Musical Chairs

Pictured: Eric Reithler-Barros

NEW PRESIDENT FOR SONY/ATV

The Australian operations of Sony/ATV will now report to Guy Henderson, who has just been elevated to its President for International. Also reporting to the London-based Henderson are continental Europe, South East Asia, Russia, India, Africa, Turkey, Israel and the Middle East.

Henderson, previously its SVP for International, says that his focus will be to expand the publisher’s digital footprint.

SFX’S REITHLER-BARROS JOINS CHINA’S A2LIVE

A2Live, market leader in Chinas electronic dance music industry, has appointed Eric Reithler-Barros as its Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer.

With 25 years of experience in media and international business development, he previously served as the Vice President of Global Partnerships at US-based EDM empire SFX Entertainment Inc.

A major figure in the growth of EDM, Reithler-Barros has served as promoter, artist, performer, producer, label owner, journalist and curator for the sector.

He said, “It’s no secret that China represents the largest and most nascent market potential for dance music culture in the world. Nothing could be more exciting than to engage it from multiple new angles, hand in hand with the talented staff and board of this visionary company.”

A2Live stages annual events in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen and introduced superstars Skrillex, David Guetta and Afrojack to the market.

NEW HIRES AT SPOTIFY ANZ

In its fifth year in this market, Spotify Australia /New Zealand has expanded its senior sales team with two hires. Dan Robins takes over in May as Head of Programmatic and Data. He was at OMD Australia as Head of Interactive Digital.

Also starting in May is Collene Wright as Melbourne Sales Director, the streaming service’s first sales appointment in the southern city. She was Victorian State Sales Manager for Adshel.

Both report to Andrea Ingham, Head of Sales for ANZ.

MARK HALES JOINS NOVA

Mark Hales has joined Nova Entertainment as Podcast Operations Manager based at its Brisbane operations. He was Music Director and morning announcer at River 94.9 in Ipswich, Queensland. Greg Wood replaces him in the MD role.

RACHEL DAVISON TO HELM WAM’S AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Perth-based artist manager, publicist and journalist Rachel Davison has joined the WAM association to develop an Audience Development Plan to ensure the state’s music fans continue to support the sector.

In her new role, she will direct the association’s strategies in increasing awareness and demand of WA music, have more venues and schools/colleges supporting original live music, and work with allied industries as the advertising sector and shopping centres to look local for their music needs.

Davison currently manages Mosquito Coast and her PR clients included Perth International Arts Festival, Mellen Events, Summadayze, Future Music Festival Celebrate WA’s State Of The Art Music Festival, Boys Boys Boys! and the City of Perth.

SONY MUSIC PROMOTES CARMINE COPPOLA

Sony Music promoted company veteran Carmine Coppola to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The roles fell vacant when Kevin Kelleher was upped to COO.

Well versed in Sony’s financial dealings, Coppola, who started out at PricewaterhouseCoopers, struck major deals with Michael Jackson and Simon Cowell and the acquisitions of The Orchard, Ministry of Sound and Ultra Records.

MITCHELL, McGREGOR, BEHIND ‘WOMEN IN POP’

UK and Australian media vet Paul Mitchell will serve as Editor and owner of new Australian print and digital publication Women In Pop, set to launch on May 1 in this market as well as in New Zealand, US, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia through Eight Point Distribution.

It aims to address the imbalance of stories about female talent in the Australian and global media with stories only about women in the music industry.

Jane McGregor, former Sales Director at Pacific Magazines Queensland, is the title’s Sales Manager.

Look out for TMN’s interview with Mitchell soon.

KOBALT PLANS FURTHER GLOBAL EXPANSION

In a move to further expand its Kobalt Music Recordings and the company’s indie act streaming label AWAL outside the U.S., Kobalt has tapped Arif Mahmud as VP of Business Affairs.

He was Business Affairs manager for Universal Music’s Polydor and Capitol labels in the UK.

Most recently he was GM and General Counsel at Three Six Zero, the London-headquartered music, film, television and technology management company.

TINA ARENA BACK AT SMOOTHFM

Tina Arena is back behind the smoothfm mic for the fifth time, heard on its weekend schedule in Sydney, Melbourne and on DAB+ until May 7. She also hosts a Mother’s Day special on May 14.

The singer-songwriter this week delivered her eighth Top 10 album over three decades with Greatest Hits & Interpretations debuting the ARIA chart at #2. According to smoothfm, Arena is the only Australian artist to earn a gold or platinum certification for each of her original albums, in every decade since the 1970s.

BROOKMANS TO HEAD ADELAIDE FESTIVAL

Rob Brookman is the new Executive Director at Adelaide Festival with his eldest son Torben as his deputy. Long time arts leader Rob recently quit as ED of Sydney State Theatre, saying that at 63 it was time to go into semi-retirement to work freelance.

Torben was GM and Executive Producer at the Asia Pacific operations of the UK-based theatre, venues and ticketing company, the Ambassador Theatre Group. He was also Producer of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Commercial Projects for the Adelaide Festival Centre.

The Brookmans will work with Artistic Directors Neil Armfield and Rachel Healy to deliver their 2018 and 2019 programs.

MICALLEF DEPARTS AS YUNG WARRIORS MANAGER

After a lengthy stint as manager, promoter and mentor for multi-award winning Melbourne hip hop group Yung Warriors, Rich Micallef is returning to world music recording projects. The band, whose music is synced on Australian TV, is now managed by its rapper and beats producer Danny Ramzan.

MARC DWYER AT SCA SYDNEY

Marc Dwyer is moving from Star 104.5 Gosford to take over as Creative Writer at SCA’s 2DayFM and Triple M in Sydney.

TWITTER APAC’S KNOX STARTS NEW ROLE

Aliza Knox, VP of Twitter’s APAC operations, has begun as COO of Ad and content funded mobile platform Unlockd, which is planning to expand globally. She was the AWA Singapore International Business Woman of the Year in 2015.

SYDNEY FESTIVAL EXPANDING

Sydney Festival is expanding, set to fill roles as Graphic Design Manager, music and arts copywriters, and Finance & Administration Manager.

JOHN LEGEND MOVES INTO VIRTUAL REALITY

US R&B singer John Legend will executive produce and lend his voice to the leading character of a new virtual reality animated series called Rainbow Crow through VR start up Baobab Studios.

The Hollywood Reporter said that Rainbow Crow is based on a Native American story of a brightly coloured bird which travels vast distances to bring light to a darkened planet. Its themes include diversity, self-acceptance and sacrifice.

JOO PROMOTED AT 2GB

Harnsle Joo is promoted to Associate Producer at Macquarie Media’s 2GB, taking over from Gabriella Power.

MEGAN BROWNLOW JOINS SCREEN AUST. BOARD

Megan Brownlow, a partner at PwC and Editor of its annual The Australian Entertainment & Media Outlook, joined Screen Australia’s board as Deputy Chair.

NEW PR MANAGER FOR YAHOO7

Claire Robinson is the new Corporate Communications and PR Manager for Yahoo7 Australia and New Zealand. She comes with almost 20 years experience in similar roles.