News News in brief SONY/ATV Parlophone embraces ‘true music


man’ Huggett for senior A&R role MAN BEHIND SIGNING OF ADELE MOVES TO MAJOR LABEL


LABELS ■ BY MARK SUTHERLAND


Marty Bandier has signed a contract extension to remain as Sony/ATV Music Publishing chairman and CEO. Bandier (pictured) has been with the company since 2007.


UMG/SOUNDCLOUD


Universal Music Group (UMG) and SoundCloud have reached an agreement to allow UMG’s labels and Universal Music Publishing Group (UPMG) Songwriters to gain access to SoundCloud’s promotional tools, analysis and data. The deal also allows SoundCloud to benefit from UMG’s roster, as well as songwriters signed to UMPG.


SPOTIFY


Spotify has reportedly been hit with a second class action lawsuit in less than month. Filed in Los Angeles, it is being led by Melissa Ferrick, a Massachusetts folk artist demanding $200 million in compensation from the streaming company for alleged copyright infringement.


T IN THE PARK


T In The Park has restructured its operational team. Former police event commander Colin Brown has been named security manager and ex-road police inspector Ian Martin becomes traffic manager, while APL Events will look after site management.


FEATURED ARTISTS COALITION


Artist rights organisation, the Featured Artists Coalition, has appointed Imogen Heap and Katie Melua to its board of directors. They join Sandie Shaw, Ed O’Brien, Nick Mason, Annie Lennox, Fran Healy and Kate Nash among others on the artist-only board.


PRIMARY TALENT INTERNATIONAL


Primary Talent has appointed Paul McQueen as one of its agents. McQueen was previously based in Glasgow and worked for Elastic Agency, but will be relocating to London.


N


ick Huggett – the man who originally signed Adele – is joining Parlophone UK as senior A&R manager, on a


mission to discover and develop new talent for the major label. Huggett (pictured, right) has a strong record in doing just that. He started his career at dance label Mo’ Wax, before spending six years at XL as A&R manager. As well as Adele, he was also involved in signing the likes of M.I.A, Dizzee Rascal and Jack Penate. He then spent two years as A&R head at Columbia before the move to Island as A&R director, where he snapped up Rizzle Kicks, Alex Clare and this year’s BRIT Awards Critics’ Choice-winning artist, Jack Garratt. Huggett, who will report to Parlophone’s senior A&R directors Nathan Thompson and Elias Christidis, described himself as “very excited” to join the label. “It’s a label I’ve respected all my life as a music fan. I’m thrilled to be part of the team and really looking forward to continuing to work with truly great artists.”


“Nick is a true music man,” said Warner Bros and


Parlophone Records UK chairman Miles Leonard (pictured, left). “He’s got superb instincts and an outstanding track record for discovering raw talent. He shares our passion for working with great British acts, as well as our dedication to developing world-class artists. I look forward to seeing the exciting and inventive acts he signs to join the legendary Parlophone roster.”


That roster includes Coldplay, Damon Albarn, Lily Allen, David Guetta, Tinie Tempah and Iron Maiden. Warner bosses will no doubt be especially pleased if Huggett can track down another Adele: her debut album, 19, has sold 2,294,066 copies, its follow-up 21 moved 4,872,602 copies and her latest, 25, has already sold 2,599,346, according to the Official Charts Company.


‘People’s tenor’ Watson signs to FOD Records


Four-time Brit Classical Awards winner Russell Watson has signed to FOD Records.


The only artist to ever be No.1 in the Classical Charts in the UK and US at the same time, Watson has recorded six Top 10 albums since his Decca-released 2000 debut album, The Voice, went double platinum. Peaking at No. 5 in the UK Albums Chart, The Voice


remains his best-selling album, with total sales of 761,334, according to Official Charts Company data. 2001’s Encore also went double platinum, selling 731,122. Reprise, released in 2002, and 2006’s The Voice – The


Ultimate Collection, both reached platinum status and have sold 339,817 and 349,455 copies respectively, while a further seven of his releases have gone gold.


He will be recording new material in Rome in the spring, with his new album to be released on FOD Records in the autumn. Watson has won four Classical Brit Awards including Album Of The Year twice, as well as Best Selling Debut Album and Best Selling Album. He has sold more than 7 million albums since 2001, while his most recent LP Only One Man, released in 2013, became his 14th Top 20 album. Watson is currently performing on his sell-out Up Close & Personal Tour and recently announced details of his Songs From The Heart Tour, which includes dates from March through to August 2016. Led by president Dean Manjuris and producer Bob


Rose, Toronto-headquartered FOD (Field Of Dreams) is also home to artists including East 17, Aggro Santos, Gregory Darling and The Rua. “FOD represent new beginnings for me,” said Watson.


“They are an incredibly forward-thinking and artist-oriented label. The energy and enthusiasm that they ooze is infectious, which makes for great rapport and spirit, both of which are crucial in the record making process. “I’m delighted to be working with the legendary Bob Rose. The group of musicians that he has put together is incredible. This is the most excited I’ve felt about a project since I released the first disc in 2000. FOD is definitely all about the music.”


january 18 04 MUSIC Week


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