Post 4th Catch-Up
Audra Mae Signs to SideOneDummy
Welcome back from the holiday weekend (we decided to delay our post for those who REALLY enjoyed themselves), we hope it was a good one. Also, thanks to everyone who made it to last Thursday’s Rumble L.A. event, it turned out to be another great night with some amazing performances. Here’s a little catch-up on what’s happening out there…
The usually steady landscape of performing rights organizations have seen some shakeups of late on the west coast, particularly with the open director position at ASCAP that had many throwing their hat in the ring. A little birdie tells us that the field is narrowed to a short-list and the final selection is imminent. Speaking of chirping, inquires about a similar west coast opening at BMI have started coming in due to a recent departure in the creative/membership department. Will we see a similar parade of applicants? Or will there be an in-house hire of one of their own creative execs who’s a rising star?
On the signing front, one of our favorite artists of the last year, Audra Mae, has signed with uber-indie label SideOneDummy Records. Kudos to Warner Chappell’s Blue Hamilton who signed Audra early on the publishing tip, and manager Marc Pollack, who recently returned to Hits joining The MGMT Co.. On the east coast, RCA Records A&R exec David Wolter, in tandem with Nick Burgess in the UK, has signed L.A.’s Funeral Party (formerly on Fearless Records). Meanwhile, the Ben McClane-repped Secret Secret Dino Club has signed with Drive Thru Records…
Currently in the mix is Marissa Renee, who is slated to appear on P-Diddy’s new MTV show, has performed with Kanye West and is currently writing for the Clique Girlz on Interscope. Quite impressive for the 19-year-old Phoenix native. We hear publishers are circling in… Speaking of Arizona, which seems to be an artist hot spot of late, the Tempe-based This Century appears to be finalizing a one-off arrangement through a Warner Bros. Records imprint… Finally, we recently mentioned that multiple labels were taking notice of the John Branca-repped AMD with label showcase requests piling up for the female-foursome. At press time, we hear there are offers in from majors on both coasts, while calls are still coming in. Stay tuned…
06.23.09Scream-A-Long with Far on New Album
far's little pony
Sacramento’s far, whose cover of Ginuwine’s classic R&B song “Pony,” became a hit at Alternative Radio this year, has been working away at the Airport Studios on their upcoming full-length release for Vagrant Records. In finishing the album they’ve asked for a little help from their fans, in what is being dubbed the “Scream-A-Long Project.” The idea is to create a group chorus that is “the most far-reaching, diverse, punk-rock DIY choir EVER.” Find out how fans can get involved after the jump… Read the rest of this entry »
06.17.09Will Changes at MySpace Affect Record Label?
Change is in the air at MySpace
Earlier this week, Myspace announced a 30% reduction in its workforce, dubbed a “return to start-up culture”, causing a clamor of questions both internally and in the media. So how will the new company direction under recently appointed CEO Owen Van Natta (former COO at Facebook) affect Myspace Records? Spared from the initial cuts, we hear Van Natta is still assessing the future direction of the company’s record division. Regardless of the recent negative press, Myspace remains a social networking giant with an elevated platform in online music, which Facebook does not possess. Therefore, will the record division play a diminished or an even expanded role in the new MySpace regime? Recent breakout artists such as Colbie Caillat, Lilly Allen and even recent bidding-derby act Never Shout Never effectively harnessed Myspace’s social networking reach to garner a legion of fans and industry attention alike. With that said, will Van Natta redirect the record division to its full potential? Stay tuned…
06.15.09Anti-Flag Returns with The People Or The Gun
Anti-Flag Returns with New Album
After a foray with mixed results into the major label world with two releases on RCA Records in ‘06 and ‘08, punk rock stalwart Anti-Flag returns to the indie arena with their new album, The People or The Gun, which came out last week on SideOneDummy Records. The seventh full-length release continues an aesthetic and approach from the Pittsburgh band that has garnered them a loyal global fanbase. With an expected strong first week and a headlining spot on this years Warped Tour there are no signs of slowing down.
05.28.09Deal or No Deal, the Rest Comes later…
Australia's Temper Trap Go With Glassnote
Bidding derby wild card Glassnote Music nabbing the highly sought after Temper Trap may be yesterday’s news already, but one still can’t help but ponder the expectations for a signing like that. From what we hear, the deal likely included no 360 component, reversions on all albums and some serious money upfront (upwards of $500K on the first album), and for a license. A definite departure from most deals du jour, especially for a new artist, it’s more proof of the current unpredictable industry terrain.
Speaking of new artists, Long Beach’s Avi Buffalo, who just finished their all-ages residency at The Echo (a first for the venue), appears to be feeling the love from a number indies, most notably a (not so) little outfit out of Seattle, WA. And Michigan’s producer turned hipster hip-hop artist Mike Posner (and The Brain Trust) are fielding offers from both labels and publishers. Stay tuned…
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Hell Ya! Tonight @ Viper Room
If you haven’t had a chance to checkout local buzz acts Rob Roy or Fitz & the Tantrums (who we hear has offers in from the UK), Hell Ya! Presents at the Viper Room tonight has you covered. Tonight’s lineup also includes Django James (& the Midnight Squires) along with San Diego’s Dr. Seahorse, an artist you’ll be hearing a lot more about soon if you haven’t already. Hell Ya! Presents, led by Heather Peggs and her tastemaker Deejays, continues to feature local and visiting artists on the cusp, many times before they go on to bigger things. Seems like it’s about time Heather and Hell Ya! got a label deal of their own, or have they already? Hell Ya! Records? Stay tuned…
05.18.09File Under: Stuff We Like
Seattle's Telekinesis @ Troubadour tonight
Complete Control Radio Returns to L.A.
Complete Control Returns to LA Airwaves
Starting on April 18th at 10:00PM, Los Angeles will have a new reason to turn the radio back on. The Complete Control radio show will be returning to L.A. on Saturday nights now on 98.7 FM. The show features both new and old-school punk rock music as well as interviews and tons of information on all that is punk. The show’s creator and host, SideOneDummy Record’s own Joe Sib, was kind enough to chat with us about Complete Control, Indie 103.1 (Complete Control’s first home) and the show’s new home in L.A. on 98.7 FM.
RM64: Can you tell us some of the story behind Complete Control Radio?
JS: Complete Control began almost 5 years ago on Indie 103.1 FM. Around the end of 2003 and the beginning of 2004 I remember people telling me, ‘you’ve got to check out this new station’. The first time I turned on Indie 103.1 I heard in one sitting Elvis Costello, Black Flag, The Shins and then some local Los Angeles band. I immediately wanted to find out who was running the station. At the time I was handling radio here at SideOneDummy, so I tracked down the Program Director, Michael Steele, and we setup a dinner to talk about the new Flogging Molly album. From that point on Michael and I started becoming friends, and one time he asked me about classic punk rock and what kind of stuff the station should be playing. Since this is L.A. I immediately listed off a bunch of classic L.A. punk bands, and I ended up making him a playlist of all sorts of stuff like The Germs, The Weirdos, Bad Religion and Social Distortion. A few weeks later I was in my car and I heard some of the songs from my playlist, it was awesome. And that was the thing I loved about Michael, he was the first guy in radio at that level who not only took my call, but also actually asked me questions and for my opinion on music.
So Michael and I were talking one night, and I mentioned to him that there should be a show on Indie 103.1 that incorporated everything from old school to new punk rock. Not for it to be a throwback show just really informative, and when you had a punk band coming through L.A. for a show they would do an interview on Indie the night before. Really it was based on a show I grew up listening to in San Jose in the 80’s called Vinyl Rights, it aired on KFJC and was hosted by Alex Morgan. It was on Thursday nights and he was amazing, so full of information. So I based the idea for Complete Control off of that show and pitched it to Michael. I pitched it with the idea of getting someone else to host it but before I even got to that point, he said I love the idea, I want you to do it, and let’s start next week.
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RM64 Q&A: Bill Armstrong & Joe Sib / SideOneDummy Records
SideOneDummy Records Founders Joe Sib & Bill Armstrong
There are a handful of independent record labels out there today that are filling the gap between mom and pop operation and major label behemoth. Home to platinum sellers and international touring artists, these indie-ecosystems provide a place where music, community and commerce combine in a way rarely seen in the confines of corporate entertainment companies. SideOneDummy Records is one of those labels and over the past 14 years they have grown from two friends in a Hollywood apartment, to a business with worldwide presence, hundreds of releases and an impressive roster of artists including: Flogging Molly, The Gaslight Anthem, Gogol Bordello, Fake Problems, Dusty Rhodes, Bedouin Soundclash, The Casualties and many others.
RM64 dimwits Rodel Delfin and Scott Sheldon sat down with SideOne head honchos Bill Armstrong and Joe Sib at their Hollywood office.
RM64: When you started the label over a decade ago, did you have a specific plan or goal in mind?
BA: When we started, the goal was to see if we could do this and not have a real job. And to not have to report to anybody or answer to anyone. That was really it. As long as we could get a cup of coffee and a bagel in the morning, we were good.
03.20.09South-By Day 2 – Sixth Street Hustle
Local Natives get love from across the pond
For the Austin revelers out there, are you still alive? We always enjoyed being awakened in the early a.m. hours from the BMI Brunch happening at the back lawn of the Four Seasons Hotel. The riverside/back lawn view rooms at the Seasons are the best, minus the brunch ruckus. However, the free BMI breakfast spread is actually pretty good. Meanwhile, as our scouts seem to have gotten a little hazy due to their running around and probably some alcohol intoxication (we hope they’re not drinking on the job), here are a few acts that industry folks were peeping: We heard label reps were at Jessica Lea Mayfield’s set at the Parish on Wednesday. Mayfield has been getting plenty of attention due to her collaborations with Black Keys member Dan Auerbach… Meanwhile, indie pop darlings The Pains of Being Pure At Heart packed the house at Opal Divine last night. The New York ensemble has been getting plenty of blog love of late, and industry attention as well… LA/Silverlake group Local Natives apparently had a big UK music biz contingency at their 4pm show today (Fri, Mar 20) at Cheers. They play again tonight at 7pm (Austin time) at Fast Folks Bike Shop on East 6th Street… On the signed tip, we heard Black Gold rocked the house at the Red Bull Moontower last night. We’re glad to see Red Bull is back to hosting a venue/party spot in Austin. Their party house in years past were the best! We recall a memorable night a few years ago when yours truly was in a drunken stupor downing RB & vodka with the Kaiser Chiefs…man, those Brits sure can drink. Meanwhile, another Red Bull Records act, Twin Atlantic, plays the Moontower tonight…
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