DEALS
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BMG has acquired the global rights to the first three albums by Dope Lemon - aka Angus Stone. The label released a fourth LP, ‘Kemosabe’, last month. "Upon meeting the BMG team, I was captivated by their dedication and eagerness to embrace the unconventional ideas and adventures we wanted to embark on with building this project”, says Stone. “This is precisely what any company should do - stand by the artist and enable them to bring to life the unique universe that complements their music”.
INDUSTRY INITIATIVES
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UK National Album Day has announced Shola Ama and The Corrs as ambassadors for this year’s 90s celebrating event, joining Gabrielle, Declan McKenna, Tricky and Nuno Bettencourt. Ama is “overjoyed”, while The Corrs are “delighted”. If you’re wondering when you should set aside some time to listen to an album or two, it all takes place on 14 Oct.
INDUSTRY EVENTS
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Manchester has won the bid to host the 2024 edition of international music convention WOMEX. Says Debra King, Director of Manchester Music City: “As a city with music in its DNA, where better to host one of the most important international music events in the world. Bringing WOMEX to Manchester in 2024 demonstrates a strong commitment to the value of international music and of being connected to the global music industry". This year’s edition of the worldwide music expo takes place in A Coruña in Spain later this month.
RELEASES
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James Hype has released new single ‘Drums’, featuring Kim Petras. “I came up with the idea for ‘Drums’ in 2019”, says Hype. “It was an instrumental called 'Everybody Dance', which I played in my sets. The Hypefam heard it and not only demanded I release it, they had already renamed it ‘Drums’ of their own accord! Fast forward to 2023, I met Kim in LA and we got together to create this version of ‘Drums’ you hear now”.
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Cher has released new single ‘DJ Play A Christmas Song’. No DJ, don’t. It’s only October. The track is taken from Cher’s new Christmas album ‘Rejoice! Christmas With Cher’, which is out on 20 Oct and features guest appearances rom Darlene Love, Stevie Wonder, Michael Bublé, Cyndi Lauper and Tyga.
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Abba’s Agnetha Fältskog has released two tracks from the upcoming rework of her 2013 solo album ‘A’ - titled ‘A+’. Those tracks are ‘Dance Your Pain Away’ and ‘Perfume In The Breeze’. The new version of the album is out on 13 Oct.
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OMD have released new single ‘Veruschka’. “My attitude is like I say in this song: if you’re too afraid to jump off the cliff, you’ll never learn to fly”, says frontman Andy McCluskey. The band’s new album ‘Bauhaus Staircase’ is out on 27 Oct, and they will be touring the UK in March next year.
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The Martinez Brothers and Tommy Genesis have teamed up for new track ‘PFW’.
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English Teacher have released new single ‘Nearly Daffodils’. According to frontwoman Lily Fontaine it “is about heartbreak and acceptance of unfulfilled potential. How, no matter how much you may want something, no matter how much effort you may put into something’s growth or development, no matter how beautiful you can envision its fruition; life is a bitch and about as unstoppable as a freight train”.
GIGS & TOURS
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Manic Street Preachers and Suede have announced a co-headline tour of the UK and Ireland next summer, finishing with a show at London’s Alexandra Palace on 18 Jul. Tickets go on general sale on 13 Oct.