WHEELS & DEALS:
HAZY SHADE OF SUMMER

New York City is truly a magical place when it’s sunny and breezy and the mercury is at a pleasant 70 degrees. After visiting label friends in the Big Apple last week, the feeling and sentiment back East is about the same as out West. Folks working in entrepreneurial ventures or in a booming sector of the biz (i.e., those not working at major labels) are upbeat and enjoying the anything-goes state of the Wild West of music, while the folks with label gigs are doing their best to stay positive. But at the same time, we definitely get that feeling of uncertainty from them, like there’s a dark cloud looming over their heads. The resounding theme we got is that 2007 is the year for big, big changes, and we’ve already seen some monumental changes during the first half of the year. There will probably be no shortage of surprises for the remainder of ’07, so it’s time for your next chess move—and hopefully you’ve thought about four moves ahead… Meanwhile, there’s no shortage of artist signings going on. Sire Records Prexy Michael Goldstone swoops in and signs folk duo Tegan & Sara. The Canadian-based act was a hot property after their label Sanctuary decided to get out of the frontline artist business. The group was initially signed to fellow Canuck Neil Young’s Vapor Records. Their fifth album, The Con, is slated to street July 24, and they already have numerous sold-out shows on their summer tour schedule. Kudos to Goldie for making a nice addition to the Sire roster… For those following the Warner/Chappell saga, longtime Sony Soundtrax exec Glen Brunman gets tapped with a senior position at the pubco by new W/C Chairman Dave Johnson. In case you hadn’t heard, Richard Blackstone stepped down from the Chairman position a couple months ago. Word is that Brunman will be stepping into former prexy Rick Shoemaker’s shoes, but with an EVP title… The Reid Hunter-repped Manchester Orchestra has reportedly signed with Steve Ralbovsky at his new label, Canvasback Music, through his deal with Columbia/Sony. Meanwhile, we hear the band is finalizing a pub deal with Chrysalis Music kingpin Kenny MacPherson and A&R player James Cerreta… Weasel ears are perking up at the finished album by Immortal act Scary Kids Scaring Kids. Hot-shot rock producer Don Gilmore helmed the album, and A&R homeboy Jason Markey gets props. In related scuttlebutt, we hear Immortal head Happy Walters has been meeting with bigwigs for a possible new Immortal label deal… Two big shows tonight: the Duke Spirit and the CoCo B’s at Spaceland in L.A., and Earl Greyhound at the Bowery Ballroom in N.Y. Expect big A&R attendance at both shows. BUZZIN’: Matt Mahaffey, Dave Holmes and Ron Burman… Hit me up: [email protected]

BUZZ/GIGS:
EARL GREYHOUND Thurs., June 14, 8:00 p.m., Bowery Ballroom, N.Y.
AS TALL AS LIONS Fri., June 29, TBD, Troubadour, L.A.
SCARY KIDS SCARING KIDS Fri., June 29, TBD, Warped Tour, Pomona, CA