FREQUENT FLYING MILES

Rip It Up, Issue 218, 1 October 1995, Page 14

FREQUENT FLYING MILES

Flying Nun is the only local independent label to have every one of their artists released overseas. All bands or solo performers (except Bailter Space) are signed to the label for the world, meaning, they can’t independently seek distribution with an overseas label. The way Flying Nun gets the sound out there is through

licensing releases to other independents, or by exporting product. In 1994, Flying Nun was presented with a Tradenz Award, after they exported (in the 9293 financial year) $1,000,000 worth of product from their Auckland base, to outlets in the UK,

US and Europe. At that stage, all Nun releases were being manufactured in Australia and shipped to those territories. When Flying Nun opened an office in London in August 1993, and began manufacturing there, exporting to the UK and Europe ceased, but

continued to the USA, as distributors there were importing a large amount of back catalogue, as well as new releases — both of which were in stock in New Zealand. In May this year, the exporting wing of the label was shifted to London, as the bulk of the Nun catalogue is manufactured in the UK. Now, all Flying,Nun product released in the UK and Europe goes through local distributors, while in the USA, Nun releases are either exported from London, or licensed from Flying Nun New Zealand. A licensing arrangement involves an American label paying Flying Nun a fee that allows them to manufacture and release a particular album in that territory. Lesley Paris, Flying Nun New Zealand’s manager, says that ultimately, a licensing deal is what Nun looks for with every artist. •

“It works a lot better to have records licensed rather than exporting them, because

you have people there in the States focussing on the release and working it really well. We strive to license things because, while we don’t have any office in America, we need people there to make the most of selling stuff to give us that presence.” The biggest success for Flying Nun in 1995 has been licensing the Chris Knox album, Songs Of You & Me, to USA label Caroline .Records. Caroline made a concerted effort to get widespread college radio airplay for Knox, and in June he reached Number 1 on the CMJ American college radio charts. Paris: "Chris is totally happy with how they’re doing, and they’ve been really effective in what they’ve done for him.” Knox also signed a music publishing deal with USA company Warner-Chappell, which meant heavy marketing support for Songs Of

You & Me when it was released in the States in May, and could possibly see his songs chosen by more mainstream artists for cover versions. Knox returns to tour America this month, for the third time this year. In other major licensing deals signed this year, the Rick Rubin owned label American Recordings is to release David Kilgour’s second album Sugar Mouth, with tracks from his debut solo release Here Come The Cars, plus new material, added. American have also requested that Kilgour tour the United States in early 1996. Paul McKessar of Flying Nun New Zealand, arranged the deal with American. “There’s a hard core of people at that label who are genuine fans of his music, and it makes it more encouraging when you figure there’s not just the one guy out there, championing the artist’s cause against indifference.”

In addition, Kilgour’s band the Clean have licensed their most recent album, Modern Rock, plus their forthcoming record, to Seattlebased label Summershine.

Los Angeles label Alias have been in negotiations with Flying Nun for over a year to license the forthcoming Chug album, the follow-up to their debut, Sassafrass. Alias want to secure a seven album deal with the Dunedin four-piece, and are offering an advance on every album, and financial support to tour the US upon each album release. According to McKessar, the deal looks very close to being inked. Shayne Carter’s outfit Dimmer are releasing the seven inch single ’Crystalator’ on Sub Pop in November, and Flying Nun are optimistic they’ll also license the forthcoming Dimmer album.

The most recent domestic Flying Nun releases — King Loser’s You Cannot Kill What Does Not Live, Loves Ugly Children’s Cakehole, and Comback Special by Garage Ia nd — are on the shelves in the British Isles and Europe through Nun UK, and the label are attempting to license King Loser and LUC in America, while Garageland’s release has been exported there.

Paris: “Some of the newer things, especially EPs, we try and export first so they are getting out around the States for people to notice. At the same time, we send them to other independent companies to try and get interest, so that hopefully when that band is ready to make

an album, we can license it.” A new chapter in the life of Flying Nun will began in February 1996, when the label open an office "somewhere on the east coast of America”.