APPOINTMENTS
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John Saunderson has rejoined Notting Hill Music as Head Of Creative Services. “As JFK once said ‘the time to fix the roof is when the sun is shining’, so we are THRILLED to add John’s energy and unique talents to the mix at a time when he can help to build further success for our writers from a starting position of great strength”, says company Chair Andy McQueen.
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Universal Music Greater China has appointed William Hsieh as Managing Director of Universal Music Taiwan and SVP of UMGC. “I'm THRILLED to be returning home to Taiwan, especially with the privilege of leading Universal Music Taiwan - a music company with an unparalleled legacy”, he says. “I look forward to collaborating with our exceptional team at Universal Music to cultivate talent, bridge cultures, and forge innovative partnerships across this vibrant landscape. Collectively, we will harness the vast potential our region presents”.
RELEASES
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Barry Can’t Swim has released new track ‘Deadbeat Gospel’, featuring somedeadbeat. “I hadn’t seen my mate somedeadbeat for about six years but he’d come along to the show that night”, the producer explains. “As everyone was sitting around getting steaming, he started reciting this poem he’d written. It was class. I pulled out my phone, pressed record and asked him to recite it one more time. Long story short, we turned it into a tune”. Barrys debut album ‘When Will We Land?’ is out on 20 Oct.
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Armand Hammer have released new El-P produced single ‘The Gods Must Be Crazy’.
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Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes have announced that they will release new album ‘Dark Rainbow’ on 26 Jan 2024. Out now is new single ‘Man Of The Hour’. “We talk about how rock and roll will never die, but we never really talk about how maybe the idea of the rock star should die”, says Carter of the song. “The whole concept and what it means has always been this glamorised moment, but ultimately when I put that suit on, it didn’t go very well for me”. UK tour dates are also on the cards for February. Tickets on sale now.
🧲
Grove has released new single ‘Milf Magnet’, the first taken from new EP ‘PL*Y’, which is out on 1 Nov. “The ‘MILF’, from my perspective, translates to appreciating beauty, respecting commitment to life-giving and appreciating the often thankless monumental task of being a mother... a far cry from the Pornhub perspective”, they say. “That said, my DMs are open to all you fine older women <3”.
🖤
Madge will release their debut album ‘Boxcar’ on 17 Nov. Out now is new single ‘Saraghina’. "I don’t write many ballads - this one was brewing in my mind for a while”, they say. “Saraghina is largely a composite character but the main inspiration is an extended relative who passed away when I was a teen. She had an enigmatic, brief and tortured life. And while I would love to mythologise her story and our relationship, the lived experience remains so deeply mundane. Sometimes this smallness is what feels tragic”.
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Helena Deland has released new single ‘Strawberry Moon’. Her new album 'Goodnight Summerland’ is out on 13 Oct.
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The recently Approved Duvet have released new single ‘Sweaty Dog’. It is, they say, “a simple song about the state you become after a long night out going from place to place trying to stay out till you develop an animalistic state, covered in sweat, booze and other substances, while trying to still dance and have fun waiting for your next drink”.
GIGS & TOURS
☁️
Sky Ferreira has announced UK and Ireland tour dates in March next year, including a show at Koko in London on 5 Mar. At the shows she will preview long-awaited second album ‘Masochism’. Tickets go on sale tomorrow.
🇬🇧
Nerina Pallot will play the London Palladium on 13 Apr. Tickets go on sale tomorrow.
🎻
Mew will perform with the Danish Chamber Orchestra at the Barbican in London on 3 Apr. “Mew’s music is born with a symphonic sound that is extremely well-suited for the concert halls we will be visiting along the way”, say Andreas Vetö, director of the Danish Chamber Orchestra. “When performed with our orchestra, the music soars even higher into the dreamy symphonic layers”.
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Noname will play the Manchester Academy on 4 Feb and London’s Hammersmith Apollo on 6 Feb next year.
AWARDS
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More winners have been announced for this year's Artist & Manager Awards, which will be presented by the FAC and MMF on 23 Nov. Bello will be declared Manager Of The Year for developing Central Cee's global business; Debbie ‘Cookie’ Pryce and Susan Banfield - aka The Cookie Crew - will be presented with the Pioneers award; and The Flight Club’s Samuel Ademosu and Ruth Gyaniao will get the award for Producer/Songwriter Manager.
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The nominations for this year’s UK Music Video Awards are out, with Harry Styles leading the pack, scoring six nods - two of them in the Best UK Pop Video category. Other artists up for multiple nominations include Stormzy, The 1975, Little Simz, Jungle, Troye Sivan, The Hives, Yves Tumor, Royal Blood, Mette and Stone. The ceremony will take place at Magazine in London on 26 Oct. See the full list of nominees here.
