WHEELS & DEALS: VIVA LAS VEGAS, RUBIN NEWS
ANOTHER ROUND: We wish we could say tequila shots for the house. But unfortunately we’re referring to all the chatter going on regarding recent layoffs at Sony. Last week, several senior A&R executives at Epic were let go, including West Coast-based staff producer Stacy Jones and East Coast A&R hitters Peter Malkin and Diana Fragnito. They are all seasoned pros making them desirable free agents. A couple label scouts were laid-off as well. That leaves only a few A&R players at the label holding down the fort…
Speaking of Sony, insiders share that the Rick Rubin deal is close to being finalized with Columbia. Expect Rubin’s A&R team at his American Recordings label to be the West Coast presence for the East Coast-based major. Said American staffers have reportedly been working out of their house since late last year as the transition out of the Bunny was being worked out. Meanwhile, Rubin has already been meeting with current Columbia staffers to get a head start in building a relationship with them...
NEWS TO USE: Our friends in Sin City tell us there’s a local band that’s been drawing several hundred kids to their shows and packing the clubs. They happen to be buds with some of the members in Panic! at the Disco. Well, the latest is that they have an offer coming in from Pete Wenz’s Decaydance label through Fueled By Ramen. We heard tracks and there’s definitely Top40 crossover potential on their demo. Here’s the kicker: the band tells us that not one major label rep has approached them. Where are the scouts? C’mon now, we’re still counting on you, but the clock is ticking. You’ll have to put one on the board soon (i.e. sign an act that sells gold or platinum). And back in the day, gold didn’t even count.
BACK TO SIN CITY: The folks at the Amplify Music Conference in Las Vegas tell us that this year’s confab will be held August 8-11, 2007. It’s a couple weeks before the Magic Clothing Convention. Once again, the event will be held on Freemont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, where numerous bars and clubs are now popping up. It’ll soon be like Austin’s 6th Street or San Diego’s Gas Lamp district. Stay tuned for more info…
BUZZIN’: Duke Spirit and the Annuals… Hit me up: [email protected]
