triple j’s Dom Alessio joins Sounds Australia as digital export producer

Dom Alessio, who last week announced he was leaving the hosting of triple j’s popular week night showHome & Hosed after eight years, is joining music export body Sounds Australia as a digital export producer.

In this role, he will set up curated digital services and promote local artists to international markets through streaming services to fast-track their global profile.

Sounds Australia’s executive producer,Millie Millgate,said, “You’d be hard pressed to find anyone that knows about and has supported more Australian artists throughout their career.

“Hard-working, passionate and knowledgeable are just the surface of traits that make Dom the perfect choice to join Sounds Australia’s cheer squad.”

Alessio first came to attention in 2006 with the world’s first online music blog Who the Bloody Hell Are They? which he co-founded dedicated solely to Australian music.

In his new role, he will cultivate long-term relationships with streaming curatorial teams and build partnerships with key platform gatekeepers,

The association outlined, “Dom will evolve Sounds Australia’s digital presence beyond just an educational resource and into a premier content discovery portal.”

He will pitch to specific global playlists and tastemaker blogs before international trade and music events as SXSW, The Great Escape, Classical:NEXT, Americana and Primavera when they showcase Australian names.

He will also create and maintain Sounds Australia’s own playlists, including those 820+ acts who have been able to showcase around the world under the Sounds Australia banner.

Alessio said of his new role, “I’m so excited to be joining Sounds Australia.

“They’re some of the hardest working and most well-respected people in the Australian music industry and it’s such an honour to be working alongside them.

“Australia is producing some of the best music in the world right now and I can’t wait to be part of a team that helps spread that word around the globe.”

Paul Mason,director music for Australia Council for the Arts commented, “Since initiating Sounds Australia’s in partnership with industry almost ten years ago, the Australia Council has always provided core funding, which we have reconfirmed for another four years.

“Sounds Australia has always looked to be ahead of the pack in finding new ways to promote Australian artists internationally and with the astounding rise in streaming and playlists as a discovery mechanism it makes total sense to bring an expert like Dom into the team to ensure our artists are present wherever audiences are globally.”

Added Dean Ormston,head of member services for APRA AMCOS, “With $43.5m royalties earned overseas by APRA AMCOS members in 2016-17, a 13.6% year on year growth and more than double the $21.8m collected just four years ago, it’s clear Australian contemporary music is one of our fastest growing export industries.

“We’re thrilled to have Dom join the Sounds Australia team to further reinforce Australian music talent on the global stage and support efforts to grow Australian representation on international playlists.”