A&R WORLDWIDE GERMANY LAUNCHES IN EUROPE
A&R Worldwide the global artist discovery, development and consulting platform which celebrates its decade milestone this year has announced the launch of A&R Worldwide Germany. Germany, while retaining the strongest economic growth in Europe, continues to be a hotbed of creativity and opportunity as the third largest music market behind the U.S. and Japan. The partnership will allow artists and companies looking to expand their reach to do so with the proven track record, capable resources and infrastructure of A&R Worldwide and its Bavarian-based partner, Brainstorm Music Marketing, under the guise of A&R Worldwide Germany.
The exclusive partnership between A&R Worldwide and Brainstorm (under the umbrella of A&R Worldwide Germany) will allow global initiatives for music, media, brands and technology clients to be delivered and executed into the Germany, Switzerland and Austrian (G/S/A) markets. The agreement was finalized last week in Bavaria by Sat Bisla (President & Founder, A&R Worldwide) and Deville Schober (CEO, Brainstorm Music Marketing). A&R Worldwide’s supported initiatives into G/S/A on behalf of artists, executives and companies will utilize the combined efforts of both the Los Angeles and Bavarian-based teams to provide maximum results for those with whom A&R Worldwide Germany engages with. In addition, German export initiatives will utilize the support of A&R Worldwide into global markets outside of G/S/A.
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DAS GUT – A&R WORLWIDE GERMANY: Deville Schober, CEO, Brainstorm Music Marketing (left) and Sat Bisla, President & Founder, A&R Worldwide sign an exclusive partnership to launch A&R Worldwide Germany.
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Bisla stated, “On behalf of my entire Los Angeles-based team, I’m extremely excited about the launch of A&R Worldwide Germany, which furthers A&R Worldwide’s impact internationally and helps us expand our support for the needs of those we work with as well as our overall discovery, development and consulting efforts. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Deville Schober, Mannix Strauchner [Managing Partner, Brainstorm] and their entire team for the past 18 years and have seen their great work come into fruition as well as their overall understanding and ability to execute key initiatives for the G/S/A market. In addition, they have strong relationships in the marketplace and throughout Europe which have validated their place as one of the strongest music marketing and consulting teams in Europe.”
Schober adds, “In the past 18 years Sat Bisla and I have worked together on very successful projects in our respective territories and developed an incredible friendship. A&R Worldwide is respected internationally for its ability to find great talent, deliver opportunities for artists, individuals and companies. In addition, its unrivaled relationships in the music, media and technology arenas provide a global network that is essential for anyone looking to do business worldwide. We look forward to combing our resources and proven track records with the launch of A&R Worldwide Germany.”
A&R Worldwide and its predecessor A&R Network both founded by Sat Bisla have been instrumental in helping with the signing and/or early development and support for artists such as Dido, Faithless, Keane, Coldplay, MUSE, LMFAO, The Ting Tings, Lily Allen, Corinne Bailey Rae, songwriter Bonnie McKee (Katy Perry), Teddybears, Robyn, Frou Frou (Imogen Heap), Kate Havnevik, Rob Dougan, Missy Higgins, Wolfmother, Jessie J, Adele, The Temper Trap, La Roux and hundreds of others. In addition, the company has helped broker countless commercial and creative outcomes for artists, executives and companies globally. Over the past 7 years, A&R Worldwide has helped launched events such as MUSEXPO, One Movement for Music (Australasia), MUSEXPO Europe and the Worldwide Radio Summit, as well as helping place numerous of artists into film, TV, gaming and ad campaigns.
Over the past 20 years, Brainstorm Music Marketing has been one of Germany’s most successful independent artist development companies. Brainstorm has garnered Platinum and Gold-selling awards for helping break dozens of national and international acts including Bloodhound Gang, The Offspring, Marilyn Manson, Eminem, Papa Roach, Liquido, H-Blockx and playing a pivotal part in development and/or marketing support for over 800 national and international acts such as U2, Coldplay, Keane, Nine Inch Nails, MUSE, The Prodigy and Accept and hundreds of others. In addition, the company has garnered a German Culture Award, Japanese Music Awards and many other honors.
For more information regarding A&R Worldwide Germany contact info@anrworldwide.com.
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GOOGLE LAUNCHES ‘MAGNIFIED’ FOR NEW TALENT
Google Music has launched the new music service Magnified, which will focus on giving exposure to unsigned acts on the service’s Artist Hub.
The Artist Hub is a platform for independent acts to sell directly from the music service, started last year, and its new Magnified program provides an added value of additional exposure for the artists.
Magnified artists are selected from the Artist Hub by Google’s editorial team and featured on the Android music store through its editorial features as well as being given the opportunity to perform live at various events.
The initial selection of Magnified artists is confirmed to perform at four evening series of concerts at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah in collaboration with association with T-Mobile. Some of these acts include Bad Rabbits, Chancellor Warhol, the Civil Wars, Feather and Belle, Fort Lean, G-Side, Vintage Trouble and the Whigs are all included on the Sundance Film Festival bill.
One of the Magnified artists will be given the chance to perform at Red Light Management’s (Dave Matthews Band, Alicia Keys, Ben Harper, Faith Hill) Grammy after-party on February 12th as well as offering a one-album management deal with Red Light.
Rolling Stone was told by a Google spokesperson, “Google will be selecting Magnified artists using a combination of factors. We will use our an algorithm to find bands that are bubbling up in terms of fan engagement on the Android Market as well as take suggestions from our editorial team.”
“It’s these kinds of opportunities we're really excited about,” the Google spokesperson added, “The ones that could be career-changing for the artists.”
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MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA TO HOST MUSEXPO “ESSENTIAL BEATS”
MUSEXPO Founder Sat Bisla and Montreal-based event promoter Nicolas Lemieux have announced the dates for the highly-anticipated MUSEXPO Montreal “Essential Beats.”
The quintessential conference will unite the world of all forms of rhythmic music (Pop / Dance / Hip-Hop / Electro) with technology, brands, multi-media, live events and synchronization. The multi-day event will bring together stakeholders – artist, fan and industry alike, who have a vested interest in the furthering of the creative and business communities of rhythmic music and the collective touch-points that it influences. The event will take place October 11 – 12, 2012 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, which delivers the perfect environment for Essential Beats and its participants to connect, inspire and engage in the new frontiers it fosters in this constantly evolving eco-system.
Since its beginnings in 2005, the Los Angeles flagship event of MUSEXPO has become one of the world’s premiere music conference and attracted top executives, medias and artists year-after-year.
The Montreal event will be organized in partnership with top event promoter Nicolas Lemieux (President of Sphere Musique & GSI Musique, and in business for over 18 years) and Los Angeles-based A&R Worldwide and MUSEXPO. More details on the event will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
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MARK SHIMMEL NAMED COO OF EPIC RECORDS
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Mark Shimmel
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Mark Shimmel has been hired as COO of New York-based Epic Records by Chairman and CEO L.A. Reid and will report directly to him.
Shimmel was previously with Reid at now-retired label Arista records and another Sony imprint, LaFace Records - that was home to TLC, Usher and others. Shimmel also previously served as Head of Music at Turner Entertainment Networks, overseeing some of the company’s television channels, including: TNT, TBS, CNN and Cartoon Network.
Reid stated, “Mark is an unparalleled executive and an exceptional leader with a wealth of experience in the music and entertainment space. He will be fundamental in successfully leading Epic Records.”
Shimmel added “L.A. Reid is the most talented and creative music executive of the modern era. To build a new organization supporting his creative process is the opportunity of a lifetime. I look forward to our entire organization reaching its greatest successes.”
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GLOBAL NEWS UPDATES…
Kobalt Music Group Ltd. has announced the launch of two new divisions, Artist and Label Services and Neighboring Rights, as well as the acquisition of AWAL Limited, a leading digital distribution and marketing services provider. The strategic move by the leading global independent publisher’s marks its evolution into a broader and new class of service-oriented music company across multiple rights areas, including recorded music, designed to serve client needs. Kobalt’s new Artist and Label Services division is immediately propelled by the company’s acquisition of AWAL, which directly and globally distributes and promotes the recorded music of more than 5,000 independent labels and artists, including Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, the Editors and Moby, to name a few. Through the acquisition Kobalt obtains access to AWAL’s worldwide distribution network of more than 200 digital retail partners, including iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, eMusic, Rhapsody, 7Digital, Beatport, Deezer, Nokia and 247 among others.
Adele has dominated the top of the U.S. Billboard 200 chart as her album, 21, has now spent 16 weeks at No. 1. This latest feat broke the records set by both The Beatles and Pink Floyd and has tied a record previously held by the soundtrack to Titanic, which was No. 1 for 16 weeks back in 1998.
EMI Music North America has announced the appointment of Ron Pence to head its Brand Partnerships division, as part of its efforts to further develop important new revenue streams for the artists it represents. Pence will oversee the building and expanding EMI Music’s relationships with key brands across North America. He joins from a senior strategic alliance role with Live Nation Entertainment and had previously worked for PepsiCo, Young & Rubicam, and Miller-Coors, in a number of marketing leadership roles, and fostered strategic partnerships with diverse partners including Fox, Facebook, MTV, BET and NBC. Pence will be based in EMI Music’s New York offices, and will report to Dominic Pandiscia, Executive Vice President of Commercial and Revenue Development for EMI Music North America.
Los Angeles-based artist, DJ, remixer KIDFORCE whose sound has been described as a mix between LMFAO, Linkin Park and Skrillex and Canadian-based rock-reggae act Makeshift Innocence (think Sublime, 311, Dirty Heads and Slightly Stoopid) have signed recent worldwide publishing deals with Pangaea Music Publishing.
Former Universal Music International Head for Deutschland Thorsten Koening is currently working on the development of a new gaming initiative, which will be unveiled worldwide in the coming weeks.
A&R Worldwide sadly reports that the world lost another powerful voice in Etta James on Friday. Known for her smash “At Last,” James, 73, passed away due to complications of leukemia in Riverside, CA. The icon was in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame.
The Irving Berlin Music Company (IBMC) has just re-signed its ongoing representation agreement with the Imagem Music Group/Rodgers & Hammerstein for international brand management and grand rights exploitation, and music publishing in North America. Also, Imagem Music USA, which represents catalogues ranging from the American songbook to classic & contemporary pop and rock (Elvis Presley, Ludacris, Phil Collins and Genesis) has signed a worldwide, multi-year publishing agreement with the Sammy Cahn estate.
SoundExchange, the non-profit performance rights organization that collects statutory royalties from satellite radio, Internet radio, cable TV music channels and other similar platforms, has announced that it paid $89.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. The total payout for the year was $292 million, which was 17% higher than in 2010.
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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 girl’s reaction to vinyl! Click HERE to see this confused response to a vinyl album.
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A&R WORLDWIDE’S "ARTIST OF THE WEEK" – THOMAS AZIER
Fresh from an impressive live show at Eurosonic and early global radio support on the influential syndicated radio show Passport Approved – Thomas Azier delivers a stunning sound – fans of Depeche Mode and Hurts will be impressed! Azier grew up in a small town in the Netherlands, where he focused most of his free time on making music because, frankly, there wasn't too much else to do. At the age of 19, he left the Netherlands and moved to Berlin, Germany on an ambitious whim. He was mesmerized by the city and immediately inspired by the pulse and atmosphere. During this time, he started to perfect his electro-pop sound. After four years of tirelessly honing his music, he emerged with his debut EP, Hylas 001, released on his own label, Hylas Records/BMG Rights Management. Bridging the analog and digital worlds with symphonic precision, Azier's music is an anthem for the present, pulling from the past and looking to the future and a perfect example from the EP is the epic and haunting “Red Eyes.” Thomas is available for booking and licensing in various territories – contact info@anrworldwide.com for more information. To listen to “Red Eyes,” click HERE.
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A&R WORLDWIDE’S "VIDEO OF THE WEEK" – LONEHILL ESTATE
Lonehill Estate is one of the top live performing bands in South Africa. With their mischievous rock sound poking fun at current affairs and the music industry, their shows are riddled with offensive anecdotes and eye-twitchingly good music. Their energy and infectious sound could be best described as the Red Hot Chili Peppers meet LMFAO with a tinge of Bloodhound Gang. The band burst onto radio in 2005 with hit singles “Girl on a Roof” and “Skyward” charting on high rotation. In 2007 the band won “Best South African band” and represented South Africa in London at the Global Battle of the Bands. 2007’s December issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine named Lonehill Estate as one of the Bands to look out for. The following year, Lonehill Estate released their second studio album Hong Kong Dollar that featured the hit “Memories.” They then went on to perform alongside MUSE, Korn, Good Charlotte and 30 Seconds to Mars at the 2008 MyCokeFest. They recently experimented with a new sound and the result was chart success. Lonehill Estate released “Gangstar,” “Techno Band” and their latest single, "Daans!" all reaching the No.1 position on 5FM’s local Pop Charts. The video clip for "Daans!" displays their alluring power to entertain an audience. Lonehill Estate's music is available on-line internationally, and the band is achieving new levels of acclaim in the public eye, featured regularly in South African magazines, newspapers, TV and radio outlets. The group is currently available for signing, licensing and booking in various territories. For more information, contact Morgan Ross at morgan@electromode.co.za.
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PASSPORT APPROVED™ PLAYLIST – 1/21/2012
“PASSPORT APPROVED” PLAYLIST FOR Saturday, January 21st 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:
ALFRED HALL – “So Bright” (Waterfall Records, Norway) *N. American Exclusive
ALL MANKIND – “Magic Moment” (SO Recordings, UK)
STRANGERS – “Promises” (Unsigned, UK)
NABIHA – “The Enemy” (Sony Music, Denmark)
ROLLO ARMSTRONG – “No Fool” (Cheeky/Sony, UK)
ECHOTAPE – “Unstable” (Unsigned, UK)
NOVA DELAI – “Slippering Into Sleep” (Unsigned, Sweden) *World Exclusive
HUSKY – “History's Door” (Liberation, Australia)
GRAEME WATKINS PROJECT – “Bloodshot Eyes” (Sheer Sound, Africa)
MAKESHIFT INNOCENCE – “Your Body” (OP3, Canada)
HOUSSE DE RACKET – “Roman” (Kitsune, France)
RALPH MYERZ – “Forever Yourz” (Import, Norway)
HAPPY CAMPER – “Born With A Bothered Mind” (Excelsior, Holland)
BLONDE ON BLONDE – “Friends In Danger” (Unsigned, Australia)
YUKSEK – “Always On The Run” (Barclay/Universal, France)
SUMMER CAMP – “Better Off Without You” (Moshi Moshi, UK)
HUCK FINN – “Charles Dickens” (Unsigned, Switzerland)
MIDNIGHT YOUTH – “World Comes Calling” (NZ On Air/Warner Bros. New Zealand)
BASSBOOSA – “Wicked Game” (Cheeky Music, UK)
FRENCH FILMS – “Convict” (Import, Finland)
HEY GERONIMO – “Why Don't We Do Something” (Unsigned, Australia)
ALFRED HALL – “No Need To Go” (Waterfall Records, Norway)
BIRDY – “1901” (14th Floor/Atlantic, UK)
SHADOWCLUB – “Good Morning Killer” (Just Music, South Africa)
(Check out the Passport Approved Radio “Featured Artists” on the daily profile exclusively on AllAccess.com including Alfred Hall, Vince Did It, Nude, Petterson and Of Monsters And Men).
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