Beats Music strikes deal with Merlin; Silverchair’s Joannou opens bar; Hub The Label signs US deal

Beats Music strikes deal with indie global rights agency Merlin

New US music streaming service Beats Music has struck what it calls a “benchmark” licensing deal with the global independent labels and distribution sector through its London-based global rights agency Merlin. Beats which is marketing itself through 5,000 playlists, will tap into the 20,000 indie labels and distributors represented by Merlin’s 600 members. It means indie acts and labels will get paid the same royalty rate as those on major labels.

Hub The Label signs North American deal …

Sydney- based Hub The Label signed distribution for North America with Toronto’s Dine Alone (City and Colour, At The Drive In, The Lumineers). The first release through the new deal is Glass Towers’ Halcyon Days. Other Hub signings are Dappled Cities, Zeahorse and Winter People.

… and add Little Fox to one-off series

Hub The Label, through Inertia, added Sydney pop chanteuse Little Fox to the roster. Her debut Warrior EP becomes available digitally on March 28.  The EP represents the first in an all-new series of one-off releases from Hub, showcasing a hand-picked selection of up-and-coming Australian talent.

Stations team for Star Observer Digital

A host of community radio stations have teamed with gay and lesbian news source The Star Observer to set up pop-up digital radio service Star Observer Digital for three weeks. Offering selected LGBTI content are Sydney’s 2SER, Melbourne’s JOY949, Brisbane’s 4ZZZ, Radio Adelaide, and Perth’s RTRFM.

Flyying Colours sign to U.K. and U.S. labels

Melbourne psychedelic band Flyying Colours have landed two new overseas deals, which will see their EP released overseas in March. London-based Club AC30 will handle UK/Europe, while California-based Shelflife covers the U.S. Both labels discovered the act through blogs and websites.

Island signs rising Lauren Aquilina

Island Records has signed rising 18 year old Lauren Aquilina to a three-album global deal. She charted with her first two self-released EPs Fools (2012) and Sinners (2013) – with the final of the trilogy, Liars, out soon.

Silverchair’s Joannou opens bar

Silverchair bassist Chris Joannou’s new venture is a cafe, restaurant bar The Edwards in partnership with Sydney interior designer Tim Leveson and Chris Johnston (Good Brother Espresso, Suspension). It is in the Newcastle West building where Joannou’s folks ran their dry cleaning business until they retired last year. It will showcase music, art and film events, and the down-to-earth Joannou plans to tend the bar and serve tables when he’s around.

Caitlin Park confirms Create/Control deal

Sydney singer songwriter Caitlin Park has signed with Create/Control for her second album The Sleeper. Her debut 2011 album Milk Annual was issued through Broken Stone Records.

Universal Publishing renews three more UK writers

Universal Music Publishing renewed global deals with three UK writers, Music Week reported. They include Paul Weller and Florence Welch, as well as Steve Booker who has sold 30 million records to date writing and producing for others. Booker wrote hits for John Newman (Love Me Again) and Duffy (Mercy) and worked with Rebecca Ferguson and Lisa-Marie Presley.

Inaugural Tasmanian Cabaret Festival announced

Produced in partnership with Allison Farrow and dell’Arte Productions, the Festival of Voices is bringing the inaugural Tasmanian Cabaret Festival to Hobart City Hall on July 7 and 8.

Frank PR lands Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment tapped Frank PR to handle publicity for its blu-ray, DVD and digital HD releases and assist with its social media channels.