signed a first-rights deal with 20th Century Fox TV and Fox 21 TV Studios, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. His Cube Vision company will develop and exec produce projects including comedy, drama, and animation as well as unscripted and specials for broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Ice Cube, who produced the NWA movie Straight Outta Compton, is in 2017 launching Hip-Hop Squares, a remake of Hollywood Squares, on VH1.
SCA STRIKES EXCLUSIVE DEAL WITH SUPERCARS
Southern Cross Austereo signed a five-year deal with Supercars Australia to promote the sport through Triple M. It is through pre-race interviews, live updates and reviews of each race with an expert panel. Triple M will also be naming rights sponsor for events. SCA CEO Grant Blackley said, “Supercars is one of the most important and influential sports in Australia and is absolutely aligned with our core fan base on Triple M.”
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