DEALS
🎶
Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group has acquired a 50% stake in Bryan Ferry’s recording and song catalogues, and his name, image and likeness rights. “I’m pleased to be working with everyone at Iconic on finding new ways to share my music with the world”, he says. “I’m excited to see what possibilities unfold”.
APPOINTMENTS
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Simon Pitts has been appointed Group Chief Executive of UK radio and advertising company Global, owner of the Capital, Heart, Smooth and Classic FM stations, among others. He replaces Stephen Miron, who is moving to the Chair position after sixteen years. “I’m delighted to be joining Global, a company I admire and whose brands I’ve been a fan of for a long time”, says Pitts. “It is unique in the market to have such a diversified portfolio, with digital, audio and outdoor combined with some of the best-loved radio stations in the UK, bringing with it an incredible connection to its audiences”.
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Matthew Swann has been appointed Director of the BBC Concert Orchestra. “I am THRILLED to be joining the BBC Concert Orchestra at such an exciting time, with the recent success with BBC Radio 2's ‘Piano Room’, their continued partnerships with Nottingham's universities and Orchestras Live in Great Yarmouth, and the upcoming launch of ‘Friday Night Is Music Night’ on BBC Radio 3”, he says.Bryan Ferry catalogue deal; Global, BBC Concert Orchestra, We Generate, Warner Chappell appointments; TuneCore launches Release Tracker; Kylie and Shania Barbies; Jay Weinberg joins Suicidal Tendencies; Palm Reader split; new music from Justice, Kim Gordon, La Luz, Pepe Deluxé
💡
Music marketing agency We Generate has hired Alex Moore as Global Vice President, and promoted Ejide Tondu to Senior Digital Strategist and UK Team Lead. “I am incredibly excited to be joining We Generate at such a pivotal time for them and tumultuous times for record labels’ own relationships with social media and big tech”, says Moore.
🇨🇳
Warner Chappell has appointed Lisa Li as Managing Director of its China division. “I’m incredibly excited to lead the talented team at Warner Chappell and embark on this new chapter”, she says. “The music landscape in China is thriving, so this is the perfect time to take on this challenge”.
DISTRIBUTION
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Distributor TuneCore has launched a new Release Tracker, which allows artist and label clients to visually track their releases from submission to going live on digital platforms. “As part of TuneCore’s goal to demystify the music business and provide artists with greater visibility into the distribution process, we have developed a tool that not only gives our artists information about their releases, but also supplies them with shareable promotional materials”, says CEO Andreea Gleeson. ”TuneCore artists wear so many hats as entrepreneurs building their own careers, and the TuneCore Release Tracker seeks to make artists' lives easier and help them reach more fans”.
ARTIST NEWS
🎀
Kylie Minogue and Shania Twain are among eight women to be given their own Barbie dolls to mark International Women’s Day this Friday and the 65th anniversary of the doll. Find out more here.
👹
Former Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg has joined Suicidal Tendencies, with world tour dates kicking off in Japan next week. “It’s an absolute honour and privilege to play with Suicidal Tendencies”, he says, “and I can’t wait to start this incredibly exciting new chapter in just one week. See you all in the pit!”
❌
Palm Reader have announced that they will split after farewell tour dates in July. “We all have very different priorities now, compared to the lives we led when we formed the band in 2011”, the band’s members say in a statement. “We collectively feel that ending Palm Reader now rather than simply ‘going on hiatus’ is the right thing for us to do as we grow as people and our lives move forward in different directions”.
RELEASES
✝️
Justice have released new single ‘Incognito’. Their new album ‘Hyperdrama’ is out on 26 Apr.
🏵️
Kim Gordon has released new single ‘Psychedelic Orgasm’. Her new album ‘The Collective’ is out this week. She’s also announced new UK shows at Koko in London on 25 Jun and Institute2 in Birmingham on 26 Jun.
🌌
La Luz will release new album ‘News Of The Universe’ on 24 May. Out now is first single ‘Strange World’.
🌞
Pepe Deluxé will release new album ‘Comix Sonix’ on 21 Jun. Out now is double A-side single ‘Everybody Is/Sweet Baby Sun’.