DEALS
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Pitbull has extended his global publishing deal with BMG. âItâs truly an honour to continue our relationship with BMGâ, he says. âWe are longtime partners who believe in each other. We look forward to continuing the relationship and appreciate the support over the last ten yearsâ.
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Wu-Tang Clanâs RZA has teamed up with Ballentineâs Whisky and beer maker Flying Goose to create a limited-edition sriracha sauce. For some reason. âIâm bringing Ballantineâs and Flying Goose together to break the mould of what incredible flavour should taste like, to bring something truly original, surprising and unexpected to the worldâ, says the producer. âThis condiment is a one-of-a-kind fusion, and I canât wait for everyone to try it on different recipes at homeâ.
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Tate McRae has signed up to be an ambassador for Spotifyâs Equal programme, which aims to boost female creators. "The more we support each other and the more we talk about it and speak up I feel like that always encourages me as a young artistâ, she says in a statement. "So I feel like hopefully I can start to do that even more and more and inspire other people as wellâ.
APPOINTMENTS
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Beggars Groupâs Director Of Live Licensing Ruth Barlow has been announced as the new Chair of the Association Of Independent Music, taking over from Nadia Khan. âAs AIMâs new Chair, I want to make all members feel valued and heard and help strive for consensus, increasing engagement among all members of our communityâ, she says. âAbove all I want to support AIMâs efforts to attract new members, particularly from regional and under-represented groups, and to help arm a new generation of independents with a shared sense of community and knowledgeâ.
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The US Country Music Association has announced a number of appointments and promotions. Ryan Nelson joins as Senior Director, Event Operations; LeighAnn Rodd joins as Director, Insights; and Victoria Rutledge joins the CMA Foundation as Director, Major Gifts. Meanwhile, Justin Randall has been promoted to Senior Director, Information Technology and Megan Wise moves up to Senior Director, Brand Partnerships.
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BBC Radio 1 has announced that Chrissy Cameron, Joel Mitchell, Lauren Layfield and Chris Howard will take over the station's early breakfast show on a monthly rotation. âThis slot has been a huge success in showcasing the best new and emerging presenters over the last two years so I canât wait to see what this next wave of presenting talent do with their showsâ, says Head Of Radio 1 Aled Haydn Jones. âIâd also like to specially welcome Lauren and Chris who are brand new to the stationâ.
EDUCATION & EVENTS
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English Teacher have been announced as Artist Ambassadors for next yearâs Independent Venue Week, which takes place at the end of January. âWeâre delighted to be the ambassadors for next yearâs Independent Venue Weekâ, says the bandâs Lily Fontaine. âOver the years that weâve developed as a band, weâve always tried to be vocal about our relationship with the local venues, organisations and scenes that have supported us in our careers and practice, and that continues next year with our tour of some of the most vital grassroots music halls in the countryâ.
RELEASES
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Gossip have announced that they are reuniting to release their first album for fourteen years. Titled âReal Powerâ, the Rick Rubin-produced record is out on 22 Mar 2024. âWhen we began, so much about Gossip was about running away - that was always in the musicâ, says vocalist Beth Ditto. âWe survived. We came from nothing and we got the fuck out of there. And to be here 20 years later and still making music together is just incredibleâ. Out now is new single âCrazy Againâ.
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"Foo Fighters and HER have released a double A-side single, on which they both perform her song âThe Glassâ". Here's the brand new Foo Fighters version of the song.
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For 50 years now, everyone has spent every Christmas wishing that Noddy Holder shouting âITâS CHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISTMAAAAAAAAAAS!â on Sladeâs âMerry Xmas Everybodyâ was more enveloping. I canât tell you the number of times the sadness that this brings has ruined Christmas lunch for my family. Well, thank the sweet little baby Jeezo, thereâs now a Dolby Atmos mix for the songâs 50th anniversary. And thereâs a new video too. Best Christmas present ever.
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Tom Odellâs put out a new song. And why the hell not? Itâs called âAnswer Phoneâ. âItâs a song that explores the idea of loneliness and the desire to be looked at, a longing to not be on your ownâ, he says. âThereâs a lot of shame in it, but thereâs a degree of self-awareness and humour as wellâ. His new album âBlack Fridayâ is out on 26 Jan.
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Porno For Pyros have released their first new song in 26 years, âAguaâ. âThe ocean doesnât look right, doesnât feel right, doesnât surf rightâ, says frontman Perry Farrell. âYou go and swim in it, and you get the creeps. The sunsets are different. We are really, really screwing it up. We have to do something about it. I wanted to bring attention to it through the best megaphone that I know, which is musicâ.
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Bugzy Malone has released new single âLeanâ.
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Daisy World has announced that she will release her debut album âToothpickâ on 2 Feb 2024. Out now is new single âBreak It Offâ. "I wrote this one morning after my second and final date with a guy who wasn't looking for the same kind of relationship as meâ, she says. âIn the past I would have just gone along with it but as I've gotten older I've learned that, to get what I really want, I need to say âNo! Goodbye!â to the things I donât want. So I walked away even though he was a really good kisserâ.
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Shooting Daggers have released new single âNot My Rivalâ. It is, they say, âa song about dismantling the male gaze, fighting against the internalised patriarchal messages that we all unconsciously absorb. Itâs about breaking the cycle of female rivalry. We want to encourage lifting each other up instead of tearing each other downâ.
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Halo Maud has released new single âTerres Infiniesâ. âA friend suggested that I see the film âStalkerâ by Tarkovskiâ, she says of the inspiration for the song. âThe general ambience haunted me for some time. I began to have a recurring dream of a dried-up and deserted landscape that I had to traverse, without looking back, to find fertile lands. Then I realised this wasnât too far from the actual state of affairs. I needed to cultivate a sense of humour about it. Simply put, turn this vision upside down. I imagined a place where we could drink directly from the clouds and read our futures in the trees, which is where this song came fromâ. Her new album âCelebrateâ is out on 22 Mar.
GIGS & TOURS
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Blackpink have announced that they will screen a virtual reality concert in Metaâs Horizon Worlds video game next month. âWeâre THRILLED to embrace the dynamic world of VR because it allows us to reach an even wider global audience and share our music in an entirely new, immersive wayâ, say the band. âThis VR concert is not just a show; itâs an extension of the tour we poured our hearts into. We canât wait for you to see the magic weâve createdâ. It all goes live at 1am UK time on 27 Dec. Hereâs a trailer.
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Maverick Sabre has announced an acoustic performance of his debut album âLonely In The Braveâ at Bush Hall in London on 18 Dec. Tickets are on sale now.
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Texas have added a show at Londonâs O2 Arena to the start of their 2024 UK tour. They will play the venue on 5 Sep. âThis will be the first time we play The O2â, says frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri. âWeâre all incredibly excited and itâs definitely going to be a night to rememberâ. Tickets go on general sale on 24 Nov.
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Promoter DF Concerts is bringing its long-running Summer Sessions concerts to Stirling Castle next summer. âSummer Sessions has gone from strength to strength with the announcement of more cities hosting events in 2024 and Stirling Summer Sessions will be a very welcome addition to Scotlandâs event calendar next yearâ, says DF CEO Geoff Ellis. âStirling City Park is a very unique event space, sitting in the dramatic shadow of Stirling Castle, and we cannot wait to bring some world-class acts to the city as it celebrates its 900th anniversaryâ.