Musical Chairs: August 31

Universal Publishing taps Sterling Simms as creative head

Universal Music Publishing has appointed Grammy nominated songwriter and artist Sterling Simms as its Director of Creative. Based in Los Angeles, he will work closely with the company’s worldwide A&R team to identify, sign and develop talent and bolster global creative opportunities for UMPG songwriters.

Says David Gray, UMPG EVP/Head of West Coast A&R, “As a well-rounded and established writer, artist and an A&R exec, Sterling has everything it takes to support our writers and expand their reach. He speaks their language and understands the business from all sides.”

Simms was signed as an artist to Def Jam and RCA (and to UMPG in 2010). As a publishing exec, he worked with Nelly, Mike Free, DJ AfroJack and DJ Mustard. In 20016 he received a Grammy nomination for co-writing Marsha Ambrosius’ R&B hit Far Away and was a featured artist on Dig A Hole recorded by Jay Z on his chart topping album Kingdom Come.

Eight heads appointed at AFTRS

The Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS) appointed eight new heads of discipline, it announced this week. They indicate a major change since the departure of Sandra Levy last year.

Head of Editing is film and documentary editor Roland Gallois, Head of Sound is sound designer is Stephen Murphy, Head of Producing is President of the Australian Screen Sound Guild, Peter Herbert from Screen Producers Australia is Head of Producing, Head of Screenwriting is prime-time television drama writer Dr Pieter Aqulia, Head of Radio is commercial radio veteran Fyona Smith, Head of Screen Studies is long time lecturer Matt Campora, Head of Design is acclaimed production designer Igor Nay and Head of Interactive is graphic and interaction design Catherine Gleeson.

Appointments of Heads of Discipline in Directing, Documentary and Cinematography will also be made in the coming weeks

Ross Wallman Joins Nova

Ross Wallman is joining Nova 93.7 as afternoon announcer. He replaces Joel Gelding who is the new workday announcer at KIIS 101 in Melbourne.

Jac Bowie exits Mix 104.9 FM

Jac Bowie has left Mix 104.9 and Hot 100 Darwin, for which she was Online Content Manager and host of Mix’s drive show The Cruze. It was Bowie’s first radio appointment, and she plans to remain in radio.

Pandora names Questlove ambassador, strategic advisor

Pandora has appointed Roots member (and producer and author) Questlove as strategic advisor for new initiatives and products, and its first-ever artist ambassador.

Pandora founder/CEO Tim Westergren declared, “Questlove is one of the most talented and influential artists of our time. His near encyclopedic knowledge of the theory and history of music and his abiding passion for supporting artists of all kinds is a perfect match for our mission.”

Next week, Questlove begins a three-hour program, Questlove Supreme, featuring new music and interviews with music fans and industry execs.

Creative Victoria loses Greg Andrews, gains Jane Cawley

Creative Victoria has lost its Director of Arts Sector Investment, Greg Andrews, who has retired after a 40-year remarkable career in the arts and creative sector. He is succeeded on September 7 by Jane Cawley, previously Manager of Arts Melbourne at City of Melbourne for the past six years.

Andrews was 12 years at Creative Victoria (previously Arts Victoria). Before that, he headed Arts Queensland and was Executive Director of the Helpmann Academy in Adelaide. He also worked at the National Museum of Australia and the National Gallery of Australia.

At City of Melbourne, Crawley was responsible for Australia’s first local government Arts Infrastructure Framework, partnerships with key arts agencies the relaunching of Arts House as a place to find contemporary and experimental performances and reshaped Melbourne’s public art programming. She played a major role in the recently signed MoU between the City of Melbourne and Creative Victoria.

Radio prodigy joins 91.9 Sea FM

Jacob Cummings, who began working on community radio at the age of 13, has joined the on-air team at 91.9 Sea FM Sunshine Coast. Part of Radio Today’s Top New Talent for 2016, he worked weekends at Nova Brisbane since March and had a stint in Dubai.

In his new position, he hosts the 12—4 pm shift, and also takes over the Music Specialist role from Joe Groth who left after 13 months for the SCA Gold Coast hub. According to EON Broadcasting Content Director Rod Brice, the station got 50 applications in the first week after advertising for the job.

P Diddy company Revolt loses CEO

One of P. Diddy’s companies, the music digital cable TV Revolt, has lost its first CEO Keith Clinkscales, who resigned after three years. Before that he co-founded Vibes with Quincy Jones, headed the publishing company which produced magazine titles as HONEY, Heart & Soul and Savoy and also founded digital sports program Shadow League.

Access PR expands with three

Australian agency Access PR has swelled with three staff hires. Rachael Hoy returns as full time Senior Consultant, while coming on board are Georgia Clark as Senior Digital Strategist and Rachael Ryan as Account Coordinator.

Aussie radio duo head to New York

Radio Today reported that StarFM Dubbo’s Jase & Joel are quitting radio for New York after advice from Zac Stenmark, half of Australia’s most attractive twins. They sent him a pic of themselves and asked for an appraisal. He replied, “You guys are rigs, you definitely got it. I reckon, you just give up this radio thing straight away. Go for gold, just buy a plane ticket straight to New York.”

Tim Riches at Principals

Tim Riches, former CEO at Edelman Australian, has begun at independent branding agency Principals as Group Strategy Director. He will help clients “join the dots between market research, brand storytelling and strategic design,” says Group CEO Tom Brigstocke.

Deezer NA Head departs

European streaming service Deezer’s expansion into the North American market suffered a blow when its CEO of that territory, Tyler Goldman, left the industry. He is now CEO of Pax Labs, which makes smoking devices including the Pax vaporizer, which wanted him for his track record in building products.

Dylan Finch Joins 2CC

Former AFTRS graduate Dylan Finch is leaving 2NZ/Gem FM Inverell and joining the team at 2CC Canberra in production and as an announcer.

RadiumOne promotes Adam Furness

RadiumOne promoted Adam Furness to the newly created post of Managing Director ANZ to continue its growth in Australia and expand further into NZ. He was Director of Sales and Business Development for Asia Pacific, a role now occupied by one time Southern Cross Austereo Sales Manager, Luke Bussell.

Boom Radio launches two commercial careers

Two names from Boom Radio, the college station of North Metropolitan TAFE in Leederville (Perth) have gone on to jobs in commercial radio.

Trent Brand, its Music Director and drive host, is now on-air presenter and account executive for Redwave Media in Geraldton. He is also frontman with Alex The Kid, who won the 2016 triple j Unearthed One Night Stand.

Operations Manager and breakfast host Juliette Luculano relocates to Lismore, NSW, where she has a gig with ZZZ FM.

Sidebottom at Song Company

Vocal ensemble The Song Company’s new GM, well-known arts administrator David Sidebottom has already begun his new role. He brings him with a wealth and diverse arts business experience, including GM of Fine Music 102.5, and Treasurer for he New Music Network and Aurora Festival of Living Music. Sidebottom joins as Antony Pitts begins his first year as Artistic Director.

Emotive expands content and activations

Simon Joyce’s 12-month old specialist social video content marketing agency Emotive celebrates its growing roster of clients, by bringing in Sarah Clifton as Sydney-based Content Strategy & Activations Director. Working in Australia and the UK, Clifton was brand project lead on Coca-Cola’s successful #colouryoursummer campaign.

New CEO for Abbotsford Convent arts precinct

The Abbotsford Convent Foundation arts precinct in Melbourne announced Collette Brennan as its new CEO, effective late September. The position became vacant after founding CEO Maggie Maguire left after eleven years, after setting it up with a million visitors a year, 1000 events onsite and 120 tenancies.

Brennan, former senior executive of the Australia Council for the Arts and Executive Director of Circa, has a strong background in performing arts, youth arts, festivals, arts education and public programming. She joins as the Convent begins a program of restoration of buildings and widens its reputation nationally and internationally.

Executive changes at Opera Queensland

Opera Queensland (OperaQ) is going through an executive leadership change. Chair Robert Hubbard is retiring after 10 years, to be replaced by Dr Sally Pitkin and Prof. David Siddle as Deputy Chair. Artistic Director Lindy Hume leaves in early 2018. OperaQ has had a 21% rise in attendance with its financial position the best in ten years, Hubbard says

Sharb Farjami at Foxtel

Sharb Farjami is the new Director of Content Commercialisation at Foxtel, briefed to expand its revenue streams and to establish the network as an advertising destination. He was Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Director of National Sales at News Corp.