Rihanna releases ANTI
After premiering new song Work yesterday via a few radio stations, Rihanna has now released Anti, her eighth album. The follow-up to 2012’s Unapologetic, Anti is currently available as a free download from the Tidal store. It doesn’t feature any of the star’s singles from last year, including Bitch Better Have My Money or FourFiveSeconds. A statement from Tidal states that the version of ANTI on its platform 13-track standard release. A deluxe version with 16 tracks will be available from January 29 – the normal day of the week for album releases. Anti will be available exclusively on Tidal for one week. (The Fader)
Industry reacts to new R1/1Xtra Head Of Music Chris Price
In case you missed it yesterday, the BBC has appointed Chris Price as head of music for Radio 1 and 1Xtra. Price will become the creative and editorial lead for Radio 1 and 1Xtra’s music policies, and play a key role in ensuring the BBC delivers the right content on the right platforms for young audiences. The exec first joined the music biz as a client account manager for Sony 20 years ago, before working as a product manager at London Records. He has worked at BBC Radio 1 before, as music programmer/producer, prior to stints at Last.fm and MTV, while most recently offering music content strategy as director of New Slang Media. The music biz was full of congratulations for Price online, including tweets from Jonathan Shalit OBE, 7digital, Official Charts' Martin Talbot and Youth Music, for whom Price is a trustee. However, there were some mixed feelings from a few, including Kerrang! editor James McMahon, who tweeted: "There's a new Head Of Music at Radio One. Everyone deserves a chance, but @chrispricey's twitter bio doesn't fill me with much hope". Guess you can't please them all...
Congrats to our wonderful trustee @chrispricey on his appointment as Head of Music Radio1 and 1Extra! https://t.co/kpKlikBtxW
— Youth Music (@youthmusic) January 27, 2016
Fantastic news. Well done both @chrispricey and @BBCR1. Excellent appointment. https://t.co/D5EERTw4l9
— Martin (@MartinTalbot) January 27, 2016
Congratulations to @chrispricey the new head of music @BBCR1 and @1Xtra
— Jonathan Shalit OBE (@jonathanshalit) January 27, 2016
There's a new Head Of Music at Radio One. Everyone deserves a chance, but @chrispricey's twitter bio doesn't fill me with much hope
— James McMahon (@jamesjammcmahon) January 27, 2016
Signature Brew partners with Independent Venue Week
Signature Brew, known for its collaborations with acts including Mastodon, Frank Turner and Enter Shikari, has partnered with Independent Venue Week for a new range of canned beers. The beer is packaged on site using mobile canning outfit, Them That Can. Signature Brew co-founder Sam McGregor said: “Independent venues are under threat with many of music’s most iconic sites pushed to the brink. Drinkers are more discerning than ever and we believe Signature Brew’s ethos of pairing music and brewing offers the perfect opportunity to put quality beer in the hands of fellow music lovers. That’s why we've partnered with Independent Venue Week for the exclusive launch of our new range of canned beers. The 330ml cans are allowed into venues that our bottles aren't, plus they’re safer and they keep the beer fresher. If venues offer high-quality beer, fans will arrive earlier, and stay longer – and, let’s face it, who doesn't want to watch their favourite band with a delicious beer in hand?”
Sony Music Entertainment signs Nigerian musician Davido
Sony Music Entertainment have signed musician Davido to a global agreement. The deal was inked at the Sony Music offices in New York and will see the American-born Nigerian recording artist release his second album later this year. After relocating to Nigeria from the US aged 19, Davido set up HKN records alongside his brother and independently released the first song he ever recorded entitled, Back When. His debut album, Omo Baba Olowo was released in 2012, earning accolades including two MTV Africa Music Awards and the 2014 BET Award for Best African Act. This deal represents a step forward for Sony Music Entertainment as it grows its roots in Africa. Announcing its official presence in Lagos, Nigeria verifies Sony Music Entertainment's decision to pursue new business via the introduction of on-the-ground operating entities in an expanded number of markets in the region.
Cloud 9 Holland Music Publishing signs DJ/producer Fedde Le Grand
Cloud 9 Holland Music Publishing and DJ/producer Fedde Le Grand are joining forces with a publishing deal. The global publishing deal with Cloud 9 Music was signed with managing director Raymond Van Vliet and general creative & marketing consultant Pieter van Bodegraven. Van Vliet said: "We are extremely excited to represent Fedde worldwide and we are looking forward to work with Fedde." This week Fedde Le Grand released his new single Give Me Some, a collaboration with the Italian duo Merk & Kremont, on Beatport. The single will be released worldwide on February 5, followed by his second album Something Real on February 26. Something Real’ also features collaborations with Cobra Effect and Holl & Rush.
Thomas Rabe to remain Chairman & CEO of Bertelsmann for five more years
Bertelsmann will continue to be managed by Thomas Rabe in the years ahead: The Supervisory Board of the international media, services and education company and the CEO have agreed to renew his contract for another five years. He said: “I am very grateful for the confidence placed in me by the Supervisory Board, and look forward to continuing along our chosen path with my fellow Board members. In a changing market environment, we will work to align Bertelsmann to its three pillars of media, services and education with a view to high growth and profitability, in order to ensure the long-term independence of this fascinating company. We will continue to devote all our strength towards this goal in the years ahead.”
New partners join law firms Greenberg Traurig and Serling Rooks Hunter McKoy & Worob
David Guetta and Kobalt Music Group lawyer Gary Stiffelman is joining global law firm Greenberg Traurig as a shareholder in the Entertainment & Media Practice, working from the firm’s offices in Los Angeles. Stiffelman, who has nearly 35 years of entertainment and media experience, was previously at Ziffren Brittenham. Stiffelman focuses his practice on the areas of entertainment, new media, and telecommunications. He has represented and negotiated deals for many recording artists and producers, as well as technology entrepreneurs. Craig Averill has joined the entertainment law firm Serling Rooks Hunter McKoy & Worob in New York as a partner, effective January 2016. For the past eight years, he served as an “of counsel” attorney to the firm for which he has negotiated and structured complex transactions for branded content projects, sponsorship arrangements and talent agreements that include music publishing and recording agreements. In the music sector, Averill - a former Sony Music executive - represents clients such as record labels Fader and Fool’s Gold; recording acts James Murphy (LCD Soundsytem), Phoenix and Interpol; producers/songwriters John Hill, A-trak, Baauer, RL Grime, RAC and Hudson Mohawk.
Ole signs for co-publishing and digital-video rights to new Coney Hatch album
Independent rights management company Ole has signed a deal with Canadian rock band Coney Hatch that gives it co-publishing rights, co-ownership of masters, and exclusive digital video rights to the band’s 2013 album, Coney Hatch Four, which was released more than three decades after their first recording. Ole previously secured the masters, publishing, and digital A/V rights to the band’s back catalogue through acquisitions of the Anthem Entertainment Group and the Mark-Cain publishing catalogue. This deal brings Coney Hatch’s latest album under the Ole umbrella, uniting the band’s discography behind a single company and allowing for maximum promotional opportunities.