Megan Washington has undergone a management shuffle as the ARIA-winning singer-songwriter bared all in a recent Australian documentary.
Washington has signed a new management deal with Chugg Music and joined their growing roster of artists ahead of the release of There There, the long-awaited follow-up album to 2010 debut I Believe You Liar, on Friday 12th September (via Universal).
The songsmith reportedly split with her previous manager, Troy Barrot of Hub Artist Services, in May and is now under the wing of Chugg Music’s Andrew Stone, as The Music reports.
“We’re really excited to have the opportunity to work with such an important Australian artist,” says Stone. “Megan is talented, thoughtful, and we’re looking forward to spreading the word globally in months ahead as well.” The deal sees Washington joining the likes of Sheppard, Deep Sea Arcade, Hey Geronimo, Lime Cordiale, and Major Leagues on the Chugg Music management roster.
The singer was also the focus of ABC documentary series Australian Story this week, which focussed on the 28-year-old’s speech impediment. A condition she’d suffered since she was the tender age of 5, Washington kept the nature of debilitating stutter a secret, with years of speech therapy and treatment to overcome and disguise the condition.
The half-hour episode – which you can watch online here – tracks Washington from panicking at the thought of speaking publicly at the ARIA Awards, to penning a new song about her condition and eventually delivering a TED Talk in which she shared her experiences about her stutter (which you can also watch over at YouTube here).
Washington embarks on a five-date national tour in support of new single ‘Limitless’ this August. Full dates and details here.
This Week’s New Tracks On Triple J
Adds:
The Delta Riggs – The Record’s Flawed [Rah Rah Records/Inertia]
Alt-J – Left Hand Free [Infectious/Mushroom]
Briggs – The Hunt {Ft. Gurrumul} [Golden Era]
Death From Above 1979 – Trainwreck 1979 [Warner]
FKA twigs – Two Weeks [Young Turks/Remote Control]
Joywave – Tongues {Ft. KOPPS} [Universal]
Pepa Knight – Clams [Rare Finds]
Vance Joy – Mess Is Mine [Liberation]
Spots:
FKA twigs – Two Weeks [Young Turks/Remote Control]
Husky – I’m Not Coming Back [Liberation]
Para One – You Too [Because Records/Warner]
Pepa Knight – Clams [Rare Finds]
Industry News
AWME 2014 Conference Proposals Open
AWME is now accepting proposals from industry associates who would like to suggest and potentially present relevant topics and speakers for consideration for the 2014 Conference Program. Each session lasts no more than an hour with a maximum of four speakers. Proposal forms are available online here, while inspiration from past conference sessions and subjects already presented at AWME is available here. Deadline for submissions is Thursday 31st July. (via AWME)
New Aussie Music Imprint Title Track Launches
Independent Australian music marketing company SGC Media has announced its very own imprint dedicated to “exploring and launching new and exciting acts.” Named Title Track, SGC’s Sarah Chipman has been appointed A&R Manager of the new imprint, which will use SGC Media’s resources to take on a “strict label-style” approach to A&R. The Title Track launch roster includes LA’s The Growlers (via Smackface Records), Sydney’s Sticky Fingers (whose album hits on August 1), Melbourne’s Pretty City (on tour now), Perth’s The Love Junkies (album due September), Brisbane locals The Trouble with Templeton and Babaganouj, and new tracks later this month from emerging acts Moses Gunn Collective and Grand Pavilion.
More Females Added To AMP Judging Panel
Following criticisms of gender equality, the judging panel for the coveted annual Coopers Australian Music Prize (AMP) has expanded to include more women. The new judges joining the panel include musician Jen Cloher, journalists Sarah Smith (FasterLouder) and Bryget Chirsfield (The Music), and a fourth as-yet-unannounced member. Jet Black Cat Music’s Shannon Logan is also returning to the fold while Renee Geyer is taking time off. (via Herald Sun’s Rock City)
Cooking Vinyl Australia Partners With Thirty Tigers, Razor & Tie
Cooking Vinyl Australia has announced two new label deals with international companies, namely Nashville based entertainment group, Thirty Tigers, that will see their roster – featuring Lucinda Williams, Jason Isbell, The Avett Brothers, and more – represented throughout Australian and New Zealand by Cooking Vinyl Australia. The second is a long-term deal with New York indie label, Razor & Tie, representing their metal and rock signings – such as Yellowcard, All That Remains, The Sword, and more – in the Antipodes. The newly inked partnerships join Cooking Vinyl Australia’s established deals with Canada’s Dine Alone Records and Sydney label Resist Records.
Sunshine Recorder Relaunches
A recording studio, creative hub and record label located in Port Melbourne, Sunshine Recorder has relaunched with a brand new website and a host of exciting new initiatives. Decked out with top-grade production gear (such as vintage mics, a rare British Clarec console, tape machine, and a 9-ft grand piano), Sunshine Recorder also offers educational courses in Audio Production and Post Production. Three of the hub’s artists – Morningfence, Caroline Gale and The Mighty Sun – are gearing up for online streams for mid-July, and in August, the studio will host a launch party to kick thigns off in earnest. (via Sunshine Recorder)
Artist Signings
New Navy Join Select Music & Windish Agency Rosters
Sydney three-piece New Navy are the latest band to sign to the rosters of Select Music and Windish Agency off the back of their new single ‘Heaven’, which as received nearly 10,000 streams on Soundcloud since its release. The news arrives as New Navy confirm dates for a national headline tour with singer-songwriter Andy Bull for this September. Full details here.
Nicky Night Time Signs With Maker Agency
Nicky Night Time, the new solo project from Van She frontman Nick Routledge, has signed with the Maker agency, home of cutting edge electronic acts Anna Lunoe, Golden Features, Nina Las Vegas, Sampology, and What So Not. The deal arrives as Nicky Night Time is set to tour his #1 ARIA Club Chart hit ‘Everybody Together’.
