In This Issue: we announce the MTV VMA nominations, details about artist submissions for the Canadian Music Week, the prestigious judges for the 2015 International Songwriting Competition, plus the latest signings and the ARIA charts.
2015 MTV Video Music Awards Nominations Announced
The nominations for the 2015 MTV VMAs have been announced, with three Australian artists scoring nominations: Singer-Songwriter Sia has been nominated for Best Female Video for “Elastic Heart”; Vance Joy has been nominated for the Artists to Watch Award, for his video “Riptide”; and Chet Faker has been nominated for Best Choreography for “Gold”, choreographed by Ryan Heffington.
The artists with the most nominations are Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar, with five nominations to their name, followed by Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran who came close with four nominations each. Miley Cyrus will be hosting the event this year.
The MTV Video Music Awards will take place on August 31st at 11am (AEST), with the Pre-Show starting at 10am. Fans can vote for their favourites in categories including Video Of The Year, Best Male Video, Best Female Video, and more by visiting vma.mtv.com from today. Votes for the MTV Artist To Watch will remain live through the Pre-Show, until the top two artists are revealed, at which point a live hashtag vote will commence, with the winner being announced during the event.
The full list of nominations is below:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
• Beyoncé – “7/11”
• Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud”
• Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood”
• Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk”
• Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
BEST MALE VIDEO
• Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud”
• Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk”
• Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
• The Weeknd – “Earned It”
• Nick Jonas – “Chains”
BEST FEMALE VIDEO
• Beyoncé – “7/11”
• Taylor Swift – “Blank Space”
• Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda”
• Sia – “Elastic Heart”
• Ellie Goulding – “Love Me Like You Do”
BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
• Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen”
• Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda”
• Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
• Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth – “See You Again”
• Big Sean ft. E-40 – “IDFWU”
BEST POP VIDEO
• Beyoncé – “7/11”
• Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud”
• Taylor Swift – “Blank Space”
• Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk”
• Maroon 5 – “Sugar”
BEST ROCK VIDEO
• Hozier – “Take Me To Church”
• Fall Out Boy – “Uma Thurman”
• Florence + the Machine – “Ship To Wreck”
• Walk the Moon – “Shut Up and Dance”
• Arctic Monkeys – “Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?”
ARTIST TO WATCH presented by Taco Bell®
• Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen”
• Vance Joy – “Riptide”
• George Ezra – “Budapest”
• James Bay – “Hold Back The River”
• FKA Twigs – “Pendulum”
BEST COLLABORATION
• Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood”
• Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk”
• Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth – “See You Again”
• Ariana Grande & The Weeknd – “Love Me Harder”
• Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj – “Bang Bang"
VIDEO WITH A SOCIAL MESSAGE
• Jennifer Hudson – “I Still Love You”
• Colbie Caillat – “Try”
• Big Sean ft. Kanye West and John Legend – “One Man Can Change the World”
• Rihanna – “American Oxygen”
• Wale – “The White Shoes”
BEST ART DIRECTION
• Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Charles Infante)
• Snoop Dogg – “So Many Pros” (Jason Fijal)
• Jack White – “Would You Fight For My Love” (Jeff Peterson)
• The Chemical Brothers – “Go” (Michel Gondry)
• Skrillex & Diplo – “Where Are U Now" with Justin Bieber (Brewer)
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
• Beyoncé – “7/11” (Beyoncé, Chris Grant, Additional choreography: Gabriel Valenciano)
• OK Go – “I Won’t Let You Down” (OK Go, air:man and Mori Harano)
• Chet Faker – “Gold” (Ryan Heffington)
• Ed Sheeran – “Don’t” (Nappy Tabs)
• Flying Lotus ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Never Catch Me” (Keone and Mari Madrid)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
• Flying Lotus ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Never Catch Me” (Larkin Sieple)
• Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud” (Daniel Pearl)
• Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Christopher Probst)
• FKA Twigs<b> – “Two Weeks” (Justin Brown)
• Alt-J – “Left Hand Free” (Mike Simpson)
BEST DIRECTION
• Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Joseph Kahn)
• Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk” (Bruno Mars & Cameron Duddy)
• Kendrick Lamar – “Alright” (Colin Tilley & The Little Homies)
• Hozier<b> – “Take Me To Church” (Brendan Canty and Conal Thomson of Feel Good Lost)
• Childish Gambino – “Sober” (Hiro Murai)
BEST EDITING
• Beyoncé – “7/11” (Beyoncé, Ed Burke, Jonathan Wing)
• Ed Sheeran – “Don’t” (Jacquelyn London)
• Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Chancler Haynes at Cosmo Street)
• A$AP Rocky – “L$D” (Dexter Navy)
• Skrillex & Diplo – “Where Are U Now" with Justin Bieber (Brewer)
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
• Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Ingenuity Studios)
• FKA Twigs – “Two Weeks” (Gloria FX, Tomash Kuzmytskyi, and Max Chyzhevskyy)
• Childish Gambino – “Telegraph Ave.” (Gloria FX)
• Skrillex & Diplo – “Where Are U Now" with Justin Bieber (Brewer)
• Tyler, The Creator – “F****** Young/Death Camp” (Gloria FX)
Artist Submissions for CMW 2016 Open!
Canadian Music Week offers many great opportunities, including the chance to perform in front of industry experts from around the world. The legendary week of performances draws talent buyers, booking agents, festival programmers, music publishers, A&R reps, managers, music supervisors and more to Toronto venues, where artists can find their big break.
This year, there is an additional treat: artists who apply for showcase spots by September 1st have a shot at winning a Gibson Les Paul Studio Guitar. Additionally, applying before September 1st can be done at the earlybird rate of $25, with prices increasing to $40 between September 2nd-October 31st and again to $50 between November 1st-January 15th, the final cut off date. There are 300 performance slots available for artists.
To apply, visit www.sonicbirds.com/canadianmusicweek
2015 Grant McLennan Fellowship applications now open!
Applications for the 2015 Grant McLennan Fellowship have opened. The generous $25,000 grant is jointly funded by the Queensland government through Arts Queensland and APRA AMCOS, and offers the recipient to travel to New York, London, or Berlin for six months to absorb the musical culture and develop their own artistic skills. The grant was founded in 2007 to honour the late Queensland singer-songwriter and co-frontman of The Go-Betweens, Grant Mclennan.
Applications are now open for individual songwriters and songwriting duos, and fit the following conditions:
• Reside in Queensland and be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
• Be 21 or older.
• Be a member of APRA AMCOS.
• Have satisfied the reporting requirements of any previous Arts Queensland grants.
• Have an ABN.
• Only submit one application in each round. (For example, songwriting duos may not also submit individual applications.)
Applications close on August 31st, with winners to be announced in November. Visit www.qmusic.com.au for more information!
The Independent Music Charts
This week we bring you the Independent Music Charts! First up are the singles:
1. The Buzz — Hermitude feat. Mataya & Young Tapz
2. Elastic Heart — Sia
3. Big Girls Cry — Sia
4. Some Mind — Flume feat. Andrew Wyatt
5. Chandelier — Sia
6. Turning (Flume Remix) — Collarbones
7. Searchlight — Hermitude feat. Yeo
8. Geronimo — Sheppard
9. Bend — Chet Faker
10. Talk Is Cheap — Chet Faker
And the albums:
1. 1000 Forms Of Fear - Sia
2. Dark Night Sweet Light - Hermitude
3. Strange New Past - Seth Sentry
4. Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I just Sit - Courtney Barnett
5. Dark Horses - The Getaway Plan
6. 17/18 - Baro
7. Down To Earth -Flight Facilities
8. Metanoia - For All Eternity
9. Elements - Simon Gleeson
10. Gracetown - San Cisco
2015 International Songwriting Competition Announces Judges
The 2015 judges for the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) have been announced, with this year’s panel including high-profile recording artists and industry professionals. The competition gives away more than $150,000 in cash and prizes to be shared among 68 winners, as well as offering press and recognition. Previous winners include Bastille, Gotye, Kimbra, Gin Wigmore, Missy Higgins, and more.
Some of the judges for this year include Tom Waits, Ke$ha, Boys II Men, Lorde, Bastille, Craig Kallman (Chairman/CEO of Atlantic Records), Sylvia Rhone (President of Epic Records), Dan McCarroll (President of Warner Bros. Records), Jeff Castelaz (President of Elektra Records) and many more.
The full list can be read below:
Recording Artists
Kesha; Tom Waits; Bill Withers; American Authors; Lorde; Pat Metheny; Sara Evans; Bastille; Casting Crowns; Keb Mo; Avicii; Boyz II Men; Bill Withers; Keane; Hardwell; Robben Ford; Danilo Perez; Moby; Jon Secada; Daddy Yankee; Afro Celt Sound System; Anthony Hamilton; Gerald Casale (Devo); Sean Paul; Justin Townes Earle; Hawk Nelson; Jean-Luc Ponty; Shakey Graves; Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.); Chayanne; Joy Williams; Matt Maher; Art Alexakis (Everclear); Far East Movement; Femi Kuti; and more to be announced.
Industry Executives:
Craig Kallman (Chairman/CEO, Atlantic Records); Sylvia Rhone (President, Epic Records); Dan McCarroll (President, Warner Bros. Records); Jeff Castelaz (President, Elektra Records); Nir Seroussi (President, Sony Music Latin); Daniel Glass (President, Glassnote Records); Ed Vetri (President, Wind-Up Records); Rosie Lopez (President, Tommy Boy Entertainment); Glen Barros (President, Concord Music Group); Bryan Stewart (VP of A&R, Curb Records); Jason McArthur (VP of A&R, Provident Label Group / Sony Music Entertainment); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Edward Chmelewski (President, Blind Pig Records); Sharon Tapper (Head of Publishing, Glassnote Records); Kevin Welk (Chief Creative, Vanguard/Sugar Hill Records); Angel Carrasco (President, Discos 605); Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Joseph Burney (VP of A&R, RCA Inspiration/Sony Music Entertainment); Richard Stumpf (CEO, Atlas Publishing); Steve Greenberg (CEO, S-Curve Records); Kim Buie (VP of A&R, New West Records); Albert Schilcher (VP of Music and Music Marketing, MTV International); Jamie Masada (Owner, Laugh Factory); Cyndi Nelson (General Mgr., Zanies Comedy Club); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Gary Briggs (A&R Executive); Claire S. Green (President, Parents' Choice Foundation); Leib Ostrow (Founder/CEO, Music For Little People); Julie Kertes (General Manager, National Parenting Publications Awards, NAPPA); Nate Dern (News Editor, Funny Or Die News); Wende Curtis (Owner, Comedy Works); and more to be announced.
The Newsagency Launches Patreon Crowd-funding Campaign
Beloved intimate music venue The Newsagency has reached out to the community to help keep the space up and running, and help the creator Alison Avron record an album of her own.
To support the space, and her own music endeavours, she has invited members of the music community to pledge as little as $1 a month; with pledges of $10 earning the very first memberships to The Newsagency. Members will have access to discounts to the VIP shows that will created once the total pledged reaches $1000. There are also options for people who are interested in performing in the space, and an offer to work together.
To find out more about the initiative and support her patreon, visit https://www.patreon.com/alisonavron?ty=h.
Epic Records/Sony Music Entertainment Announce Joint Venture Partnership With Janelle Monae’s Wondaland Records
Wondaland Records have announced the launch of a landmark partnership with Epic Records, with the first release from the partnership due in August. Wondaland Records was founded by critically-acclaimed superstar Janelle Monáe, and the first release will showcase the plethora of talent on the new label’s roster. The first release will be titled WONDALAND PRESENTS: THE EEPHUS EP, and include music from artists like Jidenna, Roman GianArthur, Deep Cotton, St. Beauty, and Monáe herself.
Monáe has said the following about the new label and project: “I’m so thrilled to share Wondaland Records with the world. Each artist under Wondaland Records has unparalleled talent, incredible vision, and brings something unique to the music industry. Together, we’re creating a new movement and space for the future of music and pop culture.”
The first release from this partnership will be available August 14th.
Signings This Week
Folk artist Ella Fence has signed a worldwide management deal with Phil Pockett of Rugged Management. Her debut single “Unknown Water” his currently available to listen to on Soundcloud, while her debut EP Wanderlust has recently been released.
Sydney-based rock and roll band Spookyland have recently signed to Inertia Recordings, and are currently working on their debut album. Their EP Rock and Roll Weakling was originally released in September last year, and received local and international praise, and is now out through Inertia. The band is currently preparing to play Lollapalooza in the US.
Atlanta band Microwave have signed with SideOneDummy Records, and will be releasing new music in the coming months. Later this year, they will be playing the inaugural Wrecking Ball festival in Atlanta, followed by a tour with You Blew It! and Sorority Noise. Their self-released debut record Stovall is already available.
Acoustic solo act SayWeCanFly has signed to Epitaph, and is currently playing to crowds in the US on the Vans Warped Tour. Braden Barrie, a Canadian artist, has self-released music on his own label, PureWold Records, since 2009.
Beat Connection have announced that they have signed to ANTI- Records, with the label releasing the band’s new album later this year. They have recently premiered a new track titled “So Good” than has received positive feedback from critics.
ARIA Charts
SINGLES
1. Are You With Me (Original Mix) – Lost Frequencies
2. Can’t Feel My Face — The Weeknd
3. Like I’m Gonna Lose You — Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend
4. Peanut Butter Jelly — Galantis
5. Headlights — Robin Schulz feat. Ilsey
6. She’s Kinda Hot — 5 Seconds of Summer
7. Fight Song — Rachel Platten
8. How Deep Is Your Love — Calvin Harris & Disciples
9. Shut Up & Dance — Walk The Moon
10. Do It Again — Pia Mia feat. Chris Brown & Tyga
ALBUMS
1. Currents - Tame Impala
2. Title - Meghan Trainor
3. 1989 - Taylor Swift
4. X - Ed Sheeran
5. Born In The Echoes - The Chemical Brothers
6. Two Strong Hearts - John Farnham and Olvia Newton John
7. Stage - Josh Groban
8. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful - Florence + the Machine
9. In The Lonely Hour - Sam Smith
10. Magic Mike XXL (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Soundtrack