Published Wednesday, 23 July, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Popular music - Queensland artists secure deals at overseas performance and trade show events
Queensland artists who attended Musexpo in Los Angeles earlier this year have returned home with a swag full of success stories.
Minister for Trade John Mickel and Minister for the Arts Rod Welford congratulated participating artists and their representatives and said that a total of 30 Queensland delegates attended this important industry event from 27 to 30 April.
The delegation included three local bands that showcased at the event, as well as independent record label representatives, publishing company executives, music managers and music artists.
“This year the Queensland Government supported Small Mercies, The Red Paintings and The Gin Club. These groups follow in the footsteps of previous years’ headline acts including Pete Murray, Transport and Intercooler,” Mr Mickel said.
“Small Mercies secured a US management and representation deal on both the east and west coasts. The group scored a music placement deal for their song ‘Innocent’ in the US DVD package for the hit TV show Las Vegas. They also attracted significant interest from booking agents and several record labels within the Sony BMG Group and plan to return to the US in late 2008.
“The Red Paintings impressed Lippman Entertainment, the company that coordinates international tours for artists such as Matchbox Twenty, George Michael and Pink. They are now working on a US tour for late 2008 where the significant interest from publicists, record producers and publishers generated by their showcase will assist them to develop their US market potential.
“As a result of their visit to Musexpo The Gin Club is negotiating a US distribution deal and discussions are underway to tour the UK and Europe in late 2008,” said Mr Mickel.
Brisbane-based Plus One Records, the The Gin Club’s Australian record label, also secured a deal to represent international publishing company, pigFACTORY, in Australia and is in discussions with Fontana Distribution for US and Canada distribution of music by The Gin Club, Mary Trembles and Intercooler.
“Other Queensland delegates to Musexpo are negotiating US management deals as well as access to Nokia podcasting and music placement deals for film and television projects. It is anticipated there will be further outcomes being confirmed for delegates in the coming months,” Mr Mickel said.
Mr Welford said acclaimed local band The Boat People had also recently returned from representing Queensland for the first time at The Great Escape Festival in the United Kingdom.
“As a result of their attendance at the Great Escape Festival, The Boat People have been picked up by major promoter, Live Nation, and will release a vinyl single in the UK later this year to coincide with a planned tour of the UK and the US in October and November,” Mr Welford said.
“Representing Q Music in the UK, Deb Suckling was also able to identify a number of suitable music executives to invite to present and to participate in music panels at Big Sound Music Industry Summit, 10-12 Sept 2008 in Brisbane.
“Following this initial success, we are planning to build an ongoing collaborative relationship with The Great Escape Festival as an entry point for Queensland artists into the UK music industry.”
Queensland’s presence at both of these events, jointly supported by Trade Queensland and Arts Queensland, highlights the value of attendance at international music events which incorporate performances, business networking and industry conferences.
Media contact: John Smith 3227 1944 or Nathan Moir 07 3235 4060
23 July 2008
Minister for Trade John Mickel and Minister for the Arts Rod Welford congratulated participating artists and their representatives and said that a total of 30 Queensland delegates attended this important industry event from 27 to 30 April.
The delegation included three local bands that showcased at the event, as well as independent record label representatives, publishing company executives, music managers and music artists.
“This year the Queensland Government supported Small Mercies, The Red Paintings and The Gin Club. These groups follow in the footsteps of previous years’ headline acts including Pete Murray, Transport and Intercooler,” Mr Mickel said.
“Small Mercies secured a US management and representation deal on both the east and west coasts. The group scored a music placement deal for their song ‘Innocent’ in the US DVD package for the hit TV show Las Vegas. They also attracted significant interest from booking agents and several record labels within the Sony BMG Group and plan to return to the US in late 2008.
“The Red Paintings impressed Lippman Entertainment, the company that coordinates international tours for artists such as Matchbox Twenty, George Michael and Pink. They are now working on a US tour for late 2008 where the significant interest from publicists, record producers and publishers generated by their showcase will assist them to develop their US market potential.
“As a result of their visit to Musexpo The Gin Club is negotiating a US distribution deal and discussions are underway to tour the UK and Europe in late 2008,” said Mr Mickel.
Brisbane-based Plus One Records, the The Gin Club’s Australian record label, also secured a deal to represent international publishing company, pigFACTORY, in Australia and is in discussions with Fontana Distribution for US and Canada distribution of music by The Gin Club, Mary Trembles and Intercooler.
“Other Queensland delegates to Musexpo are negotiating US management deals as well as access to Nokia podcasting and music placement deals for film and television projects. It is anticipated there will be further outcomes being confirmed for delegates in the coming months,” Mr Mickel said.
Mr Welford said acclaimed local band The Boat People had also recently returned from representing Queensland for the first time at The Great Escape Festival in the United Kingdom.
“As a result of their attendance at the Great Escape Festival, The Boat People have been picked up by major promoter, Live Nation, and will release a vinyl single in the UK later this year to coincide with a planned tour of the UK and the US in October and November,” Mr Welford said.
“Representing Q Music in the UK, Deb Suckling was also able to identify a number of suitable music executives to invite to present and to participate in music panels at Big Sound Music Industry Summit, 10-12 Sept 2008 in Brisbane.
“Following this initial success, we are planning to build an ongoing collaborative relationship with The Great Escape Festival as an entry point for Queensland artists into the UK music industry.”
Queensland’s presence at both of these events, jointly supported by Trade Queensland and Arts Queensland, highlights the value of attendance at international music events which incorporate performances, business networking and industry conferences.
Media contact: John Smith 3227 1944 or Nathan Moir 07 3235 4060
23 July 2008