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One Liners: Chrissie Hynde, BMG, David Guetta & Sia, more

By Andy Malt | Published on Friday 11 September 2020

DEALS

Having bought a whole publishing company earlier this week, Hipgnosis has gone back to signing up individual songwriters – this time Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders. “I’m proud to say I have been a vegetarian, now vegan, for 35 years thanks to the influence of Chrissie, and as a result I have four grown children that have never had meat pass through them”, says Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis. “That’s the power of great songs and music when combined with genuine integrity”.

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APPOINTMENTS

BMG in the US has promoted Allegra Willis Knerr to SVP Sync Licensing. She was previously VP Film & TV Licensing. “In all her years with BMG, Allegra has emerged as a driving force for our US leadership team and as one of our most valued and highly respected executives internationally”, says Chief Of Staff for BMG North America, Stephane Hubert.

Tunecore and Believe have appointed Maria Ho-Burge as Global Communications Director. “We are THRILLED”, say Tunecore Chief Marketing Officer Andreea Gleeson and Believe Chief Communications Officer Segolene Moreau. “I am THRILLED”, says Ho-Burge.

UK record industry collecting society PPL has three new board members following elections at its AGM yesterday. They are Demon Music Group’s Soriya Clayton, VP Records’ Joy Ellington and Warner Music’s Charlotte Saxe.

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RELEASES

David Guetta and Sia have released new collaboration ‘Let’s Love’. “During this time of isolation, I’ve been incredibly inspired to release music that has an uplifting energy”, says Guetta. “I love producing club tracks but at the same time, especially now, I feel like creating ‘feel-good’ music. ‘Let’s Love’ is a message of love, hope and bringing people together and, once again, Sia has outdone herself on the vocals”.

Marshmello and Demi Lovato have released a new track together called ‘OK Not To Be OK’. The track is released in partnership with suicide prevention charity Hope For The Day.

Alicia Keys has released new single ‘Love Looks Better’. “This song has such an energy”, she says. “It really talks about how busy we’ve become, how fast we got used to moving, and now we realise that my love looks better on you. It’s time to really be present for each other”.

Usher has released new single ‘Bad Habits’.

Yusuf/Cat Stevens has released a new version of his song ‘Father And Son’, which sees him duetting with his younger self. The 50th anniversary re-recording of his ‘Tea For The Tillerman’ album is out on 18 Sep.

Katie Melua has released new single ‘Your Longing Is Gone’, from her upcoming eighth album ‘Album No 8’. That album is out on 16 Oct.

The National’s Matt Berninger has released new solo single ‘One More Second’. The track is taken from his Booker T Jones produced album ‘Serpentine Prison’, which is out on 16 Oct.

Amanda Palmer and Rhiannon Giddens have released a cover of Portishead’s ‘It’s A Fire’. Profits will be donated to the Free Black University Fund. “There is something about this song that speaks to a deeper connection between things happening right now”, says Palmer. “Black Lives Mattering, COVID, fear and trust are all colliding with one another… I wanted this cover version to sound more like a dark closet talk between two friends hanging onto each other for dear life whispering ‘we’re gonna make it out of here'”.

Django Django have released new single ‘Spirals’.

Mastodon have released the video for recently released single ‘Fallen Torches’. Their new rarities compilation, ‘Medium Rarities’, is out today.

A Certain Ratio have released new single ‘Berlin’. The track features vocals from Denise Johnson, recorded before her death in July this year. “Denise will be missed so much by us”, says the band’s Martin Moscrop. “But her soaring voice will live on forever in our music and we are so blessed to have recorded with her on [upcoming album] ‘ACR Loco'”. The band have also announced November 2021 tour dates and a virtual album launch show on 25 Sep.

Sylvan Esso have released new single ‘Frequency’, along with a video directed by Moses Sumney. Their new album, ‘Free Love’, is out on 25 Sep through Loma Vista.

Haiku Hands have released their eponymous debut album and along with it new single ‘Sunride’. “This song carries a message of hope”, they say. “We imagine ourselves on a cloud, riding through a blue sky when we listen to [it]”.

Missio have released a new double A-side single featuring the tracks ‘Can You Feel The Sun’ and ‘Don’t Forget To Open Your Eyes’. Their new album, ‘Can You Feel The Sun’, is out on 23 Oct.

Balming Tiger frontman Omega Sapien has released new solo single ‘Serenade for Mrs Jeon’. His debut solo album, ‘Garlic’, is out on 22 Sep.

Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily – updated every Friday.