New Zealand Introduces Groundbreaking Music Performance License
New Zealand are set to introduce a new umbrella, one-stop license for any public performance of artistic work – including radio, live, publishing, or recording – with the ‘Single Music License’, the first of its kind across the music industry. Created by licensing agencies APRA and PPNZ Music Licensing, the two parties will be joining under a new brand name – OneMusic – for the introduction of the new license. The new company is designed to streamline the independent calculations and operations of APRA and PPNZ together, making the process easier for artists to collect fees. “By APRA and PPNZ coming together our customers will now be going to one place, www.onemusicnz.com, to calculate and pay a single fee without having to deal with overly complex paperwork,” said Anthony Healey, head of New Zealand Operations at APRA. “We’ve built the licence scheme from the bottom up after extensive consultation with our customers on what works best for them.” (via Digital Music News)
Illy Launches New Record Label With UNFD, Signs First Act
Melbourne rapper Illy has partnered with hardcore label UNFD to launch a brand new Aussie hip hop label, One Two. With the label founder himself signed on to the roster, the label’s first signing arrives in Allday, who recently supported Illy on his recent Australian tour. Hailing from Adelaide, the 22-year-old Allday is one of the country’s more successful emerging MCs, having toured hard on the lineups for Big Day Out, Push Over, Groovin The Moo and Sprung, while his Loners Are Cool EP debuted at #18 on the ARIA Charts, followed closely by the release of his Soon I’ll Be In Cali 2 mixtape. Allday’s latest release, and his first for One Two, will be a single released in November, along with a national tour. “Allday has a distinct sound, and unique style that sets him apart from his peers. But his work ethic is what really singled him out to me,” says Illy of signing Allday to One Two.
Universal Music Publishing Sign Aussie Hip Hop Stars In New Partnership
Universal Music Publishing Australia have launched a new partnership with Sydney-based artist collective One Day. The deal sees local hip hop acts Horrorshow, Jackie Onassis, Joyride, and Spit Syndicate exclusively represented by Universal’s publishing arm on a global scale. “With this deal we pick up a team of world-class beat-makers, hook-writers and story-tellers and we couldn’t be more pleased,” said Heath Johns, Director of A&R at UMPA. The new signees join a huge roster that includes 360, Passenger, Jonti, The Living End, Wolfmother, Redcoats, Bernard Fanning, Chance Waters, The Aston Shuffle, The Veronicas, Bag Raiders, Last Dinosaurs, Jet, Children Collide, Guy Sebastian, Dead Letter Circus, The Potbelleez, Jessica Mauboy, Sietta, Paulmac and many more. (via The Music)
Niche Agency Expands Roster With New Signings
Rising Sydney artist Okenyo and Adelaide beat-smith Oisima have been welcomed to the Niche Agency, expanding their roster of national touring acts. Zindzi Okenyo is a professional theatre actress turned musician, developing her style after downloading a music app to compose and produce beats for a number of songs inspired by music and literary references. Backed by her band, Ictus, the Sydney songwriter has recently released a video teaser for new track ‘Broken Chest’. Under the Oisima moniker, Adelaidian Anthe Wendt crafts emotive electronica, sampling and reworking tunes of everyone from Adele to DOOM as well as constructing his own hypnotic original music. Following the release of two cult favourite EPs and signing to Berlin-based Herbede Records, Oisima has built international attention and a fierce local following for his delicate synthesis of jazz-infused melodies and ambient laced, hip-hop beats.
Brisbane Festival 2013 A Huge Success
Having wrapped for another year, on 28th September, the annual Brisbane Festival is enjoying some impressive figures from its 2013 edition. Featuring musical performances from a diverse array of artists, including Dick Diver, The Basics, Big Scary, Ghostpoet, and Beach Fossils, Brisbane Festival 2013 smashed box office records, with a 30% increase in revenue over last year’s event. Helped by sell-out shows from Calexico, Hungry Kids Of Hungary, as well as Psycho Beach Party, La Soirée, and Freeze Frame – to name a few. Meanwhile, 470,000 people turned out to watch Sunsuper Riverfire, while 452,000 viewers tuned in to the Channel Nine broadcast at home. 440,000 Festival-goers flocked to South Bank to see Santos GLNG City of Lights (up nearly 50% on last year) and 300,000 marveled at the Brisbane Airport Light Garden. All in all, a major success.
Oliver Tank Inks New Management & Label Deals
Sydney producer-peformer Oliver Tank has signed a new record deal with Create/Control for the release of his new EP, the follow-up to 2011’s Dreams EP. The new deal also sees Tank working with Walls & Bridges’ Laura Wallbridge as his new manager. “Oliver is an enchanting and extremely unique artist with an exciting future ahead of him,” says Wallbridge. “I was captivated by the Dreams EP and his new music is as magical as everyone is hoping it will be.” The first taste of the new release arrives in new single ‘Different Speed’ (featuring Ta-Ku), while Oliver Tank is set to support New Zealand’s Lorde on her Australian tour this month, before he plays the Meredith and Falls music festivals. (via The Music)
New World Artists Sign Unearthed High Winners Lunatics On Pogosticks
Lunatics On Pogosticks, the recent winners of the Triple J Unearthed High competition, have signed to the New World Artists talent agency. The garage rock trio from Sydney’s Newtown High – who beat out 900 entries in the competition – are currently unsigned and self-managed and join a roster that includes Grinspoon, Illy, Northlane, and Closure In Moscow. The agency will exclusively book Lunatics On Pogosticks’ live shows. “The entire team at New World Artists are keen to work with this exciting young band full of promise and possibilities,” reads a statement from New World Artists. (via The Music)
