Industrial Strength: Aus copyright industries worth $111.4 bn; Jared Porter’s US recognition; NZ launches music streaming site; QLD venue alliance for lock-outs

Australia’s copyright industries worth $111.4 billion

The Economic Contribution of Australian Copyright Industries 2002-2014 report by the Australian Copyright Council (ACC) reveals that in 2014, Australia’s copyright industries generated an economic value of $111.4 billion. This is the equivalent of 7.1% of gross domestic product (GDP). It was 8.2% in 2008 but the lower figure reflects the growth of major non-copyright sectors.

The report, the fourth commissioned by the ACC from PwC, also showed it employed over 1 million people (specifically, 1,000,167) which constituted 8.7% of the Australian workforce. It generated just over $4.8 billion in exports, equal to 1.8 per cent of total exports. ACC Chair Prof. Michael Fraser AM noted that since the last study in 2011, copyright industries have moved from the 7th biggest industry in the Australian economy to the 4th biggest.

The copyright industries included in the report covered 31 sectors. These included press & literature, music, theatrical productions, motion picture & video, radio & television, musical instruments, photography, software & databases, visual & graphic arts, electronic game equipment, computers, fashion, toys & games, museums, advertising services and copyright collecting societies. Full report on the ACC website.

Melbourne’s Espy closing for repairs, live music to return

Speculation that the Espy in Melbourne has turned live music off, was hosed down by its owners. On the weekend, staff were told the longest live music venue in Australia will close onSunday May 17. Rumours ranged from no more music ever (Triple M) to bands only featured in the summer months.

But a statement by owners confirmed that “live music [is] being maintained as a central part of the culture and identity of the venue.” The renovations, to last for four months, will see an upgrade of the Gershwin Room including new lighting and sound. There’ll also be new spaces and better views of the bay.

NZ launches music streaming site

All Tracks is a new streaming service launched yesterday in New Zealand, solely dedicated to the country’s music. It was set up by the Government agency NZ On Air which funds content for radio, TV and digital. It streams on various platforms including YouTube, Spotify and Soundcloud.

AllTracks.co.nz will use a number of media and music experts to host the seven categories. DJ Dan Aux oversees dance & electronic. Black Seeds and Fly My Pretties member Barnaby Weir covers reggae & roots. DJ Machoo, Music Director at Flava curates hip hop and R&B.Music journalist Charlotte Ryan covers alt and indie music. Christchurch radio station RDU 98.5FM will select folk and country tracks. Pop singer Jamie McDell handles the pop category. Bryce Casey, The Rock host, handles rock & metal.

Memorial plaque for late Perth drummer Andy Marshall

A memorial plaque for the late Perth drummer Andy Marshall is unveiled this Friday at 10.30am outside the Ocean Beach Hotel in Cottesloe. It will mark the fourth anniversary of his death. The 29-year-old skinsman with Rich Widow was pushed 7m out of a second storey window of the club. Stefan Schmidt, who got angry after he saw him speaking to his sister, is serving a nine year term for manslaughter. The plaque is the idea of Marshall’s parents. Last October, Sgt Matt Donkin who investigated the case, began raising $2,500 for the plaque and to fly the Marshalls over from New Zealand to attend. The target was hit within 48 hours and finally totaled $4110. Sgt Donkin said the plaque would be a symbol of senseless violence, “a place for family and friends to visit. A place to reflect. A place to remember.”

Queensland venue alliance calls for talks on lock-outs

A newly formed alliance of Queensland nightclubs and venues has asked the State Government for a meeting to discuss proposed changes liquor licensing laws. These include a 1am lockout and 3am closing. Nicholas Braban, Secretary of the Our Nightlife Queensland (ONQ) says its members share the concerns of the Government of alcohol-fuelled violence, saying “Safety is our number one priority too.”

ONQ points out that it is important for all to work together to find a solution that will work “without harming the 7,200 licensed venues in Queensland and their employees.” ONQ covers 50 venues in Brisbane (40 of these in Fortitude Valley alone, 20 on the Gold Coast and more in North Queensland).

Jared Porter increases US recognition

In the wake of signing an international co-publishing deal with Dog Whistle Music Australia and Dan Hodge Music Nashville, Australia’s Jared Porter has won the Fender Contender Challenge via a public ballot of 400,000 votes. He earned $5,000 and a slot on Country Summer, Northern California's biggest country music festival June 5-7. Porter was born in California and moved to Australia at15. Since winning the Star Maker contest in 2014 played the CMA World GlobaLive Concert in Nashville and recorded his debut East To West.

Festivals update: cancellations, proposals, committee calls…

* Wild weather and flooding in Queensland caused the last minute cancellation of the Urban Country Music Festival, which was to run over three days on the weekend. Initially organisers hoped to just axe the first day. But by Friday night the decision was made to abandon ship. Flooding damaged the site, and campers who’d already arrived were moved to a safe site.

* CMC Rocks QLD 2016 returns to Willowbank Raceway on Friday 11, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 of March, organisers announced.

* Perth’s Beaufort Street Festival is calling for volunteers to join its newly formed Programming Committee for 2015. It meets every fortnight to discuss its arts, family and community events for the festival in November. More info at beaufortstreetfestival.com.au

* Given crowd excitement at this year’s Bluesfest for younger acts, promoter Peter Noble signaled at least 20 “new” acts who have not toured Australia before would be included on the 2016 bill.

*Adelaide’s West End Association put forward a proposal to Adelaide City Council to stage more festivals and pop up venues in Light Square, especially during the Fringe. It said that during the Fringe, all the action was in the East or city centre. As a result, West End venues prefer to close during that time.

* This year’s Kuranda Roots (Queensland) is scaled back to two days in June, due to other events being held around that time in Cairns.

* Charters Towers Country Music Festival has dropped its gate price this year due to the effect the Queensland drought has on sponsors and patrons.

Entertainment precinct for Townsville?

Venue operators and musicians are talking about pushing for an entertainment precinct for Townsville in Far North Queensland, similar to Fortitude Valley in Brisbane. Its inner city looks like developing into the next battleground between live music venues and complaints by residents. The CBD Townsville Liquor Accord met with musicians, venue owners, liquor licensing officers and council reps on what could be done. Venues such as the Perfume Gardens (which recently had to cancel a blues festival) City Lane, the Herbert Hotel, and The Seaview are all being affected, it said.

Arts Tasmania launches website for cultural tourists

The rise of culturally-engaged tourists to Tasmania saw Arts Tasmania launch the Tasmanian Arts Guide (tasmanianartsguide.com.au) to list the island’s arts and cultural events which number almost 100.

Venues update: closures, relaunches …

* The three Hi Fi Bars will not officially be branded as Max Watt's House of Music until the shows advertised under the old name are staged.

* With six-week renovations over, The Lord Gladstone in Chippendale, Sydney, announced its new program of live music, DJs and art exhibitions. It has a 3am licence Thursdays to Saturdays and highlights the fact to punters it is situated out of Sydney’s lock-out zone.

* Adelaide Fringe venue Little Miss Miami has closed, report operators Stuart Duckworth and Tom Skipper. Its building, on the corner of Grenfell & Frome, was ear-marked two years ago be knocked down for a 13-storey 90-unit apartment building. The $50m development is now marked to start in May 2016, to last for 18 months. But the summer season Crab Shack returns in November in the building for its final run.

* A recent meeting in Cooma, NSW, looked at the possibility of upgrading the Centennial Park band shell where live music and community events are held.

* Sydney’s Goodgod Small Club launched a club within its premises. Friday Lite is curated by DJs Cache One, Baby Face Thrilla and Victoria Kim.

Melbourne hub Wick Studios set to open

After a year’s redevelopment, Melbourne’s music hub Wick Studios is set to open on Sunday May 17. It is changed from an old 13-room rehearsal studio and empty warehouse in Brunswick’s Leslie Street to a state of the art nucleus with two recording studios, two live music areas, a full size photo and video studio, 15 soundproofed rehearsal rooms… and its own bar. Wick is also offering artist development services including in-house photographers and music video directors, marketing and A&R professionals, music industry legal support and graphic design.

Hills lowers full year profit

Australian technology, AV, audio and communications firm Hills lowered its full year profit guidance after its 2015 first-half results in February. It’s dropped from the range of $18.5 million to $19.5 million to between $11 million and $14 million. It said that while sales in March were near internal forecasts, “we now anticipate continued delays in project starts due to lower government spending and project deferrals across to (various) sectors, which have become more pronounced during April." To curtail costs, fees paid to non-executive directors were reduced by 20% from May 1.

Herbs debut album lauded

The Independent Music NZ (IMNZ Classic Record Award for this year went to The Herbs’ debut What Be Happen (1981). Although it peaked at #40 on the NZ charts, the album on Warrior Records was among the first exponent of Pacific reggae with strong political and social themes. With cover artwork of the Bastion Point protests of 1978 and band members’ links to the Polynesian Panthers movement, the songs covered police harassment, anti-apartheid rallies, gang culture and a Bob Marley tribute. They had ten Top 20 hits (its Slice of Heaven from 1986 with Dave Dobbyn was #1 in NZ and Australia. The Eagles’ Joe Walsh loved them so much he joined for a year.

MusoAcademy launches music program

The MusoAcademy in Mackay, Qld, has launched a music program for musicians aged between 13 to 17, living in Mackay, Whitsunday and the Isaac region. It is run by the newly launched Kadence Group, headed by Kristy Gostelow. Running for six days from July 6 to 11 at Studio 53, it covers the essentials as songwriting, performance, branding and copyright but also confidence, lifestyle, networking and earning capacity,

Vale

Dave Brown of Fresh FM in country Victoria’s Bendigo, died at after a short battle with cancer at 59. He began in 2000 co-hosting the Monday night Footy Zone show. Fresh GM Wallace Teasdale said Brown had a natural talent and great voice which transferred the excitement of any event he was calling.

US digital entrepreneur Dave Goldberg, whose continual encouragement of start-ups included investing in Aussie crowd-sourcing 99 Designs, died at 47.

One time music video director Andrew Lesnie (INXS, The Angels, Rose Tattoo, UB40, Mental As Anything) before becoming a globally acclaimed film cinematographer, died at 59 of a heart attack.

And a few other things …

A public memorial is held today from 1.30 pm at Adelaide’s Arkaba Hotel for broadcasting legend David ‘Daisy’ Day, expected to draw up to 1,000 friends, colleagues and listeners. It’s still early days but John Schumann has mooted the possibility of a benefit concert for Day’s family.

In an online chat, Kevin Parker revealed the sum total of royalties he’s received from Tame Impala’s overseas record sales is “zero dollars. Someone high up spent the money before it got to me. I may never get that money.” But headmitted that overseas moolah from his music is being used in ads for Blackberry Z10 and Tequila Silver led to his buying a house with a recording studio. In November 2013 Parker posted on Facebook, “Got offered $100,000 for a song to be on a mobile phone ad. What should i do fans????”

Leaked information on iTunes Japan revealed that Impala’s third album Currents is due in July, with 13 tracks making up 51 minutes worth of music.

Among the highlights of Gurrumul’s debut US tour which winds up this week: he met one of his heroes Vince Gill in Nashville, the New York show was presented by Quincy Jones and sold out, and bookers are so excited by audience response that they want him back soon.

SCA last night launched its new nightly national radio/video show YouTube Hits on 55 stations on Today’s Hits network and on-demand on YouTube. Hosted by Michael Beveridge and Marty Smiley, it features new tracks, the most viewed songs of the day and other YouTube content.

Back in Queensland, to visit his family, Keith Urban headed to the Coolum Surf Club for lunch, the club posted on Facebook.

Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder says he will return to Australia if producers of I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! go ahead with a Best Of series.

If Iggy Azalea is wondering whatever happened to the ARIA statue she won last year for Best Breakthrough Artist, it’s up on a mantle in the Hilltop Hoods’ studio in Adelaide. Apparently the trio got her trophy in the mail along with their winning statues. MC Pressure ‘fessed up to the Newcastle Herald, “No one's asked for it so we're keeping it!”

Country performer Catherine Britt is marrying her businessman boyfriend in October midway through her current tour behind her fifth album Boneshaker.

Wollongong based Graham Wilson, ex-Four Kinsmen played two shows since brain surgery three weeks ago. He continues chemotherapy this week.

Police dropped an assault charge against singer Jon Stevens. He was placed in an apprehended violence order for allegedly attacking his fashion designer fiancée Jodhi Meares at their home in Sydney. The police case fell after Meares refused to testify against Stevens, who had many solo gigs cancelled (he’s taking a break from The Dead Daisies which he co-founded) by venues because of the negative publicity generated by the case.

The Victorian state budget tonight will see the Government commit itself to $80 million to lure major events to the state.

After five years of viewers increasingly going south, Sunday’s Logies did a slight U-turn, delivering a metro viewership of 971,000 over the three-hour broadcast. Luke Arnold took Most Outstanding Actor for his portrayal of Michael Hutchence in INXS: Never Tear Us Apart.

Tasmania’s first vinyl fair in 20 years, the Launny Record Fair was held on the weekend in Launceston and drew a huge crowd through the day.

Weird Al Yankovic confirmed on social media yesterday that his visit to Australia and New Zealand is locked in for end of the year.

Ross Wilson is reassembling the Chemistry lineup of Mondo Rock (Eric McCusker, James Black, Paul Christie, Gil Matthew) for a three-state theatre run in August with Mi-Sex.

To move nearer the beach, Gold Coast nightclub operator Jamie Pickering put his 1.55ha Worongary estate on the market for $5.5 million.

Melbourne band Keggin is appealing for public help in capturing the vandal who stole a backpack belonging to band member Gaz Baker during a gig at the Brunswick Hotel. The pack included effects pedals, cables and mic which were ruined when emptied in the toilets. His image was caught on CCTV.

Dallas Frasca was so excited when her Love Army came into the ARIA chart at #29 that she spent the next 29 minutes ringing 29 ardent fans (one from the US) thanking them for their support. This month she plays across the country.

Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes wrapped up their US tour in New Orleans, during which they got spins in Americana radio, a feature on KNON Dallas, a live set in Memphis and an appearance/ interview on KATV’s Good Morning Arkansas. Back in Australia, the band continues work on an album this week before returning to the U.S. in September and October.

Channel [V] will broadcast live from Las Vegas during the three-hour Billboard Music Awards on Monday May 18 at 10 am AEST. Performing are Iggy Azalea, Fall Out Boy featuring Wiz Khalifa, Kelly Clarkson, Hozier, Nick Jonas, John Legend, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Britney Spears and Meghan Trainor.

Meantime, Foxtel Arts screens live the 69th Tony Awards from Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Monday June 8 from 10 am AEST.