Signed: Yoshiki Partners With BMG for Distribution, Virtual Riot Pacts With MLennial for Management

Other recent signings include Virtual Riot, Oso Oso, Chase Wright, Mathias Lattin and Maggie Antone.

Composer, pianist, drummer and recording artist Yoshiki, the frontman of X Japan, signed a global distribution and publishing admin agreement (ex-Japan) with BMG via his record label, Melodee.

The agreement kicks off with the release of “Forever Love (Live),” Yoshiki’s new collab with Josh Groban, recorded live at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

It also covers Yoshiki’s solo album, Eternal Melody, and X Japan albums released from 1993 onward, including Art of Life and Dahlia.

Producer and electronic artist Virtual Riot signed with L. A.-based management company MLennial. He will be managed by Carmen Aguirre along with Melissa Brogen, Mike Lisanti and the larger MLennial team.

Virtual Riot’s credits include co-producing Justin Bieber’s “2 Much” alongside Skrillex, with whom he has an ongoing creative relationship.

MLennial’s roster also includes Seven Lions, SABAI, Kompany, MUZZ, GorillaT and Jerro. — Chris Eggertsen.

Oso Oso, o projeto da compositora de Long Island Jade Lilitri, assinou com o recém-estabelecido selo Feral Twin, criado pelo baterista da Hop Along Mark Quinlan.

The label will release Oso Oso’s sixth studio album, an exchange of information, led by single “know you know me better.” Oso Oso is set for a North American headline tour in the fall.

North Loop Agency signed country artist Chase Wright for exclusive global booking representation. Wright released his third studio album, Chasing Shadows, in May.

He’s currently supporting Drew Baldridge on his FARM FAITH FAMILY Tour. — Chris Eggertsen.

Red Zero Records, a new label founded by Christone “Kingfish” Ingram in partnership with Exceleration Music, signed blues guitarist Mathias Lattin. The first release under the deal is Lattin’s single “Cadillac Assembly Line.” — Chris Eggertsen.

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Maggie Antone signed with Island Records. Antone released her debut album, Rhinestoned, in 2024 via her indie label Big Love. She has toured with 49 Winchester, Trampled by Turtles and more, and played festivals including ACL, Windy City Smokeout and Under the Big Sky.

Singer-songwriter Kyle Schuesler signed with Nashville-based HEY NOW Records. The guitarist, writer and singer’s music draws on his experiences growing up in Southern California, soaking in the influences of Laurel, Coldwater and Topanga Canyon.

Schuesler is also signed to Liz Rose Music, and has spent time creating music with venerable writers and artists including Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston, Ryan Hurd, Troy Cartwright and more, as well as opening shows for artists such as Vance Joy, Alana Springsteen and Evan Honer.

Philadelphia-bred band Snacktime signed a record deal with Thirty Tigers, which released the group’s new single, “Can’t Imagine Why You’d Stay,” on Wednesday (Sept.

2). This marks the first label release for Snacktime, which has turned in recent performances at festivals including Newport Folk, Lollapalooza, Boston Calling and Roots Picnic; it also supported Fitz and the Tantrums on tour.

North Carolina native Rae launched her career starring as Young Elsa in Disney’s Frozen on Broadway at age 12, before relocating to Nashville at age 16 to focus on creating her own music.

Rae recently released her debut song, “Run Cinderella,” which she co-wrote with Stephanie Chapman and Emily Landis.

Cindy Mabe launched Joan of Arc Music earlier this year. The company focuses on comprehensive music services — including artist development, label services, publishing, management, TV/film production and philanthropic impact — through Joan of Arc Entertainment, Joan of Arc Studio Works, Joan of Arc Ventures and Joan of Arc Music Preservation Foundation.

Better Noise Music signed Death Valley Dreams. The first release under the deal is the band’s cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game.” The rock group is touring North America this fall.

Rupert Bullard, a 19-year-old artist hailing from Lutruwita/Tasmania, signed an international deal with New York-based label Glassnote. Bullard recently received Folk Alliance Australia’s youth folk artist of the year award, which secured him a performance on the main stage at the Port Fairy Folk Festival.

He has since booked performance slots at other Australian festivals, including Queenscliff Music Festival. According to a press release, Bullard started as a busker in the Salamanca Markets in Tasmania.

He recently played his first tour in the U. K. and Ireland and will return there for additional shows next month.

Bullard has already finished recording his debut album with producer John Castle in Tasmania. He also recently signed global deals with Universal Music Publishing, WME and Hear Hear Group for management.

On the road, he’s supported artists including Tones & I, Meg Mac, Gretta Ray, BIIRD, Josh Pyke and Haiver. — Chris Eggertsen.

Warner Music Australia and In Bloom signed 15-year-old Australian rock artist Maple’s Pet Dinosaur. The first release under the deal was the single “Child’s Play,” the title track from her debut EP that’s set for release on Oct.

30. Maple additionally signed with Raw Power for management. The emerging artist, whose DIY music video for her debut single “lego” (filmed entirely on a Ring camera) gained traction on social media, recently scored slots at festivals including SXSW Sydney, Good Things, Groovin The Moo and Bass in the Grass.

Santo Domingo-born singer-songwriter Valentina signed with Platoon, the global artist services company known for working with emerging talent.

Since debuting in 2019 with pop-Latin urban single “Enemigos,” Valentina has racked up nearly 30 million Spotify monthly listeners. In that time, she released a string of EPs, including la que no me gustan (2020), SMTO (2022) and otro sad valentín más (2025).

In 2023, the rising star performed at Billboard Latin Music Week’s Sorry Papi Tour event and has shared stages with Sebastián Yatra, Esteman and Álvaro Díaz. In 2024, Valentina signed with Rimas Publishing.

She’s slated to perform in her native Dominican Republic next month and release new material this year. — Isabela Raygoza.

Following the release of its second EP, CALLAÍTO SAFARI (Future Culture, exclusively distributed by WK Records), on Aug. 13, Los Menor3s signed with Walter Kolm Entertainment for management, Billboard can exclusively announce.

The deal marks a new chapter for the rising Venezuelan trio as it continues expanding its presence in the Latin music scene.

Composed of Nego, Sheba and Big Bowe, the group blends urbano-pop beats with tropical rhythms and a touch of house, creating a fluid, genre-defying sound that honors the group’s “sazón criolla,” as it describes it.

The seven-track project builds on the group’s momentum across digital platforms and introduces its latest musical direction. Walter Kolm Entertainment’s roster includes artists such as Carlos Vives, Maluma, Emilia, Farruko and Morat.

Bogotá-born singer-songwriter, pianist and producer Duplat signed with Sony Music Colombia. The deal marks a new chapter for the Colombian multi-instrumentalist, whose genre-fluid sound combines classic pop with rock, synthwave, disco and orchestral arrangements.

Over the past five years, Duplat has released six studio albums, including Mosaico Pirata (2024) and Dulce y Amarga (2025), which features collaborations with Andrés Cepeda, Santiago Cruz, Juan Pablo Vega, Manuel Medrano, Lika Nova and Irepelusa.

He has also shared stages with Fonseca, Cepeda and others, and opened Manuel Medrano’s 10th-anniversary tour across Latin America and Spain. In 2025 and 2026, he won best alternative artist at Colombia’s Premios Nuestra Tierra.

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