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HITS Daily Double
Label folks have already been asking what happened to the killer guitar players and star musicians who were prevalent in rock back in the day.

BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE
ROCK & ROLLED

Forget Haircut Bands—After Flirting With
New Wave, the Weasels Just Wanna Rawk
With the recent A&R interest in guitar-infused rock acts going down of late, the read we’re getting from your friendly neighborhood weasels is that good `ol guitar-driven rock bands may become the choice signings in the near future. Although the new wave resurgence currently has an open window due to the current success of acts such as The Killers and Franz Ferdinand, many industry insiders, particularly in A&R and at Alternative Radio, share that the window may soon be closing. Label folks have already been asking what happened to the killer guitar players and star musicians who were prevalent in rock back in the day. Seems like there hasn’t been a dominant guitar star since Slash. So will we see a new crop of young rock bands with guitar players who can really play get signed soon? We’ll keep you posted…

Lots of buzz surrounding the Jim Welch-managed/Peter Lewit-repped Shiny Toy Guns. The dance-fused tracks by the group are apparently perking weasel ears. And it looks like former A&R exec Jim Welch has a burgeoning label/publishing/management company that’s creating some noise. His client roster of producers/DJs have worked with acts such as Louis XIV, Good Charlotte and M.I.A., too name a few…

We heard there was a big NYC weasel turnout for Canadian rock outfit Priestess at their Mercury Lounge gig last week. Who’s making calls for meet-and-greets?… Tongues are apparently flapping at the top of the label food chain on how crucial it is to have experienced, record-making A&R execs on staff, in light of what’s happening with acts maintaining sales success or getting a revived career. Does this mean that A&R departments may be safe from the much-rumored layoffs that are supposedly imminent?…

Rondor Music Publishing artist Marie Digby will be showcasing at the Viper Room on June 3 at 8:30p.m. The unsigned female songstress has already garnered early label calls. Don’t miss… Heard the numbers on the pub deal for the Fueled By Ramen/Island Records act Fall Out Boy? Whooa! But first-week sales numbers were quite impressive…

REVERSAL OF FORTUNE: New York player Peter Malkin has left the management game and has joined the Evil Empire. Malkin is taking a post as VP of A&R at Epic Records, and he will be based on the East Coast. Nice move, Pete. Just in time to get in on potentially another IPO… BUZZIN’: Ina and Martin

Hit me up: [email protected]

BUZZ GIGS:
THE OUTLINE Fri., May 20 Key Club
8 p.m. L.A.

ADERBAT Tues., May 31 Piano’s

8 p.m. N.Y.

SHINY TOY GUNS Thurs., June 2 Viper Room
TBD L.A.