Industrial Strength: August 23
Australian execs in demand for overseas conferences
Australian-based executives are in demand for overseas conferences. Denis Handlin, Sony Music Entertainment Australia Chairman/ CEO and President, Asia) will be one of the 13 keynote speakers at Music Matters in Singapore (September 12 to 15).
Others include Kobalt CEO Willard Ahdriz; Arthur Fogel (President Global Touring, Live Nation); Sarah Stennett (manager, Zayn Malik, Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding); Grammy-winning group Pentatonix; Format Music Supervisor Dave Jordan; and Peter Levin, President, Interactive Ventures & Games, Lionsgate Entertainment.
Latest additions to New Zealand’s Going Global 2016 summit (September 2 and 3) are Maggie Collins of BIGSOUND and triple j; Pandora Music Editor ANZ Matty Newton; MuseRoom music news site co-founder and CEO Ronan Mason; and The Orchard ANZ Director Henry Compton.
On IMS Asia-Pacific 2016’s first round of speakers, alongside Skrillex, Alesso and Pete Tong, is Murat Kilic, artist and CEO of Spice – Reckless Republic. The electronic music dance summit is this year held in Shanghai, China to discuss issues with a genre that has experienced 30% growth in the past six years.
Foxtel Arts announces Aus premieres of music series
Through September, Foxtel Arts is screening a number of Australian premieres of music shows.
The first episode of Guitar Center, of intimate shows and interviews on Thursdays at 9.30 pm, is on September 1 with Buddy Guy. These are followed by Smashing Pumpkins (8), Gary Clarke Jr (15), Fitz and The Tantrums (22) and Goo Goo Dolls (28).
The Soundstage series begins on Friday 2 at 7.30 pm with The Irish Tenors, followed by Jewel – Goodbye Alice in Wonderland (9), Lindsey Buckingham (10) and John Fogerty Part I & Part II (17).
Carole King is profiled twice through the month. Natural Woman (Friday 23 at 8.30pm) is a documentary in which she prolific songwriter tells her story, with previously unseen and rare performances and home movies and interviews with friends and colleagues A Tribute to Carole King (Friday 23 at 9.30pm) shows her honoured as the 2014 MusiCares Person of the Year with a huge event in Los Angeles where major names performed her songs.
Other music themed premieres include Dropkick Murphy’s at Germany’s Hurricane festival (Thursday 8) and Brian Wilson & Friends (Saturday 24 at 7.30pm) in Las Vegas.
Those with more highbrow tastes would be interested in Jonas Kaufmann: An Evening with Puccini (Sunday 4 at 7.30pm), the five part series Gilbert & Sullivan: A Motley Pair on Wednesdays at 8pm from the 7th, Nureyev & Friends: A Gala Tribute (Sunday 11 at 7.30pm) to celebrate the 75th anniversary of his birthday, and Musica Sacra: Hommage to Antonio Vivaldi (Thursday 29 at 6.30pm).
New Zealand music biz wants changes to TPP copyright elements
The New Zealand recorded music sector is unhappy with the copyright elements of the contentious Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, due to become law by end of 2016. In particular, that protection be accorded to the creator for 70 years after death. This is to be introduced over two parts. However, of the 12 nations involved in the TPP, only five already have a 70-year protection. These are Australia, Singapore, Chile, Peru and Mexico. The US, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei are still on 50.
Damian Vaughan, CEO of Recorded Music NZ told a parliamentary committee that the 70-year upgrade be introduced immediately, calling the proposed phase-in period unnecessary and a costly burden for rights holders. “It’s not making copyright simple or easy to understand to the music user or the public whatsoever,” he said. “It is making the process significantly more complicated, and it’s the rights organizations and the copyright holders who will be forced to administer this… We note the cost we incur will be far higher than any perceived cost savings.”
NZ has a number of opponents of the TPP, who argue that a copyright extension will stifle innovation and creativity.
Increased preloading follows QLD lockout laws
A series of investigations by the Brisbane Courier Mail into the six-week-old Queensland lockout laws indicated that they were not achieving what they were set up to. It found that more patrons were pre-loading before they arrived at the clubs to get buzzed because of shorter drinking time. Fortitude Valley nightclub owner Trent Meade told the paper pre-loading would remain a problem as long as bottle shops were allowed to advertise “cheapest alcohol in town” and nightclubs were forbidden to plug their “happy hour”. The Courier Mail also reported that alcohol-related hospital presentations have not decreased (remaining at 1000 a month) since lockout laws swept into the state on July 1.
North Territory tourism helps arts/music events
Events with the potential to attract interstate and/or international visitors to the Northern Territory may be eligible for support from Tourism NT under the Event Marketing Sponsorship Program. Aside from financial help, there is also help with advertising and marketing. Deadline is August 31, more info by email from [email protected]. Among 18 recipients this year have been festivals as Wide Open Space, Alice Desert, Barunga, Desert Harmony and Marrakai Mango.
Three ambassadors for country music festival
Destination Tamworth announced three names as ambassadors for January’s Tamworth Country Music Festival. Singer songwriter Amber Lawrence, who recently released the Kids Gone Country album, is Family Ambassador. She will spread the good oil on how the festival caters for families, with specific zones, kids playgrounds and concerts for younger age groups. She will also perform at the Family Support Concert in the Park and a club headliner on January 27.
Adam Brand serves as Party Ambassador, to publicise how people can find ways to party during their stay in Tamworth, Troy Cassar-Daley, already an ambassador for Tamworth, will expand his national role to the festival.
New folk festival for Fremantle
The inaugural Fremantle Folk Festival is held in the historic Princess May Park, Clancy’s Fish Pub in Fremantle (Cantonment Street) and surrounds, on Saturday October 15. Organisers say, “The festival aims to be an inclusive, family-friendly celebration of the music, arts, and culture at the heart of our unique port city.”
Already confirmed for the all-day event are Abbe May’s Gospel Choir, Donna Simpson (The Waifs) and guests, The Sensitive New Age Cowpersons, Jordie James (San Cisco), The Gyuto Monks (Tibet), Kallidad (NSW), Carus Thompson, Ensemble Formidable, Maurice Flavel’s Intensive Care, The Galloping Foxleys, The Justin Walshe Folk Machine and The Durongs.
More Festival Updates: last drinks, shut-downs, reunions
* NSW’s Jazz In The Vine, a long time proponent is staged for the final time on Saturday, October 29, at Tyrell’s Winery at Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley. Headliners include James Morrison, Leo Sayer (who cheerfully imparts he hasn’t drunk beer of wine since being diagnosed with coeliac disease a few years ago), Mental as Anything, Lisa Hunt, Emma Pask, John Morrison’s Swing City Big Band, Monica Trapaga and Dale Barlow.
* Sydney Blues & Roots returns for its 8th year, on October 27 to 30 various venues in Windsor. Among 60 acts are Diesel, USA’s Chris Cain, Hippos, Gail Page, Chase The Sun and a reunion after 35 years of the original Stars lineup with Mick Pealing, Mal Eastick, Roger McLachlan and Glyn Dowding.
* In its fourth year, October 8’s Gundaroo Music hopes to make a practical difference to better the lives of those suffering from Motor Neuron Disease. All proceeds go to specialised communication equipment. Local musician Scott Windsor, who battled the disease for 2 ½ years before passing last April, set up the festival. His friends continue to stage it, with 2,000 attending last year.
* Another allegedly illegal rave got shut down in regional NSW before it got started. Last weekend it was Pretty Vibes in the Pillar Valley state forest, which was expected 3500 ravers. Coffs/Clarence officers, warned that no traffic management and safety processes were in place, turned up at the site and allegedly found there were no toilets either, just an open pit. Ravers already on site were told to am-scray or face arrest.
* The second MTV Beats and Eats heads to North Wollongong’s Stuart Park, expecting to draw 10,000. Announced so far are New Zealand’s Savage and MAALA, as well as electronic producer Paces.
Australian start-up Veredictum reaches out to Hollywood
Australian start-up Veredictum, which is taking on online piracy in the global film and TV industries, has a new manuscript-protecting initiative which it is approaching Hollywood about. Called Veredictum Scripts, it uses blockchain technology in a distribution process not used before in the space, says CEO Tim Lea. Among other features, it lets the writer know who’s looked at the script, to provide an e-paper trail in case any ideas are stolen.
Sydneyvision Song Contest heads for Grand Final
Now in its seventh year, the Harbour City’s music video version of the Eurovision Song Contest is heading to its Grand Final. It’s held at the Dendy Opera Quays on Wednesday August 31 at 6:30 pm. All entries must refer to a Sydney suburb in the lyrics. Organisers say, “Of the 14 fantabulous finalists you can expect a program ranging from ukulele ballads to anti-lockout anthems (f*ck yeah) to the straight-out bizarre.”
CEOs battle it out for award …
Among the 102 nominated in CEO Magazine’s annual Executive of the Year Awards (Nov 24, Four Points by Sheraton, Sydney) are Australian Radio Network’s Chief Operating Officer & CFO Michael Harvey in the CFO category. ARN’s former CEO Ciaran Davis won the top gong last year.
Pandora’s former Marketing Director ANZ Nicole McInnes is vying for Marketing Executive of the Year. Karen Stocks, Managing Director of Twitter Australia is up for the Managing Director and Media Executive categories. Its Head of Online Sales, Suzy Nicoletti, appears on the Sales Executive list.
…while over at B&T’s Women In Media celebrations
B&T’s Women In Media announcement in Sydney saw Nova Entertainment’s Kate Day win the Sales category.
The annual Power List, collected from nominations and judged by a selection panel, saw Twitter Managing Director Karen Stocks listed at #26, and Pandora Managing Director ANZ Jane Huxley at #30.
Eleven Victorian acts score Quick Response grants
Eleven acts shared in $60,000 worth of Creative Victoria’s Quick Response grants. Gaining help for international touring were Nathan Williams for North America ($10,000), King Parrot for their Battle Of The Bays European tour with Obituary, Exodus and Prong ($9000), Dallas Frasca for global dates ($7,000), Liam Gerner to perform at US radio stations and Americana Fest gig ($5000), Sarah Carroll for US dates ($3000) and James Ware, of Waving At Trains artist management to network abroad ($3100).
Closer to home, given the opportunity to attend BIGSOUND were fast rising Alex Lahey ($5,000) and Ecca Vandal ($4,500) as well as Tinpan Orange ($4,000) and Teeth & Tongue ($2,900) Ali Barter received $7,000 for support tours.
Kanye West pop-ups draw steady business
The two Kanye West pop up Life of Pablo merchandise stores in Australia over the weekend – in Sydney’s Bondi Beach and Melbourne’s Fitzroy – did brisk business. Crowds formed a day before they opened and queues double backed on the streets. The Melbourne store closed early after the 12 ranges of limited edition items sold out, with $260 sneakers quickly up on eBay for $1,956. But residents and neighbouring businesses were left with a sour taste as a thousand milled on the road as the store only allowed ten each (three in Sydney) at a time.
Boutique store owner Charlotte Knightley of Zetta Florence sent West a message via social media to reimburse her for $6,000 worth of lost business over two days, telling him “For my family it’s our livelihood.” In New York, police closed the store down.
Name change for ABC3…
After seven years, family and school children channel ABC3 will become known as ABC ME from September 19. New additions to the program schedule include weekly pop culture review show News to Me, sci-fi action animation series Prisoner Zero and short-form documentary series This Is Me.
… as study shows more kids watch TV
Despite the rise of digital devices as a primary video channel, TV viewing by the 4 to 14 age group grew by 8% to 92% in the past year, according to the Cartoon Network’s 12th New Generations study. According to market researcher Turner Asia Pacific, parents generally encouraged TV viewing because it was considered safer and securer than social media, and watched movies and cartoons together. The take-up of YouTube was also high. Twice as many kids noticed ads on TV than on social media. In the past month, 86% of kids were online, with a 33% increase in those watching and posting online videos. Facebook is still their favourite platform with a quarter on for 1½ hours although more (one-third) spend that equivalent time on Snapchat.
Disability Inclusion Action Plan announced
Arts NSW and Screen NSW have outlined the Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) for 2016 – 2018. It offers the steps the two associations will take to remove barriers and promote access to services, information, employment and the rights of people with disability. It covers four key outcome areas: Attitudes and behaviours, Liveable communities, Employment and Systems and processes.
Arts NSW and Screen NSW will engage in further discussions with the arts and disability sectors to improve and realise aspirations outlined in this plan.
Celeb titles drop readers
The latest Audit Bureau of Circulation figures, covering the first six months of the year, saw more celeb titles going south in readership stakes. OK! fell to 48,151. Girlfriend was 31,043, down from 37,541 in the same period last year. Take 5 was at 140,014 and Who at 82,985. Dolly was up to 30,010 after dropping to 28, 030 but still far from the 40,546 of the first half of 2015.
Will CDs, DVDs, remain at JB Hi-Fi?
Australian record labels regard electronics chain JB Hi-Fi as also a major music retailer. But according to its latest $15.2 million profit posting financials (as reported in TMN), music and movies only make up 14% of sales (worth $600 million) compared to 23% four years ago. But CEO Richard Murray emphasised to Fairfax Media that these will still be stocked in-store for now, as long as they still make money, he said these are “seen by customers and staff as a part of our brand DNA” and that it was a point of difference with other electronics chains.
STAR FM heads Wagga Wagga ratings
In the first radio ratings since 2011 for Wagga Wagga, regional NSW, SCA’s STAR FM was the clear leader with a 32,4% market share. Following were sister station 2WG FM (17.3%), ABC Local Radio (14.3%) and triple j (6.8%).
$45 million performance theatre for Monash Uni
Monash University in Melbourne’s southeast is getting a $45 million performance centre with three spaces including a jazz club. Funding includes $10 million from the Victorian Government and $5 million from The Ian Potter Foundation. The venue, to be called The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts comprises a revitalised 586-seat Alexander Theatre (attended by 40,000 each year) with new venues, a 130-seat Sound Gallery for flat floor performances (without a stage) and 200-seat Jazz Club which includes a cafe service during the day and fully catered venue at night. These venues will be available to productions, students, community groups, schools and local residents.
Venue Update: name change, assaults, new jazz showcasing
* Adelaide’s long time superclub HQ is going through a rebrand which includes a move to a new site, a greater capacity and a name change. Set to open in April, the three-level 2300-capacity complex will be known as Q and occupy the western end of the Hindley Street entertainment precinct. Live music remains a key element, with Director Rod Rose telling The City that it will have space for 1800 live punters compared to the previous 1100, with a plan to increase the number of rock shows from 65 to 100, and with an estimate that it will attract 40% more live acts to the city precinct. The new club will also create 150 jobs. The old club on West Terrace ends its run on January 28.
* Mackay police are investigating an incident at a Wood Street venue where a 27-year-old woman was grabbed twice apparently by another patron. The first time, she was slammed to the ground after being grabbed around the throat, the second time she managed to break free.
* Jazz music is the soundtrack to a French Orleans-style Orleans Bar that opened on the weekend on the Sunshine Coast. It also comes with a wide arrange of southern style food and drinks.
After a year, the Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium still has to put finishing touches in the next few weeks on its new concert hall. However the Con’s students couldn’t wait, so a show by The Decatones – consisting of ten of its young contemporary singers – christened the space last week.
ABA suggests Night Mayor for Sydney
Alcohol Beverages Australia is the latest to suggest that Sydney should get a Night Mayor to initiate measures to ensure that Sydney remained safe and secure at night. Its Executive Director Fergus Taylor rejected the Sydney lock-outs, which he says fail to penalise the violent minority but biffs it out to venues. “Violence and anti-social behaviour is unacceptable, irrespective of how or when it occurs. But sucking the life out of Sydney is not the solution,” he said.
ABA’s suggestions included (1) better designed venues and entertainment precincts; (2) more security including CCTV, police presence and higher-level training of security staff; (3) more attractions within entertainment precincts which take alcohol as the focus for enjoyment; (4) greater penalties for disruptive and violent patrons; and (5) a concerted effort at lessening violence by having evidence based case-by-case incidents “tailored to the issues in local areas and implemented by local communities including industry, governments and agencies.”
New book lauds Newcastle music’s golden days
Rock This City: Live Music in Newcastle, 1970s-1980s documents the pub-rock era in the city when 148 bands like Rabbit, Heroes and The Globes could play six nights a week, and 161 venues as the Bel-Air, The Ambassador, The Jolly Roger and the Star Hotel built up their careers. Its author Gaye Sheather was a singer at the time, with bands Timeworx and 7th Heaven. Now a historian and researcher, Sheather initially used the premise of the book for her 2013 thesis at the University of Newcastle. She argues that the explosion was an impact of the baby boomers turning 18 and wanting to hearing music in pubs, and their interest in local music intensified by ABC-TV’s national Countdown showcasing what was happening around the rest of Australia. The book leaves off just as Newcastle yielded Silverchair and Screaming Jets who went on to international success but the venue scene was never as vibrant after.
Number Crunching
10 million visitors to Sydney hospitality and nightclub company Merivale’s 60 establishments in the past 12 months, owner Justin Hemmes announced at the staff’s annual bash. 140,000 chickens were also eaten in the year,
15-hour queue for Kanye West fans in London to enter his pop-up merch store.
$3 million drop in revenue for the 2015 Perth Royal Show after visitor numbers dropped by 13%, a new 25-year low.
60% of people stream from the bedroom and 12% from the bathroom, according to research cited by Telstra Executive Director Stuart Bird.
Vale
* Peter Read was fascinated with technology and sound. In 1987, he used his Sydney’s flatmate electronic equipment for recording in his home studio. Eventually, the gear was transferred live, and Read co-formed Thug with Tex Perkins and Lachlan McLeod. A confrontational act, they stirred brawls among themselves (mock) and crowds (real) with 25-minute sets including dancers and theatrics and a debut single called Fuck Your Dad Thug were part of the underground Black Eye label. Read was also briefly a member of another confrontational noisenik act, Lubricated Goat. In recent years, he moved to Melbourne and worked as a venue audio engineer. He also needed treatment for liver cancer but was in remission when he passed.
* Justin Thompson was one of Melbourne talkback radio 3AW’s most successful sales reps.. Macquarie Media’s Melbourne Operations Director, Stephen Beers, said, “Justin was a much loved and valued member of the 3AW family for 24 years. He was an enormous part of our success and will be dearly missed.” Justin Thompson was 52. He is survived by his wife Raquel and two teenage sons.
And A Few Other Things …
LA-based Gold Coast performer Cody Simpson turned down an offer to serve as judge for The X Factor, saying he wanted to stay in the US to chase up opportunities. However, he is returning to Australia briefly to play a private show at his old school.
After a five-year relationship, R&B singer Prinnie Stevens married her American pro basketballer Patrick Sanders, who is currently playing for Argentina’s Club Ferro Carril Oeste.
Sneaky Sound System’s cosily married Connie Mitchell and “Black Angus” McDonald are just weeks from the arrival of their first child.
Award winning NT-based indigenous singer-songwriter Shellie Morris had to cancel a show following extended foot problems with her foot. She injured it in Malaysia in late July, and seemed to be healing well. But last week she was
diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and further X-ray found a chip in her foot.
ABC sports commentator Jim Maxwell, 68, was hospitalised after being taken ill on air while doing a live radio broadcast on the Rio Olympics.
Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker and Mark Ronson both produced Lady Gaga’s new single Perfect Illusion.
On the eve of her first North American tour in 25 years, Dolly Parton reveals that US promoters only got excited when they heard reports of how well her shows went down in Australia and New Zealand.
Perth hip-hopper Drapht’s return album Seven Mirrors includes a track called Midnight At the Hospice written by Perth rapper Robert Hunter a month before he died in October 2011 from cancer. Two other tracks allude to the time Drapht ran Solomon’s Café after he gave up his music career thinking he no longer enjoyed it. Instead, he wrote more songs than ever. In April he sold the café.
Frontier Touring’s Michael Gudinski, who books the half time entertainment for the AFL Grand Final in Melbourne, pooh-poohed rumours that Bruce Springsteen was doing it. He told the Sunday Herald Sun it will be an all-Australian bill. Time to get an Australian Meat Loaf tribute act out of the mothballs? The Springsteen rumours probably began when Gudinski was spotted catching The Boss’ show in New York earlier this year.
Britain’s Peter Rudge who is receiving the prestigious Peter Grant Award at the Music Managers Forum’s Artist and Manager Awards in London in November, will be lauded for his work with Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Marc Bolan, Duran Duran, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ray Davies and Manchester band James. But there’s also an Australian connection. In the early ‘70s Rudge took on Melbourne country-rock band The Dingoes and planned to break them in America, first with a US tour with Skynyrd. However, the Australian band, already facing issues with its record label Mushroom, was hit further when Skynyrd went off the road for a time after their infamous plane crash. Legend goes that when the Stones played a secret gig the El Mocombo club in Canada, the bill posters advertised “The Dingoes”.
After a six-year hiatus from Gotye, creator Wally De Backer of Melbourne band The Basics is about to return next year with two releases – a Basics album and at least a Gotye single.
Plans for Queen’s stage musical We Will Rock You to go to Perth’s Crown Theatre in November and then Adelaide’s Festival Theatre on New Year’s Eve, have been unrocked. Producers John Frost and Queen Theatrical Productions gave no specifics, instead trotting out our old friend “unforeseen circumstances’.’ The show, currently in Brisbane, now winds up in Melbourne where it is scheduled to run between August 30 and October 23.
Reclaim Australia, the debut album by rap act A.B. Original (made up of Victorian rapper Briggs and producer Trials) is set for release later this year via Hilltop Hoods’ label Golden Era Records and Briggs’ new Indigenous hip hop label Bad Apples Music. Last week saw the world premiere on triple j of second single January 26, on which they are joined by Dan Sultan, and which Briggs/Trial explain, “represents the annual frustration many Indigenous Australians feel from the farce of a holiday.”
So why was Adelaide Mayor Martin Haese walking around in Sgt. Peppers costume the other day? It was to unveil a new Beatles artwork at the Adelaide Town Hall as part of its 150th-anniversary celebrations. On June 12, 1964, when the Beatles visited Adelaide for their one and only visit there, no less than 300,000 people lined the road to welcome there (after 80,000 signed a petition for promoter Ken Brodziak to extend the tour to their city). Radio 5AD and 5DN planned to do broadcasts from the motorcade from the airport, but 5AD drove the 5DN car into a ditch and got exclusive honours. It was the largest gathering ever for the British band, equating to 20% of the city’s current population. They nearly created a stampede when they came onto the Town Hall balcony to wave. The artwork is on permanent display on the Town Hall balcony from yesterday.
Are you ready for Cockpit Karaoke? Air New Zealand continues to woo international celebrities to feature in its safety videos. It missed out on Taylor Swift after she slipped into the country late last year to make a music video. Now the airline has pitched to US late-night TV king James Corden to incorporate a Carpool Karaoke segment on the video.