Original Matters launches consultancy division, signs Studios 301

Original Matters has launched its marketing consultancy division with a long-term contract with Studios 301.

The agency’s Managing Director Cathy Oates has been performing consultancy duties for record labels over her more than two-decade-long career in the music industry. Most recently Oates was hired by Universal Music Australia to consult on Megan Washington.

Commencing this month, the contract with Studios 301 covers both Sydney and Byron Bay locations. Oates told TMN the partnership sparked from a job advertisement.

“Studios 301 had a Marketing Manager’s position available – I pitched to them that Original Matters does this position on a consultancy basis, which they immediately loved and could see how beneficial this could be.”

Oates said she has plans to take the 301 brand internationally: “Studios 301 is well known to the industry as the premier recording studio in the country. They are doing a lot of creative projects and we are keen to embrace the industry even further. We also want to spread the word internationally as what band wouldn’t want to record in Byron Bay!”

Original Matters recently signed on Lisa Mitchell to a management deal. Currently signed to Parlophone/Warner Bros. Records, the Australian Idol alumni is working on a follow-up to her 2012 ARIA #7 album Bless This Mess.

“When [Head of Creative / Digital] Lucy Perrett and I heard the demos for Lisa Mitchell’s new record, we knew we had to do this,” said Oates.

Original Matters’ roster also includes Sydney psych-rock band The Walking Who, Sydney singer-songwriter Okenyo and Northern NSW band MT WARNING, who have just signed to Mushroom Publishing.