A&R
The lifeblood of any publishing company (other than it's high class staff) is it's catalogue of writers, clients and songs (be they instrumental, vocal or TV / Film)
The A&R department is responsible for finding and developing this talent for both new and existing writers and making sure the writers reach their full potential.
The upshot of this work is that both the writer and Bucks' benefit - both short and long term - as careers take shape both creatively and financially
If you are an upcoming or budding writer you should remember that A&R is not about miracle working - there is no replacement for talent!
There is also no replacement for hard work - ultimately this business is about a working partnership so if you don't want to work please do not contact us!
Thanks!
Tim
A&R NEWS
June 2008
Euro 2008 is upon us...sans England but with Bucks' publishing the official UEFA theme for the tournament!
In May Bucks won the Ivor Novello for Biggest Selling UK Single for last year with Beautiful Liar by Amanda Ghost (recorded by Beyonce and Shakira)
And we also celebrated when BDi (the jv with Sarah Liversedge) won Best TV Soundtrack for the second year running (again for Martin Phipps) - which makes it 4 years in a row for the Bucks family...
Other news...Evil Nine have completed their new album which is superb...due later this year on Marine Parade...
The Race have just delivered their new album too...if you're lucky you'll get to hear it via the Pass It On project...check inmyheaditworks.com for more info...and pass it on if you get it...
Pendulum have had their first album Hold Your Colour re-enter the UK top 40 album chart which features tracks by our writers Fats, TC, Dan Fresh and Spyda
Moguai have also written another track with Brian Higgins for Girls Aloud...Fling appears on the latest album Tangled Up.
Rekids have just signed Toby Tobias whose new album Space Shuffle they are releasing soon.
2562's new album Aerial is due soon on Tectonic
Hazard's track Machete was Zane Lowe's record of the week last week on Radio 1.
Loads more to follow
Tim
April / May 2008
Is it really May this week? The year is flying by...at the start of the year there were 4 labels in EMI Recs...Man City had a manager...nobody knew what sub-prime was...and now? Crazy!
So what is happening at Bucks?
New signings include the wonderful Clare & The Reasons whose new album "The Movie" is just magical...and includes collabs with Sufjan Stevens, Van Dyke Parks and Gregoire Maret; Full Time Hobby (for whom we are helping set up and run their publishing company) have joined the family...
We have had top 10 records with with Duffy's "Save It For Your Prayers" (b-side of Mercy); The Shadow Puppet's cover of "In The Heat Of The Morning" by David Bowie (b-side of The Age of the Understatement); Leona Lewis covering "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" on her #1 album...
We have albums lined up by Christopher D Ashley "Cruel Romantics" via Sunday Best - check the artwork which features Kate Winslet's sister!; The Bodysnatchers "Feeling Good, Looking Nice, Smelling Right" via Passenger Records; The Race's new album (untitled as they're currently mastering it!); Sideshow (as per The Race!) forthcoming on Simple; Night Of The Brain (Cristian Vogel)'s new album; 2562 's album "Aerial" on Multiverse...
Singles and EPs from 2Tyme "Ain't Your Sweet Thing" via Ministry Of Sound; Hypasonic v Jorg Schmid "Doesn't Matter" on AATW; Noisia "Gutterpunk" via Skint (also featured on the new Heineken ad in Holland); Ils "Hate Is An Illness" on Botchit & Scarper; Aquasky & Ragga Twins "Old Skool Style" & The Bodysnatchers "Call Me" featuring Sport-O & Yolanda on Passenger; Chase & Status "Brazil" - part of the Dimensions EP3; Slipz & Dabz ft Spyda "Baliclava"; Sean Redmond "It's All Very Well If You're Happy In Hell"; Roar & Baumgarter "The Beat" on Phonetic; Funkerman "Speed Up" on Defected; D Ramirez ft TC single "With Me Or Against Me" on Toolroom; Radioslave "Grindhouse" on Rekids; Hazard "Machete" on Real Playaz; DJ Fresh "Exhale"; Ges-E & Shandy "Dil Se" on Nasha; Onionz "Nothin But Love" via Toolroom
Other news - Ulterior have been storming it live with their fan base in hot pursuit...supporting The Horrors for NME at the Astoria, managing not to have too many fights at their gigs (!), getting the thumbs up from Jesus & Mary Chain and Bobby Gillespie (among others), releasing a second single soon and finishing off their album; Cristian Vogel has scored more Dance shows in Spain; Jose James is working with Flying Lotus (Visions of Violet is superb!) and is currently putting together his second album; Si Hulbert is producing an Italian band called Gaia; Mark Gardener is also working with Gaia and is due to start producing Sunday Best act Bastila soon; Moguai have remixed Tone Loc for Delicious Vinyl and will be DJing with them on tour
Oh - and Aquasky have been writing with and producing Street Drum Corps and Pink Enemy in LA...the results are fierce!
December 2007
Well...half a day to go on the 24th until the business year end and it's not been bad...
Before we get to the "well done everyone for working your butts off and for all your success and fun times" there's a bit of news to catch up on...
And not just that I got a PS3 either!
This week we welcomed Bastila to the fold via their deal with Sunday Best. "Think of the Specials at their bleakest, meets Stone Roses at their trippiest and you'll be some way to discovering the essence of this 5-piece from the Isle of Wight". They're pretty good you know...and dangerous in pubs!
Setsubun Bean Unit have signed to Soundslike Music. Pure space funk, Setsubun are the UK's most intrepid trio who explore a radical electronic reworking of traditional Japanese folk and contemporary rhythm, mixed with space funk, original compositions and live Japanese Bon Dance. SETSUBUN: traditional Japanese Spring Ceremony with demon-bashing bean-scattering.
"some of the most unclassifiable and exhilarating contemporary music you've ever heard." [FROOTS]
In other news, DJ Pinch 's album "Underwater Dancehall" on Tectonic / Multiverse is DJ Mag's Album Of The Issue for the Christmas issue.
In the same issue, Will Saul's new compilation / artist album "Simple Sounds" is compilation of the issue too!
November 2007
OK, OK, October did happen but we were way too busy to make any notes about it!
So...to catch up fully...
Professor Green supported 50 Cent in Nottingham last Friday...and rocked it...
My Device's album Jumbo Fiasco was released on November 5th.
"Comparisons to the Pixies are obvious" - Rocksound.
"Evoking classic art-pop from early Eno, The Fall and XTC through to current post-punkers The Futureheads and The Young Knives, dispatched with the intensity of hardcore punk." - Garry Mulholland, Q Magazine.
Different tracks are also variously compared to Eighties Matchbox Disaster, Modest Mouse, Les Favy Fav and a boisterous Maximo Park. All good!
Motion Pictures EP Potion Mixtures was released on 1965 Records. It's brilliant. Check it out.
DJ Pinch has released his album "Underwater Dancehall" on Tectonic / Multiverse. Brilliant vocal (and instrumental) dubstep.
Leona Lewis has covered First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
Chase & Status were top of the Dance singles chart in Music Week with Hurt You.
In signings news we welcome Rekids Publishing to the family. Home of Radio Slave remixer and artist extrordinaire expect big things from them soon.
Omakase have signed Jose James - a brilliant New York based Jazz / Soul crooner with an amazing range - and Elan Mehler the 6 foot 5 baske...sorry, pianist to the stable. Both massive Gilles Peterson faves keep an eye for them both...
Dolly Rockers have also signed to Bucks. The next in the Ray Hedges hit machine they will hit the airwaves next year.
Also forthcoming in the new year...new albums and releases from Sportsday Megaphone, Chris Ashley (both via Sunday Best), Bodysnatchers via Passenger Records, Sean Redmond and, best of the lot, the new Matthew Herbert set.
Not that that's the end of it by any stretch of the imagination...
And don't forget the new vocal mix of Gutterpump by Noisia which is forthcoming on Skint in the new year.
September 2007 (late!)
So...anyone listen to Zane Lowe?
TC Evolution is Album of the Week this week (24th September) on Zane's show.
Described by Metro (I know I know) as "the D&B equivalent of five pints of Stella" (!) it's released on the 1st October on D-Style Recordings. It also features a Scratch Perverts mix-up...and you know that'll be good.
If you move quickly you'll still be able to hear his live Maida Vale session for Fabio & Grooverider...or the minimix for Annie Mac...and check youtube for the video to Drink!
There is a reason TC won 2 awards at 1xtra's Xtra Bass Awards you know...;o)
This week we also welcome Chase And Status to the Bucks family...and if you're not sure who they are check Zane, Fab & Groove & Annie's shows again as they're caning the new song Hurt You on Ram...D&B of the highest order...fierce...
Joining Chase & Status are:
Wayne Hedrex Roberts - ad man extraordinaire and great House producer from Nottingham,
Ulterior - bizarrely another Nottingham link -who I would describe (probably wrongly!) as Jesus & Mary Chain meets Underworld...and be aware that if you hear Nelly Furtado being played it's probably going to kick off...!
David Tort the Spanish House man and pop producer,
Jez Coad co-writer and producer of the last Simple Minds album,
And Bodysnatchers who sign to Aquasky's Sky High Music Publishing
Forthcoming soon are the Ils album Paranoid Prophet on Botchit & Scarper...Hate Is An Illness already being supported by...err...Zane!
(I've noticed a theme this week)
Which means I won't mention anything about checking a certain show next week in case Professor Green has a world exclusive play...ahem...
Oh - and chart wise...other than Freaks who have just been remixing a well know Eighties band who have the same first name as last name...
Wayne Donnelly wrote 1000 Kisses on Ultrabeat's #8 chart hit The Album,
Kanye West sampled Can on his latest chart topping album,
Dave Spoon ft Lisa Maffia - Bad Girl made #36
September 2007 (early!)
Freaks - Creeps (Get On The Dancefloor) was a new entry in the Official UK Singles Chart at #9 on 08/09/07!
Congratulations to all involved.
The same week it was also #1 in the Official Dance singles chart; #1 on the TV Airplay chart; #1 on the MTV most played chart; fifth most played on Radio 1 and 21st most played in the country as a whole!
Watch out for the release of Dave Spoon ft Lisa Maffia - Bad Girl which is forthcoming over the next few weeks.
Music Week also featured the following forthcoming releases as being highlights of the Ibiza season
Max Linen - Sat Night, Sun Morning forthcoming on Phonetic Records
Tiesto - TV an itunes exclusive video album (due late September)
Noisia - Gutterpump is re-released with a stonking new vocal mix on Skint / Loaded - a major priority for them in the next month
August 2007
Freaks - Creeps (Get On The Dancefloor) is now A listed on Radio 1. It's also playlisted at Smash Hits TV, The Box, MTV Dance, etc, etc, etc
July 2007
Busy busy busy in July!
Here's a rough list of highlights so far...
Luke Solomon and Justin Harris's act Freaks single Creeps was made Jo Whiley's record of the week in July.
In addition it has just been added to Radio 1's C list.
It has also been:
1 Music Week Cool Cuts chart
1 Music Week Upfront Club Top 40
2 Music Week Commercial Pop Top 30
8 Music Week Pre-release airplay
Look out for the video which has been playlisted on MTV, the Box, B4 etc
In addition the following tracks have made it to the Music Week charts where they are currently:
DJ Jeroenski - Back Once Again 4 Upfront Club Top 40
Dave Spoon ft Lisa Maffia - Bad Girl 27 Upfront Club Top 40
22 Commercial Pop Top 30
Funk Marauders - Rock My Body 2 Top 10 Upfront Club Breakers
Stereo Hookers - Dirty Boy 9 Top 10 Upfront Club Breakers
14 Commercial Pop Top 30
Tiesto - Break My Fall 6 Cool Cuts chart
Martijn Ten Velden's I Wish You Would now has it's video completed featuring Luciana and appearing on All Around The World.
His other release - Splittr - All Alone is forthcoming in September on Eye Industries
The video has also been added to the TMF Netherlands main playlist.
Professor Green is currently on tour in Scotland with The Beats tour...supporting Mike Skinner's The Streets ahead of the Get Loaded festival on Clapham Common at the end of August.
New signings this month include:
Breakbeat don Ils whose new album is just being completed (signed via Hope Music Ltd for the new material and Pocket Rocket Music Ltd for the back catalogue)
Bristol D&B artist Hugh Pescod pka Clipz and Cold Monkey Music
Rich Colman's Suesse Music - look out for the forthcoming release That Sound by Marc Leaf on CR2 Records and Daley Padley & Chris Special's Terrace Attack.
In other news:
Pete Simpson is part of the Wall Of Sound / PIAS act Elektrons and the single Get Up is getting heavy specialist play on Radio 1. It comes from the forthcoming album Red Light Don't Stop due for release on August 20th. It's wicked.
Pete's album with Domu on Papa Recordings has also been licenced to Columbia Japan.
Stealth scored a top 5 hit in France last month with David Vendetta's single Unidos Para La Musica
Plenty more where that comes from...keep an eye out on the site for more info & bulletins...
June 2007
So...have you joined the Digga - Broken homemade video competition which seems to be going on on youtube at the moment? Over 50 videos have been made to the track so far...not bad for a song that hasn't been officially released yet!
And even stranger still...the majority of videos are being shot in Germany!
Time for the rest of the world to catch up methinks
In other news we welcome Multiverse Media Publishing into the family. Big on the Dubstrp and Breakbeat scenes their latest album is by Cyrus and is heavy!
In a great way to start June the wonderful band Motion Pictures signed to 1965 Records (home of The View in case you didn't know).
If you love The Byrds you'll love them...if you're not a twitcher you'll still love them!
They're absolutely wicked - and if you don't like them you're obviously deaf
Cristian Vogel's new project Night Of The Brain has it's first album Wear This World Out released on Station 55 Records now.
Check their special live show at SONAR in Barcelona this month...if fire regs allow!
In other news...My Device & The Race are hard at work on new albums...Simon Hulbert is hard at work with a BBC project; a top 5 selling act's album; a well known Irish judicial manager's new triplets; oh, and Bad Girl (At Night) has slammed into the top of the Cool Cuts chart...which is nice...!
I'm sure there will be more to follow (he says knowingly)...you could say it's quite lively at Bucks at the moment - why would you want to be anywhere else? ;o)
May 2007
So...congratulations to BDi for their first Ivor Novello Award (for TV Soundtrack) and for Martin Phipps...well deserved and the third year in a row that Bucks Music Group linked writers have won this award.
In signings news we welcome the following to the family:
Digga melds Joe's soulful flow, Raphael Saddiq's funk and a touch of Akon to bring some class to the UK R&B scene. In no way overshadowed by the US leading lights there is no doubt he can go far - both as writer and performer.
D-El is Digga's production partner and co-owner of Blacquesheep Records. R&B, Hip Hop & Grime he is a upcoming talent on the UK underground scene.
Both are signed via Street Music Publishing
Pocket Rocket Music are a new up and coming publishing company with some interesting things in the pipeline - watch this space.
April 2007
Two new signings already this month:
My Device are a fiery power trio from Brighton who have signed to First Date Music Publishing.
Their first album Nervous System was released on Shifty Disco late last year to great acclaim - and among other things they supported Babyshambles and beat 6000 bands to win NME's Breaking Band's competition.
The latest single Eat Lead was released Feb 2007 and shows just why Play Music said:
"The scale of what's on offer is actually staggering"
Shuffle are a Jazz Punk Hip Hop Swing combo who possess the "best moustache in alternative music" (Subba-Cultcha)
They have just supported Charlotte Hatherley on her national tour and are house band at the Lost Vagueness Chapel at Glastonbury later this year.
Quirky & catchy they're well worth catching live and their new single is available on download later this month
Other News:
Dean Marriott aka D Ramirez has been taking it easy lately...not! Further to his remix (complete remake?) of Bodyrox's Yeah Yeah - his version of which is up for the Best Contemporary Rem...sorry, Song at the Ivor Novello Awards this year Dean has a Ministry Of Sound Sessions album out 11th May, does the Essential Mix on Radio 1 on 13th May, releases Pleasure Me with Dmitry Bobrov on Slave Recordings 21st May, is live on the Galaxy radio network on 26th May, has his EP with Mark Knight out late May / early June, and the La Discotek album out in Australia in June. Not to mention starting work on more of his productions in the middle of May. He really should work harder...!
Professor Green is hard at work in the studio completing his first album. He is also continuing to present his monthly Radio 1 show (first Friday night / Saturday morning of the month) under the In New DJs We Trust banner.
He also performed at Camden Crawl on 19th & 20th April appearing with Calvin Harris, Air Traffic &
Black Ghosts
Simon Hulbert and Harry Brooks Wilkins got the Essential New Tune on Radio 1's Pete Tong show on 6th April with the vocal mix of Dave Spoon's Bad Girl (At Night)
He has also just returned from a very successful tour of Australia as Studio B.