DEALS
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KT Tunstall - as well as winning the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection last week - has announced a new publishing deal with BMG. Speaking at the awards event, she stated, “I am starting a new era with the amazing Alistair Norbury and his team at BMG, and I am so excited for what's coming next”. Norbury, who is BMG’s President Repertoire & Marketing UK, responded, “We are delighted to join the world of songwriting in honouring KT for her Outstanding Song Collection, and we are even more delighted to welcome KT and her future work to BMG”.
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Proper Distribution has signed a deal with US-based Firebird Music Holdings. Under the new agreement, Proper will provide physical distribution services in the UK and Europe to select artists from Firebird’s partner labels, artist management agencies and other creative businesses. Proper Distribution CEO Drew Hill says, “We're delighted to work with a forward thinking company like Firebird whose unique model offers hugely exciting opportunities for physical music. Our agreement will open new doors for Firebird’s diverse repertoire of partners and artists, with Proper providing essential boots on the ground and helping maximise international reach and sales relationships”.
APPOINTMENTS
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Andrew Howell is being promoted to the role of VP Of Sync at Warner Chappell Music in the UK. Says the music publisher’s EVP and Global Head Of Sync Rich Robinson, “Andrew embodies Warner Chappell’s proactive approach to sync, with a forward thinking mindset that sees his ideas prevail in an often saturated space. He is respected across the industry by peers and clients alike and I’m so pleased that he’s agreed to step up and take this new role”.
ARTIST NEWS
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Bella Union boss Simon Raymonde will publish his memoir ‘In One Ear - Cocteau Twins, Ivor And Me’ via Nine Eight Books on 12 Sep. The title, of course, name checks both Raymonde’s band Cocteau Twins and his musician father Ivor Raymonde. A description of the book on social media says, “It covers all the good and bad bits, falling over, getting up, shorts, big boy pants, Ivor, and a big ole love letter to Cocteau Twins too”.
GIGS & TOURS
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Nicki Minaj has apologised after her show at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena was cancelled at the very last minute on Saturday. This time it had nothing to do with the venue, instead - on her way to the UK - the rapper was detained by police in The Netherlands on suspicion of exporting drugs. Dutch prosecutors claim Minaj was carrying 30 to 100 grams of cannabis - though the rapper insists the “pre-rolls” belonged to her security guard. Apologising and announcing a rescheduled performance, Minaj said on social media, “I apologise for all the inconvenience this has caused. I really hope you can make the 3 Jun show. It'll be really special”.
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The Black Keys have issued a statement after cancelling an North American arena tour that was due to take place this autumn. They are going to tour smaller venues instead. They wrote on Instagram, “Following the recent run of shows in the UK and Europe, including stops at iconic venues like Brixton Academy and the Zenith in Paris, we have decided to make some changes to the North American leg of the International Players Tour that will enable us to offer a similarly exciting, intimate experience for both fans and the band, and will be announcing a revised set of dates shortly”.
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Bruce Springsteen has cancelled a number of shows on his current European tour due to vocal issues, with a statement explaining that doctors have determined “that Bruce should not perform for the next ten days”. The tour will resume on 12 Jun in Madrid, with dates in Marseille, Prague and Milan all being postponed. Last week Springsteen went ahead with a show in Sunderland despite what he called “hellacious” weather. Commenting on his decision to go ahead with that show at the Ivor Novello Awards last week, the musician said, “Driving rain storm, the wind blowing, blowing, blowing, and standing… in front of me, in the rain, I realised: these are my people”.
NEW RELEASES
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Stefflon Don will release her debut album ‘Island 54’ on 14 Jun via 54 LDN and BMG. The vision for the album, says the rapper, is “a futuristic private island. An island that will put you in awe. An island that is magical and can only make you feel high vibrational frequencies. The music on the album represents the unforgettable vibes the island will be giving you: A perfect fusion between dancehall and afro”.
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FLO are back with new single ‘Caught Up’.
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Beak> have surprise released their first album for six years, titled ‘>>>>’. They’ve also announced UK tour dates in October and November, including a performance at the Kentish Town Forum on 1 Nov.