EMI Seeking Female DJs
– EMI Australia has a new spin on talent-searching. The music company has launched She Can DJ, an A&R project to scout a hot, new female dance artist from these parts. On offer is a plethora of prizes, including a global recording contract with EMI, a networking trip to the 2011 Ibiza closing parties and a masterclass with an as-yet unidentified producer.
Entrants must lodge their applications online at SHECanDJ.com from April 7 to May 6 2011. A winner will be selected by a panel of judges, and all will be revealed at a countdown event in Sydney this September.
John Anderson Consulting for Universal Music
Veteran Australian music publishing exec John Anderson has changed teams. Anderson has joined Universal Music Publishing Australia in a consultancy role, following his departure last year from EMI Music Publishing Australia where he was managing director.
In his new gig, Anderson will be tasked with securing strategic partnerships with leading brands and, naturally, signing artists and songwriters to UMPG’s roster.
“John has been at the heart of the Australian music business for over 30 years,” comments Bob Aird, managing director of Universal Music Publishing Group, Australia/New Zealand, “and his consultancy role will introduce Universal Music Publishing Group to new partnerships and establish further publishing representation in Australia and New Zealand.”
Anderson had served with EMI Publishing Australia for 34 years. His time came up when he was replaced last August by EMI Music Publishing Spain managing director Santiago Menendez-Pidal.
Kobalt Music To Rep Future Classic
— Kobalt Music Australia has struck its third pact since setting-up in late 2010. The Sydney-based company has done a publishing administration deal which see it represent Future Classic on a worldwide basis. Future Classic, also based in Sydney, is as an indie and dance music firm which provides specialist services for artists and partners. Its roster includes hotly tipped Los Angeles duo Poolside and Brisbane four-piece Mitzi.
Music licensing is the fastest growing area of Future Classic’s business, explains its managing director Nathan McLay. In a statement, McLay says the arrangement provides his company’s artists “an unrivaled collection infrastructure to complement our global relationships with ad agencies, music supervisors, labels and managers.”
Kobalt’s Australian business has previously signed deals with Art Vs Science and Icehouse, the latter who’s recently struck a separate sales and distribution partnership with Universal Music Australia (the first new re-reissue through that arrangement is the 30th Anniversary Edition 3 Disc Set of the band’s debut album “Icehouse”, on May 20).