MySpace Records To Close Shop, TALENTfilter Find Meiko A Free Agent?

Ripped directly from the HITS Daily Double Rumor Mill:

MYSPACE RECORDS OUT OF SPACE? With the imminent News Corp. sale of MySpace, the website’s MySpace Records looks like it’s shuttering for good this time. The label, which was formed in 2005 and aligned with Interscope Records, announced a partnership with Downtown Music last September. Since then, the label has been steadily dismantled by GM David Andreone, who took the helm just over a year ago and will leave at the end of the month to reportedly take a job at a digital music company. He has been helping the acts find new label homes, and even getting their master recording rights back. One act drawing some attention is Meiko, who already has a strong track record in sales, touring, film and TV placements. (5/31p)

A more thorough report here from RM64.com:

As the News Corp. sale of MySpace is close at hand (with an announcement expected in the coming weeks), so too is MySpace Records shuttering, for good this time. Early 2010 began the initial dissolving of the label, which was formed in 2005 and aligned with Universal Music Group label Interscope Records via a P&D deal that has now lapsed, and since last year the operation has continued under a skeletal staff and somewhat ambiguous circumstances – a partnership with Downtown Music was announced back in September.

However, with the writing on the wall as to MySpace’s future, and a scaling back of many divisions, MSR began to be dismantled, a process which was guided by label GM David Andreone who took the helm just over a year ago. Among many duties, Andreone has also helped the artists signed to MSR find new label homes, and even get master recording rights back – some albums previously released by the label have already been pulled down from digital marketplaces such as iTunes…

One former MySpace Records/Interscope artist, and now free agent who is getting a lot of industry attention, Meiko, has just completed a new album produced by Styrofoam and Jimmy Messer, and mixed by Brian Malouf. We hear that labels on both coasts are talking to the songstress, who already has a strong track record with sales, touring and film & TV… And word is that Andreone, a veteran of both the music publishing and record label arenas, is likely to transition to one of a handful of digital music companies in play, after he departs his post at the end June… Stay tuned.

YOUNG DIGERATI

YOUNG DIGERATI (unsigned, unpublished) -- Young Digerati is one of the San Francisco-based acts Live 105 APD/MD Aaron Axelsen picked last month as a 'Bay Area band you need to know'. We agree. So does Rocket Music who just picked them up for management. Young Digerati will play Live 105's "BFD 2011" concert on June 5 at the Shoreline Amphitheater, but L.A. weasels should check 'em out sooner at On the Rox May 26 and Three Clubs on May 28. Peep the video for their song "The Dauphin" here:

WE'RE ON TEH FACEBOOKS!

That's right - we've got ourselves a fancy-shmancy Facebook Page now. Please go 'Like' it, or 'Share' it, or whatever-the-hell-else. Here's a link: http://on.fb.me/talentfilter

THE MOWGLI'S

THE MOWGLI'S (unsigned, unpublished) -- There are eight of 'em, their home base is Venice, CA, and they're one of the hardest-working and oft-performing bands in Southern California. If you're a film/TV/commercial music supervisor or you work for an ad agency, and you've EVER been told, "We need to find something a little hippy-dippy and positive like that Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes band, but it has to be cheaper to license", this is your group.
The Mowgli's are wrapping up recording their debut album now and the buzz is beginning to build - they impressed more than a few nerds at the SF MusicTech Summit and you can expect your music biz brethren to follow suit. Don't sleep.

REBECCA JORDAN SIGNS PUBLISHING DEAL

Rebecca Jordan, who we first tipped to you in January 2009, has signed a worldwide, multi-year co-publishing agreement with Imagem Music. Aside from her own fantastic releases, Rebecca also wrote the Kelly Clarkson hit "Beautiful Disaster". She is still available for label signing.

GRAND TARANTULA

GRAND TARANTULA (unsigned, unpublished) -- San Diego-based band with local radio love from stations including tastemaker Alt-outlets 91X and 94-9. They played SXSW and a month of successful dates in March with Middle Class Rut, and they're playing in Los Angeles this Saturday, May 14 at Lot 1 in Silver Lake (11PM set time). Think Hot Hot Heat-meets-Foo Fighters. Check out their indie video for "I'm Not Gonna Let You Go" here:

ART VS. SCIENCE

ART VS. SCIENCE (unsigned outside of AU) -- Definitely one of the more explosive acts we've seen live, Art Vs. Science is a trio from Sydney, Australia whose new album has reached the #1 spot on the Australian Albums Chart and #2 on the ARIA Albums chart. The groups sees lots of love from Aussie radio, especially Triple J. Watch 10,000 people lose their shit to Art Vs. Science at a music festival in Perth here:


Check out the video for their new single, "A.I.M. Fire!" here:

Upcoming L.A. Area Shows Of Note

May 9 - Meiko - The El Rey
May 11 - Loudness (!!!) - Key Club
May 13 - Roll The Tanks - Troubadour
May 13 - Neve (reunion show) - Troubadour
May 14 - Grand Tarantula - Lot 1
May 15 - Stone Darling - 3 Clubs
May 27 - Stone Darling - Redwood Bar (DTLA)

Sylvia Rhone To Leave Uni/Motown?

Reports over the last few days have said Universal Motown President Sylvia Rhone will be leaving the company. Here's a link to one of the reports: http://www.thewrap.com/media/column-post/sylvia-rhone-seen-headed-exit-universal-motown-26929