BMG Australia adds Platinum-selling LDRU to roster

Image: Drew Carmody aka LDRU and Heath Johns, Managing Director, BMG Australia

Less than one month after BMG Australia announced its first global signings, and less than four months since it launched in Sydney as a stand-alone, the publisher has signed artist/producer LDRU. 

Announced this morning, Sydney-based LDRU (aka Drew Carmody), has entered into an exclusive global deal with the publisher. The publisher is lead by former Director of A&R at Universal Music Publishing Australia, Heath Johns. 

LDRU is a Platinum-selling artist in his own right – his single Keeping Score featuring Page IV is fast approaching 2x Platinum status and is the highest selling song by a new Australian artist in 2016 – but he’s also a Gold-selling, APRA nominated artist as one half of electronic duo Carmada. Carmada is signed to Skrillex’s label OWSLA in North America and Sony Music locally.

"I am super excited to have inked a deal with the team at BMG. It’s not often you come across an awesome group of people who are willing to back you and push your music worldwide," said Carmody. 

BMG Australia has said Carmody will “collaborate extensively” with BMG’s global roster in between his international touring and release commitments. BMG’s global roster includes MIA, Janet Jackson, alt-j, Bruno Mars and Tame Impala.

“LDRU is the break-out Australian artist of 2016," said Heath Johns. "He is a versatile and dynamic composer with huge international appeal both as an artist and a songwriter. As the Gold and Platinum accreditations pile up, it’s an honour to have Drew choose to sign his global publishing to BMG Australia." 

Also announced today, BMG Australia has brought longtime Alberts staffer Rachel Kelly into the fold. Kelly has joined BMG Australia as Director Sync Licensing where she will oversee sync licensing in Australia and New Zealand. Kelly reports directly to Johns.

Kelly was previously Head of Licensing at Alberts for eight years. She represented artists including AC/DC, The Easybeats, The Angels, Megan Washington, San Cisco, Urthboy, The Delta Riggs and Montaigne globally. Her recent work included facilitating the sync license of Iggy Pop’s The Passenger for Volkswagen in Australia and San Cisco’s Flash Bang for Samsung mobile in the United States.

Johns announced BMG Australia’s first signings in May, Chris Ross and Myles Heskett of Wolfmother and Chris Cheney of The Living End.

Earlier this month Johns announced his first staff hiring in Sarah Breese as Senior Royalties/Copyright Manager. Breese worked for three-and-a-half years at the company’s Berlin office, beginning as Junior Royalties Accounting Manager, Manager Royalties Projects & Analysis and Manager Global Royalty Services & Standards. She moved to Sydney in 2014 and had stints with Bauer Media Australia and Music Sales.

The Berlin-based BMG, the fifth largest music company in the world, represents over 2 million songs and recordings, including the catalogues of Chrysalis, Dreyfus, Bug, Virgin, Mute, Sanctuary, Primary Wave, Skint/Loaded Infectious, Union Square, Vagrant, Rise Records and Talpa Music.