Polo G Announces New Label
Rapper Polo G announced in September that he is starting his own label in partnership with Columbia Records, named ODA. “The name of my label is ODA, Only Dreamers Achieve Records, because in our communities we are told what we can’t be. I want to send the message that we control our futures and encourage artists to dream big,” the rapper said. The first release, due this year, will be Scorey, a budding talent from Syracuse, NY.
Perez Travels 4,000 Miles to Perform for Healthcare Workers
With music venues closed, musician Franky Perez partnered with Ducati
to create Crossing the Great Divide Tour, an eight episode miniseries that documents a 13-day, 4,000+ mile tour on a Ducati Multistrada 1260 S Grand Tour custom fitted with a detachable guitar case. Throughout the trip, Perez performed multiple free outdoor concerts for healthcare workers. Check out the miniseries at ducati.com/us/en/franky-perez-suddenly44-tour.
Indie Radio Station Discovers Chemical Diary
Thanks in part to Music Connection’s recent DIY Spotlight profile on Chemical Diary’s Dean Strickland (aka Roland Numbers), the band has garnered attention from radio station iRockNashville. According to the artist, who recently reunited with his brother, guitarist Dudee, “Our band was notified by Scott Fisher, Program Director, that several of the songs from our latest CD were chosen for airplay on irocknashville.com. The most popular songs played on the station this summer from Chemical Diary’s Equalizer CD, which was recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood and reviewed by Music Connection magazine, are 'Feed The Homeless,’ 'Emotional Roller Coaster Ride’ and 'When She Comes Back To Stay.’” Pictured (l-r): Roland Numbers and Dudee.
Jonas Group Publishing Launches in Nashville
Growing talent management and entertainment company Jonas Group Entertainment has announced the launch of its new Nashville, TN-based publishing division, Jonas Group Publishing, with flagship songwriter Terri Jo Box joining founder and CEO Kevin Jonas, Sr. on the roster. Pictured (l-r): Kevin Jonas, Sr. (founder and CEO); Denis Jonas (founder); Terri Jo Box; and Rodger Hodges (artist manager).
O’Neal Leads SAG-AFTRA and SRDF to New Heights
The SAG-AFTRA and Industry Sound Recordings Distribution Fund (SRDF) more than doubled their annual payout to vocalists this year to over $10 million. Paying vocalists for their interactive streaming and licensed recordings under the SAG-AFTRA Sound Recordings Agreement, the SRDF has expectations of substantially growing distributions each year as the industry’s streaming revenue continues to rise. (Pictured) SRDF Fund Manager, Terry O’Neal, has worked with singers to get their residuals for over 30 years and used his experience to build a great team at the SRDF.
Shinedown Raises $300,000 for COVID Relief with Record-Breaking Single
Shinedown recently broke the record for the most #1s ever in the 39-year history of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart, scoring their 16th #1 hit with “Atlas Falls,” a track that offers a message of optimism and faith in humanity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The song was released as part of an exclusive song and T-shirt bundle for the band‘s CO- VID-19 fundraising effort. More than $300,000 including a $20,000 donation from Shinedown that kicked it off went
to humanitarian aid organization Direct Relief.
Fitz and the Tantrums Hit the Drive-In
Indie-pop group Fitz and the Tantrums performed two drive-in shows at City National Grove of Anaheim’s Drive-In OC on Sept. 5 and 6. “We couldn’t be more excited to play a show again,” said the band’s frontman Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick. “We all need live music in our lives. This is gonna feel really special to bring some joy to people in these challenging times and get to do it in a safe and responsible way.”
