Kings of A&R

Coolfer reports that DJ Shadow has signed with Universal Records and will have a new album  out this summer. Alter Bridge former members of Creed who had a long lasting partnership with Wind Up have terminated their recording, publishing, and merchandising agreements, severing all of the band’s contractual relationships with the label. A sad story considering Creed laid the foundation for Wind Up. Victory Records signs Endwell (above), a hardcore screamo act from NJ.

James Blunt TW 53,783 
PAnic! At The Disco TW 31,780
Blue October TW 17,092
Buckcherry TW 13,380
Morrissey TW 7,140
Pink TW 42,087
The Fray TW 22,424
Yellowcard TW 5,861

James Blunt is beginning to prove that he wrote more than one hit. Is Blue October going to break? ….Who would have thought Buckcherry would debut on the top 50? Lava Records will be distributing the record now.

Looks like Virgin, Capitol and Lizard King/Atlantic has offers out for 80’s influenced pop act Liam and Me. The Militia Group wants to ink a deal with indie solo artist Chase Pagan formerly on Geffen. Ever talked about Ludo has official offers on the table. Ohio based Gorillera-esque hip-hop act Ordinary Peoples, was picked up by Variety Booking (Incubus, 311) and will be performing at Crash Mansion Friday May 5th. Check out the Ordinary Peoples track Ruin Me and  Cause and Effect.   For more information email Charles Kaplan or 614-560-5006.

Pearl Jam is about to release their 8th record and their first album with J Records (Alicia Keys). This is the same band that released the beast “Ten” in 1991 that sold nearly 10 million copies while shunning endorsement deals and big budgeted music videos. This idea appears to be credible but it didn’t help their career. As they continued to avoid self promotion each record was less successful than its predecessor. Unfortunately, this strategy no longer works in a “Get Rich or Die Trying” society. It appears Pearl Jam is back in action and hired a press person to work the new record. The tag line is “the most immediate” and “relevant” since the 1994’s “Vitalogy”; hence, get ready to see those words over and over again. Regardless of their new record, Pearl Jam is an important band that the teen generation needs to hear.

According the Financial Times, shares in EMI Group jumped 8.3%. You can thank Coldplay for the much needed boost. Coldplay’s X&Y was the biggest selling album online last year.

Wind-Up Records, 20TH Century Fox and Myspace Announce Undiscovered Band Contest for upcoming feature film John Tucker Must Die.

Following last month’s KOAR post about unsigned bands at SXSW that really shouldn’t stay unsgined, Florida’s freak rockers Indorphine have inked a deal with Rock Ridge Music. The band will continue their tour with Dog Fashion Disco and are preparing for a July 11th release of their new album “Glowsticks For Clubbing Baby Seals” on their new label. Check out their song So Many Days.

The other artists from that post are also receiving attention. Ludo is in the process of negotiating a deal, with Furthest From The Star and Hotspur beginning talks with various labels and representation.

“The Infinite Dial: Radio’s Digital Platforms (Arbitron and Edison Media Research), says the monthly audience age 12+ for Internet radio now tops an estimated 52 million, which is up from about 37 million people in 2005. The weekly Internet radio audience also increased by 50 percent over the past year, with 12 percent of the U.S. population age 12+ having listened to Internet radio in the past week.� (FMQB)

Anyone who has surfed MySpace lately can tell you with some level of certainty that nearly everyone on the planet is actively online. Young people especially have embraced technology to the point of dependence. Labels have recognized this activity to a degree and put a little more effort into their new media departments, however what they’re investing is nowhere near what they invest in off-line marketing. Indie labels have taken note of how affordable and effective new media is and have thrown the majority of their money in online marketing and it has proven successful with their ‘hype bands’ being snatched up by majors at a startling pace.

Austin-based emo rock band Furthest From The Star have put a relatable rock face on the sometimes taboo subject of cancer with their self released album This Waking Moment, produced by Dwight A. Baker (Firekills, Retrograde, Honestly) and mixed by Daniel Mendez (Trapt, Dashboard Confessional, Train). Their polished, professional album, great stage show, legitimate story of interest, and a slew of glowing album reviews have FFTS wading through a sea of local and regional offers, with their attention fixated on a larger deal, hoping to get their message out to the masses. No management or legal attached. For more information contact AJ at Altsounds 405.514.6832. Check out the tracks Cry For Help, It Serves You Right, My Last Hope