DEALS
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Universal Music’s Capitol and Polydor labels have jointly signed Good Neighbours following the success of their debut single ‘Home’. The UK duo’s debut EP will be released by their existing indie label partners Some Action in the UK and Neon Gold in the US with support from the major subsidiaries later this year. They will then become solely Universal-signed after that.
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A&R exec Pete Ganbarg and Warner Music’s Atlantic Records have partnered on new label venture Pure Tone Records. “It's the best of both worlds”, says Ganbarg. “A golden opportunity to run my own shop, while at the same time having the backing of the outstanding Atlantic team who I've worked with so closely over the past fifteen-plus years”.
APPOINTMENTS
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Live music industry trade body LIVE has appointed Ross Patel as its first Green Impact Consultant. “We have worked with Ross for some time now in various capacities and have always been impressed with their energy, knowledge and commitment to sustainability issues”, says CEO Jon Collins. “This new role will see Ross leading and further amplifying the work of ‘LIVE Green’ and helping us in our mission to green the live music sector as quickly, fairly and effectively as possible”.
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Music PR firm Satellite414 has promoted Claire Coulton to Head Of Press. “I joined the team at Satellite414 six years ago and in that time I have learnt so much working alongside our CEO Carl Fysh on artists like Lana Del Rey, Adele, Halsey and 30 Seconds To Mars”, she says. “I’m excited and ready to progress from Senior Publicist into the role of Head Of Press, continuing to expand my roster in the years to come”.
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TaP Music has hired Will Bloomfield as Co-President and Head Of Global Artists Management. He joins from Modest! Management. “I am so THRILLED to be joining the world class team of talented executives at TaP”, he says. “The remarkable work they have done over the last fifteen years has made TaP synonymous with great taste, credibility and developing artists into global superstars”.
LABELS & PUBLISHERS
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Universal Music has launched UMusicLift, an online hub for music-related start ups and entrepreneurs. “We are constantly engaged with numerous start ups, sharing our knowledge and advice to help them thrive in the highly complex ecosystem of the music industry”, says Universal’s SVP Digital Innovation Strategy & Business Development Kristen Bender. “As time goes on, we will continue to build on this library of resources featured on UMusicLift. Adding this important resource to our already broad programmatic support of early-stage entrepreneurs, we’re looking forward to continuing to support the next generation of start ups”.
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Downtown Music has expanded its partnership with Bank Of America to offer an additional $500 million of advances to independent artists, songwriters, labels and publishers in exchange for taking short-term shares in future royalties. “Downtown is at the centre of a major shift in the music industry where creators and the businesses that support them are completely aligned”, says CEO Pieter van Rijn. “Our clients depend on us for the resources they need to bring their work to life and retain ownership and control of their work. Flexible financing solutions like this are another essential way we can support artists and grow the industry as a whole”.
DIGITAL
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Apple Music has launched a collection of new tools for label and distribution partners to track plays on the streaming service, as well as global radio play and Shazams. Find out more here.
FUNDING
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The UK’s Featured Artists Coalition has announced the return of its Step Up Fund for a third year. It will provide grants of up to £8000 to ten independent artists. Applications open on 15 May. Full details here.
INDUSTRY PEOPLE
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Network for LGBTQ+ people working in the music industry Music+ is organising a meet up at next week’s Great Escape. It will take place at The Actors in Brighton from 5-7pm on 17 May. Register to attend here.
ARTIST NEWS
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The Libertines’ Albion Rooms hotel in Margate will close to paying guests at the end of June. As the band recently indicated, it will instead become a residential recording studio and events space.
RELEASES
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The Beatles have released a new music video for ‘Let It Be’. It features clips from the restored ‘Let It Be’ documentary, which is available now on Disney+.
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Megan Thee Stallion is back with new single ‘Boa’.
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Camila Cabello has released new single ‘He Knows’, featuring Lil Nas X.
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Post Malone and Morgan Wallen have teamed up for new single ‘I Had Some Help’.
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Central Cee has released new track ‘CC Freestyle’.
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Fredo is back with new single ‘Top G’.
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Charli XCX has released new single ‘360’. Her new album ‘Brat’ is out on 7 Jun.
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Jodie Harsh has released new single ‘Joy’.
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DJ Seinfeld has released new single ‘If U Like Me’.
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Metronomy’s Anna Prior has released new solo single ‘Up2U’. Her debut EP ‘Almost Love’ is out on 13 Jun.
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Orange Goblin have released new single ‘Cemetery Rats’. New album ‘Science, Not Fiction’ - their first for Peaceville Records - is out on 19 Jul.