Kings of A&R

Check Your Pulse: Pulse Recordings, a full scope entertainment company, which was founded by music producer Josh Abraham has inked a exclusive distribution deal with Universal Music Group indie distribution arm Fontana. Known for its work on the debut album of “American Idol” Elliot Yamin, Pulse next will release Filter’s “Anthems for the Damned” on May 13 along with new releases from the Outline, Ima Robot and Lukas Haas will follow.

EMI Drama: What are the issues affecting the restructuring of EMI? Well, the key crucial issue is the provision that allow superstar artists to leave a label if a “key man” such as a label president or A&R executive who signed the act leaves or is fired.

New Music: Listen to Suitcase Afternoon by Ricky Young. This is for fans of Wilco, Neil Young and Dylan. These tracks are perfectly fitting for a Sunday drive on the Pacific Coast Highway.

A Troubling Time For Magazines: Ad pages for the three biggest music magazines slid 26% in the first quarter and now the the auto industry has cut magazine ad spending by 21% in the first quarter. Regardless of the the grim outlook, magazine publishers are still optimistic about the future claiming that the Internet has increased their value to readers. “They need a credible guide,” says Mr. Madden. “Nothing online can be that guide.”

Blender $11 million (down 9% from first quarter 2007); 110 pages (down 20%)
Rolling Stone $31 million (down 27%); 195 (down 33%)
Spin $8 million (up 27% from 2007); 146 (up 22%)
Vibe $18 million (down 19% from 2007); 185 (down 22%)

Amazon Removes Idol Contestant: ‘American Idol’ contestant David Cook’s album “Analog Heart” was available for downloading on Amazon’s MP3 site. It skyrocketed to #1 beating out the latest release from Mariah Carey. Amazon yanked the digital album from its site along with all the snippets.

Recommended Listening: Listen to How To Ruin A Reputation by
Return to Arms. Of course emo/punk bands are dying a slow death, but we will always recommend artists with a good sense of songwriting no matter what style - except for rap!

I heard this track yesterday titled Should’ve Known Better on Music Choice yesterday and it caught my ear. Call me cheezy, I can take the heat. Regardless, it’s a good up-tempo rock song by a band called Cinder Road. The band is being managed by the same team who manages Nickelback.

Kings of A&R: You heard it before and you will hear it again and again. We want to hear new music from new artists. We want to hear music from artists with substance and style. Give us some great songs and we will give something back. Email Tips@Kingsofar.com with a link to your myspace and a song that we should be listening too. Never let us scour through your Myspace music player trying to find a good song, that’s not fair and you should be your own best critic…