Juke Kartel is a rock band from Melbourne, Australia and became the first unsigned band to play the MTV Awards in Australia. Frontman Toby Rand was a finalist on Rockstar Supernova.  The band worked on their  debut album, Nowhere Left To Hide, at Seattle’s renowned London Bridge Studios with rock producer Rick Parashar (Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, 3 Doors Down, Nickelback). The band will performing tonight at The Roxy in Hollywood, California. For more information contact mail@hjm.com.au

“Robbie Williams, KT Tunstall and the members of Radiohead will join a group of high-profile musicians to protest at how badly they are treated by record companies and music streaming websites like YouTube.”

“Google, YouTube’s owner is a company that makes billions in profits; we think they should be paying artist royalties from the advertising revenue they make,” Billy Bragg told The Times. “A dispute like this illustrates the needs for the creation of the Featured Artists Coalition, so we have have a voice and the public understand that sites like Google should be paying for music.”  (Times Online)

Think Youtube needs to fess up?

Check out the track Clearview by Tal and Acacia – two sisters signed to Provident Music Group.

We are liking the track Sunset from the Sweden act known as The Animation. “Imagine a blend between Keane, just a bit of Radiohead going into the same sentiment as The Verve and with a small portion of the modern vibe, The Killers.” For more information email BCMcLane@aol.com

KOARs favorite and buzz act The Downtown Fiction is the only unsigned act in the top 50 on iTunes, in fact, as of today they are now ranked #32 selling album on iTunes. More importantly, The Downtown Fiction seems to have resonated with an audience – with zero marketing dollars.  For more information email Greg Federspiel.

Also, Making April another unsigned artist released their album yesterday and grabbed the #33 position on iTunes.