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As the world opens up from the mess created by COVID, Mirror music group embarks on his own international journey.

Kurt Bailey’s independent music company signs the British Objective Act, the first in what is expected to be a wave of border-leaping activity for his roster and staff, TIO can reveal.

Goal, a buzzing new group from Leeds whose members are still in school, is gaining attention in the capital.

With a sound that mixes jazz funk, punk, post-punk and the kind of rock you could build a barn with, the youngsters are fired by Chess Club Records and Red Light Management.

Their first single “Drive In Mind” is lined up for its first part in triple j this weekend.

Then, a second single “Burn Me Out” will be released next Tuesday (May 25), before the launch of an EP and a third single in early July.

Watch ‘Drive In Mind’:

“We planned to make the most of our time in the UK by finding local artists to work with in Australia – we just didn’t know that would happen a month later,” Bailey says. TIO.

The Mirror team were told by one of their performers, Lachlan McGuffie, of the Queensland indie band Ivey. “I knew right away that we had to find a way to work together,” adds Bailey.

Starting this week, the goal will be presented to Australian media and promoters with the long-term goal of bringing the act to the fore next year in Australia, currently their third largest streaming market.

“At only 16-17 years old,” Bailey enthuses, “these guys are the real deal and it’s not often that you meet bands like this. I have admired the work of Peter and Will of Chess Club Records for years, so we are really excited to partner with them in Australia and New Zealand and build a way forward for the goal.

It’s the start, but the goal has already benefited from stints in the limelight via Jack Saunders Radio 1 ‘Next Wave’ and Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson on BBC 6Music.

“We are happy to partner with passionate people like Kurt, Nick and their team at Mirror to help bring this exciting young band to the world,” comments Peter McGaughrin, Principal at Chess Club Records and Red Light Management.

The objective is a reflection of the international ambitions of Mirror Music.

The Sydney-based company, which represents the Gang of Youths chart leaders, country artist Brad Cox and singer-songwriter Charlie Collins, has already established its infrastructure through an outpost in London, with two employees.

Bailey has extensive UK experience and is keen to build that presence over the next two years alongside a growing business in Nashville, the birthplace of country music.

In the meantime, the local team dealing with Australia is led by Managing Director Nick Lynagh.

The UK office of Mirror Music is anything but a vanity project. At some point, a Gang of Youth campaign will be coordinated by the London team. “With their signing out of the UK for Warner and their life here for the past three years,” says Bailey, “it was time to take action.”

The pandemic has created some respite for Bailey. “We will use this time to also develop the label and the publishing company with British and European artists,” he said. TIO.

As part of this expansive model, Bailey and his team will identify direct signatures but also authorize acts in Australia, much the same way as the Objective agreement.

“This will give us a great opportunity to deepen relationships with the local industry here and improve our ability to run strong global campaigns for our roster,” he explains.

Currently, Cox is signed with Sony Nashville and Australia for editing and recording.

Once the trip opens, there are plans to shuttle back and forth between the US and UK on a regular basis, and ultimately secure several key employees in Nashville to grow the country portion of his roster.