Meiko to release new album on Concord in 2012

While the fourth quarter frequently seems to be a bit slow on the A&R front, it does seem like 2011 has seen an inordinate number of new signings be announced in the waning days of the year, both in the indie and major label worlds. After losing her label home when MySpace Records was shuttered by Fox Corp., much loved singer-songwriter Meiko has reportedly ended up on Concord, with her new album (originally recorded under the guidance of MSR/Interscope) due in the new year…  Speaking of Interscope, they seem to be on a signing spree of late. Insiders are scratching their heads at much of the activity, especially due to the fact the major has been steadily stripping back their marketing staff number-wise over the past year, in particular in the rock arena, and the A&R department has been radically pared back. Las Vegas alt-rock crew Imagine Dragons, after being on the radar of label scouts for an extended period, ended up part of the Interscope family, via the KidinaKorner imprint (run by hip hop/R&B producer Alex da Kid). In a deal that seemingly came out of nowhere, NYC trio The Kin inked with the Universal label in early November. Meanwhile Swedish DJ/producer Avicii signed a singles deal, in conjunction with Lady Gaga manager Troy Carter’s Atom Empire electronic label. And of course the controversial and divisive Lizzy Grant – aka Lana Del Rey - was signed by Interscope months before the news officially leaked, as the major tried to employ a strategy that the chanteuse was a hipster newcomer from the independent label world. And if all that is not enough, the label obviously also had a couple of recent much-publicized monster-artist new additions to the roster in Van Halen and Madonna, the latter of which is rumored to have signed for three albums and $30 million!! Another deal being filed under “What the hell?” is the report that former Barenaked Ladies member Kevin Hearn recently signed with LA indie Dangerbird Records…  And while info emerged that the hotly tipped Alabama Shakes became part of the ATO Records stable of artists, further digging has revealed that the deal for the foursome may just be a one-off, prompting a continuing frenzy of interest from labels to sign the band for further albums, with a large number of scouts out for their NYC shows this past week…  Meanwhile on the publishing front, indie favorites Pains of Being Pure at Heart just inked with Warner-Chappell…  Finally, reports emerged over the weekend that legendary UK act The Stone Roses, who announced details earlier in October that they were reforming for a series of shows in 2012, are working on new material – and recording deals are in place! The band have supposedly signed with Columbia Records for North America, and (the least surprising news of the week) Universal Music for the UK.

Taeko Saito joins SONGS

There has been much movement in the music publishing world over the last few weeks, including the move for Taeko Saito from working at producer management operation AAM, into the A&R department at SONGS Music Publishing.  Also new to SONGS is Josh Feingold, who comes to the boutique pubco from SESAC’s Los Angeles office… Meanwhile, after unloading much of the creative staff absorbed in the takeover of Chrysalis, who truth be told were more than exemplary in their talent-spotting, development and artist relations skills, BMG Rights Management has added Jon Sidel on the west coast and Kate Hyman out east to their creative department. And of course Bertlesmann announced a change at the top, with Thomas Rabe succeeding as the new CEO… In related news, former Bug Music CEO John Rudolph left the company following BMG’s recent purchase of the publishing outfit, while elsewhere, former Chrysalis North American president Kenny MacPherson and A&R VP Jamie Cerreta are rumored to be eyeing the void left in the independent music pubco sector after all the recent acquisitions – be on the lookout for more moves from the veteran publishers… Last week came the announcement that Evan Lamberg is to take the helm at Universal Music Publishing Group in North America. Insiders share that Lamberg was gunning hard for the position, though he probably wasn’t the first choice, as it was no secret that the top Universal brass took their time after numerous meetings with other suitors… And on the digital side, J Scavo ankles his global marketing position at the seemingly more stable Disney Music Group for the revolving door position that is digital at Warner Bros. Records. The digital executive bailed for the rival label, a hop-skip and a jump across the river in Burbank, after barely 18 months working for the Mouse. It was Scavo, previously the GM at MySpace Records and a vocal champion for non-traditional label models, who with his decision to suddenly resign to work at Disney, provided the spark for News Corp. to initiate moves to lay off the label’s staff and shutter it as an ongoing operation. Robbie Snow has been named the new Head of Global Marketing for Disney’s music operations under Hollywood Records… And Brett Greenberg has joined Crush Management as VP of radio promotions.

Meiko completes new album; finding new label home

As the News Corp. sale of MySpace is close at hand (with an announcement expected in the coming weeks), so too is MySpace Records shuttering, for good this time. Early 2010 began the initial dissolving of the label, which was formed in 2005 and aligned with Universal Music Group label Interscope Records via a P&D deal that has now lapsed, and since last year the operation has continued under a skeletal staff and somewhat ambiguous circumstances – a partnership with Downtown Music was announced back in September. However, with the writing on the wall as to MySpace’s future, and a scaling back of many divisions, MSR began to be dismantled, a process which was guided by label GM David Andreone who took the helm just over a year ago. Among many duties, Andreone has also helped the artists signed to MSR find new label homes, and even get master recording rights back – some albums previously released by the label have already been pulled down from digital marketplaces such as iTunes… One former MySpace Records/Interscope artist, and now free agent who is getting a lot of industry attention, Meiko, has just completed a new album produced by Styrofoam and Jimmy Messer, and mixed by Brian Malouf. We hear that labels on both coasts are talking to the songstress, who already has a strong track record with sales, touring and film & TV… And word is that Andreone, a veteran of both the music publishing and record label arenas, is likely to transition to one of a handful of digital music companies in play, after he departs his post at the end June… Stay tuned.

Limited edition?

In a move we tipped back in December, today came the official announcement that Luke Wood is exiting his executive role at Interscope Geffen A&M and DGC Records, to take a new post as COO at Beats Electronics. Those in the know share that the move was a reluctant one for Wood, who spent years working in A&R at the Jimmy Iovine-helmed label, and that the installation of new Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge, who wasted no time in cutting executive staff, prompted the shift. It also follows a large cast off of artists from the IGA roster… Others rumored to be making a preemptive lateral to Beats include A&R player Todd Parker, who worked closely with Wood and was also tasked with liaising between MySpace Records and the label. An arrangement that is believed to be soon coming to an end.

Photo Taken Off Facebook; Sorry David

David Andreone has been appointed the new head of MySpace Records, reporting to MySpace Music’s Courtney Holt (President) and Sam Wick (SVP Music). Andreone was formerly an A&R executive at Columbia Records and Warner Chappell Publishing - where his signings included Disturbed, Michelle Branch and Hoobastank…  Those keeping score will remember the exit of nearly the entire MSR staff earlier this year, leaving many to wonder what the future would hold for the label. Stay tuned for more clues…

In a post last week we mentioned the departure of J Scavo from his role as GM at MySpace Records after being tapped for a digital marketing position at Hollywood Records.  In a seemingly unrelated turn of events, the following day word began to leak that bigger changes were afoot at the label and that a significant portion of the MSR staff was being let go. From there rumors and speculation as to the label’s future and potential demise began to fly, ranging from a slow “wind-down,” to being restructured as primarily an A&R source for its major label partner Interscope Records.

Many reports cited MSR’s likely transition into its originally intended function as an A&R source, though it’s unclear how that might work with the reduction including staff from that very department. Additionally, some are wondering what the future holds for the A&R and artist development-focused program MySpace Friends & Family, which now includes over 100 artists.  While it’s true the initial hiring priority at the label was in artist & repertoire, which is not unusual, a fully-functioning label was then assembled around that.

And what about the artists signed to the label?  Reports last week all similarly stated that MSR acts appear to be out of harm’s way despite all the big changes.  But with the presumed transformation, how can that be?  Surely some of the MSR roster could be folded into Interscope, however it seems unlikely that would be the case for all of their artists, particularly those without any sales history or those unfitting to that major label’s very selective artist mold.

Will MySpace’s principle focus be put into the struggling MySpace Music platform while MySpace Records becomes just a logo on the back of future releases?   That and many other questions still remain, though undoubtedly more answers will be revealed over the coming months. Stay tuned…

Chiddy Bangin on BBC Radio 1

It was one-year ago today that we published our ‘welcome back & happy new year‘ piece for 2009, so a post-holiday roundup and a look at the early action in 2010 on this date only seems fitting.

Taking up the digital marketing reins at Hollywood Records is J Scavo, who exits his GM position at MySpace Records where he was integral in promotions like Toyota Rock the Space and Wendy’s Fresh Faces, as well as the signing of artists such as Christina Milian and Meiko among others… It appears things are heating up stateside for Philly’s Chiddy Bang with the Crush-managed artist being signed by EMI in the UK and their track “The Opposite of Adults” getting spun regularly on Radio 1.  Another early contender for one of the new year’s first bidding-derby acts is TMills, as we hear major-label heads are lining up to showcase the tattooed auto-crooner… Distorted electro-duo Sleigh Bells appear to be closing a deal with indie shop Mom & Pop, while Austin’s Ume is being courted by multiple big-indies on opposite coasts. Stay tuned…

In other updates, the next New Music Seminar will take place in Los Angeles on February 2nd, and will feature Spotify founder Daniel Ek as keynote speaker and numerous panelists including Ian Rogers, Alex Patsavas, Jason Bentley and Kevin Lyman to name a few… And in case you missed this holiday reading, checkout And Party Every Day: The Inside Story of Casablanca Records, the new inside account of the influential and infamous record label was penned by label co-founder Larry Harris.

Andrew Brightman / Brightman Music

“… now A&R people are more used to hearing finished masters, things that are ready to put out…” (Read Q&A)

Bill Armstrong & Joe Sib / SideOneDummy Records

“Ultimately, I think the future label model is one that’s lean and can move quickly, but still be competitive on a big level.” (Read Q&A)

Jason Reynolds / MySpace Records

“I don’t really know how much awareness there is in the music business community as to what we do; which is fine.  I guess now they’ll probably all find out won’t they?” (Read Q&A)

Damon Booth & Tom DeSavia / Notable Music Publishing

“I think in general, publishers are in a great position in this climate. If they can be smart about their role, they can help an artist do anything they want to do.” (Read Q&A)

Eric Garland / BigChampagne

“…10 years ago our idea was to provide insight, analysis and measurement in this space that companies like Nielsen have always provided offline. Somebody has to do that online and we should be that company. We’re still here and basically that’s still the mission.” (Read Q&A)

Missy Worth / Artistic License Mgmt

“I’ve learned that a band has to have conviction and a viewpoint, if they don’t have that then no one knows what they are working towards. This all begins and ends with the band and their songs and their story and we all need to remember that.” (Read Q&A)