DEALS
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Management and production firm Range Media Partners has announced new investment from Liberty Global, Wildcat Capital Management and Playground Productions. “We have been very deliberate during this process, wanting to find top-tier, blue-chip partners who have a unique perspective on our industry and are as committed as we are to an innovative long-term strategy to unlock global value for our clients”, says Range Managing Partner Jack Whigham.
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Primary Wave Music has announced a “multi-million-dollar deal” with Crowded House co-founder Neil Finn to acquire his songs catalogue and the writer’s share of his public performance income. “I look forward to seeing Primary Wave’s plan for the ongoing care of my songs”, he says. “I am confident they see the body of my work as music that matters. This deal has been a good while in the making and feels right”.
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Sony Music Publishing Nashville has signed Randall King. “Can’t begin to say how excited I am to be joining Sony Music Publishing”, he says. “It’s a new era of writing for me and I couldn’t have joined a better team”.
APPOINTMENTS
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Spinefarm Music Group has hired Radio 1 presenter and former A bassist Dan P Carter as Director Of Artist Development. “Starting this new role as Director Of Artist Development at Spinefarm is an exciting new chapter where I feel I can contribute as part of a fantastic team at one of the foremost rock and metal labels in the world”, he says.
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Universal Music France has hired Binetou Sylla - founder of indie label Wèrè Wèrè Music - to lead Def Jam Africa in the continent’s French-speaking territories. “We are incredibly honoured to be able to draw on the unique expertise of Binetou Sylla and her team to bring new talent from French-speaking Africa to Africa, France and the rest of the world”, says Universal Music France President Olivier Nusse. “In the wake of recent worldwide successes by English-speaking artists, I'm absolutely convinced that the French-speaking scene will also without doubt shine on the world stage, with Def Jam Africa as the spearhead”.
AWARDS
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Former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson was named Artist Of The Year at Nordoff And Robbins’ inaugural Northern Music Awards last night. Among the other winners, The Courteeners were named Band Of The Year and Spice Girl Melanie C took the Special Recognition Award.
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The nominees for this year’ Ivor Novello Awards have been announced. Leading the pack is Sampha with two nominations in the Best Album and Best Song Musically And Lyrically categories. See the full collection of shortlists here.
ARTIST NEWS
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Ahead of his upcoming turn representing the UK at Eurovision, Olly Alexander is to appear in an episode of BBC One soap opera ‘Eastenders’ next month. “I’m THRILLED to be making my first appearance on ‘Eastenders’”, he says. “I’m so happy I got to meet some true screen legends and spend time on set with the brilliant cast and crew. I wanted to surprise my mum as it’s her favourite show, but I guess the cat is out of the bag now, she’s gonna love it”.
RELEASES
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St Vincent has released new single ‘Big Time Nothing’ ahead of new album ‘All Born Screaming’, which is out this Friday.
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Knocked Loose have teamed up with Poppy for new single ‘Suffocate’. The track is taken from the band’s upcoming third album ‘You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To’, which is out on 10 May.
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Metronomy will release ‘Posse EP Vol 2’ on 12 Jul, featuring collaborations with Miki, Faux Real, Nourished By Time, Naima Bock, Joshua Idehen, Lynks, Spider, Master Peace and TaliaBle. Out now is ‘With Balance’ featuring Naima Bock and Joshua Idehen.
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DIIV have released new single ‘Frog In Boiling Water’, the title track of their upcoming album, which is out on 24 May.
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Ezra Collective are back with new single ‘Ajala’.
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Fat Dog have announced that they will release their debut album ‘Woof’ on 6 Sep. Out now is new single ‘Running’.
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San Soucis has released new single ‘Sexed & Sexual’. It’s the first track from her debut album ‘Circumnavigating Georgia’, which is set for release later this year.