05.20.10

And the Livin’ is Easy, Fish Are Jumpin’: Our Pre-Summer Industry Roundup

Columbia Records Hoping for Pumped Up Hit from Foster the People

Summer is around the corner and things are heating up all around the industry with bidding-derbies, swelling festival line-ups and a new batch of summer-infused singles dropping… The buzz surrounding the Monotone Inc-managed Foster the People turned into a good old fashion label bidding-derby recently. Their song “Pumped Up Kicks” is being touted as the next potential summertime hit. With lots of label suitors coming to the table, it looks like congratulations are in order for Columbia Records, who has apparently closed the band…  On the management front a different kind of derby is winding up, as managers are vying to land The All American Rejects. The band recently parted ways with their former management, but kept their longtime day-to-day man Nick “Fish” Fishbaugh. We heard Fishbaugh has been meeting with numerous management companies for a new management home for him and the band. We hear the short-list is down to only a few. Stay tuned… The grass is only getting greener over at the Josh Abraham-helmed Pulse Recording, where Jason Bernard and the manager/publisher coterie has had producer Luke Walker working on material with new Universal/Motown signing Christian TV, including the first single released this week, “When She Turns 18,” while Bonnie McKee co-wrote Katy Perry’s latest single and ode to Cali, “California Gurls” – we just hope the fellas keep the daisy dukes at home… More heat out of EMI Publishing where the pubco’s Matt Messer and Amanda Berman recently signed Nations Afire, a band comprised of former members of Rise AgainstIgnite and Death By Stereo. The group is currently writing and recording new material, and will play the Detroit Bar in the O.C. this Saturday. Messer will be BBQing at the show… Speaking of BBQ, the 2010 Austin City Limits lineup was announced this week with The Eagles and Muse taking top spots, while a host of other notables include YeasayerThe xxGaslight Anthem and Local Natives; see the whole list here… Finally, expect a lot of industry folks to be at the Troubadour in the next couple nights, as Casxio and Imagine Dragons take the famed-stage tonight (Thursday), while on Friday, radio-darlings Dead Country will support Far whose new album comes out next week (May 25)…

IN THE MIX: Carl Stubner & Paul Pontius

02.3.10

Hot Dawg of the Week: Blue Hamilton

Hot Dawg of the Week: Blue Hamilton

Warner Chappell Publishing’s A&R up-and-comer Blue Hamilton is feeling anything but blue lately. With a building track record and the ink still wet from his newest signing, we thought it was a good time to catch up with the pubcos’ young earner for a spotlight in the first edition of our new feature Hot Dawg of the Week… Blue’s roster includes singer/songwriter Audra Mae whose cut “Who I Was Born To Be” is the only original song on Susan Boyle’s I Dreamed A Dream, which has sold to date over 7-million units worldwide. He signed the Oklahoma native back in ’06 when she was only a twinkle in SuBo’s eye. Audra Mae’s debut album comes out this spring on SideOneDummy Records… Hamilton also inked famed girl-kisser Katy Perry for publishing back in ’07, prior to her multi-platinum debut album One Of The Boys. She also had cuts on last year’s All I Ever Wanted from Kelly Clarkson as well as the self-titled debut from Jessie James. Perry is currently in the studio working on her follow-up album with collaborators including Tricky, The Dream and Dr. Luke among others… Blue’s newest act is Brooklyn’s Semi Precious Weapons who recently signed to HouseofGaga/Interscope Records. The band is currently in Europe finishing a run supporting Lady GaGa on The Monster Ball tour and their debut album is slated for a spring release.

Stay tuned for our next Hot Dawg of the Week…