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Artist News Business News Gigs & Festivals Industry People Labels & Publishers Live Business One Liners Releases
One Liners: R Kelly, Thekla, Billie Eilish, more
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 5 September 2019
LEGAL
The date for R Kelly‘s Chicago sexual abuse trial has been set for 27 Apr next year. Although the judge confirmed that this date may move, as Kelly is facing three other trials in different parts of the country, including New York. The music star’s lawyer Steve Greenberg explained that preparing for four trials is difficult and he wasn’t sure his team would be ready by April. Currently Kelly is being held without bail.
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LIVE BUSINESS
Bristol’s floating music venue Thekla has returned to its home on the city’s East Mud Dock following a £1 million refurb. “It’s great to be getting our boat back home”, says GM Alex Black. “The work has gone really well in dry dock and it’s fantastic to think [owner] DHP’s investment has safeguarded Thekla’s future for the next 50 years”. Gigs and club nights start again at the venue from 15 Sep.
The former chief of live music firm MAMA (now a Live Nation division), Dean James, has announced the launch of a new “live experience and events agency” called BeSixth. A partnership with Gavin Aldrich, MD of youth marketing firm Campus Group, the new venture will also incorporate the venues of Sixth, the company James established after departing MAMA.
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APPOINTMENTS
Sony/ATV in the US has promoted Kristina Hedrick to VP Business Development. She became Senior Director, Business Development last year. “I’m THRILLED to be able to continue to nurture our existing songwriter relationships and to build new ones as well”, she says.
Global Radio has promoted James Rea to the role of Director Of Broadcasting ultimately overseeing the output of all of the firm’s radio stations. He also joins the company’s board. He replaces radio industry veteran Richard Park who announced he was stepping down from the post earlier this year after a period of ill-health.
BMG has appointed Andreas Katsambas to the newly created role of EVP Latin America & Canada. He will oversee the development of recordings and publishing infrastructure in both territories from the company’s New York offices. “This appointment marks the beginnings of a second-stage rollout of our services around the world”, says CEO Hartwig Masuch.
Warner Music’s Parlophone Records has hired Ina Rasinger and Jin Jin – or Janée Bennett – as A&R Director and Senior A&R Manager respectively. Rasinger joins from Sony Music Germany, while Bennett has had a successful career as a songwriter. “Ina’s 100% artist-driven and has one of the best A&R minds in the business”, says Parlophone co-President Nick Burgess. “Jin Jin’s also a hugely inspiring character”.
Marathon Music Group has announced the appointment of James Farrelly to the position of Global Trade Marketing Director. He joins from Sony Music’s Ministry Of Sound Recordings division. “I’m honoured”, says Farrelly.
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RELEASES
Billie Eilish has released the video for ‘All The Good Girls Go To Hell’, alongside a plea to fans to take action against climate change ahead of the UN’s 2019 Climate Action Summit in New York. “Right now, there are millions of people all over the world begging our leaders to pay attention”, she said. “Our earth is warming up at an unprecedented rate, icecaps are melting, our oceans are rising, our wildlife is being poisoned and our forests are burning”.
Sean Paul has released the video for new single ‘When It Comes To You’.
Adam Lambert has released new single ‘Superpower’. It’s taken from his new EP ‘Velvet: Side A’, which is out on 27 Sep.
Anna Of The North has announced that she will release her second album ‘Dream Girl’ on 25 Oct. Here’s the title track.
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GIGS & TOURS
Lightning Bolt have announced UK shows in November, including a two night run at The Underworld in Camden. Their new album, ‘Sonic Citadel’, is out on 25 Oct. Here’s new single ‘Air Conditioning’.
Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily – updated every Friday.
