Beggars division XL Recordings is launching a new label with DJ and journalist Imran Ahmed. The new venture, called Abeano Music, is hoping to discover and develop young talent. Ahmed will be the only employee of the new venture, working in an A&R chief role. Marketing, distribution, legal, tea making, envelope stuffing etc will be handled by the existing XL team. Three acts are already signed up, To My Boy, I Was A Cub Scout and Blood Red Shoes.
Commenting on the new venture Ahmed, a former Radio 1 and 6Music DJ and NME contributing editor, told CMU: "Abeano Music has one key aim: to sign and develop young, (mostly) British artists away from the mainstream A&R spotlight. To be honest, if it's on those guys radar, we probably won't be interested in it. We already have three artists on our roster and the fact that they are all two pieces is pure coincidence! XL are a brilliant company, they are completely music focused but also great at looking after business and we are going to be a great team".
XL top guy Richard Russell added: "Imran can spot interesting new music at an early stage and that's what XL has always been about. He is going to bring us fresh, new artists and we are going to give him help on a number of levels and the benefit of our experience to get some great new music into the marketplace. His first three acts are already receiving great media reactions and I think our collaboration is going to be fruitful".
Obviously religious laws dictate we're not allowed a MySpace Of The Day on a Friday, but if you are looking to waste some time on the old social networking juggernaut later today, perhaps you could check out Abeano's first three signings.
http://www.myspace.com/tomyboy http://www.myspace.com/bloodredshoes http://www.myspace.com/iwasacubscout