DEALS
🖊️
Kobalt has signed producer and songwriter JULiA LEWiS to a publishing deal. “I’m so happy to have formed this partnership with a great team", she says. "I couldn’t ask for a better creative team than Kobalt – within our first week of working together we got a major cut which turned into a single. I’m excited for what’s to come".
🪳
Talent agency Wasserman Music has signed Papa Roach. It will now represent the band everywhere except Canada. “Since the pandemic started, we really pushed ourselves and believed that we controlled our own destiny", says vocalist Jacoby Shaddix. “We started our own label, hired the right teams, and have found an excellent niche in social media where our music, our personalities and our fans meet. A full-service company that understands our vision and can help us navigate this growth in the multi-media landscape is essential. Next year will bring a lot of surprises!"
❄️
Management firm YMU - and specifically its executive manager and Head Of Latin Yvette Medina - has announced a new global agreement with Claudia Feliciano, aka Snow Tha Product. "Snow is a fiercely independent trailblazer whose work ethic is unmatched", says Medina, "and together we are going to continue to amplify what she has achieved while expanding her global presence".
🤝
LA-based Create Music Group has announced a joint venture with OneLand Music Group, with which it has worked since 2019. Create has acquired OneLand's catalogue and the two companies will now collaborate on new releases, kicking off with a new EP from Atomic Otro Way, ‘Dembow 5’. "This venture is a celebration of our shared musical vision and we’re THRILLED to be in business with Create’s growing team", says OneLand co-founder Hector Morales.
MEDIA
🍏
Joe Rogan declared on Twitter last night that his podcast is now back on Apple Podcasts. The Joe Rogan Experience has been exclusive to Spotify since his original deal with the streaming firm in 2020. However, when it was announced that that deal had been renewed last week, it was also revealed that the podcast would return to other platforms, presumably so Spotify can try to sell more ads. “We should be back on YouTube with full episodes in the coming weeks”, his Tweet went on, before adding: “Shoutout to Spotify for absolutely being the coolest and smartest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of being in partnership with. I’m very excited the podcast will now have a much broader distribution”.
GIGS & FESTIVALS
🧡
Mad Professor and the Ariwa Sounds studio and label will present a special show at Fairfield Halls in Croydon on 24 Feb. It's being staged as part of Croydon's year as London Borough Of Culture. Says Mad Professor: “I’m so happy to be bringing the best of Ariwa Sounds together under one roof. Revisiting Fairfield Halls for the first time since 2015, with my work being honoured as part of Croydon’s year as London’s Borough Of Culture, makes the show even more special. Let’s dub!” Channel One Soundsystem and Sandra Cross are also on the bill and there'll be an accompanying art exhibition. More info here.
RELEASES
💥
Dizzee Rascal has released his eighth studio album 'Don’t Take It Personal' via Dirte3 Records. Watch the video for one of its tracks, 'Switch And Explode'.
💎
Fresh from winning the MOBO Award for Best Hip Hop Act earlier this week, Little Simz has released an EP of new material called 'Drop 7'
🎨
Paul Morricone from Scaramanga Six has shared 'People In My Way', the first track from his forthcoming third solo album 'Go Sanction Yourself', which is out 19 Apr on Wrath Records. There's a Gilbert And George inspired video that Morricone himself directed.
🌹
Kacey Musgraves has announced that new album 'Deeper Well' will be released on 15 Mar. And there's a new single too, also called 'Deeper Well'.
🛀
Armada Music has released a David Guetta rework of Mason and Princess Superstar's 2006 track ‘Perfect (Exceeder)’, which has become popular again of late after being featured in the soundtrack for 'Saltburn'. Here it is.