DEALS
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Zayn Malik has signed a new record deal with Universal Music â releasing through Mercury in the US and Island in the UK. âAs soon as Zayn and I met, I knew we had to work togetherâ, says Mercury Records President Tyler Arnold. âI was blown away by the new music, but just as impressed by his vision, drive and spirit. Weâre honoured he and his team have joined us at Mercury Records. Weâve got an incredible opportunity to tell the next chapter of his story togetherâ.
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Armada Musicâs BEAT Music Fund has confirmed two new deals, acquiring the catalogue of New York-based dance label King Street Sounds, and also the recording and song catalogues of producer/DJ duo Chocolate Puma, aka RenĂ© Ter Horst and Gaston Steenkist. âIt is an honour to be trusted with these legendary catalogues, and Iâm confident that we will add value through our vision and expertiseâ, says Maykel Piron, CEO of Armada Music and its BEAT Music Fund.
APPOINTMENTS
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German song rights collecting society GEMA is getting a new boss, with Tobias HolzmĂŒller â who has headed up the societyâs legal department since 2013 â taking over from long-time CEO Harald Heker on 1 Oct. Chair of the GEMA Supervisory Board, Ralf Weigand, says that the societyâs incoming CEO is ânot only an excellent, globally respected copyright expert but also an extremely well-connected and committed advocate for our concernsâ, adding: âWe look forward to continuing GEMAâs successful trajectory with him and tackling the immense challenges that lie ahead for us and the entire music industryâ.
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Music credits database Jaxsta has appointed a new CEO, Josh Simons, who takes over from a departing Beth Appleton. Simons is founder of Vampr, the social network for musicians that Jaxsta acquired earlier this year. Says the new CEO: âJaxsta has a clear vision and product roadmap ⊠and thatâs a credit to the board, Beth and the team who have done a remarkable job ⊠I look forward to building on the current momentumâ.
RELEASES
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Blur have released new single âSt Charles Squareâ. âSt Charles Square is a place where the ghosts of monsters can be foundâ, says Damon Albarn.
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Shakira and Manuel Turizo have released a new single together, âCopa VicĂaâ.
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Sampha has released new single âSpirit 2.0â. âItâs about the importance of connection to both myself and others, and the beauty and harsh realities of just existingâ, he says. âItâs about acknowledging those moments when you need help â that requires real strength. I hope people can enjoy that feeling of someone being there for you, even if that person doesnât have the answers. Just calling someone up without overthinking⊠letting go and just dancing, wanting to see past the mundanity of things and appreciating the magic of it all, from birds nests to spaceshipsâ.
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Armin van Buuren has released new track âMotiveâ.
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Claire Richards off of Steps is readying herself to release a new solo album, titled âEuphoriaâ, on 25 Aug. âEvery single song is a banger â listening to this album just makes me feel goodâ, she says. âI want everyone to whack it on before they go out and get themselves completely in the zone of having a good timeâ. Hereâs guaranteed banger âI Surrenderâ.
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Ray BLK has released new single âMy Girlâ. She says of the track: ââMy Girlâ is a sisterhood anthem, and just a song to celebrate the women in our lives that we love and deserve a shout outâ. The track is taken from the soundtrack of Candace Carty Williamsâ forthcoming BBC series âChampionâ.
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As Be Your Own Pet gear up to release their first album for fifteen years later this summer, the band have put out new single âGoodtimeâ. Says vocalist Jemina Pearl Abegg: ââGoodtimeâ is about those moments where the responsibility of adulthood overwhelms you, and you wonder âhow the fuck did I get here?!â You find yourself longing for the days of partying with abandon, not worrying if the babysitter is going to cancel, and jealous of your friends who are still living the carefree life. Moms just want to have fun tooâ. The new album, âMommyâ, is out on 25 Aug.
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Sen Morimoto will release new album âDiagnosisâ on 3 Nov. The title track is out now.
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Clementine Valentine have released another track from their upcoming album âThe Coin That Broke The Fountain Floorâ. Listen to âTime And Tideâ here. âWithout giving too much away, this song is a kind of mantra of radical acceptanceâ, say the duo. âOur songs usually overflow with words and imagery, this one we consciously left open â youâre invited to fill the space in betweenâ.
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Emmeline has released âSmall Town Girlâ, from her second EP âSmall Town Girls And Soft Summer Nightsâ, which is out on 28 Jul.
GIGS & TOURS
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J Hus has announced UK tour dates in October and November, finishing with two nights at the O2 in London on 5-6 Nov. The rapperâs third album âBeautiful And Brutal Yardâ is out on 14 Jul.
AWARDS
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Entries are now open for this yearâs Scottish Album Of The Year Award. Eligible albums must have been released between 1 Jun 2022 and 31 May 2023. Submissions close at midnight on 21 Jul. Put forward your albums here, people.