APPOINTMENTS
Rusty Gaston has been named CEO of Sony/ATV Nashville. As well as bringing him on board, Sony/ATV will also acquire Gaston's THiS Music company. "The Sony/ATV Nashville catalogue is the undisputed greatest collection of country music on the planet", says Gaston, getting right into his new role.
LABELS & PUBLISHERS
Music publishing firm the Music Sales Group is rebranding. Which is probably a wise move, Music Sales was never a great name. It will now be called, oh look, the Wise Music Group. Not sure why. Next time I see the company's owner Robert Wise I'll make sure to ask him. I'm very wise like that.
MANAGEMENT & FUNDING
Another round of grants has been awarded by the Music Export Growth Scheme funded by the UK government's Department For International Trade and managed by BPI. This funding is to help artists pursue new opportunities in new markets, resulting in more music exports. The latest recipients are: AlaskaAlaska, Anna Meredith, Black Midi, Ezra Collective, Ferris & Sylvester, Floating Points, Ider, Jadu Heart, Joe Armon-Jones, Man Of Moon, Massive Wagons, Penelope Isles, Sarathy Korwar, She Drew The Gun, Shvpes, Steve Mason, Sunset Sons, The Hunna, The Orielles and The Pineapple Thief.
RELEASES
Squarepusher has released new single 'Terminal Slam', along with a video directed by tech artist Daito Manabe, who says: "The concept began with the idea of implementing the near future, not the distant future, using modern technology. In the near future, it would be exciting to be able to rewrite ads as freely as is depicted in this music video while wearing such a device and wandering around the city".
Right off Klaxons, James Righton has released his new solo single 'Edie'. "'Edie' is a song I wrote for my daughter when she was a baby", he says. "She seemed so fragile and small in a world that seemed so big and terrifying. I wanted to tell her that everything would be OK". His debut solo album, 'The Performer', is out on 20 Mar. Where's he playing live though? Well, if you'd let me get a word in, I'd tell you he's playing the Bethnal Green Working Men's Club on 25 Mar.
A$AP Ferg has released new track 'Value'. He's got more new music coming in 2020, we've heard on the grapevine (aka the press release telling us about this track).
Austra has released her first new single since 2017, titled 'Risk It'. "I was losing faith in my own ideas", she says of the reason for the delay. Now back in action, she'll also play Hoxton Hall in London on 12 May.
Ahead of her sold out show at St Pancras Old Church in London tonight, JFDR has released new single, 'Shimmer'. Her new album, 'New Dreams', is out on 13 Mar.
AWARDS
Katherine Ryan and Julie Adenuga have been announced as the presenters of this year's NME Awards on 12 Feb. "Co-hosting the NME Awards with Katherine is like three dreams coming true at once", says Adenuga. "I hope to get pregnant by a rock star", adds Ryan. Well, she's in luck, because it's also been announced that Courtney Love will receive the Icon Award.