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4 MusicWeek 03.08.12 NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF


DEMON: Demon Music Group has agreed a long license to represent the Tabu label - the USA record company owned by Clarence Avante. Music Week understands the catalogue contains 33 hits in total - by the likes of Alexander O'Neal, SOS Band and Cherrelle among others. SONY: Sheffield metallers Bring Me The Horizon have signed a record deal with Sony label RCA. The news follows three album releases on indie labels Visible Noise and Thirty Days Of Night Records. AIM: The deadline for entering the AIM Independent Music Awards has been extended until Friday, August 3, 2012. The awards are open to both members and non- members of AIM. UNDERAGE: Underage Festival, which was due to take place in London next month, has been scrapped. The likes of Lianna La Havas, Jessie Ware and Pulled Apart by Horses were due to play the event, which was set to take place on August 31 CHERRYTREE: Cherrytree Records and head Martin Kierszenbaum will remain with Interscope after brokering a new deal with the label, according to reports. AEI MEDIA: The UKF parent has expanded its events strategy around the globe as it announces the appointment of Jenni Cochrane. A former director of tours & events at Ministry of Sound Group, Cochrane helped deliver a live strategy for brands including MoS, Hed Kandi, Dance Nation and Global Underground. MUMFORD & SONS: British folk band Mumford & Sons have been added to the bill for the month- long iTunes Festival and will play on September 24. The Island-signed group will take the stage at The Roundhouse in London to coincide with the release of their new album Babel. PPL: The music licensing company has been shortlisted as a finalist for two customer service awards in The European Call Centre and Customer Service Awards 2012. GRIMEDAILY: The UK urban music and entertainment website has re- launched its website and brand to become GRM Daily.


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.com MARSHALL: ALT-J ‘ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BANDS I’VE EVER SIGNED’


A new indie band on Radio 1’s A-list? How did that happen?


LABELS  BY TOM PAKINKIS


I


nfectious Music head Korda Marshall has attributed the success of Alt-J at radio to


early support from specialist DJs – and the freedom to make decisions as an independent label. On paper, the genre-hopping


alternative indie band look unlikely candidates for mainstream radio A-lists but third single Tessellate has guided the band to the top playlists at both Radio 1 and 6Music. “Huw Stephens and Steve


Lamacq get the credit,” Marshall told Music Week, also nodding to support from Radio 2 and XFM. “The support from radio has been well focused and has come through specialist. Alan James is doing the plugging. He and his team are doing a really good job.” Alt-J are the first ‘guitar’ band


to have a debut record land in the Top 20 this year. Marshall (pictured) pointed to a significant level of freedom and creativity at


Korda control: Marshall is planning an 18-month campaign for Alt-J (inset)


autumn was take everything down online. That gave us almost a blank piece of paper. There were four songs on SoundCloud and we started driving traffic to those very cleverly and carefully over a six-to-nine month period. We have an 18-month rollout plan.” As for Alt-J’s potential, Marshall isn’t shy about showing his enthusiasm. “I think they’re one of the most exciting and special bands to break out of England in the last 10 years,” he said. “I’ve signed some great artists;


his indie outfit that may not have been found at a major. “I think being a small independent company means we’ve been able to do things that I wouldn’t have been able to do within the major label system,” Marshall explained. “The packaging on the album is 96p a unit. I would never have been allowed to have that at a major. “The fluidity and the freedom


in the marketing and the roll-out campaign is another thing – [we’re] putting out singles that


aren’t designed to be hits but to sell an album. He added: “One of the things


we loved about the band when we first got involved with them was that they hadn’t done what every other band that’s trying to get signed has done, which is get a huge Facebook following. They didn’t have loads of things online and videos everywhere, they didn’t tweet, they didn’t socially chatter. “One of the first things that


Stephen Taverner did when he started managing them last


UMPG promotes key duo


Universal Music Publishing has promoted two key staff at its London office, with Mark Gale and Elizabeth Troughton elevated to new international roles. Gale is promoted to senior A&R manager / senior international manager, as Troughton becomes international manager. Both posts are effective immediately. Gale will now report directly


to Paul Connolly, UMP president of Europe and UK, and Caroline Elleray, head of A&R. Troughton will report directly to Gale. Connolly said, “As a global


music publisher we are committed to investing in resources to equip us to deliver an integrated service to all of our songwriters and artists on an international stage. I’m delighted to announce the promotion of


On the up: Elizabeth Troughton and Mark Gale


Mark and Elizabeth, a move that will significantly boost our international capabilities. I am particularly pleased to be able to make these appointments by way of internal promotions, recognising Mark and Elizabeth’s hard work, commitment and talent, not to mention their formidable organisational skills.”


Gale said: “I’m really looking


forward to the challenge ahead and working with our incredible roster of songwriters to help achieve their ambitions both in the UK and internationally.” Troughton added: “We have a fantastic team here at Universal, an incredible array of talent to work with and I’m very excited about the opportunities ahead.”


Muse, Gnarls Barkley and a whole load of others from The Darkness to James Blunt. This is one of the most important acts that I’ve signed in my 33 year career and I think they’re up there with Muse as a career act.” “The most important thing is that Alt-J are proper artists. The band is really special and we’re in this for a career, not an 18-month cycle and a quick success. Everything we’ve been doing is about the album, the band and a long-term international career.”


BPI sets trade mission to Oz


The BPI has announced dates for its inaugural trade mission to Australia, presented with the Music Publishers Association (MPA). Covering Sydney and Melbourne, the mission will take place from October 8-12. The programme aims to give UK delegates a crash course in how the Australian market works and the chance to meet and connect with local executives across the industry. The keynote speaker at the


event will be Michael Gudinski, Chairman of the Mushroom Group. Other speakers include Gotye manager John Watson and Big Day Out festival founder Ken West and Dan Rosen CEO ARIA. Further details can be obtained


from debi.blackgrove@bpi.co.uk or the BPI website.


www.musicweek.com


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