Latest news with #McCaughan
Axios
3 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Durham's influential music label Merge Records sells 50% stake in company
Merge Records, a Durham music label that has become influential in the independent music scene over the past 35 years, has sold a 50% stake in the company — a move that the label hopes will provide more distribution resources for its artists. Why it matters: Founded by Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance as a way to release the music of their own band, Superchunk, Merge has become a powerhouse in the industry, putting out records by bands like Arcade Fire, Spoon, Neutral Milk Hotel and the Magnetic Fields. It's also an important incubator of the Triangle's own music scene, bringing its artists through the area's venues and giving local bands like Hiss Golden Messenger, Rosali and H.C. McEntire a launchpad to new audiences. Driving the news: On Tuesday, Merge announced it had sold a 50% stake in the company to Indiana-based Secretly Group, which owns several other record labels, like Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar and Secretly Canadian. Zoom in: Merge will continue to operate as a standalone label in Durham as part of the deal, with McCaughan continuing to serve as label president and head of A&R (Artist & Repertoire). Ballance, however, will be leaving the music business following the deal. In a statement, Secretly co-founder Phil Waldorf said his group reached out to Merge about a new partnership when it first heard Ballance was looking to leave the business. What they're saying: "It was never my goal to start a record label when I was 21 and run it for the rest of my life," Ballance said in a statement, noting she has other creative endeavors she would like to pursue. "Merge Records started as a literal bedroom label, in my bedroom, and lived there for a few years before we were able to give it some space of its own," she added. "It has always been a labor of love. I am going to miss it and all the people and bands tremendously." Between the lines: The deal gives Merge access to Secretly's worldwide distribution networks as well as access to more resources for operations like accounting, artist royalties, business affairs, licensing, IT and HR. Representatives for Merge were not immediately available for an interview, but last year McCaughan told Axios running a music label has become even more complex in the era of streaming. "What's still great about having a record label is the artists that we get to work with and hearing someone's new album when it's finished," McCaughan said last year. "But, you know, the business of trying to get those bands heard by the most people and trying to sell records enough so that those artists can make a living or even just break even on tour has become really frustrating," he added.
Sky News AU
18-05-2025
- General
- Sky News AU
Aussie priest who carried Fisherman's Ring for Pope Francis speaks on inauguration Mass
Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney's Very Reverend Father Daniel McCaughan has spoken ahead of the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. Fr McCaughan was asked to carry the Fisherman's Ring when he was a deacon during the ceremony for Pope Francis in 2013. Around a quarter of a million people are expected to pack into the St Peter's Square to witness history as the first ever US born pope officially begins his papacy. 'I had the privilege of going to Catholic ground zero, down underneath the high altar of St Peter to the tomb of St Peter, to retrieve from there the Fisherman's Ring,' Fr McCaughan told Sky News Australia. "What you will see in the Mass is all the symbols of what it means to be the successor to St Peter, the shepherd of 1.4 billion Catholics around the world on display ... it's Catholicism writ large."
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wins for Hampshire, Surrey and Blaze in cup
Ella McCaughan hit an unbeaten century as Hampshire beat Lancashire to leapfrog their opponents and go top of the One-Day Cup at the top of the order, McCaughan's 133 off 141 balls saw her team home by eight wickets with three overs to spare at Southport, in chasing Lancashire's 292-6. Surrey recorded their first win of the competition as they thrashed Durham by 104 runs at clocked up a mammoth 348-6 off their 50 overs before bowling their visitors out for 244. The Blaze made it back-to-back victories thanks to Kathryn Bryce's 5-38 as they defeated Warwickshire by 41 runs at making 252-9, the visitors took Warwickshire's last four wickets for eight runs to bowl them out for 211 and move up to third. Lancashire had won their opening two games and they got off to a flying start as Eve Jones and Emma Lamb put on 185 for the first wicket in a little more than 30 went for 86, but Jones carried on to complete her century, eventually out for 107 off 134 Hampshire chipped away with five wickets in the last 11 overs to keep their opponents to under their chase was brilliantly anchored by 22-year-old McCaughan, as she put on 137 with Maia Bouchier at the though Bouchier was stumped for 77, McCaughan's maiden hundred came up off 113 then put on 122 with Charli Knott (47) for the second wicket and was there at the end when captain Georgia Adams hit the winning runs. Surrey had lost two out of two, but a superb third wicket partnership of 155 between Alice Capsey and Sophia Dunkley was the backbone of their large hit 79 off 66 balls while Dunkley ended eight short of a ton as they smashed 19 fours and a six between them in setting the game reply, Durham were up against it from the moment Ryana MacDonald-Gay took two wickets in two balls in the fifth over to leave them 28-2 before New Zealand batter Suzie Bates departed for 28 to make it Dobson top scored with 53 and was ably supported by number eight Katherine Fraser (47) in a partnership of 93, but they never looked like threatening Surrey's was completed in the 46th over with the dismissal of Abi Glen as the hosts leapfrogged their opponents to jump to fifth in the table. Bryce sisters do it for Blaze In the battle between the two Midlands teams, Nottingham-based The Blaze were reeling as they slipped to 5-2 in the first over after being put Scotland international Sarah Bryce battled to 52 with useful contributions from Orla Prendergast (34) and Ella Claridge (38) in the middle order.A valuable unbroken last wicket stand of 32 between Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips got them up to 252-9 off their 50 Abbey Freeborn and Davina Perrin at the crease, Warwickshire had reached 126-1 in Kathryn Bryce removed Freeborn for 40 and Perrin for 53 in successive overs to change the Wraith and Charis Pavely came together at 157-5 and put on 46 to make the hosts favourites with less than 50 required, until Wraith sliced to point off Phillips for Kathryn Bryce did the rest, taking the last three wickets to quickly wrap things up with Warwickshire nine down and Chloe Brewer unable to bat as The Blaze moved to fourth, one place above their opponents.
New York Times
04-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Jose Altuve's career-high 5 strikeouts spark Twins crowd in home opener loss to Astros
MINNEAPOLIS — Darren McCaughan pitched with a three-run deficit in the ninth inning on Thursday afternoon, but the Target Field crowd made so much noise the Minnesota Twins reliever needed to cup his ear to receive his catcher's instructions. 'First time I haven't been able to hear the PitchCom out there,' the right-hander said. Advertisement McCaughan's opponent at the plate also was in the midst of a new experience. As Jose Altuve fell behind in the count against the veteran reliever, one of Major League Baseball's best pure hitters found himself in uncharted territory: in danger of the first five-strikeout game of his career. Even though Altuve's Houston Astros held a 5-2 lead and were about to wreck the Twins' home opener, as McCaughan closed in on a rare opportunity against the future Hall of Famer, the announced crowd of 36,783 was energized. Only twice before in Altuve's 15-year career had he even struck out four times in a game. When McCaughan got ahead in the count 0-2, a crowd largely quieted by a lethargic Twins offense got loud enough for the pitcher to notice. 'I figured the crowd was going crazy for a reason,' McCaughan said. 'I saw (Altuve) strike out a few times. I didn't know the exact number on it. But yeah, I was seeing him swing-and-miss when I was sitting down in the bullpen.' Altuve's reputation as one of baseball's best hitters stems from his outstanding bat-to-ball skills. Entering Thursday, he'd struck out only 1,036 times in 8,667 plate appearances, which equates to a low 12.8 percent strikeout rate. Only once in his career has Altuve produced a triple-digit strikeout season — last year, when he whiffed 119 times. Through six games this season, Altuve had accrued six strikeouts. But on Thursday, McCaughan and the Twins had his number. Twins starter Joe Ryan began Altuve's long day with a 1-2 sweeper for a swinging strike for the first out of the game. After falling behind Altuve 3-0 in the third, Ryan came back with three straight fastballs for another swinging strikeout. Altuve chased a 2-2 sweeper from Ryan in the fifth inning for the third strikeout. Reliever Jorge Alcala blew a 99 mph fastball past Altuve in the seventh as the Astros star reached four strikeouts for the first time in a game since 2021. (He also did it in 2018.) Advertisement McCaughan, who has six strikeouts in 4 2/3 scoreless innings this season, including four on Thursday, pushed Altuve to the verge of one of his worst career days with two quick strikes in the ninth as the crowd chimed in. Their response boosted the pitcher's adrenaline. 'That was kind of new,' McCaughan said. 'I'm like, 'All right, I gotta kind of cover (my ear) a little bit.' But yeah, it just kind of locks me in.' Altuve didn't go quietly. He evened the count at 2-2 before fouling off a sweeper. Even with a nice framing attempt by catcher Ryan Jeffers on the next pitch, McCaughan missed outside with a sinker to take the count full. But McCaughan, who allowed seven earned runs and eight hits in four innings in his only other career appearance against Houston, a July 26, 2021 start for Seattle, buckled down and threw a 3-2 sinker for a strike — much to the hitter's dismay. 'I wanted (the 2-2 pitch), but I think it was a ball,' McCaughan said. 'Three-two, I don't know, looked good to me.' But the Twins went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Astros the win and Altuve the last laugh even on his whiff-filled day. (Top photo of Jose Altuve: Abbie Parr / Associated Press)
