PASSPORT APPROVED RETURNS TO LOS ANGELES RADIO
Influential new music station 88.5FM KCSN Los Angeles (www.kcsn.org), which has just revamped its programming line–up with the addition of former KCRW Santa Monica Music Director and highly–respected radio tastemaker and music supervisor Nic Harcourt, former Indie 103.1FM Los Angeles Music Director Mark Sovel, Terri Nunn (lead singer of Berlin) and others has just announced the addition of the international new music tastemaker program Passport Approved (www.passportapproved.com).
Passport Approved will air every Sunday from 5:00PM – 7:00PM on KCSN and will be hosted by international music tastemaker Sat Bisla who got his career started as a club DJ and in radio back in 1984 hosting a music import show in Central California after his move from England to the US and has since founded A&R Worldwide, MUSEXPO, Co–Founded the Worldwide Radio Summit and was one of the original founders for The New Music Network whilst he was at Clear Channel Radio which has now evolved into iHeart Radio.
Bisla, who has been consistently programming various import music shows since he first hit the radio airwaves back in 1984 has given the worldwide radio debut on Passport Approved to acts such as LMFAO (prior to them being signed, published or managed), Sam Sparro, Duffy and many others. In addition, his show was the first in N. America to interview and play Adele back in late 2007 (prior to her being signed), Naked & Famous, Ting Tings, Editors, Scouting For Girls, Arctic Monkeys, Corinne Bailey Rae, Wolfmother, Lily Allen, Temper Trap, White Lies and many others.
Sky Daniels, Program Director, KCSN “88.5FM” Los Angeles, stated, “We are excited to add the ground–breaking globally–minded new music show Passport Approved to our station. The program will be heard in the media center that is Los Angeles as part of KCSN’s initiative to develop artists on a local, national and international platform.”
Sat Bisla commented, “It’s an honour to join a great radio station such as KCSN ‘88.5FM” Los Angeles, which will undoubtedly become of America’s most influential new music radio stations. Los Angeles needs a 24 hour, 7 days a week music intensive station and KCSN genuine passion and support for new music mirrors my music ethos. It’s also great to be working with fellow music enthusiasts and long–time friends Sky Daniels, Nic Harcourt, Mark Sovel, Jim Nelson and the rest of the KCSN team along with my talented producer Josh Woodard.”
Passport Approved broadcasts on KNRK Portland (also with a “Passport Approved Daily” segment featuring a new int’l artist), KCMP “The Current, Minneapolis; WCNR Charlottesville, VA; “YRockOnXPN” WXPN Philadelphia; WEQX Manchester, VT/Albany, NY; on www.indie1031.com and www.moheak.com in the United States and its own 24–hour Passport Approved radio channel on Y! Music (on Yahoo!) and worldwide on the web and twice weekly segment on Flux FM Germany (Berlin, Brandenburg and Stuttgart), as well as, a regular segment on Japan’s national radio network Tokyo FM.
For more information on Passport Approved and its list of US and international radio affiliates, log on to www.passportapproved.com. Int’l music submissions for the show can be sent to Sat Bisla & Josh Woodard, Passport Approved, 8370 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.
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IMAGEM ANNOUCNES SEVERAL NEW SIGNINGS
Jon Pikus, Creative Director, A&R West Coast, Imagem Music, West Coast tells A&R Worldwide he has secured a few new signings. Pikus states, “I have several new signings to announce [press releases will be forthcoming], as well as updates on the songwriters and artists on the Imagem Music roster, focusing primarily on the US. We have some great writers available to collaborate, some of whom are also great producers, and a few great artists looking for a label home.
New signings include Peter Stengaard, the Danish writer/producer who based in Hollywood, CA with his own studio and is managed by Sandy Roberton for Twenty First Republic. He has a recent cut on Wind–Up Records artist James Durbin’s album Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster and is presently writing/producing Warner artist N.I.N.A., and is well–versed in pop/rock/country/urban, available to co–write.
Parade of Lights has joined the Imagem roster too. The Las Vegas/Los Angeles–based electro–rock band, new EP Born To Live, Born to Love is forthcoming April 2012. The band’s core members Ryan Daly and Anthony Improgo are available to co–write.
Pikus is also working with New York–based Phil Galdston who is best–known for writing Vanessa Williams’ hit “Save The Best For Last,” and for his work with Celine Dion. He’s an esteemed instructor at NYU, now part of the Imagem family to which he brings his vast catalog, he’s available to co–write.
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IRELAND ANNOUNCES ITS MUSIC PRIZE FOR 2011
The Meteor Choice Music Prize shortlist for Irish Album of the Year 2011 was announced last week. Selected by a panel of 11 Irish music media professionals and industry experts the list of nominees is comprised of some of the very best of Ireland’s musical talents. The overall winning Album of the Year will be selected by the judging panel at the Meteor Choice Music Prize Live Event at The Olympia Theatre, Dublin on Thursday, March 8th 2012.
The shortlist is as follows (artists listed in alphabetical order): And So I Watch You From Afar – Gangs (Richter Collective), Bell X1 – Bloodless Coup (Belly Up Records), Cashier No. 9 – To The Death Of Fun (Bella Union), Lisa Hannigan – Passenger (Hoop Records), The Japanese Popstars – Controlling Your Allegiance (EMI), Jape – Ocean of Frequency (Music Is For Losers), Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands – Golden Syrup (Osaka Records), Pugwash – The Olympus Sounds (EMI/1969 Records), Tieranniesaur – Tieranniesaur (Popical Island), We Cut Corners – Today I Realised I Could Go Home Backwards (Delphi).
Meadhbh Quinn, Meteor’s Head of Brand and Advertising stated, “Today’s shortlist is representative of the vast wealth of musical talent we have in Ireland today. The Meteor Choice Music Prize is unique in that judging focuses simply and solely on the music, as opposed to sales or airplay, it was established to highlight, promote and showcase the work of Irish artists and we’re very much looking forward to the award show in March.
Meteor has a longstanding association with music, it resonates with our customers and we are passionate about supporting and celebrating Irish musical talent within the country. Our work with the Choice Music Prize gives us the opportunity to share the best of Irish music with Meteor customers through exclusive gigs such as our recent Snow Patrol, Lisa Hannigan and James Vincent McMorrow concert’s, and through free downloads and competitions.”
The Meteor Choice Music Prize live event will be broadcast live on Today FM in a special four hour extended program during the Paul McLoone show.
The winning act will receive €10,000, a prize fund which has been provided by the Irish Music Rights Organization (IMRO) and the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA). All of the shortlisted acts will receive a specially–commissioned award, courtesy of the Recorded Artists Actors & Performers Ltd (RAAP). Most of the shortlisted albums will be available through retail partners HMV and once again, Culture Ireland will fund the attendance of key overseas delegates at the event.
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UNIVERSAL MUSIC ANNOUNCES NEW
VP INT’L DIGITAL MARKETING
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Deborah Hyacinth
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Deborah Hyacinth has been named Vice President, International Digital Marketing, at Universal Music Group. Effective immediately, the London–based appointment was announced last week by Andrew Kronfeld, President, Global Marketing, UMG, to whom she reports.
In her new role, Ms. Hyacinth will work alongside Universal Music’s international marketing teams, repertoire owners and global digital group to develop, coordinate and integrate UMG’s overall digital marketing and priority release strategy. To develop brands and services, she will be dealing with third party online, mobile and hardware companies, among others, and collaborating with the company’s business development, business affairs and digital accounts team to support the rollout of such new services.
Ms. Hyacinth comes to UMG with more than a decade of digital marketing experience. Most recently at EMI Music in London, she was Director, Global Digital Strategy, and central to the development of the company's social media, CRM and worldwide artist strategies, creating global marketing campaigns across online, mobile and other emerging media platforms.
Prior to EMI Music, Deborah was Ecommerce & Consumer Marketing Manager (EMEA) at Reuters, and Ecommerce Marketing Executive at HMV.
Andrew Kronfeld said, “Digital music marketing in today’s highly competitive marketplace demands agility, skill and experience – all qualities which Deborah has in abundance. She takes a key role in our dynamic worldwide marketing team, to make sure we continue to deliver what’s best for our artists and repertoire.”
Rob Wells, President, Global Digital Business, Universal Music Group, commented, “In the music business, there’s never been a more vital time to think and act globally, and to have the far–horizon perspective necessary to help to develop and support new digital services and music brands. Deborah’s background is the perfect prologue to this responsibility at UMG.”
Deborah Hyacinth added, “Universal Music is a trailblazer when it comes to building global music brands and artists. I’m thankful to be working with two of the industry’s leading executives, Andrew and Rob, and the UMG team. At a time when media is shifting dramatically, the potential that can be realised in the music industry is huge, and I’m thrilled to help shape new marketing models and build on UMG's success.”
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GLOBAL NEWS UPDATES…
In an effort to improve the branding for iHeartRadio, the HD digital radio stations and other radio, media, online and mobile services, Clear Channel Radio has changed its name to Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. CEO Bob Pittman made the announcement last week in Las Vegas at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show.
Known as the "United Nations of Music", MUSEXPO offers artists the chance to showcase in front of influential music, media, and technology executives that flock to Hollywood for the conference each year. MUSEXPO has once again partnered with Sonicbids to accept submissions to showcase at this year's conference, April 29–May 2, and will be selecting at least 10 artists to perform. The deadline to submit is just around the corner (February 1st 2012), click HERE to submit.
It was recently announced that Foo Fighters, Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson and Jason Aldean will be performing at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards. The show will air live from Los Angeles on Sunday, February 12th, on CBS at 8pm EST.
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LMFAO
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Following the overwhelming response of the Cherrytree Pop Alternative Tour in Canada, Cherrytree Records, Your Pop Alternative™, hosts party rockers LMFAO (a former A&R Worldwide unsigned/unpublished supported artist) with special guests Far East Movement and Colette Carr on the label’s follow–up concert tour of Europe. The Cherrytree Pop Alternative Tour Europe will rage for three months through sixteen countries. Cherrytree Records Founder, Martin Kierszenbaum, is thrilled to be back and stated, “We felt so welcome in Europe at our ‘Cherrytree London’ event last June that we are excited to come back for a full–on Cherrytree Pop Alternative Tour. We are so proud of our Cherrytree artists LMFAO, Far East Movement and Colette Carr and grateful for the warm reception European audiences have given them.”
EMI Music France has acquired a significant shareholding in all–rights music company PlayOn. The company was launched in 2006 by Sébastien Duclos and Julien Godin. The company covers all music genres and all segments of the music industry including production, publishing, management and live events as well as DVD rights, TV rights and content production. PlayOn has had several successful local projects over the past five years including work with French singer Zaz who has sold more than 1.5 million albums worldwide and reached No.1 in five territories – Colonel Reyel, Elisa Tovati and the recently released Gerard Lenorman duets album.
John Reid, the former CEO for Warner Music Europe has been tapped by Live Nation to be its President of Concerts in the European Union.
Six months ago, Spotify launched in the U.S. with unlimited music for those who signed up for their services. The early adapters are now going to have to pay for the service or be limited to listening to a single track five times per month and use the service for a total of 10 hours a month. There are currently two paid subscription options, including a monthly fee of $4.99 which allows users unlimited listening without ads and the $9.99 option that allows the same access but also includes unlimited listening on a mobile device.
Facebook has revealed that it is rolling out a new feature over the next few weeks called “Listen With Friends,” which allows simultaneous listening and interaction. Facebook product designer Alexandre Roche fully introduced the feature that was first announced ahead of the f8 conference in September and stated, “Today, with music services on Facebook, there’s a new way to listen with friends. This feature lets you listen along with any of your friends who are currently listening to music. You can also listen together in a group while one of your friends plays DJ. You can listen to the same song, at the exact same time–so when your favorite vocal part comes in you can experience it together, just like when you're jamming out at a performance or dance club.”
Josh Sarubin tells A&R Worldwide that he has left his position as Vice President, A&R, Sony/ATV Music Publishing in New York City for a new opportunity. Sarubin will unveil his new role and company in the near future.
BMG Chrysalis has announced that it has signed the Brooklyn–based trio The Big Sleep to its roster. The psych–rockers release their new full–length album, Nature Experiments, on January 31st via Frenchkiss Records. The first official single is called “Ace.”
Universal Music Publishing Germany and AMV Talpa recently held a joint songwriting camp for “The Voice of Germany,” which is an affiliate of NBC Universal (US) TV program “The Voice.”
A&R Worldwide and MUSEXPO will be at Midem 2012 in Cannes, France at our stand R06.22 at the Palais. If you would like to meet with our team regarding any assistance you need with your global creative and business strategies and our services may be of help, please come visit us at our stand.
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ralph Simon, Nico Meckelnburg, Fredrik Ekander, Martin Dodd, Barry Dickins, Christian Tattersfield, Colin Barlow, David Massey, Brian Wittmer, Randy Lennox, Pete Kirtley and Byron Cooke.
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JACKASS OF THE WEEK
Have you ever sent a personal IM to the wrong screen name, accidentally replied “send all” on an E–mail, or made a total ass of yourself? Yes, we’ve all had a jackass moment at one time or another in our life. This week, we show you a pole jumping jackass! Click HERE to watch this idiot jump and fail!
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A&R WORLDWIDE’S "ARTIST OF THE WEEK" – MIDNIGHT YOUTH
Midnight Youth, a quintet formed in 2006, had their first two singles achieve Top 40 airplay on New Zealand radio and TV and the group was deemed one of the top unsigned bands on MySpace in 2008. Their self–funded efforts were more than enough to get them noticed, with Warners NZ/Australia signing Midnight Youth in September 2008 and subsequently releasing “The Letter,” which became the No.1 most played song on New Zealand radio and remained in the Top 10 most played for more than 15 weeks. Their next single release, “All on Our Own,” upped the ante, spending 11 weeks as the most played song on New Zealand radio. The debut album The Brave Don’t Run was released in spring 2009 and bowed at No.1 on the iTunes album chart and No. 2 on the New Zealand album chart and reached Platinum status. Midnight Youth closed out 2009 by being nominated for eight New Zealand Music Awards, bringing home the hardware for Best Rock Act, Best Group and Best Engineered Recording. The band spent much of 2011 on the road playing alongside Birds of Tokyo, Opshop, Brooke Fraser, Jimmy Barnes and even supported Crowded House at the opening of the Rugby World Cup waterfront stadium. Midnight Youth also unleashed their sophomore album, World Comes Calling, which debuted at No. 4 on the national RIANZ chart, No. 1 on iTunes and is quickly approaching Gold status. Their latest release, “Who Said You’re Free,” was recently named the No.1 Rock track in New Zealand and has drawn comparisons to Jet and U2. For any Midnight Youth inquiries, please reach out to Matt Coleman matt@letthepeoplespeak.tv. To listen to “Who Said You’re Free,” click HERE.
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A&R WORLDWIDE’S "VIDEO OF THE WEEK" – HAPPY CAMPER
At first it was just an idea but it ended up being a perfect combination of music and animation provided by Job Roggeveen. With influences stemming from a variety of European countries, the songs that were created had a melancholy feel to them and were perfect for film. Roggeveen, who plays keyboards for the Netherlands Alternative Rock/American outfit El Pino and the Volunteers, wrote the songs and played several instruments himself. He collaborated with fellow musicians and the music and lyrics were finally complete. When it came time to record the vocals, Roggeveen had some assistance from a variety of vocalists, including Tim Knol, Leine, David Pino and Appel of El Pino and the Volunteers, Janna Schra of Schradinova, Ricky Koole, Johannes Sigmond of Blaudzun and Odilo Girod of Chop Wood. The creation was aptly named Happy Camper and the debut album was released with the stamp of approval by many critics and fans. The track “Born With A Bothered Mind” features Bouke Zoete of The Kevin Costners and is accompanied by a radiating animated clip. The song and visual is a perfect marriage that may even rival some of the Disney and Pixar movie releases. Enjoy this intelligently crafted animated video; the band is currently available for signing, licensing and booking in multiple territories worldwide. Contact info@anrworldwide.com for management contact details.
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PASSPORT APPROVED™ PLAYLIST – 1/14/2012
“PASSPORT APPROVED” PLAYLIST FOR Saturday, January 14th 2012: The two-hour weekly import show. As heard on KCSN “88.5FM” Los Angeles; KNRK Portland (now with a “Passport Approved Daily” segment on KNRK Portland); KCMP “The Current, Minneapolis; WCNR Charlottesville, VA; “YRockOnXPN” WXPN Philadelphia; WEQX Manchester, VT/Albany, NY; on www.indie1031.com and www.moheak.com in the United States and its own 24-hour Passport Approved radio channel on Y! Music (on Yahoo!). Also, on the worldwide web and twice weekly segment on Flux FM Germany (Berlin, Brandenburg and Stuttgart) , as well as weekly show on Japan’s national radio network Tokyo FM.
Listen to this two-hour show by clicking HERE:
ROSHAMBO – “Cigarette Lemonade” (Unsigned, Sweden)
THE TWO – “Everyday” (Wagram Label, France)
THE CHEMIST – “Lullaby #1 (Mercy)” (Warner Music, Australia)
GRAEME WATKINS PROJECT – “Bloodshot Eyes” (Sheer Sound, Africa)
WU LYF – “Dirt” (LYF/Jagjaguwar, UK)
ALL MANKIND – “Magic Moment” (SO Recordings, UK)
ALFRED HALL – “So Bright” (Waterfall Music, UK)
KELE – “What Did I Do?” (Wichita, UK)
DAUGHTER – “Home” (Unsigned, UK)
SHADOWCLUB – “Good Morning Killer” (Just Music, South Africa)
HUSKY – “History’s Door” (Liberation, Australia)
KIDZ IN SPACE – “Number 1” (MTC, New Zealand)
BIRDY – “1901” (Unsigned, New Zealand)
HUCK FINN – “Charles Dickens” (Unsigned, Switzerland)
RALPH MYERZ – “Forever Yourz” (Import, Norway)
THE CONCEPT – “Gimme Twice” (Unsigned, Sweden)
OH LAND – “Break The Chains” (Fake Diamond, Denmark)
GOTYE – “Save Me” (Samples ‘n’ Seconds Records, Australia)
LEAGUE – “Golden Maps” (Unsigned, Portugal)
ECHOTAPE – “Unstable” (Unsigned, UK)
THE FAST FORWARDS – “Over The Surface” (Rockhit Records, Sweden)
NOVA DELAI – “Moon Song” (Unsigned, Sweden)
JOAKIM – “Forever Young” (Tigersushi, France)
SIX60 – “Only To Be” (Massive Ent’t/Universal, New Zealand)
IREMEMBERTAPES – “All I Know” (The Animal Farm, UK)
GIOVANNA – “Out In Bold” (Mi7 Records, UK)
(Check out the Passport Approved Radio “Featured Artists” on the daily profile exclusively on AllAccess.com including I Remember Tapes, Saint Saviour, Echotape, Midnight Youth and The Soft Eyes).
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