The State Government has focused on Musexpo in Los Angeles as the main entry point into the US market by funding Queensland delegates from 2005 to 2008. All three groups who went to Musexpo this year have signed recording deals.

Alt-rock group Small Mercies, whose debut album Beautiful Hum was released in May in Australia by Sony BMG, secured US management with New York-based CEC Management, and Los Angeles-based Sumo Music. The band's track Innocent was included in the DVD for hit TV show Las Vegas and they will return to tour the US in late 2008.

Art-band The Red Paintings is working with California-based tour coordinator Lippman Entertainment on a US tour late 2008.

Folk-rocker Gin Club is negotiating a US distribution deal and discussions are underway to tour the UK and Europe this year.

Brisbane's Plus One Records secured representation for Los Angeles-based publishing company pigFACTORY in Australia, and is also in discussions with Fontana Distribution for US and Canadian distribution for its acts the Gin Club, and indie bands Mary Trembles and Intercooler.

Other Queensland-bred acts are negotiating US management, podcasting and film/TV placement deals. Alt-rock outfit The Boat People's appearance at the May 15-17 The Great Escape festival in England resulted in the act being signed to concert promotion giant Live Nation. The group will release a vinyl single in the U.K. to coincide with a planned tour of the UK and the US in October and November.

Queensland's leading music association QMusic was represented at The Great Escape, and identified a number of United Kingdom music executives to be panelists at its Big Sound Music Industry Summit (September 10-12), in Brisbane.

Following this initial success, the State Government is planning to build an ongoing collaborative relationship with The Great Escape Festival as an entry point for Queensland artists into the UK music industry.

Of the $209 million the Queensland government spent on the arts sector in 2007/08, $1.3 million was on contemporary music.

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We welcome feedback and contributions to Arts Update. Please contact the editor, Colleen Turner on (07) 3225 8841 or email artsupdate@arts.qld.gov.au