Music Biz Rumors...

Hearing that Warner Bros. in the process of dropping more than a few artists from its roster - is this to make room for new signings since there are many new A&R players in the house?

Ankur Malhotra is leaving Capitol Records and heading to Epic Records, based on the west coast...

Meanwhile, we're hearing/seeing that EMI is on a bit of a baby-band signing spree...

Universal Music Group is bringing Sony Music A&R exec Jay Landers over to their side, based on the west coast...

Meanwhile, we're hearing there's a shakeup underway at Interscope with a few acts being dropped and some A&R staffers being let go...

Also hearing the Universal Music Group roster is about to shrink down BIG-time...

Is a major label about to bring someone from the TV world over to its A&R department on the west coast?

Meanwhile, we hear there's an east coast A&R rep making a move west to take a gig with a different label within weeks...

We leaving anything out? Let us know at TALENTfilter@gmail.com

LIVE 105 MD PICKS FIVE LOCAL ACTS TO KNOW

Alternative Live 105 San Francisco Music Director Aaron Axelsen wrote a piece on the station's website highlighting "Five New Bay Area Bands You Need To Know". Guess what, label heads - Aaron knows more about music than you or any of your A&R scouts. So get to listening.

http://live105.radio.com/2011/04/05/five-new-bay-area-bands-you-need-to-know/

SHOWSHOWSHOWS

UPCOMING L.A. AREA SHOWS OF NOTE

April 3 - Cydney Robinson - Hotel Cafe
April 4 - Jim Bianco - Bardot
April 7 - Stone Darling - Echoplex
April 8 - Meiko - USC Campus (Tommy's Place)
April 14 - Big Audio Dynamite (!) - Roxy
April 19 - Emily Wells - Largo
April 24 - Capital Cities - El Rey
April 26 - White Buffalo - Detroit Bar
April 30 - Joe Purdy - Troubadour

HEARTSTOP

HEARTSTOP (unsigned, unpublished) -- Had a chance to catch this band at The Roxy in Los Angeles last night. More than anything else, what impressed us was the raw enthusiasm of the bandmembers - they genuinely wanted to be there and their energy translated.

Three young guys, no older than 21, SoCal-based, been playing/writing together since they were kids, writing really strong pop/rock tracks. They're certainly not re-inventing the wheel, sound-wise, but what they've got now as a young indie unsigned group is strong. The songs are very sync-friendly, and definitely radio-ready - KROQ Los Angeles has been playing one of their new tracks, "Just Like Goodbye", on their 'Locals Only' program for a few weeks in a row.

With some A&R coaching and some serious road time, this band could be a force.