New Signings & Team-Ups: SCA and Google join forces; Catlips at Pilerats; Porsches drive into Sweat It Out; Hillsong gets agent

SCA and Google join forces

Southern Cross Austereo’s 1,000-strong national sales team will now also rep Google’s products in this market, in what SCA Digital Sales and Operations Director James Bayes says will “deliver a truly unique, one stop, end to end marketing solution to our direct advertisers.” It forges closer integration ties between radio and search across multiple platforms and digital environments.

Catlips at Pilerats

Perth beats producer Catlips (aka Katie Campbell, keyboardist for Kucka) signed with Pilerats. Coming up is the single Fade from the March 6-due five-track debut EP Casual. Catlips tracks featured on past Pilerats compilations as well and last year’s triple j endorsed single Kanimbla gave her a national profile.

Porches sign with Sweat It Out

Sweat It Out Music signed Sydney duo Porches aka Carl Fox and Jesse Sewell. Their 2014 single Horses got triple j and community radio airplay.

Adelaide Fringe parade reached for the vision-impaired

Through a team-up with Access2Arts, Adelaide Fringe arranged for vision-impaired and blind people to enjoy its kick-off parade last Friday. They were invited to touch the 80 floats and costumes beforehand, and have them described, so they could visualize them during the broadcast. Parade director Roz Hervey wants to make the Touch tour an integral part of the Fringe.

Spunk Records sign Nadia Reid

NZ artist Nadia Reid will release her debut LP  Listen To Formation, Look For the Signs  through Spunk on March 27. Vinyl will follow. Reid’s first Australian shows take place next month at the Melbourne Folk Club at the Bella Union on Wednesday 4th March and the Yarra Hotel on Thursday 5th March.

Netflix strikes Fetch TV deal, gains access to ISPs

Incoming US video streaming service Netflix will be available to Australian Internet Protocol television (IPTV) operator Fetch TV’s 170,000 subscribers.

They access it through their second generation Fetch device (which 95% of subscribers have) through an integrated app. The deal also covers New Zealand where Fetch TV plans to begin operations. The tie-up also gives Netflix access to ISPs Singtel-Optus, iiNet M2 and Dodo. Fetch CEO Scott Lorson says Netflix is its priority, it could still partner with other services.

Rio Tinto brings theatre tickets down

Long-term partners Rio Tinto and Black Swan State Theatre Company devised a low cost ticketing initiative in Western Australia. It will subsidize a certain allocation of tickets by 70% for all BSSTC events except first nights for just $20. It is an attempt to draw in new and younger audiences.

More sponsors adapt to Mardi Gras spirit

ANZ Bank’s award-winning GAYTMs are back, as the ANZ returns as sponsor for Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Last year the rainbow coloured ATMs around Sydney were a hit. This year, the theme is extended with Australians voting for one Australian town to get its own GAYTM during the festival. It is the ANZ’s ninth year as sponsor, its second as Principal Partner.

Ice-cream brand Ben & Jerry unveil a EquityCalling phone box February 22 as part of its marriage equality campaign. It will be used to leave messages of support by voters for politicians to support the issue.

MTV will rebranded its MTV Dance channel as MTV Pride for a week from March 2, with drag queens Courtney Act and Bianca Del Rio taking over VJ duties from Krit and Kate Peck for the duration with guest hosts as Kiesza, David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren, Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne. MTV Pride will program Mardi Gras Anthems Top 100 and Girl Groups Vs Boy Bands as well as a Top 30 voted for by readers of LGBTI website SameSame.

Hillsong gets agent

Hilllsong Church, Sydney-based international parent of the chart topping Christian music group Hillsong United, signed to the WME (William Morris Entertainment) agency. The church draws 100,000 attendees to services in 11 countries, including Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez.

Counter Records inks part Australian act

Ninja Tune imprint Counter Records signed Howling, an act made up of Australian artist Ry X (of The Acid) and Berlin’s Frank Wiedemann (of Âme and Innervisions). Their debut album Sacred Ground is out in May as a collaboration between Counter and Modeselektor's Monkeytown Records.

Agency Group expands EDM presence with Futureboogie

Global booker Agency Group has acquired Bristol, UK-based EDM agency, artist management and record label Futureboogie. It was set up 15 years ago by DJ and journalist Steve Nicholls, who joins The Agency as live agent.