New Signings & Team-Ups: February 14

ENRIQUE IGLESIAS PUBLISHING GOES TO KOBALT

Latin superstar Enrique Iglesias has assigned is publishing to Kobalt Music. He was previously at Sony/ATV.

The deal covers his past works including massive overseas hits such as ‘Don’t Turn Off the Lights’ and ‘Bailando’ (which peaked at #8 and #52 in Australia respectively), as well as those in the future.

Among his best-selling albums in Australia are Enrique (#11) and 7 (#15). 

It’s a different story in the US, where he has scored 150 #1 hits across all the Billboard charts and 38 Top 10 hits.

Iglesias has been signed as a recording artist to Sony Music Latin since 2015.

He had been with Universal Music Group since 1999, but is currently suing them for allegedly underpaying his streaming royalties by 50%.

NICHE AGENCY BRINGS IN E^ST …

NSW Central Coast singer-songwriter E^ST (aka Mel Bester) came from South Africa as a kid, remembering she moved 30 times after landing here. 

Six years ago she sent an acoustic demo off to Swedish publishing and production powerhouse The Kennel. The hitmakers were intrigued and invited the unknown teenager to Stockholm, twice, for month-long stints in the studio.

Her first EP Old Age in 2014 got picked up by triple j and led to a record deal with Warner Music when she was 16. It was followed by The Alley and Get Money, which featured a guest spot from Brisbane MC Mallrat, and the current single ‘Life Goes On’.

…AND NASTY MARS …

Melbourne singer, songwriter and producer Nasty Mars was born to Timorese migrant parents, and a father who played in reggae bands.

In 2016, he teamed with guitarist, producer and sound engineer Nathan Coutts formed the R&B, jazz, hip-hop and soul project, Nasty Mars & The Martians, which range from soul ballads to lengthy instrumental jams.

The band released a pop-funk single ‘Soul Island’ last November and began working on a conceptual EP yet to be released.

…AND FURNACE & THE FUNDAMENTALS

Sydney six-piece Furnace & The Fundamentals have a wide source of repertoire – from Beyonce to The Beatles, Mark Ronson to Michael Jackson, The Lion King to Dirty Dancing.

The high energy live show which has played through Australia and the UK includes their signature non-stop party anthems medley ‘Furnapalooza’ hits segment, music footage on the big screen, light up suits and inflatables.

NZ’S ALIEN WEAPONRY JOIN NAPALM RECORDS

New Zealand teen metal band Alien Weaponry struck a global deal with European metal label Napalm Records, and will release their debut album later in the year.

Sebastian Muench, A&R for Napalm Records says the three (aged between 15 and 17) are “the youngest musicians we have ever added to the Napalm band roster, [and] also one of the most exciting and unique bands in recent years. 

“Their combination of old school thrash metal and Māori culture elements and language creates intense and energetic songs that should be highly attractive to all true genre fans, especially those who stopped listening to Sepultura after the Roots album.”

Last September Alien Weaponry signed up with German-based management agency das Maschine.

A tour of European festivals in the northern summer includes MetalDays in Slovenia and Wacken Open Air in Germany.

The band is made up of lead singer and guitarist Lewis de Jong (15), his elder brother and drummer Henry de Jong  (17) and bass player Ethan Trembath (15).

CARLY SIMON GETS UMPG ADMINISTRATION

Carly Simon, best known for the hits ‘You’re So Vain’, ‘Haven’t Got Time For The Pain’ and ‘Anticipation’ will have her work administered worldwide by Universal Music Publishing Group.

The deal covers her entire back catalogue as well as material controlled by her publishing companies, C’est Music and Quakenbush Music Ltd.

UMPG Chairperson and CEO Jody Gerson said,  “Both as an iconic songwriter and heroine of the heart, Carly has been a huge influence on my life musically. 

“From my generation to my daughter’s, her music continues to be a source of inspiration and emotional resonance for people around the world.”

GREYSCALE REACHES SKY WITH ABURDEN

Ash Hull and Joshua Merriel’s Melbourne based label Greyscale Records expanded its roster with the addition of Melbourne’s Aburden, who formed in 2016. 

The band say their new single ‘To The Sky’ is their most ambitious to date, and reflects a change in sound which sees singer Mason Forster shift to the piano and guitarist Kyle Burrows’ voice pushed forward.

APPLE MUSIC READY TO RELEASE CASJ MONEY DOCO

After a number of delays over the past two years, Apple Music confirmed that it’s releasing the Before Anythang: The Cash Money Story documentary this weekend.

It will feature Bryan "Birdman" Williams narrating his early days in New Orleans and why he set up the label in 1991.

The documentary is the first cab off the rank for the Cash Money Films division, and was executive produced by Birdman and his brother Ronald "Slim" Williams.

BLUNDSTONE BOOTS IN INDIE MUSIC PLATFORM LNWY.CO 

Australian boot brand Blundstone is the first major partner for four-month-old independent music platform lnwy.co.

Launched last October, the platform was a collaboration between digital and creative agency Bolster, and Laneway Music Festival.

Blundstone has created two pieces of content for the platform, about life on the road for Gang of Youths and Bec Sandridge’s break into the music career.

Blundstone is a favourite with musicians as Dan Sultan, Tash Sultana, Alpine and Bad//Dreems.

Last year it partnered with Sounds Australia for its Aussie BBQ showcases.

The footwear’s Global Head of Brand, Design and Consumer Engagement Adam Blake explained, “A key focus for us is to introduce our brand to the younger 18 to 25-year-old market, who may not know that Blundstones can be used for everyday life.

“By partnering with a company like lnwy.co, who have access to an array of artists and create content that is authentic and insightful, we are able to share our brand story through the stories of those creatives that wear and love our boots.”

Cider brand Somersby has also joined as a partner.

POISON CITY, GOLDEN FRIEND, CURATE SPLIT SINGLES 

Melbourne labels Poison City Records and Our Golden Friend will jointly curate Series 2 of the Split Singles Club, initiated last year by Milk! Records and Bedroom Suck Records.

Series 2 will see six singles delivered to the door of subscribers of previously unreleased songs from Poison City (Mere Women, Harmony, Bench Press, OD CON) and Our Golden Friend (RVG, 808s & Greatest Hits) plus tracks from bands that they love – Stella Donnelly, Moody Beaches, Elizabeth (Totally Mild), Michael Beach, Way Dynamic and Bitch Diesel.

ABSOLUTE GETS DIGITAL OVER CHERRY RED

Absolute Label Services will take over digital distribution of the 13 artist catalogues that UK label Cherry Red, which was acquired late last year as part of Warner Music’s divestment process.

The deal includes Dinosaur Jr, Renaissance, Four-Play, Third Ear Band, Greenslade, Marc Almond, Howard Jones, Kim Wilde, Mel & Kim, Curved Air, Be-Bop Deluxe, Barclay James Harvest and Chris Squire.

CIGARETTES AFTER SEX JOINT VENTURE

New York duo Cigarettes After Sex, who toured Australia earlier this year, have assigned their publishing to a specific joint venture by Big Deal Music and Peermusic.

The band say it’s a way to get the best teams possible to look after their songs. 

The deal covers the duo’s entire catalogue and the rights to sole writer Greg Gonzalez’s works.