Canberra, Australia (Top40 Charts/ Hardrush Music) - In a great start for 2008 Australian Independent recording label Hardrush
Music has achieved success in some of the world's most competitive music markets. Whilst Hardrush covers all music styles, it is the pop, rock, country and urban genres that have gained the attention of retailers in the United States, Japan and Europe, including HMV and Tower Records.
The recordings making the grade include "Tich Language" by urban performer Tich Lange, "You Are Here" by Gold Coast band Big Book Fantasy, "In This World" by Melbourne rockers OutKry and country "Sad Dark Lies" from Adelaide based The Rustlers. Discussions are being held with the artists regarding overseas touring options to capitalise on the export sales success.
"Exports have been steadily growing as we develop new distribution links and the quality of the recordings becomes known to buyers", said Kelvin Fahey Hardrush CEO. "Australian artists have always had that flair for being innovative an being an independent label, we don't hold them into a production line sound or restrict them to the home market. Sure it is higher risk, but that difference between major and independents is what gives us the edge and flexibility to seek global markets."
The CD sales results compliments modest success in licensing from publishing which Hardrush entered earlier last year. The main international interest has been in film and television episode sound tracks, where a diversity in music is a bonus. The main market is North America, although inquiries are now coming from Korea, Germany and Scandinavia.
Whilst export success is happening, Hardrush management expressed concern over some major Australian music retail chains that tend to source predominantly from the major transnational recording labels and have proportionally lower shelf space for domestic product. "We have seen this in Australia and other Indie labels indicate this is the trend in other nations, such as Canada, France, Ireland and South Africa. One of the downsides of globalisation is that the large retailers reduce local suppliers and radio request lines more often than not reflect the major label's releases.
"Fortunately for Indie labels like Hardrush, the Internet, digital downloads, artist touring and originality all work to give us a place in this very competitive market", Mr Fahey concluded.
