Out on the Street: Post CMJ Music Marathon action, or lack thereof
Alabama Shakes were among highlights at CMJ 2011
Echoing the general impression during CMJ that the week was pretty light on worthwhile music this year, it seems as though there has been little activity post-festival in terms of new signings. But one band who did qualify for buzz status, and who just landed a deal, is the Red Light Management-repped Alabama Shakes. It was announced this past week that the southern band, of course hailing from Alabama (Athens to be exact) just signed to the esteemed Rough Trade Records for the UK and Europe. No word on a possible label home for North America yet.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that Partisan Records – home to Deer Tick, Mountain Man and Middle Brother – inked a deal with Ohio’s Heartless Bastards. The band’s new album – due out in early 2012 – follows three released through Fat Possum Records. And speaking of Ohio, that state’s most famous musical sons (well, after Devo), Guided by Voices have unveiled details of a new single The Unsinkable Fats Domino, which marks both a return to their longtime home Matador Records (at least for this release), and also the return of their classic 90’s band line-up. Another artist jumping ship from their longtime label home, is noise-rock combo A Place to Bury Strangers, who recently departed Mute Records for Dead Oceans, with the first release due via their new label in early 2012.
And in news from the Pacific Northwest, there is a rumbling that Sub Pop - who surprisingly haven’t announced any new additions to their roster for a while (after spending the early part of 2011 signing what seemed like a new band every week), may be the latest label to start negotiating multiple rights contracts with new artists. While such 360 deals are par-for-the-course in the major label-world, they are still comparatively rare amongst the indies, who pride themselves on being anti-corporate and artist-friendly, so it seems such a move may well prompt a murmur of discontent regards the Seattle label.
10.12.11Out on the Street: Universal Republic Records signs international buzz-act Gotye
Universal Republic signs Gotye
Word on the street is that much sought after Antipodean act Gotye has inked a deal with Universal-Republic Records for North America. And we hear that new Uni-Republic A&R prexy, Rob Stevenson, who led the charge, was pressuring hard to close the deal before Goyte lands in the U.S.A. next week for shows in Los Angeles and then New York during CMJ. A shrewd move considering the buzz surrounding the Belgian-Australian musician and the great number of artist reps and label heads waiting for their chance to get up close and personal. Insiders are pointing to the deal being unprecedented, at least in the current era of record deals, in a number of different components, including extensive creative freedom, a hefy marketing spend, and an advance that was simply described as ‘massive’. Much of the interest stems from the runaway success of the hit ”Somebody That I Used to Know,” featuring fellow Aussie and new Warner Bros. Records artist Kimbra, which is already a giant hit in Gotye’s homeland. The single has reached the top position in the chart, along with the album Making Mirrors, which also landed in the #1 spot and has been certified platinum in Australia. In America the track has been garnering support from various areas of the media including L.A. tastemaker-station KCRW, which combined with a huge word of mouth and burgeoning viral internet interest (with over 10 million plays on YouTube) to prompt the A&R frenzy. Erupting in record time, it showed that despite the much ballyhooed austerity in the 2011 record business, the old school 90’s-style signing derby still hasn’t seen its last days.
| Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Indie Dispatches: Recent Signings & the Who’s Who of What’s Next
New Jersey's Real Estate
The post-music conference landscape has always been a game of snakes and ladders – who is getting signed, who bombed out, whose star is on the ascent, and whose isn’t – and this year is no exception in the weeks after CMJ. Though in fact the last six months or so has been a busy one for the independent label sector.
CMJ or not, possibly top of the heap in terms of allure for indies, is New Jersey band Real Estate. Coming off the back of a highly rated 7″ single via everyone’s favorite hipster label, True Panther Sounds, the band has a veritable who’s who of top shelf indies in the hunt. You name it, they’re probably there. And also garnering a lot of buzz is JEFF the Brotherhood. The Nashville combo of course feature former members of buzz band Be Your Own Pet, which only heightens the interest. There may even be some major labels sniffing around.
Much beloved Scottish noisemongers Mogwai recently announced a switch from one premiere indie to another – departing their long-time home at Matador Records for Sub Pop, oddly enough, a full twelve years or so after the Seattle label first approached the band about signing them. But Mogwai are another in the list of what seems like 320 new bands that Sub Pop has signed recently, which also includes Northwest hip hop crew Shabazz Palaces – a baffling move considering the label’s lack of success when it comes to anything outside their traditional indie rock fare. And supposedly, after remaining aloof for a long period of time, word on the street is that Sub Pop may have entered the fray surrounding buzzy Seattle six piece The Head and the Heart. And even their sub-label Hardly Art seems to be busy, signing San Francisco’s Hunx and his Punx and possibly sniffing around Australia’s Circle Pit.
Though pundits will be aghast if hilariously awful LA group Teen, Inc sign with XL, as has been rumored, the list of bands newly inked to indies continues… LA’s Pepper Rabbit joined the roster at Kanine Records (of course original home of Surfer Blood and Chairlift), with the band releasing its debut album Beauregard in October. Meanwhile old skool punk rockers OFF! (with a line-up including Keith Morris of the Circle Jerks, Steve McDonald of Redd Kross and Dimitri Coats of the Burning Brides) inked with Vice, Pittsburgh’s 1,2,3 made French Kiss Records their home after doing a 45 for UK’s tastemaker Chess Club label and husband and wife duo Tennis joined the ever expanding (and diversifying) list of bands on Fat Possum. And totally flying under the radar, balladeer Sean Rowe reportedly signed with Epitaph’s Anti imprint.
One free agent though, who should be on the top of everyone’s shopping list, is LA combo White Sea (featuring sometime M83 member Morgan Kibby). If the debut EP (which can be found for free here) is any indication, maybe it wont be too long before they become another addition to the ‘newly inked’ column.
- Cool Hand Luke
| Posted in Indie Dispatches | 1 Comment »
Wednesday Bits & Pieces: CMJ “Break Outs”, Starbucks Digital Network & more…
Starbucks Digital Network Launches w/ iTunes, LinkedIn & more
CMJ is in full swing this week in NYC, and the Village Voice music critics discuss who could be crowned this years’ “breakout” act, and what that really means… The L.A. Times catches up with Cee-Lo and asks whether or not he lets his own children listen to his viral anthem… Meanwhile Starbucks in partnership with Yahoo! has launched something called the Starbucks Digital Network, which can be accessed at any of the retailers free wi-fi spots and will provide a collection of hand-picked premium news, entertainment and lifestyle content along with local insights and events. Content providers include iTunes, LinkedIn, the New York Times and Foursquare – in case you were wondering, Starbucks wi-fi is accessed 30-million times a month, and more than half of those connections are wireless… Elsewhere, former Rhapsody VP Tim Quirk has landed at Google, setting off a fury of speculation as to his taking of the Google Music top spot, though it appears that is not the case… And Irving invades Nashville with B.A.D. Management…
| Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Indie Dispatches: CMJ Week Picks, Donuts & Beyond…
Where to Fill Up During CMJ
Late October and once again the music fan and industry veteran think about NYC and the annual barnstorming tour of the city’s clubs for the annual CMJ New Music Festival. New bands? Old? Signed? Unsigned? Young? Old? There’s no discrimination around here, except between good and bad. General consensus seems to be that this year’s edition is light of the ground when it comes to talent, but here are fifteen picks that may make the week a fun one…
Yo La Tengo – Tues. @ 8:00pm (Brooklyn Bowl) – They may be your parent’s generation, but they still make better music and rock more than people half their ages.
Dale Earnhardt J.r Jr. – Wed. @ 7:30pm (Bruar Falls) – Yes, we’re wondering if they’re about to get sued for the name too…
Bad Books – Wed @ 8:30pm (Bowery Ballroom) – You cant go wrong with a pairing of Kevin Devine and members of Manchester Orchestra can you?
Phoenix – Wed. (Madison Square Garden) – Admit it, you know it is going to be 3000 times better than any other show that is going on this week…
Neutral Uke Hotel - Thurs. @ 9:00pm (Cameo) – Neutral Milk Hotel played on ukeleles? How could that be ba… hang on, maybe we’ll reconsider that!
OFF! – Thurs. @ 11:00pm (Europa) – Punk rock. Or should we say PUNK ROCK!!!! Old skool!
Fences – Thurs. @ 10:30pm (Littlefield) – Great songwriting in the finest Northwest tradition. Think Elliott Smith, Pedro the Lion.
Frankie and the Heartstrings – Thurs. @ 11:45pm (The Delancy) – With a name like that you know what you are in for…
Gold Panda – Fri. @ 7:00pm (Webster Hall) – The heir apparent to the laptop electronica throne currently held by Four Tet.
Dylan LeBlanc – Fri. @ 7:15pm (Hiro Ballroom) – LeBlanc’s album ‘Pauper’s Field is one of the year’s best. Say no more.
Slow Animal - Fri. @ 8:00pm Trash Bar – Like WAVVES? This may be your cup of tea.
Dean Wareham (plays Galaxie 500) – Fri. @ 12:00am (Bowery Ballroom) – You read the Pitchfork article, now hear the songs played live…
Superhumanoids – Fri. @ 11:00pm (Bowery Electric) – LA based. UK touring partners for Local Natives. That sounds promising.
DOM – Sat. @ 11:00pm (Bowery Ballroom) – More of that lo-fi post-Jesus & Mary Chain fuzz pop that seems to be all the rage.
Oberhofer – Any one of the 300 shows they seem are playing – see if this is the over-exposed, over-hyped band for CMJ 2010…
But then it can’t all be about music. What’s a trip to NY without pizza? In a great quirk of fate, the Village Voice just happened to list the best in town… Or head to the Doughnut Plant for the best damn donuts in town… Actually probably the best ones on the entire east coast… A trip to the MoMA is always a treat, and it is an opportunity to check out the trippy installation art by Jim Lambie – who is also notable for once playing with Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake in Scottish group The Boy Hairdressers… Of course Other Music is the place to go for all your music purchasing needs… And how about a visit to the East Village and HiFi Bar where you can relive the 90’s in the bar-formely-known-as Brownies, which used to be THE hang out for CMJ (and the place all the cool up-and-comers played). That is, before everything migrated to Brooklyn…
- Cool Hand Luke
| Posted in Indie Dispatches, Uncategorized | No Comments »
File Under: CMJ Spotlight
Tuesday, October 19th:
MOG Opening Night Party @ Brooklyn Bowl (DOM, Screaming Females)
BMI + Spin Presents @ Highline Ballroom – (Bad Rabbits, Chain Gang of 1974 & more)
IAMSOUND Records Showcase @ Santos Party House – (Kisses, Lesands & more)
Wednesday, October 20th:
SESAC Presents @ The Studio/Webster Hall – (Dinowalrus, BRAHMS & more)
ASCAP Presents @ Canal Room – (Reptar, GroupLove & more)
Hello Music Showcase @ Ace of Clubs – (Ben Talmi, New Look & more)
Thursday, October 21st:
Neon Gold / Chess Club Party @ Public Assembly – (Savoir Adore, Alex Winston & more)
Buzznet Presents @ PureVolume House – (The Static Jacks, White Arrows & more)
Friday, October 22nd:
Paradigm Showcase @ Mercury Lounge – (JBM, Ume & more)
Force Field PR @ Pianos – (Lord Huron, Wild Nothing & more)
Saturday, October 23rd:
Windish Agency Showcase @ Santos Party House – (Cults, Bikini & more)
Baeble @ Bowery Electric – (Oberhofer, Blood Red Shoes & more)
| Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Friday Round Up: Sony Music Top Spot, Face Off Over EMI, CMJ & More…
Bandier Enters the Sony Music Fray (L) Hands Set for Face Off (R)
A story in the New York Post this morning threw Sony/ATV CEO Marty Bandier into the mix of names swirling in the bid for the top spot at Sony Music, indicating his neutral position in the ongoing “civil war” within the company as a plus. Citing unnamed executives, the piece also speculated that current RCA chief Barry Weiss might land at Universal Music Group if he isn’t named as successor to current Sony Music CEO Rolf Schmidt-Holtz - a scenario being floated by more than a few folks in-the-know… Meanwhile the buzz around the courtroom showdown between Terra Firma and Citigroup over EMI continues as the WSJ reports today that talks between the two sides failed this week, though there is still time for a settlement to be reached over the weekend. Informal talks could continue even after the trial’s start on Monday if an 11th-hour pact isn’t reached – Guy Hands is expected to take the stand first… No stranger to firing rumors, gossip that Island Def Jam ruler L.A. Reid is as good as out continued this week. While a move to television in the form of an American Idol or X-Factor judge position was previously floated, insiders share that a quiet departure with a label-imprint in hand seems a more likely scenario… In other updates, Steve Aoki has entered into a world-wide co-publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music, the A-Team’s own B.A. Baracus (aka Marc Wilson) signed the producer/writer/DJ who has upcoming projects in the works with Rivers Cuomo, Chiddy Bang, Travis Barker, Will.I.Am and Sky Ferreira… The CMJ Music Marathon 2010 kicks off next week in New York City, including a keynote address from Jason Flom – other panelists slated to speak include David Boxenbaum (A&M Octone), John Boyle (Hello Music), Lindsey Cook (RCA), Eric German (MS&K), Jon Pikus (Lava/Kirkwood Ranch) and many others… The label action continues to wind up around Seattle’s The Head and The Heart after whipping A&R folks into a frenzy with their L.A. shows last week. Zeitgeist’s Jordan Kurland has picked up the band for management… IAMMEDIC continues to generate label interest, taking multiple meetings after their EP-release show last week. A collaboration with Far East Movement is set to take place on the heels of their remix of the band’s “Like A G6″ – the top song on BigChampagne’s Ultimate Chart this week… Catch Las Vegas act And She Whispered at the House of Blues Hollywood this Saturday (Oct. 16), as they open for All That Remains on their current North America tour. The band has received airplay on LV’s Extreme Radio and has been drawing big crowds in their hometown… IN THE MIX: Amanda Ghost, Fearless Records, Chappo, OFWGKTA and Box.net
| Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Thursday Bits & Pieces: L.A. Reid, BMG Eyes Top Publishers, More CMJ Acts & More…
Tongues are wagging about the fate of L.A. Reid’s future as Chairman of Island Def Jam, with lots of information and misinformation swirling, and a cast of players including Lucian Grainge, Simon Cowell and The Dream, most believe Reid himself is the x-factor here… BMG Rights Management continues their publishing offensive in the U.S. with the acquisition of Evergreen Copyrights, after the announcement of which this week, CEO Hartwig Masuch made known his plan to rival the four major music publishers for dominance, adding in reference to the unsure fate of EMI, his company wouldn’t necessarily need EMI’s entire publishing business, but would be happy with Western European assets… CMJ has announced the 2nd batch of acts confirmed for this year’s Music Marathon in New York City, including currently chased indie groups like BRAHMS, Oberhofer and Cults, the latter of which looks to have been taken off the market as quickly as they appeared… Back on the left coast, catch Fool’s Gold at the Troubadour tonight, as the local band returns for a hometown show after a string of European dates. And it looks like fellow IAMSOUND Records act MEN, who were featured on the cover of last week’s LA Weekly, will see their release in the UK via Columbia, who also appears to have grabbed the London-based NME About to Break group, The Vaccines…
| Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
CMJ 2010 Announces Initial Artist Line-Up & Gets Interactive with “CMJ Play”
The initial line-up of artists set to perform during this year’s CMJ Music Marathon in New York City has been revealed, and it is made up of a number of rising acts from the indie circuit, including Surfer Blood, Two Door Cinema Club, School of Seven Bells, The Drums, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Small Black, Dominique Young Unique and Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr. among others. Held in NYC starting October 19th through the 23rd, this year’s music and film conference will also include a new area of focus in music and interactive media, particularly gaming and mobile apps. The one day summit called CMJ Play, takes place on October 20th and is being curated by NYU’s Samuel Howard-Spink and will feature key players from the music and interactive fields. Get the full list of artists announced here.
File Under: Stuff We Like – Extended CMJ Edition
Imagine Dragons @ Viper Room tonight (10/19)
| Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »