Amazon Music and Alfie Templeman launch a virtual festival in Minecraft to celebrate the launch of Mellow Moon 19 May 2022
Featuring performances from Alfie Templeman, Everything Everything, Coach Party, Matilda Mann, The Vaccines and more
‘Mellow Moon’ festival performances live on Minecraft from Thursday 19th May
Amazon Music and Alfie Templeman have collaborated to create the world of ‘Mellow Moon’ inside the hugely popular immersive game, Minecraft. ‘Mellow Moon’ celebrates Alfie’s upcoming album of the same name and features a virtual festival on Thursday 19th May with performances from Alfie plus Everything Everything, L'objectif, Matilda Mann, SIRUP, Todd Rundgren, Coach Party, Thomas Headon, Pixey, and The Vaccines. The ‘Mellow Moon’ festival will also be livestreamed on the Amazon Music UK Twitch channel from 18:00 BST.
Alfie joined Amazon Music’s developing artist programme, Breakthrough, in 2021 and the creation of the ‘Mellow Moon’ Minecraft world is an example of how emerging artists can be supported on the programme. The world of ‘Mellow Moon’ was created alongside Varuna Builds, a Minecraft specialist agency who utilise the gaming world for education and entertainment, Chess Club and AWAL. As well as the festival, the world includes a host of other exciting things for people to do, including scavenger hunts to unlock exclusive music previews and in-game collectibles. Plus, they'll be able to pre-order Alfie’s debut album, Mellow Moon, win real world items including Amazon Echo Studio speakers, 12-month Amazon Music subscriptions and exclusive Alfie Templeman merchandise.
Alfie said of the activation;“Thanks so much to Mitch and the whole team at Amazon Music for creating a Mellow Moon universe in Minecraft. I’ve been playing Minecraft for years so it’s amazing to see my album alive and kicking in that world and incredible that some of my favourite artists are going to join me in playing this festival - I can’t wait for everyone else to see this now!”
Sam Potts, VP Promotions, Global Commercial Partnerships, AWAL added; “We’re delighted to be working with the team at Amazon Music UK and the Breakthrough programme to bring the magic of Alfie’s live show to the gaming space for the very first time. This is one of the most ambitious activations of its kind and sets the scene for the release of Alfie’s debut album ‘Mellow Moon’ on the 27th May”
Ross Watson, Head of Label Relations, Amazon Music UK said; “Working with Alfie and the AWAL team to bring Mellow Moon to life in the Minecraft universe has been brilliant. Alfie is an incredible artist and being able to bring his vision to life as part of the Amazon Music Breakthrough programme is a real honour. I’m looking forward to tuning in to the festival performances on Thursday.”
Alfie's break came aged just 14, as he self-released a trio of EPs which caught the attention of Chess Club Records. Now, with a further four EPs under his belt, plus his debut mini-album 'Forever Isn't Long Enough', the wunderkind is on the cusp of releasing his debut full length 'Mellow Moon' before heading out on a huge run of festivals in the UK and abroad this summer. His indie-pop gems are loaded with ’80s-inspired R&B hooks and synths as Alfie displays exceptional songwriting skills beyond his years. He’s been praised by DORK, NME, DIY, CLASH and The Line of Best Fit, plus hailed as “an artist who produces confident music that sticks around” by The Guardian.
Breakthrough is Amazon Music’s global programme to support up-and-coming artists, aimed at amplifying the best new talent and championing them at the most crucial moment in their careers. Amazon Music works with each Breakthrough artist and their teams to develop long-term, customised, global plans that are unique to each artist, with no two Breakthrough campaigns looking the same. In addition to Alfie Templeman, Lola Young, Priya Ragu, Olivia Dean, Arlo Parks, and JAY1 in the UK, Amazon Music’s first class of Breakthrough artists included country powerhouse Gabby Barrett, emerging R&B singer Kiana Ledé, critically acclaimed folk pop group Provinz, and rising German pop sensation Malik Harris.
NEWS & PRESS
IMPF launches 4th edition of Global Market View for Independent Music Publishing
IMPF has launched the fourth edition of the Global Market View for Independent Music Publishing.Available here and sponsored by Musixmatch, it is the only report that looks exclusively at the independent music publishing industry and its international impact and position....more
IMS Business Report 2024
Dance Music industry now firmly in its post-pandemic growth phase with 17% revenue growth in 2023 and a total industry valuation reaching $11.8 billion.Independent labels increased their market share for the fourth consecutive quarter, reaching 31%.The annual study of the electronic...more
Pulse Music Group and hit songwriter/producer/artist Jon Bellion form publishing venture
First signing between Beautiful Mind & PULSE Music Group is Elijah Noll PULSE Music Group Co-CEO’s Scott Cutler and Josh Abraham along with President/Head of Creative, Ashley Calhoun announced today that they have formed a music publishing creative joint venture...more
Record Store Day, The Music Business Association and Luminate announce new partnership regarding physical music sales data across independent retail sector in the US
Luminate Now Receiving Independent Sales Data from StreetPulse Billboard Rebranding “Tastemaker Albums” Chart To Better Recognize Impact of Independent Store Sales Today, Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), Alliance of Independent Media Stores (AIMS), and Department of Record Stores (DORS), who work together as Record Store Day, The Music Business Association,...more
TuneCore Expands Music Publishing Services and User Experience to Aid Independent Songwriters
TuneCore, the leading independent development partner for self-releasing artists—owned by Believe, one of the world’s leading digital music companies—has rolled out a comprehensive suite of music publishing services to help independent songwriters increase their earnings in over 200 countries. Andreea Gleeson,...more
Radio 2 in the Park 2024Â to land in Preston
Radio 2’s flagship annual live music event, Radio 2 in the Park, will take place this year in Moor Park in Preston, Lancashire on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September, as revealed this morning by Gaby Roslin on the Radio...more
Como No – The UK’s Leading Latin Music Promoter – Announces New Director Amid Major Changes To Organisational Structure
Elena Beltrami is appointed as new Director of Como No & La Linea Festival as Founder Andy Wood steps back and becomes a Non-Executive board member Como No, one of the world’s foremost Latin music promoters, today announces a significant change...more
Liana Flores signs to Verve (US) and partners with Fiction (UK)
Releases highly anticipated new song ‘I Wish For The Rain’ Today, British-Brazilian artist Liana Flores is proud to announce that she is now signed to the iconic Verve Records (The Velvet Underground, Astrud Gilberto Kurt Vile, Arooj Aftab). Fiction Records (The...more
Amazon Music returns to Primavera Sound to exclusively livestream the festival to audiences around the world
Amazon Music and Primavera Sound join forces for the third consecutive year Music fans around the world will be able to tune in to the event from 30th May – 1st June Primavera Sound will be broadcast in Spanish and English on the Amazon...more
Black Lives in Music - Government ‘Falling Short’ in Helping to Protect Women in the Music Industry
UK Government ‘Falling Short’ in Helping to Protect Women in the Music Industry Harassment and Discrimination Allowed to Continue After Government Rejects Recommendations of the Misogyny in Music Report BLiM & CIISA amd more respond to the Government’s inaction CIISA cite BLiM's new...more
Symphonic Distribution Hires Stephen Nightingale to Lead A&R and Business in Canada
Symphonic Distribution, a leading music technology and services company for independent labels, managers, and artists, has hired music industry veteran Stephen Nightingale as Vice President, A&R and Business Development, Canada. Reporting to Symphonic’s Chief Creative Officer, Randall Foster, Nightingale will bring his...more
Rock icon Dan P Carter joins Spinefarm as Director of Artist Development
Key appointments also made across UK Marketing Team Spinefarm Music Group, one of the most successful and best-known rock labels in the world, has announced a major global hire alongside a new UK marketing team. Dan P Carter, the longtime curator of...more
Park Avenue Artists Expands Booking Division
New York multihyphenate agency signs new talent, brings on booking co-director in ongoing push to create a new model for arts agencies and management. Park Avenue Artists has expanded both its artist roster and its executive team in its booking division....more
Meet Unisound: The ultimate matchmaker between sample buyers and sellers
The market for sample packs is more saturated than ever–forcing modern sample libraries to make and market their sounds and leaving buyers to sift through endless sounds to find exactly what they are looking for. That’s why Unisound created a platform that lets...more
Universal Music France and Binetou Sylla, founder of leading independent label Wèrè Wèrè Music partner to lead Def Jam Africa across French-speaking Africa
Universal Music France and producer Binetou Sylla form strategic relationship to lead Def Jam Africa, focusing on further developing French-speaking regional artists globally Universal Music France (UMF), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today...more
BPI CEO calls on music industry and government to unite around 5 key priorities to support human artistry and sustainably promote British music
Focus on talent & education, fan engagement & innovation; and sustainability; Keynotes from Ed Newton-Rex, Fay Milton, Louis VI, and Thangam Debbonaire MP, Shadow Secretary of State for DCMS. Panel contributions including by Rebecca Allen (EMI Records), Elton Jackson (Sony Music UK), Vabyanti Endrojono-Ellis...more
The Independent and Music Venue Trust launch major new initiative to support UK grassroots music venues
Main Stage will be led by Music Editor Roisin O’Connor alongside the Music Venue Trust 12 venues around the UK to be recognised over the next yearEach venue to receive editorial coverage and a free ad campaign on The Independent The Independent...more
Sony Music Publishing Nashville Signs Randall King to Global Deal
Sony Music Publishing Nashville today announced the signing of West Texas native Randall King, celebrated by Holler as “the genre's neo-traditional figurehead,” to a global publishing agreement. King has emerged as one of today’s most promising new voices in country music, amassing over...more
Nominations announced for the Ivors with Amazon Music 2024
Sampha and Yussef Dayes lead the way with two nominations each Composer Daniel Pemberton also receives two nominations across the screen categories RAYE, CMAT, Yussef Dayes, Lankum and Sampha in the running for Best Album Jungle, The Japanese House, Jazzy and Kenya Grace...more
The Great Escape announces full conference line-up and schedule
NEW SPEAKERS INCLUDE WIRE'S COLIN NEWMAN, IZZY BEE PHILLIPS (BLACK HONEY) AND APPLE MUSIC HOST DOTTY Today The Great Escape has announced the full line-up and schedule for its UK-leading music industry conference, returning to Brighton from Wednesday 15th to Saturday...more
FAC boost their community with 20 new Artist Ambassadors
FAC boost their community with 20 new Artist Ambassadors including Duran Duran, Nia Archives, Girli, Elkka, English Teacher, Guvna B, OneDa and Alt-J's Gus Unger-Hamilton The new cohort means more than 140 artists have agreed to act as Ambassadors for the...more
Fairground Attraction partners with Absolute for first album in 35 years
The band’s 1988 hit Perfect was a chart topper in the UK and around the globe. Eighties neo-skiffle band Fairground Attraction have partnered with Absolute Label Services after reuniting for the first time in 35 years. Absolute will power the marketing, promotion,...more
BPI to host ‘In Tune With Tomorrow’
Monday 22nd April 2024, Waterloo Leake Street Future-facing conference on how the recorded music industry can support talent and enable creativity for a more sustainable future * * * * * * * YolanDa Brown OBE DL in conversation with BRIT School’s Stuart Worden...more
AIM and the BPI appoint Creative Zero’s Roxy Erickson to lead next phase of Music Climate Pact
Funding provided through partnership between AIM and creative industries climate charity, Murmur Erickson to work closely with Pact’s stakeholders to deliver outcomes to benefit the entire music industry AIM (The Association of Independent Music) and the BPI (British Phonographic Industry) have appointed...more
Leading European PR agencies unite to form PR:E
- an innovative network providing consultancy for popular culture clients & brands PR:E is a brand new network of award-winning PR agencies from Belgium (ABCommunication), France (Cartel), Germany (Kruger Media), Italy (Goigest), the Nordics (PR Nordic), Spain (Blanchón), and the UK...more
Bella Figura Music acquires Rak Publishing
Agreement Includes Classic Songs by Hot Chocolate, Suzi Quatro, Steve Harley, Kim Wilde, Joan Jett & more Bella Figura Music, the independent music publisher and record label founded by Alexi Cory-Smith and Neelesh Prabhu in 2022, has announced the acquisition of...more
WEC to hold follow-up session on its Misogyny in music report
Evidence session Misogyny in music inquiry Wednesday, 24 April 2.20pm Venue: Committee Room 6, Palace of Westminster Watch live: Visit parliamentlive.tv The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) will hold a follow-up session on its landmark Misogyny in music report with senior representatives from the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) and the Office...more
Revolution in the Music Industry: The Rise of Self-Taught Musicians
New research from Skoove, a top piano learning app, and the research experts at Crafins Studio reveals that a staggering 71% of the top 100 artists on Spotify in the UK are self-taught, challenging traditional paradigms of music education. Only...more
The kids are alright: Gen Z embracing the analogue music experience, vinyl packaging company reveals
Survey conducted by Key Production reveals over half (59 per cent) of 18-24 year olds are listening to physical music - more than any other age group CD purchases also recorded highest amongst youngest age range and Gen Z more willing...more
Warner Music South East Europe launches new EDM label, Balkan Electro
Warner Music South East Europe (WM SEE) has launched Balkan Electro, a new EDM focused label, which will give local talent across the Balkans and Ukraine a platform to get their music out to the world. Balkan Electro was formed in...more
THE HEADLINES
BPI CEO calls on music industry and government to unite around 5 key priorities to support human artistry and sustainably promote British music (see News)
Hipgnosis Song Management fires back at Songs Fund board (see Business)
Blackstone bid for Hipgnosis receives backing from board (see Business)
Taylor Swift’s new album breaks Spotify records (see News)
Independence - what’s up with that BPI press release about 2023 music consumption? (see Comment)
Creator Remuneration Working Group meet for the first time (see News)
Concord's takeover of Hipgnosis (see Analysis)
Concord set to acquire Hipgnosis Songs Fund (see Business)
Is the music industry gaslighting artists? (see Comment)
BPI’s new Yearbook highlights an independent sector growing for a sixth consecutive year (see Reports)
Can’t cross the moat? Walk around it. (see Comment)
The conversation around Fandom needs to change (see Opinion)
Viagogo: Carrying on ticketing, despite the controversy (see News)
Taylor Swift songs return to TikTok (see Digital)
Spotify plans new remixing tools for the TikTok generation (see Digital)
Is Spotify plotting a largescale push into short-form video? (see Digital)