APPOINTMENTS
Sony/ATV has named Naomi Asher as VP, Neighbouring Rights, UK & International. "I cannot be more THRILLED to have joined the Sony/ATV neighbouring rights team", she says. "It's an exciting time to be part for this community and there is so much Sony/ATV can bring to this area of business".
Greg Dorfman has been promoted to EVP Promotion for Warner's Elektra Music Group in the US. "Warner Music has been my home since I started in the business, much of that time with Elektra", he says. "But I have to say that the past two years, since the launch of EMG, have been among the most exciting and rewarding of my career".
DIGITAL & D2F SERVICES
Deezer has done a deal with A1 Telekom to launch a white label streaming service called A1 Xplore Music. The tel co's 8.5 million customers in Austria, Slovenia and Bulgaria will have access to the service bundled in with their mobile phone contracts. "Our new partnership is the easiest way for millions of people in Austria and Eastern Europe to have the most personalised and localised experience", says Deezer's Ralph Pighin. "We can't wait for A1 customers to discover and listen to all that Deezer has to offer".
Guy Hands is b-b-b-back in the music business, after making a "sizeable" investment in streaming service Roxi. Hands, of course, previously led a disastrous acquisition of EMI, which resulted in the collapse of the major label. "We're delighted to have Guy Hands on the Roxi share register, just as we prepare to roll out the Roxi music entertainment experience on to millions of smart TVs worldwide", founder Rob Lewis tells the Financial Times.
RELEASES
Gwen Stefani has released new single 'Let Me Re-introduce Myself'. "This song is a way of saying I'm back with new music", she says. "The idea was to write a song that had a bit of a nostalgic feeling to it, so I think musically it reminds you of back in the day, going back to where I started musically, which was with ska and reggae. I'm still the same me but here's something a little bit new in case you feel like hearing a little bit more of me".
Boy George has released new single 'Rainbow In The Dark', featuring Asaf Goren.
Chilly Gonzales has released 'A Very Chilly Mixtape: The Coldest Crimbo'. The release sees Toddla T rework the pianist's recent Christmas album, with new additions from artists including Nadia Rose, Serocee, Coco and Deli OneFourz.
Greta Van Fleet have released new single 'Age Of Machine'. It will appear on the band's new album, 'The Battle At Garden's Gate', which is set for release on 16 Apr.
Scribz Riley has released the video for 'Secretly', taken from his recently released EP 'Wish Me Luck'.
Karima Francis has released the video for new single 'Carelessness Causes Fire'.
GIGS & TOURS
Gorillaz have announced three livestreamed shows later this month, taking place on 12-13 Dec. Here's a trailer and you can book tickets here.
Trivium have announced UK tour dates for November next year, finishing with a show at Brixton Academy on 14 Nov. Support will come from Heaven Shall Burn, TesseracT and Fit For An Autopsy. Tickets go on general sale tomorrow.