Name PR » Press Releases

Channel 4’s Very Important People Show Gets Facebook Face Morphing App From Noise Inc.

name — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:00:46 +0000

App Allows People to Transform Into a Celebrity

London, 15 May 2012 – Digital development company Noise Inc. has built a Facebook app for Channel 4 that allows people to transform into a celebrity of their choice with face morphing technology.

In order to promote their brand new comedy Very Important People, Channel4 commissioned Noise to build VIP ME {link: http://tinyurl.com/brsxxpv}, a Facebook app that allows people to transform into a celebrity of their choice.The app uses real-time face detection and face tracking technology that invites people to morph themselves into a celebrity of their choice, including Cheryl Cole, Barack Obama, Adele or Gordon Ramsay. The app works when you look into your computer’s webcam. Once depicted as a celebrity, a video of your celebrity self can be recorded and instantly shared through your Facebook timeline. The video recording will also be saved into the VIP ME Gallery.

Noise Inc. developed the augmented reality VIP ME app using Beyond Reality Face technology to create the first ever real-time Facebook app that uses face substitution with image projection from a webcam. The app also includes shareable clips from the show of sample previews of Morganna Robinson’s hilarious celebrity impressions.

About Noise Inc.

Noise Inc. design and develop exciting, platform-agnostic apps, games and services for mobile devices. Whatever a clients’ digital ambitions and challenges, Noise Inc. will work with them to turn the opportunity into a reality.

Whether it’s creating and managing amazing content, or providing robust technical builds on everything from iPhones to Augmented Reality, or if you just want smart people, creating smart ideas to make your next marketing campaign exceed your wildest expectations, Noise Inc. are the people to talk to. The company, which combines high end innovative app development with bespoke digital marketing strategy, and is best of breed at both, launched at Midem 2011 with a string of A list stars and global music corporation clients, including Vodafone, Universal Music International and Sony Music, Decca, Defected Records, Ministry of Sound and Richer Sounds.

The brainchild of four execs, Jane Turner, James Coughlan, Kim De Ruiter and Mark White, Noise Inc. combines over 50 years of experience in marketing, brand development and technology.

Jane Turner‘s experience in IP, TV, film, music, publishing and merchandising was gained at WPP, Havas, Mintel and, most recently as global MD of Chorion Ltd.

Working closely with Universal Music, James Coughlan was part of the team that initiated Pixie Lott’s association with Vodafone, a mobile first.

Kim De Ruiter is an award-winning digital music and mobile marketer who was shortlisted in the top 50 leading women in the mobile industry by MEM (Mobile Entertainment Market).

DEEZER CLINCHES WORLDWIDE DEAL WITH MERLIN

name — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:00:03 +0000

Global licensing deal sees world’s leading independent labels now available to Deezer subscribers

10 May 2012 London: –The global independent rights agency, Merlin today announced a comprehensive licensing agreement with Deezer, a leading streaming subscription service. The international breadth of Merlin’s membership and the global nature of its licensing made Merlin the perfect partner for Deezer’s global ambitions and, as a result of the deal, Deezer’s users across the globe will have access to some of the world’s top independent labels as represented by Merlin.

Deezer, a web-based music streaming service, is already available in more than 50 countries. It allows users to listen to music anytime and anywhere on various devices on- or offline thanks to a catalog of 18M tracks.

As a result of the global deal, Deezer’s users will now enjoy access to some of the world’s most important independent artists. Merlin’s members account for the largest set of rights outside of those held by the larger major record companies. This includes repertoire from labels and distributors such as Warp, Yep Roc/Redeye, Epitaph, Phonofile, Tommy Boy, One Little Indian, Kontor New Media, !K7, Merge, and Koch/E1.

Charles Caldas, Merlin’s CEO said:

“It is very encouraging to see innovative and ambitious services like Deezer broadening their scope and bringing wider choice to consumers across the many markets in which they operate. We are sure that Deezer’s users will enjoy the vast choice of amazing repertoire delivered to them via this deal”.

Julien Simon, Label Relations Director, said:

“We are pleased to count Merlin as one of our key global music partners, along with its independent label members across the world. Inclusion of the widest, deepest and best-selling independent repertoire to our service will help us provide the best musical experience to our customers”.

With its member’s repertoire representing an approx 10% share of digital services worldwide, Merlin provides an invaluable solution to digital music services looking to offer their users the world’s most important independent labels.

About Merlin:

Merlin represents the world’s most important set of independent music rights. Merlin commenced operations in May 2008. Since then it has struck deals with a large number of digital services including Spotify, YouTube, Google Music, Rdio and Simfy and reached a number of copyright infringement settlements on behalf of its members with amongst others XM Satellite Radio, Grooveshark and Limewire. Merlin seeks to ensure its members have effective access to new and emerging revenue streams and that their rights are appropriately valued and protected.

Merlin represents by far the largest and most compelling basket of global independent rights in the world, and so offers the most efficient means of licensing this repertoire.

www.merlinnetwork.org

About Deezer:

Deezer is a leading worldwide music streaming service reaching 20m users and with 1.5m paying subscribers. As well as offering access to more than 15m tracks, Deezer provides a unique solution for organising your music library, building and sharing playlists and expanding your musical scope through new discovery (e.g. genre-based editorial recommendations adapted to each country, and 10,000 smart radio channels).

Thanks to its exceptional partnerships with Facebook, Orange and Belgacom, Deezer is now available in more than 50 countries and will be accessible worldwide, excluding the US and Japan.

Last Festival Social Before October!

name — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:57:51 +0000

Event to feature Gorgeous George and Keston Cobblers Club

The Association of Independent Festival’s monthly ‘Festival Social’ night of networking and live music will feature Gorgeous George and Keston Cobblers Club this coming Tuesday 1st May. Taking a break during the UK festival season, it will be the last event before recommencing in October.

Gorgeous George, best described as a quirky gypsy-jazz, will be bringing their fusion of Eastern European folk and Cockney storytelling to the Social ahead of gigs at Camden Crawl, The Great Escape and Secret Garden Party. Keston Cobblers Club have gained a reputation for fun, jaunty folk, and will be heading out to Larmer Tree Festival in July.

The aim of each event is to start conversations between like-minded independent entrepreneurs in the festival sector, not exclusively AIF promoters or members. So far, the evenings have proved a great success as an informal hangout for promoters, agents and festival creatives.

Acts featured in the previous two events have made it into Bestival and Kendal Calling line-ups, amongst others.

The Festival Social will be free for the first hour and £2 after 8pm. Readers should email social@aiforg.com to join the guestlist for guaranteed entry.

Event Details

Title: Festival Social

Date: May 1st 2012

Time: 7pm – 12am

Venue: The Social, 5 Little Portland Street London W1W 7JD

Cost: 7pm – 8pm free/ 8pm – 12pm £2 entry

About AIF

The Association of Independent Festivals is a not for profit body set up in 2008 to represent independent music festivals in the UK and Ireland.

Conceived by Bestival promoter Rob da Bank and Graphite’s Ben Turner, the association’s founder members included Bestival, Cornbury Festival, Creamfields, Evolution Festival, Field Day/Underage, Secret Garden Party, Summer Sundae Weekender and WOMAD.

With 31 members ranging from Bromley’s 2000 capacity LeeFest to the 55,000 capacity Bestival in the Isle of Wight, AIF enables the promoters of some of the UK & Ireland’s most innovative and successful festivals to speak with one voice when addressing the wider music business and government.

AIF aims to establish best practice for festivals in a variety of areas such as security, the environment and beyond, providing a knowledge base for festival promoters, as well as creating collective purchasing and marketing opportunities for its members.

AIF operates as an autonomous division of the Association of Independent Music.

The Futureheads To Headline Nozstock 2012

name — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:05:02 +0000

Theme: Myths and Legends

Bromyard, Herefordshire

27-29 July 2012

www.nozstock.com

Second Wave of Artists also Include DJ ZINC, IMPERIAL LEISURE, THE RAGED and SICKNOTE
New venue literary venue TENT OF TEMPORARY THOUGHT for 2012

Nozstock The Hidden Valley is delighted to announce The Futureheads as Saturday night headliners for 2012 alongside DnB powerhouse DJ Zinc, UK ska exponents Imperial Leisure and live breakbeat act The Raged. There will also be a new stage at Nozstock this year, Tent of Temporary Thought, a proverbial literary feast which will appear alongside festival favourite Bantam of the Opera, a theatre stage by day and Velveteen Valley Caberet Lounge by night.

Sunderland post-punk power quartet The Futureheads burst onto the scene in the early noughties. After a string of releases it was their cover version of Kate Bush’s ‘Hounds Of Love’ that firmly etched them into the public consciousness garnering a No.8 slot in the UK singles chart. Since then they have released five critically lauded albums, launched their own label and picked up a legion of fans with their frenetic live show. Known for their blend of guitar stabs and rich, tonal four part harmonies, they are set to close Saturday night in style on the Orchard Stage.

Meanwhile headlining the Garden Stage on Friday is founding member of the now legendary Ganja Crew/Tru Playaz collectives DJ Zinc. His 1995 club smasher ‘Super Sharp Shooter’ and speaker-busting bootleg of The Fugees ‘Ready Or Not’ won him international acclaim and spawned the Tru Playaz club night which he set up with fellow TP cohorts Pascal and DJ Hype. Also just confirmed are North London ska-punk rockers Imperial Leisure, Kal Lavelle (who recently toured with Ed Sheeran), The Caezers, Jake Bugg, Kentish Fire, Sicknote and We Steal Thieves to name a few.

But it’s not just the music line-up that will delight this year, as there are many nooks and crannies and secret wooded glades to discover. During the day the Bantam Of The Opera tent offers a myriad of theatrical shenanigans where one can learn circus tricks, belly dancing and acrobatics or soak up puppet shows and side-splitting theatre. Midnight marks the start of the Velveteen Valley Caberet Lounge – tassels and glamour are in store here, featuring ring mistress Ophelia Bitz on Saturday in an eclectic mix of cabaret, humour, song and dance.

Elsewhere The Tent Of Temporary Thought will pop-up throughout the festival with a selection of the UK’s finest wordsmiths (such as the winner of the ‘UK young story yeller of the year’ award Rachael Rose Reid and leading Welsh poet Ifor Thomas) delivering a wide range of talks, poetry, spoken word and forums. For those who feel the creative itch themselves, the new and improved arts and crafts area is an immersive hotbed of fun featuring classes and demo’s of such forgotten arts as chalk carving, haberdashery, coppicing, spoon carving and blacksmith forgery.

For more information go to www.nozstock.com

[PIAS] and Border Launch [PIAS] Nordic

name — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:00:50 +0000

Thursday, 19^th April 2012, London/Gothenburg – [PIAS] Entertainment Group and Border Music, Sweden’s leading independent distributor, today announced an agreement to combine forces in Scandinavia through a new joint venture which will operate as [PIAS] Nordic.

The new company will officially be launched on the 1^st May 2012 and become part of the [PIAS] Group’s pan-European network of local offices and operations, which already includes: UK, France, Germany/Switzerland/Austria (GSA), Benelux, Ireland and Spain.

With an office in Gothenburg, Sweden, and through alliances with strategic partners and local resources in Denmark, Norway and Finland, [PIAS] Nordic will offer a one-stop solution for independent labels and artists looking for physical and digital distribution, and marketing and promotion services in Scandinavia. Shipments, stock control, statements, accounting and administration will be centralised for the Nordic region, whilst sales, marketing and promotion will all be handled on a territory-by-territory basis, with local expertise on the ground.

[PIAS] Nordic will be looking after labels already part of the [PIAS] Group label roster in Scandinavia such as Play It Again Sam (Agnes Obel, Editors, Seasick Steve), Wichita (First Aid Kit, The Cribs, Best Coast) and Infectious (Temper Trap, Local Natives) together with a number of other UK and US labels already distributed by [PIAS] and Border, and potential new labels looking for a distribution partner in the region. [PIAS] Nordic will also start sourcing local repertoire from the region.

[PIAS] Nordic will be powered by [PIAS]’s global digital distribution services, complemented with local digital sales and marketing resources within the Border office in Sweden. Aside from Border in Sweden, [PIAS] Nordic will be using Target Distribution in Denmark, Supersounds in Finland and Indie Distribution in Norway, as the local distributors.

In addition to physical and digital sales and distribution, and marketing and promotion services, [PIAS] Nordic will be offering third party licensing and broadcasting rights collection services in the region.

Pelle Eriksson, General Manager of Border Music, will be overseeing the new venture as General Manager of [PIAS] Nordic.

Says Edwin Schroter, Managing Director [PIAS] Group: “Following a great year for us in Scandinavia, with a chart dominating album for Agnes Obel in Denmark, and the recent No. 1 album for First Aid Kit in Sweden, it felt like a logical step to start looking at our set-up in the Nordic region more seriously. Digital there is booming and setting the pace for other European territories.

“We strongly believe that the only way to develop artists and labels across Europe is to provide specialist and local language promotion, marketing and sales services, in every territory. However, with the challenges of the physical market, we needed to find a centralised solution for the Nordic region, whilst keeping that local expertise on the ground, and Border is perfectly set-up to provide this. More importantly though, they have an amazing team of experienced and passionate people. With both of our companies having been in business now for 30 years, it feels like a perfect match, and I actually can’t believe it took us so long to figure it out!”

Says Pelle Eriksson, General Manager for Border Music and [PIAS] Nordic: “I am very excited to be able to work even closer with [PIAS] and help build a new chapter of what already is a long and proud history for both our companies. The scale of the [PIAS] Group across Europe and our local expertise in the region should provide labels with an unbeatable level of service and security in what is a very challenging, but extremely exciting marketplace for independent artists and labels right now.”

Redfest Bag Foreign Beggars to Headline

name — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:35:04 +0000

- Following breakup of The King Blues, Redfest looks to get noisy Sunday night as Foreign Beggars are confirmed in headline slot

London, 16 April, 2012: The King Blues, previously due to headline independent music festival Redfest, officially broke up on the 2nd April, saying on their website that “we have taken things as far as they can go”. Instead, to fans’ delight, white-hot act Foreign Beggars are bringing their legendary live show- a feverish frenzy of grime, dubstep, drum and bass and rap – to the Redfest Sunday night headline slot.

Foreign Beggars have a combined viewing figure of well over 20,000,000+ Youtube hits, and have collaborated with multi-Grammy winning artist Skrillex as well as Noisia, Flux Pavilion and Vato Gonzalez. The Vato Gonzalez/Foreign Beggars collaboration track ‘Badman Riddim’ reached top 10 on the UK Singles Chart in June 2011.

The band will be making its way round Europe, Japan and the UK before playing at Redfest on Sunday 22 July.

With a line-up that includes Alt-Rock exponents KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES, Dubstep dance floor devastators, MODESTEP, bonafide stadium rockers YOUNG GUNS and Norfolk alt-rock outfit DEAF HAVANA, this year’s Redfest is shaping up to be the best yet.

Foreign Beggars said “Redfest is gonna go off – we are real excited to be playing this one.”

About Redfest:

Redfest is a staunchly independent music festival close to London that is proud of its reputation for championing new, emerging bands, solo artists and DJs. The festival takes place this year from 20 – 22 June.

http://redfest.co.uk/

Twitter: @Redfest

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RedfestUK

Note to Editors:

Further information on Foreign Beggars can be found here:

Artist profile: http://www.elasticartists.net/w/node/6?id=1128

Artist Website: http://www.foreignbeggars.com/

Merlin Agrees to $1.6 Million Settlement of Infringement Claim with Sirius

name — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:00:01 +0000

- Merlin settles copyright infringement claims over Sirius’ Stiletto Recording Devices

- Successful class action means Merlin members and entire independent label community have opportunity to benefit

London, 5 April 2012 – The global independent rights agency Merlin has agreed to the settlement of a long-running copyright infringement dispute with Sirius Satellite Radio for a sum of $1.6 million.

Merlin fought for the settlement with Sirius Satellite Radio over their Stiletto range and other similar recording devices, after claims were settled with the four major record labels between 2007 and 2008.

The court approved agreement closes a longstanding class action lawsuit. While achieving a settlement of its own members’ claims, Merlin’s decision to participate in the class action was pivotal to the achievement of the $1.6 million settlement for the entire independent record sector.

As a result, Merlin members and all other independent record labels that had their sound recordings transmitted by Sirius Satellite Radio between November 1^st, 2005 and 26 August, 2011 have the opportunity to participate in the settlement.

The settlement follows a similar arrangement announced in April 2011 relating to Merlin’s role in a Class Settlement with XM Satellite Radio over XM’s Pioneer Inno recordable radio receiver and other similar recording devices.

Said Charles Caldas, Merlin CEO: “At a time where market consolidation is swallowing up more independent interests, delivering even more power into the hands of the largest major labels, adding this settlement to the growing list of litigation successes achieved by Merlin on behalf of its members is gratifying. Actions such as this further underline the enormous value that Merlin provides to the ever growing list of independents that have chosen to enhance their business by joining our organisation.”

About Merlin

Merlin represents the world’s most important set of independent music rights. Merlin commenced operations in May 2008. Since then it has struck deals with a large number of digital services including Spotify, YouTube, Google Music, Rdio and Simfy and reached a number of copyright infringement settlements on behalf of its members with amongst others Limewire, Sirius Satellite Radio, XM Satellite Radio and Grooveshark. Merlin seeks to ensure its members have effective access to new and emerging revenue streams and that their rights are appropriately valued and protected.

Merlin represents by far the largest and most compelling basket of global independent rights in the world, and so offers the most efficient means of licensing this repertoire. Members include Warp Records, Epitaph, Naïve, Tommy Boy, One Little Indian, Yep Roc/Redeye, Kontor New Media, Beggars Group, Merge, !K7, PIAS, Domino and Koch/E1. Their artists include Adele,Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire, The xx, Neko Case,Spoon, Grizzly Bear, The National, Tom Waits, DJ Khaled, Dorrough,Tiësto, Scooter and many, many more.

A global organisation, its members’ market share in the US alone is reported at around 10%, equivalent to that of the smaller major labels, whilst in Europe member labels released 72% of the top 60 independent albums released in the past three years and commanded a 11% digital UK market share in 2009. Most recently, streaming service Spotify publicly announced that Merlin repertoire represented over 10% of the usage on its service.

www.merlinnetwork.org

Fabric’s Geoff Muncey Joins as GM of [PIAS] Recordings

name — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:38:44 +0000

New Hire Sees Muncey Heading A&R, Budgets, Administration and Branding

London, 29th March 2012: – [PIAS] Entertainment Group has recruited Geoff Muncey as General Manager of [PIAS] Recordings, from Fabric Recordings.

Muncey will start the new role Monday, 26^th March, and will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the recordings division in the UK, to include A&R, budgets, administration and branding – for both the Play It Again Sam and Different labels.

Muncey’s experience includes running Fabric Recordings for over a decade, where he managed all the requirements of an independent label around the world.

As General Manager of [PIAS] Recordings, Muncey will be overseeing a period of rapid growth and investment in the recordings division of [PIAS] and be charged with managing a cohesive strategy in regards to the development of both the labels and their artists.

Peter Thompson, Managing Director [PIAS] UK, said: “I’ve known Geoff for a long time thanks to our relationship with Fabric and it’s fantastic that he has agreed to join [PIAS] as we develop the label side of our activities. It’s an exciting time at [PIAS] as we continue to grow the label roster and this appointment, along with a number of soon-to-be-announced signings, emphasises our commitment and ambition towards the artists we are proud to work with.”

About [PIAS]

[PIAS] is Europe’s leader in the provision of specialist services for the licensing, distribution, sales and marketing of music, film and comedy on an international basis. [PIAS] is dedicated to providing repertoire creators and owners with specialist, premium level services that enable them to develop and maximise the value associated with their artists, products and brands.

Originally founded in 1982 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, [PIAS] supplies a range of highly professional services for leading repertoire owners across both physical and digital routes to market. The group has significant operations in UK, France, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Ireland. In addition [PIAS] has interests in USA and Australia plus an extensive international network of partners that enables it to offer its services on a truly global basis.

[PIAS] also owns premium repertoire and rights through its [PIAS] Recordings stable of labels that includes Different and Play It Again Sam imprints. Additional interests include [PIAS] Comedy and the Strictly Confidential publishing operations and joint venture film company Twin Pics.

Tech Meets Techno: IMS To Host Thought Leaders Symposium

name — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:38:50 +0000

Thur April 12, The Commune, Ace Hotel & Swim Club, Palm Springs CA

High Level Invite-Only Gathering Of Electronic Music, Tech and Brands
YouTube, Twitter, Smirnoff, Burberry, EA, William Morris, CAA attending

22^nd March 2012 California: - Pete Tong and the IMS partners are to bring 40 leaders from the global electronic music business together with 40 leaders from technology and brands in a high level, invite-only symposium.

The full hospitality event, comprising networking drinks followed by a dinner and party, will take in place Palm Springs on Thursday April 12^th – a day before America’s famous Coachella festival commences next door.

The symposium builds on this year’s IMS theme – Connections Count – and is aimed at enabling today’s electronic music leaders to meet and share ideas with those who can help drive their future businesses.

Representatives from YouTube, Twitter, Smirnoff, Burberry, Electronic Arts, William Morris, CAA will all be participating.

Music offerings will be provided by Pete tong (IMS / BBC Radio 1), Jason Bentley (KCRW), Rob da Bank (BBC Radio 1 / Bestival)

Said IMS Partner Ben Turner: “The symposium is inspired by what’s happening in Electronica in 2012 and the huge interest from organisations to engage with the industry from all corners of the entertainment business.

“It’s a forum for intimate exchange, a chance for companies to understand our industry better, all taking place in the great setting of the legendary ACE hotels, and on the eve of Coachella – one of the best festivals in the world which has always pioneered in its electronic music focus.”

COOKING VINYL Sign THE VIEW To Global Deal

name — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:00:06 +0000

March 22^nd 2012, London:- Cooking Vinyl, The burgeoning UK indie label that boasts a roster including The Enemy and The Prodigy, today confirmed another addition to their stable – The View.

The Scottish Platinum selling four-piece known for their distinctive pop-punk sound have signed to Cooking Vinyl for a global services deal on their fourth album. Produced by Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, Razorlight, The Enemy, Tribes), the album is currently being recorded at the Motor Museum Studio in Liverpool, a hallowed hall in which creative sparks have flown for Grandmaster Flash, Oasis and Mark Ronson.

The as-yet-unnamed album is slated for release in July to be supported with a summer festival schedule broadening into a full UK and European tour in September and October this year.

Influenced by likes of Oasis and The Clash, the band began as a covers band in their native Dundee in 2005. Within a year Kyle Falconer (lead vox), Kieren Webster (bass), Pete Reilly (lead guitar) and Steven Morrison (drums) formed the band and were picked up by newly created Sony Music subsidiary 1965 Records, already well into the writing of their breakout album. Hats off to the Buskers released in 2007 to critical acclaim, reached platinum sales and was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize.

The band stayed with1965 Records for another two albums Which Bitch (2009) and Bread and Circuses (2011) before being snatched up by Cooking Vinyl.

Commented Mike Bawden of Morse Code Management and Manager of The View, “it’s great the band have signed with Cooking Vinyl – great people with a great label and now with the addition of Britain’s most exciting pop-punk band, we cant wait to get going”

Kyle Falconer “New label, new record being made in Liverpool with Mike Crossey. Gigs going in the diary – we’re looking forward to a great future with Cooking Vinyl ….”

Rob Collins of Cooking Vinyl commented: “I’m super excited to be working with such a talented bunch of guys. I’m convinced we’ll have a classic album on our hands in a month or two”

About Cooking Vinyl

Cooking Vinyl has developed a reputation as one of Europe’s prime artist-focused independent labels, inspiring an enviable loyalty among its artist roster. It is also in the vanguard of music companies offering innovative services-only deals that claim no stake in artists’ copyrights.

Cooking Vinyl take full responsibility for the management of a project whether functioning as a label or in a services-only setting. Adding more than just marketing muscle, Cooking Vinyl devise and implement worldwide sales, marketing and distribution plans for their artists, working alongside booking agents and artist managers.