UNIFIED Artist Management Signs Pete Murray, Tim Hart of Boy & Bear
Pete Murray and Boy & Bear frontman Tim Hart lead a wave of recruits to the UNIFIED Artist Management roster.
Announced Tuesday, April 1st, the vocalists are now managed at UNIFIED by Aidan McLaren, Joe Miles and Rhett McLaren.
At the same, the team and roster at UNIFIED Music Group’s artist management division grows with the appointment of artist manager Matt Walters. Walters joins the Melbourne-based independent music company, bringing Emma Donovan and The Stamps with him.
Emma Donovan. Photo credit: Ian Laidlaw
Also signing with the company is Azure Ryder, who will be managed by Will Stoeckel.
“We’re so excited to bring Pete Murray and Tim Hart into the growing UNIFIED Music Group family,” comments McLaren.
“Pete’s music is timeless, and we genuinely believe the next chapter of his career will be his biggest and brightest and we can’t wait to help bring it all to life.”
Hart, he continues, “is a secret weapon in his own right. He’s currently working on a bunch of amazing artist projects as well as his own solo work, and up-and-coming Boy & Bear releases, so it’s going to be a big year.”
Murray is about to set sail with his biggest-ever tour, a four-month, 60-date acoustic run which visits each state and territory, plus regions and dates in New Zealand.
Since the release of his debut full-length LP The Game in 2001, Murray has sold over 1.2 million albums, amassed hundreds of millions of streams, released three ARIA chart-topping albums, and accumulated 17 ARIA Award nominations.
The Brisbane native dropped a new single “I Am Fire”, on March 13th.
Hart joins the UAM roster as a solo artist and producer ahead of the forthcoming release of his new EP The Kingdom by the Sea, dropping this Friday, April 4th. He is also currently producing albums for Stu Larsen and Steph Strings.
Led by Hart, Boy & Bear’s star rose with their double-platinum debut album Moonfire in 2011, which scooped five ARIA Awards. Then, 2013’s Harlequin Dream and 2015’s Limit of Love both topped the ARIA Chart.
Tim Hart. Photo credit: Kieran Tunbridge
All told, the folk-rock outfit has five consecutive ARIA top 10 albums and more than 250 million streams, and last month headlined Live at the Gardens at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.
Meanwhile, The Stamps – comprising Scarlett Graham, Rubina Bertoni and Sofia Hourani – are prepping the release of their debut album, after over two years of writing.
The record is said to be a departure from folk into indie-pop territory.
Azure Ryder is also changing gears following the release of her first EP Running with the Wolves, and follow-ups Crazy with the Light and Ladder to the Moon.
Pete Murray, Azure Ryder and The Stamps will release new music via UNIFIED Music Group’s recently launched Community Music full artist services ecosystem and platform, presented last October as a global distribution alternative for independent and DIY artists.
Artist manager Walters learned the ropes as a recording and touring artist, before pivoting into the tech side of the music industry as founder of Parlour Gigs. He was also director of concerts for Australia and New Zealand at Sofar Sounds, a global music community connecting artists and audiences through live music.
“Matt’s journey from artist to tech innovator to artist manager is a testament to his deep understanding of what it takes to build a sustainable career in music,” comments UNIFIED Artist Management general manager Ash Hills.
“His passion for developing artists and creating meaningful opportunities aligns perfectly with what we do at UNIFIED.”
The expansion of the team is “a sign of intent as we continue to go from strength to strength,” adds Hills, “expanding our roster with artists and managers who share our vision for long-term, global careers.”
Matt Walters