Record Producer News: Damon Sharpe, Gregg Pagani, DJ Khalil, The Insomniax, Unsigned R&B Duo Myxx

Bad Boy/Atlantic Records R&B act B5 expects their debut release this June stocked with a plethora of production by Damon Sharpe (Corbin Bleu, Kimberly Locke) and Gregg Pagani (3LW, Babyface) among many others. DJ Khalil (The Game, Jay-Z) has recently been in the studio with Dr Dre and 50 Cent. Chicago production team The Insomniax lent their ears/skills to now signed I-15 (Zone 4/Interscope Records) and the latest from Bobby Valentino (Def Jam) and Jojo (Universal). Their newest development is Atlanta R&B duo Myxx consisting of sisters Evonne and Elizabeth Hunnicutt, ages 17 and 19. Still unsigned to a major, they have collaborated with Bobby Valentino, B5 and singer Shawn Stockman (Boyz II Men) resulting in a retro 80s style relatively unknown to today’s standards.

Record Producer News: Ed Buller, Nick DiDia, Jeff Saltzman, Matt Wallace, John Cornfield, Louis Read, Ali Staton, Ian Broudie, Chris Sheldon, Mike Crossey, Dave Bascombe

Over in Ireland, The Departure is completing their second record for Parlophone/EMI with producer/writer Ed Buller. Atlanta based Nick DiDia is still engineer crazy lending his talents to forthcoming Bruce Springsteen material, Velvet Revolver, The Bravery and The Nightwatchmen. Jeff Saltzman produced Australian band The Vasco Era. UK band Fightstar has retained Matt Wallace to produce their upcoming album due summer 2007 on Trustkill Records (U.S.) and Gut Records (UK). John Cornfield is/was in with Island Records UK band Clocks (some mixing done by Cenzo Townshend who’s also responsible for forthcoming Editors, Last Gang, Take That material). Kula Shaker has been using Louis Read for mixing/engineering and Sam Williams as producer. Ali Staton will get engineering credits on the upcoming Seal and Isobel Campbell records. Ian Broudie is working on a new solo album. Producer Chris Sheldon is set to hit Monnow Valley Recording Studios with Oceansize next month. Mike Crossey is coming off co-producing Arctic Monkeys and mixing Regal/Parlophone Icelandic group Jakobinarina. Kish Mauve (Sony/ATV Publishing) and Blaqk Audio will be mixed by Dave Bascombe . Blaqk Audio (Interscope Records) is a band spawned from AFI.

Record Producer News: Pete Matthews, Sam Watters & Louis Biancaniello, Blake English, Ethan Mates, Nellee Hooper

Producer Pete Matthews (Dust for Life, Evanescence) is holed up with Tacoma, Washington indie band Top Heavy Crush. Write/production team Sam Watters & Louis Biancaniello (Anastacia, Jessica Simpson, Fantasia Barrino) have been terribly busy playing a role in several projects including Hungarian singer Linda Kiraly (Universal Republic), newly re-signed 21 year old Amy Studt (19 Records/Sony-BMG), Jamaican pop duo Brick Lace (Geffen), dropped Geffen act Tori Kelly, Sony R&B girl Soshy, and Warner R&B kid Jeremy Gregory (being produced by Harold Lily and Neal Pogue). Writer/producer Blake English produced material for Raven and The Cheetah Girls. Blake also guided the very unlucky Kiley Dean on her third album to be promoted via Music World/Sony-BMG. Why is she unlucky? Because this former Britney Spears back-up singer had her first two Interscope-Universal records canned. Engineer Ethan Mates did the forthcoming Linkin Park record. Producer Nellee Hooper did Andrea Corr’s solo album following his work with Gwen Stefani. All these folks and more are part of the Lippman Entertainment crew.

The Calling Singer Alex Band to Release 2007 Album on Geffen Records

The Calling singer Alex Band is set to release a 2007 solo album on Geffen Records/Universal. You know him best for singing the 2001 RCA Records hit “If I could, then I would, I’ll go wherever you will go..” which led to 3 million+ album sales. Band has been in the studio for several months using producers Matt Serletic, Chuck Reed, John Field, engineer Tal Herzberg, and mixer Jack Joseph Puig. Musician Aaron Kamin, also of The Calling, is making strides as writer/producer for developing acts such as Joanna Pacitti (A&M/Universal).

Howie Day, Cooper Temple Clause, Rondor Publishing’s Fate?

Howie Day’s last album sold 800,000. His third album (produced by Better Than Ezra’s Kevin Griffin and Fray producer Mike Flynn, Warren Huart taking engineering duties) is supposedly complete but the 2007 release date may be delayed because of Day recently entering rehab. Howie’s manager: Kevin Spellman at Career Artists Management (Maroon 5).

Sanctuary Records UK act Cooper Temple Clause is no more.

Is there any truth to the rumor that in order for BMG Publishing to be consumed by Universal Publishing, the latter will first have to rid itself of its Rondor unit to move forward in the acquisition?

Record Producer News: Stew Jackson and Dan Brown, Neil Davidge, Craig Silvey, Julian Simmons, Liam Watson, Adam Whittaker

Stew Jackson and Dan Brown (aka Robot Club) are names you may start to hear in the near future. They co-wrote/produced some of the forthcoming material by popular EMI act Massive Attack. Neil Davidge is also producer on this record with a lot of folks making guest vocal appearances: Liz Fraser, Hope Sandoval, Damon Albarn etc. Deltasonic/Sony-BMG band The Coral is producing a record with Craig Silvey. Producer Julian Simmons is in the studio with A Girl Called Eddy. Producer Liam Watson (The White Stripes, The Datsuns, Razorlight, Supergrass, The Zutons) co-produced the new record from veterans Madness. Hot Club de Paris (Moshi Moshi Records) was produced by Adam Whittaker. Smoothside Organisation handles all of these and more.

Maroon 5 Hired An Army of Record Producers For Their May 22 Release, Mark “Spike” Stent, Update On Nigel Godrich

Who worked on Maroon 5’s May 22 release? Producer Mark “Spike” Stent (Radiohead, Bjork), Mike Elizondo (Fiona Apple, Eminem), Eric Valentine (Queens of the Stone Age, Third Eye Blind), and Mark Endert (Madonna).

It’s unclear whether producer Mark “Spike” Stent will get credit on the next Radiohead album since Nigel Godrich took over the roll not long ago. Godrich is actually one of two producers on the hush, hush Lovefoxxx solo record. Never heard of Lovefoxxx? Well, she’s the singer for Sub Pop Records act Cansei de Ser Sexy. And guess who the other producer on her album is? Noneother than pop hitmaker Timbaland himself. But back to Mr Godrich and his current producer credits: they include the new 2007 records by Air and Travis!

Polow Da Don and Zone 4 Inc/Interscope Records

Polow Da Don is a former member of Atlanta Sony hip hop group Jim Crow. Since those days he’s turned to producing pop hits by the likes of Fergie (”London Bridge”), Young Buck and Ciara. Polow’s Zone 4 productions directly signs new artists and has demostrated early success with Interscope distributed Mobile, Alabama rapper Rich Boy.

Mike Smith, Managing Director Columbia Records UK and Craig Logan, Managing Director RCA Label Group UK

Video blogs of Mike Smith, Managing Director Columbia Records UK and Craig Logan, Managing Director RCA Label Group UK.

Forthcoming Music Spring/Summer: Suzanne Vega “Frank and Ava”, Paramore “Misery Business”, Enrique Iglesias “Do You Know”, Emerson Hart “Friend to a Stranger”

“Frank and Ava” by Suzanne Vega. Expect her Blue Note Records LP “Beauty & Crime” on July 17. Behind the boards were producer Jimmy Hogarth (Sia, Corinne Bailey Rae, KT Tunstall) and mixer Tchad Blake. Joe’s Pub NYC show May 16.

“Misery Business” by popular Franklin, Tennessee emo rockers Paramore from their June 12 album “Riot” (Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic Records).

“Do You Know (the Ping Pong Song)” by Enrique Iglesias from his June 12 album “Insomniac” (Geffen/Interscope).

“Friend to a Stranger” by Emerson Hart. Now based in Nashville and signed to the Manhattan/EMI label, he’s the former Tonic man who sang “if you could only see the way she loves me, then maybe you would understand..” June 19 album “Cigarettes and Gasoline” co-produced by Bob Rock with recent feature on “Grey’s Anatomy.”

“Soul Crusher” by Operator. Produced by Bill Appleberry. Due early summer on Atlantic Records, this newbie hard rock quintet is currently touring with Hinder and features Puddle of Mudd’s old guitarist. The days of Soundgarden influenced bands may be over? No?

“She Builds Quick Machines” by Velvet Revolver. The RCA album “Libertad” due July 3 was produced by Brendan O’Brien. They are currently touring with Aerosmith in South America.

Record Producer News: Dan Austin, Rich Costey, Flood, Ben Hillier, Rob Kirwan, Guy Massey, Dave McCracken, Gil Norton, Steve Osborne, Danton Supple, Dimitri Tikovoi, Mark Williams

Mancunians Cherry Ghost (Heavenly Records) were produced in part by Dan Austin (Cooper Temple Clause, Fell City Girl, People in Planes). Austin also played an engineering hand in the forthcoming B-52s album. Rich Costey produced the June 4 Capitol Music Group debut for Interpol while getting mixing credits on Mumm Ra, Blonde Redhead and The View records. Some of the more obscure artists producer/mixer Flood (U2, Smashing Pumpkins, The Killers) has collaborated with recently include Tigs and The Duke Spirit. Ben Hillier produced and mixed material on the Natalie Imbruglia album due June 2007. Rob Kirwan either engineered or mixed tunes for The Horrors, Babyshambles, And You Will Know Us By the Trail of the Dead while producing past singles for Captain and Get Cape Wear Cape Fly. Engineer/mixer Guy Massey has kept busy with Bournemouth hopefuls Air Traffic (EMI) and London folk man David Viner. Dave McCracken co-produced Echo Records UK band Forever Like Red with Brad Wood. He also applied his programming and/or writing skills to forthcoming music by B-52s, Natalie Imbruglia and lesser known David Jordan. Welsh boys Funeral For A Friend have a new Atlantic Records album coming May 14 in the UK, production by Gil Norton. Gil is also the producer behind Gomez’s latest and helms the next Foo Fighters and Counting Crows records. Producer Steve Osborne has his name on the upcoming KT Tunstall, B-52s and Grace (EMI) albums. Producer Danton Supple (Coldplay) is responsible for the latest Lucie Silvas (Mercury UK), Thirteen Senses (Vertigo UK) and Liam Frost & Slowdown Family (Lavolta/Sony-BMG). Writer/producer Dimitri Tikovoi worked on pop queen Sophie Ellis Bextor’s forthcoming album and did Placebo’s “Meds” record not long ago. Mark Williams has recently offered his engineering/mixing/production skills to Enter Shikari, Liam Frost, Dartz! and Mumm Ra.

Ex-Savage Garden Darren Hayes Solo Album, “This Delicate Thing We’ve Made” Due August 20

Former Savage Garden singer Darren Hayes’ forthcoming album “This Delicate Thing We’ve Made” is due August 20 on his indie label Powdered Sugar. His career spans over 20 million in record sales both with Savage Garden and solo.

Producer Matt Squire and Automatic Loveletter

Clearwater, Florida girl Juliet Simms signed to Epic Records at which point they built a band around her called Automatic Loveletter. Emo pop in nature they complement Avril and Alanis add Brit pop accoutrements for light coloring. Matt Squire (Panic! at the Disco, Cute Is What We Aim For) was commissioned to produce the band with the album recorded at his College Park, Maryland studio. Keyboardist Nick Foxer (All-American Rejects) is 1/5 of this outfit with their debut album due summer ‘07. Squire has since moved on to produce Skindred’s forthcoming record for the Bieler Bros label.

Record Producer News: Robert Carranza, John Congleton, Lou Giordano, Joe Chiccarelli, Gareth Jones, Steve Fisk, Steve McDonald, Sean O’Keefe, Danny Kalb, Stuart Sikes, Dave Trumfio, Chris Walla, Chris Vrenna

Robert Carranza produced Molotov (Universal), Baller Banks (Record Collection/Warner) and will get recording credits on the new Mars Volta due later this year. The forthcoming Polyphonic Spree (TVT Records) album is produced by John Congleton who also did Explosions in the Sky’s latest. Lou Giordano (Goo Goo Dolls, Lemonheads) produced Myspace/Interscope artist Sherwood and Ferret Records’ Boys Night Out. Producer Joe Chiccarelli gets cred for The Shins, Kurt Elling (Concord Records) and Oxbow (Hydrahead Records) while mixing/engineering upcoming material from the White Stripes, Raconteurs and Morrissey. Most recently Gareth Jones worked on records by These New Puritans (Domino) and the Liars (Mute). Steve Fisk produced Midnight Movies (New Line) and James Toth (Nonesuch). Steve McDonald’s production projects include Be Your Own Pet and The Format. Mixer/producer Sean O’Keefe conspired with The Hush Sound (Fueled By Ramen) and Chicago newcomers This Is Me Smiling (One Haven/Columbia) signed by Michael Caplan. Programmer/mixer Danny Kalb contributed to A Fine Frenzy (Capitol Music Group) while also engineering and/or mixing for Ben Harper and Boom Bip’s latest. The prolific Stuart Sikes accrued engineering/production credits for Cat Power and Los Abandoned. Dave Trumfio (Built To Spill, William Reid) is producing demos for Jamison Covington’s (formerly of Interscope act JamisonParker) new band aptly titled Covington – they have one record label offer already. Death Cab For Cutie’s Chris Walla produced Tegan & Sara’s upcoming July Vapor Records release. Whether Sanctuary Records will grandfather clause this album’s promotion is not yet known as their U.S. office is defunct. Walla is currently working with St. Louis experimental rockers So Many Dynamos. Lastly, Chris Vrenna (NIN) is producer on Dear & Departed’s Record Collection/Warner release.

Uh Huh Her: Girl Group Featuring Leisha Hailey (The Murmurs), Camila Grey (Kelly Osbourne Band, Dr. Dre) and Alicia Warrington (Lillix)

Uh Huh Her is a girl rock group featuring Leisha Hailey (The Murmurs), Camila Grey (Kelly Osbourne Band, Dr. Dre), and Alicia Warrington (Lillix). Musically, expect a reversion to 90s Cure licks and a more heightened shoegaze m.o. Managed by giant firm Nettwerk with major booking by Little Big Man agency.

Supergrass and Nick Launay, Guilfest Date This July

Oxford’s Supergrass is set to record a new album with producer Nick Launay (Talking Heads, INXS, Silverchair, Midnight Oil, Kate Bush). The EMI signed band is 3x platinum (UK) with two major booking this July: Guilfest – Stoke Park, Guildford and the Arctic Monkeys bill (100,000 fans over two nights) – Lancashire County Cricket Ground.

Kara DioGuardi

Kara is busy writing material for just about every major star in the recording industry: Avril Lavigne, Hilary Duff, Cheetah Girls, Daniel Powter, Leona Lewis, Hannah Montana, Nick Lachey, Chad Kroeger, The Pussycat Dolls, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, and Katharine McPhee. Stephen Finfer helps Kara run publishing company ArtHouse Entertainment, Inc. Programmer Ned Douglas is among the folks working with Kara’s own band Platinum Weird. Douglas will also have Interscope act The Davey Brothers credited to his name.

KeKe Wyatt, TVT Summer Release Planned

Throughout this year Keke Wyatt has been paired up with a variety of producers including Steve Morales, Brian Michael Cox, The Underdogs, Rodney Jerkins, Stargate, Big D, Rockwilder, and Tank. She is currently signed to TVT after leaving Cash Money Records, the label she moved to after selling 600,000 albums through MCA. It’s interesting to note that at one point she was part of the project that would become Destiny’s Child.

Record Producer News: Duncan Mills, Bill Appleberry, Dave Eringa, Neal Avron, Graeme Stewart, Dan Grech-Marguerat, Gavin Brown, Dave Bassett, Brett Eliason, Kenneth Mount & Zack Odom, Ben Grosse, Dave Schiffman, Sean Genockey, Mike Green, Mudrock, Johnny K, Mike Daley

Duncan Mills is producer on the Dega Breaks and My Luminaries (Gronland Records) albums. Producer Bill Appleberry is in the studio with Trustkill Records act Fight Paris. Dave Eringa got producer credits on the latest from Manic Street Preachers and Idlewild. Sioux Falls, South Dakota punkers Spill Canvas have been using producer Neal Avron who also mixed the newest Linkin Park album not long ago. Graeme Stewart was in with Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood doing soundtrack work and was the engineer for producer Dan Grech-Marguerat on the Good Books record (Columbia UK). Gavin Brown is producing previously mentioned Toronto band The Midway State (Interscope Records). Dave Bassett is busy utilizing his writing talent for Shinedown, O.A.R., Idina Menzel, and The Dares. Don Gilmore and Brett Eliason will inevitably complete their producer duties for Arizona based band Scary Kids Scaring Kids (Immortal/RED). Watch for SKSK on the Vans Warped Tour. Kenneth Mount & Zack Odom will add new material by Cartel (Epic) and Mayday Parade (Fearless Records) to their producer credits by the end of ‘07. Ben Grosse is producer on Armour for Sleep’s (Sire/Warner) most recent. Dave Schiffman will produce the forthcoming album by Victory Records band Aiden. Producer Sean Genockey mixed Tom McRae and also sat in with Reuben. Virginia band Far Less (Tooth & Nail Records) is in an L.A. studio with Mike Green (The Matches, The Black Maria). Producer Mudrock (Avenged Sevenfold) is working with Orange County hardcore band Throwdown (Trustkill Records). Interscope band Radio is in the hands of Johnny K (Disturbed, Plain White T’s). Former Whiskeytown member Mike Daley will be producer on the Atlantic Records debut from Southeast roots-rock act Georgia. Daly also completed production on Grace Potter’s Hollywood Records debut. Stephen Street (Pretenders, Cranberries, Kaiser Chiefs) is scheduled to produce the next effort by Pete Doherty’s Babyshambles project. Finally, Sonny Levine joined producer Howie B to make the forthcoming Happy Mondays album due on Sanctuary Records UK in late ‘07.

Record Producer News: John Alagia, Ethan Johns, Dennis Herring, Joe Zook, Greg Wells, Patrick Leonard, Ric Ocasek, Noah Georgeson, Billy Bush, Jude Cole, Mike Hedges, Jason Cupp, Nathaniel Kunkel, Charlie Sexton

Producer John Alagia is in with Ben Lee working on his next record for the New West label. After this, Alagia will move on to the Reeve Carney material for Interscope Records. Other recent projects John has his stamp on range from Mandy Moore to the forthcoming Rachael Yamagata and Trevor Hall albums. Ethan Johns is co-producer on the Kings of Leon “Because Of The Times” record (recent #1 UK). Johns seems to have been very busy producing several EMI artists with upcoming releases including Turin Brakes and veterans Joe Cocker and Neil Finn. Modest Mouse produced their recent #1 album at Sweet Tea Studios in Oxford, Mississippi with Dennis Herring. Dennis will also get the producer credit on forthcoming albums by The Hives (Interscope) and songwriter Gavin DeGraw. The Gavin tunes were recorded by Joe Zook who additionally had his hand in the Modest Mouse record as well as the much talked about Mika debut. In fact, it was the prolific Greg Wells (Timbaland, Hilary Duff, Paris Hilton, Natasha Bedingfield) who produced several songs by #1 UK star Mika. Jacquire King will produce Christian group Seabird. Patrick Leonard has juggled producer duties on both NYC newcomer Brendan James (Capitol Music Group) and Train frontman Pat Monahan’s solo debut (Columbia Records). Car’s singer turned producer Ric Ocasek did Motion City Soundtrack’s upcoming album after producing material by Pink Spiders and Brazilian Girls. Noah Georgeson is co-producer on the latest Devendra Banhart songs. Billy Bush played engineer and/or mixer on forthcoming albums by former Jane’s Addiction bassist Eric Avery (Dangerbird Records), Against Me (Warner) and Natasha Bedingfield. Jude Cole co-produced the new Lifehouse record “Who We Are” due in June. The band is touring with the Goo Goo Dolls. Mike Hedges produced Muscle Shoals, Alabama native John Paul White’s debut (Capitol Music Group) – engineers were Jason Cupp and Adam Hatley. Nathaniel Kunkel produced debut artist I Nine (Sony-BMG) and engineered/mixed the future release by veteran Lyle Lovett. Marc Cohn’s next album was produced by Charlie Sexton. Due this Fall, it will be his first record since 1998. Cohn was shot in the head two years back but has of course recovered since then. His wife is ABC television news anchor Elizabeth Vargas.

*Former Domino Records act The Blueskins are looking for a manager.

Producer/Writer Martin Terefe

Producer/writer Martin Terefe is one of the “it” boys. He’s working just about non-stop. This past winter he assisted with Martha Wainwright’s forthcoming record. Sessions took place in upstate NY and London. Polydor/Universal act James Scott-Baylin and The Town, produced by Terefe, is set for summer release (members of Travis worked on this project). In addition, Martin completed EMI band Ben’s Brother in late ‘06 and has recently taken on the making of new albums by Butterfly Boucher, Ron Sexsmith and Sam Beeton (Sony-BMG).

Producer/Writer Marshall Altman, Adema, Kate Voegele

Producer/writer Marshall Altman (A&R history at Hollywood, Capitol and Columbia Records) has been busy in recent times contributing to material by Kate Voegele (Myspace Records release 5/22), Matt Nathanson, and Elliot Yamin. At the moment he’s producing comeback rockers Adema for Immortal Records/RED.

Tristan Prettyman To Record New Album in London, Jessie Baylin, Jesse Harris

Capitol Music Group’s Tristan Prettyman will head to London in June to record her second album. Los Angeles songwriter Jessie Baylon was out on the road with James Morrison and released her own Jesse Harris (Norah Jones) produced album this March. Mr. Jesse Harris will get credit for scoring the forthcoming Ethan Hawke film “The Hottest State.”

Ben Harper Producing Tom Freund With Guest Jackson Browne

Ben Harper is currently producing a record for Tom Freund featuring a brief collaboration with Jackson Browne. Freund in fact has played with Harper’s band and surprisingly appears on Mandy Moore’s John Alagia produced album.

Producer Danjahandz (Nate Hills), Christina Milian Re-Signed?

Miami based producer Danjahandz has quite a long list of production credits including Katherine McPhee, Justin Timberlake, Fantasia Barino, DJ Khaled, Paula DeAnda, The Game, Lloyd Banks, Jennifer Lopez and Nelly Furtado. More recently he worked on Christina Milian’s forthcoming album. Milian has consulted an awful lot of folks to finish her next record featuring Rick Ross and Frankie J. Who? The Runners, The Matrix, Jonathan Rotem, and Cool & Dre are some of the names. It’s likely she’s already signed to a new major label after leaving Universal in the past. Milian also has a co-writing credit (w/ Neyo) on a Paula DeAnda (Arista Records) tune in addition to her acting role on a new CW Network show.

Anna Nalick in Studio With Producer Mike Flynn

Anna Nalick is currently recording her sophomore record with producer Mike Flynn. This will be the follow up to her 600,000+ selling Columbia Records debut. Flynn was a producer on The Fray’s debut, is employed as Epic Records A&R, and used to be in a Sony band called Old Pike signed by former Sony exec Ben Goldman.

Blind Melon Signs With Sanctuary Artist Management

The newly resurrected Blind Melon with singer Travis Warren has signed with Rick Canny at Sanctuary Artist Management. Canny is known to have represented a diverse group of performers including Scott Stapp, Paulina Rubio, Boston and Something Corporate. Blind Melon is currently recording new songs in southern California to be completed this June.

Nic Hard, Aberdeen City, Nicole Atkins, Tore Johansson, Stuart Sikes

Up north in Boston, Nic Hard (The Bravery, The Chruch) is producing new songs for Aberdeen City (RED/Columbia). Columbia Records artist Nicole Atkins is schmoozing in London while trying to complete production on her debut LP. Atkins is using producers/engineers Tore Johansson (Cardigans, Franz Ferdinand, OK Go, New Order), Stuart Sikes (Be Your Own Pet, Cat Power) and Martin Terefe (KT Tunstall, James Morrison).

Female Songwriter Influx? Or Business As Usual? Amy Macdonald, Kerli Kõiv, Terra Naomi, Sarah Bareilles, A Fine Frenzy, Emily King

What the marketplace has in store this summer and beyond:

Scottish youngin Amy Macdonald to follow KT Tunstall’s lead? Record due July 30 on Vertigo/Universal. Producer: Pete Wilkinson.

Estonian pop girl Kerli Kõiv. She looks like Avril Lavigne, no? Record due 2007. Signed to Island/Universal.

Terra Naomi. Produced by Paul Fox with an album out this summer. Signed to Island/Universal. New video posted.

Sarah Bareilles signed to Epic/Sony. Forthcoming album.

A Fine Frenzy, featuring Alison Sudol. July 17 release through Capitol Music Group.

21 year old New Yorker Emily King signed to J/Arista/Sony-BMG. Organic R&B to complement her labelmates Alicia Keys and Leona Lewis. All three have upcoming releases.

A&R Chicago: Kelsey Wild and Sunday Morning Chameleon

Indie girl Kelsey Wild of Byron, Illinois. Very interesting for a 16 year old. She unashamedly sounds like Avril meets Anna Nalick meets Alanis. No doubt she’d prefer Rachael Yamagata, Regina Spektor comparisons as those would appear to be her current influences.
[audio:Kelsey Wild-Let Me Go.mp3]

Unsigned Chicago band Sunday Morning Chameleon. They sound like every UK band ambitiously exported to the States – yet still with a friendly, television jangle. More of that Kinks sound? For use in an upcoming film perhaps.
[audio:Sunday Morning Chameleon.mp3]

Chicago Mobfest 2007 – A&R Attendees and Panelists

Some of the panelists at Chicago Mobfest 2007 (June 21, 22, 23):

Peter Coquillard – Windswept Pacific Publishing
Brendon Mendoza – American Recordings
Mollie Moore – Atlantic Records
Steve Hutton – Uppercut Management
Ali Buttars & Seth Cassel: One Haven/Sony-BMG
Michael Howe – Downtown Recordings
Heather Peggs – Capitol Music Group
Vince Quintero – Bunim Murray
J.W. Johnson – Razor and Tie
Jason Jordan – Hollywood Records
Lucia Chang – ICM

Motion City Soundtrack’s Josh Cain and Justin Pierre Produce Songs For L.A. Band Metro Station (Red Ink/Columbia)

Back in April, signed L.A. band Metro Station was in Minneapolis producing songs with Motion City Soundtrack’s Josh Cain and Justin Pierre.

14th Floor Records/Warner Signed The Wombats, Merge Records Does Deal With Shout Out Louds

14th Floor Records/Warner signed Liverpool band The Wombats. The roster of this UK based record label also includes Damien Rice, Joseph Arthur, Nerina Pallot, Biffy Clyro and Ray LaMontagne. Merge Records, home to artists such as Arcade Fire, signed a deal with Stockholm band Shout Out Louds.

Katy Perry Signs to Capitol Music Group

21 year old Santa Barbara gone Hollywood girl Katy Perry signs to Capitol Music Group. She is managed by Direct Management Group (Alanis Morissette, k.d. lang, Go-Go’s, Jamie Cullum, OMD). Second time’s a charm as she had a previous deal through Columbia.

In The City New York Event, ITC Update

In The City of New York event held June 13-14 in NYC has confirmed the following panelists:

Jason Flom – Capitol Music Group, CEO
Fred Davis – Attorney
Marc Geiger – William Morris Agency
Tom Silverman – Tommy Boy, CEO
Ted Cohen – TAG Digital Media
Ralph Simon – Mobile Entertainment Forum Americas
Bob Lefsetz – blogger
Ed Bicknell – William Morris Agency

Diane Birch Signed By EMI Publishing

L.A. turned London resident Diane Birch signs up with Guy Moot and Felix Howard at EMI Publishing (UK). Previously mentioned here several times as an unsigned pick (beginning November 9, 2006), Birch recently produced demos with the high profile Danton Supple (Coldplay, Ghosts). She uses manager Will Bloomfield at Modest! Entertainment (Delta Goodrem, Lemar).