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One Liners: Cat Stevens, WildKat, Hipgnosis, more

By Andy Malt and Chris Cooke | Published on Wednesday 28 August 2019

DEALS

Yusuf/Cat Stevens has signed to booking agency UTA, which will now handle all kinds of bookings for the musician.

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MARKETING & PR

Classical-skewed PR firm WildKat has expanded into the US, following investment from Edition Capital. Tim McKeough and Liza Prijatel Thors will oversee operations in New York and LA respectively. “I am overjoyed that WildKat PR will be working in the American performing arts market”, says founder Kathleen Alder. There are also plans to open a Hong Kong office.

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LABELS & PUBLISHERS

The Hipgnosis Songs Fund has raised new funding, totalling £51.1 million. The company plans to put 48,429,541 new shares on the London Stock Exchange later this week. “We are delighted to continue giving our shareholders exposure to music royalties via new acquisitions of some of the most iconic songs of all time”, says founder Merck Mercuriadis. “I’m very grateful for the constant enthusiasm and support that the finest institutional investors in the world have given us to establish songs as an asset class. This is not only great for the investors but the songwriting and artistic community as well”.

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APPOINTMENTS

Mark Fry has been appointed Vice President of Warner Music Nordics. “I’m honoured”, says Fry.

Music rights firm Reservoir has hired James Cheney as VP Creative & A&R. He joins from Spirit Music Group. His first signing is Rami Dawod, continuing their existing three year relationship. “I am excited”, Cheney. “We’re excited”, adds Reservoir COO Rell Lafargue.

Universal-owned distributor INgrooves has appointed Jen Bontusa as VP Label & Artist Partnerships. She returns to the company after a year at Centric Entertainment. “We’re THRILLED to have her back”, says EVP Amy Dietz.

Bauer Media has created the new role of Podcast Editor and appointed former BBC and Wise Buddah programme maker Maria Williams into the job. She’ll oversee podcast spin-offs from Bauer’s magazines and radio shows, and the creation of new original podcast formats.

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RELEASES

Oasis have released a lyric video for ‘Fade Away’ – originally the b-side to ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’ 25 years ago. This precedes the 25th anniversary re-release of the band’s debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’, which is out later this week.

Talking of anniversaries, it’s now ten years to the day since Oasis split, and Liam Gallagher has released the video for ‘One Of Us’, a new song reflecting on the fall out. His second solo album, ‘Why Me? Why Not’, is out on 20 Sep.

The Mark Lanegan Band have released new single ‘Night Flight To Kabul’. New album ‘Somebody’s Knocking’ is out on 18 Oct.

The Futureheads have released the video for ‘Good Night Out’. The track is taken from their new album ‘Powers’, which is out on Friday.

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GIGS & TOURS

Giggs has announced that he will tour the UK at the end of the year, finishing the run of dates with a show at London’s Wembley Arena on 6 Dec.

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AWARDS

Nadine Shah will host this year’s Q Awards, it has been announced. “It’s a huge honour to be presenting the Q Awards this year”, she says. “Especially as their first ever female presenter – have they even had a Geordie do it before?!”. The ceremony will take place at The Roundhouse in Camden on 16 Oct.

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