WHEELS & DEALS: ATLANTIS IS WHERE THE HEART IS

TOASTIN’ IN HOTLANTA: The 7^th Annual Atlantis Music Conference is now in the books. And while it was evident that there were less label reps who headed South this year, an A&R presence from Sony, Sire, American, Warner Bros., Atlantic, Lava, RCA, TVT, Virgin, Interscope, Aware, Island Def Jam, Militia Group, Jive and Atlantic were in force and representin’. Some label folks may question the relevance of attending regional conferences in light of current T&E belt-tightening; however, reps at this year’s confab shared that they discovered a few acts that made the trek worthwhile. Meanwhile, registrations and sponsorships were up for the music fest this year, proving once again that eating really greasy Southern food, club-hopping to see 20 bands a night in 100-degree-plus heat, all in a drunken stupor really makes for a worthwhile experience. And so, which acts were seen and heard by the attending talent-scouters? Here’s the short list: The Whigs, Trances Arc, Second Shift, Ego Static, Even Out, Nuclear Saturday, De Novo Dahl, Claire Bradley, The Booze, Army of Me, Red Letter Agent, Agynst, Embassy, Even Out, Jad, Sunday Driver, the Tom Collins Band, Reed Waddle, Union Drag and Linger. Kudos to conference organizers Rich Levy, Mark Willis and Kathy Gates for another solid run… Meanwhile, word on the street is that the Hayley Williams derby is down to four labels vying for the teen singer’s attention… Looks like another female singer/songwriter is quickly attracting label attention. The Matt Greenberg-repped Tristan Prettyman is getting label RSVPs for her upcoming New York show. The San Diego native, who sings and surfs, is being referred to as a female counterpart to Jack Johnson. Expect reps from Columbia, Universal, Epic, Sire, Zomba, ATO, Virgin, among others to be attending the show (see Buzz/Gigs below)… Finally, manager Peter Malkin makes the move over to Red Light Management (home to Dave Matthews Band). Malkin, who formerly managed Vanessa Carlton, brings with him a crop of new artists—Chris Glover on Interscope, the Cooper Temple Clause on RCA, Alex Seir/Reflex Blue on Lava, among others… BUZZ/GIGS: Tristan Prettyman performs on Thurs. (8/5) at the Knitting Factory in New York; Jet Motor Crash on Thurs. (8/12) at the Troubadour in Tinseltown; and Gram Rabbit is the BMI Pick of the Month for August. Check them out on Mon. (8/16) at the Echo in L.A... BUZZIN’: King Elementary… Hit me up: [email protected]…