Industrial Strength: December 5

WAMFEST HITS NEAR 40,000 ATTENDANCE, SETS NEW RECORD

The numbers are in from the venues involved in this year’s WAMFest – and music association WAM reveals that attendance has virtually tripled over 2016’s figures to just south of 40,000.

The 173% jump from the previous year to 39,638 was “thanks to the record-breaking number of people raising their hands up high for WA music!” said WAM CEO Mike Harris.

Harris added, “Skinny O’Leary and Mark Neal worked themselves into the ground to deliver their first WAMFest Live.”

JEREMY NEALE WINS GRANT MCLENNAN FELLOWSHIP

Brisbane troubadour Jeremy Neale was announced 2017 recipient of the $25,000 Grant McLennan Fellowship at a ceremony at the Triffid club.

Andrew Tuttle, APRA AMCOS National Team Leader, Writer Services congratulated Neale and fellow finalists Harriette Pilbeam, Sabrina Lawrie and Tom Cooney.

“Jeremy impressed the judges with his progress as a songwriter over the last decade, and through his contribution to contemporary music in Queensland.”

Neale will spend almost three months n the US to develop his songwriting skills and writing his next solo album.

Now in its 11^th year, Neale had the choice of following in McLennan’s footsteps and live in New York, London or Berlin for up to six months for creative inspiration and career development.

ED SHEERAN QUIZZED ON NZ CITIZENSHIP

When Ed Sheeran hot-foots it to New Zealand next year for his tour, one of his primary concerns is to sort out his application for New Zealand citizenship.

The 26-year old singer-songwriter has fallen in love with Wellington (“just so wonderfully beautiful”) and wants to replace it with his hometown of Framlingham, Suffolk as where his castle on the hill will be.

Anyway, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has got into the spirit of the situation and sent him a video, shot in her Parliament office, posing some questions before his application can be moved forward.

She says in the video, ’I understand you’ve put through a very informal request for citizenship.

“Before we’re able to think about that a little bit more I’ve got some very important questions for you.

’The first, do you like pineapple lumps? Do you even know what they are?

“Two, are you willing to wear jandals in semi-inappropriate situations, and also, do you know what jandals are?

“Third, most important question of all. Are you willing to make New Zealand your home? Let me know.”

She forgot to ask if he’d start pronouncing “fish and chips” as “fush and chups”.

MUSIC COPA RAISES $12K, UNIVERSAL WHOMPS SPOTIFY

Last Friday’s music industry charity soccer game Music Copa raised a further $12,000 for people doing good work.

Last year’s runners-up, Universal Music, were this year’s champions, elbowing Spotify aside and giving $7000 to their nominated charity Musicians Making A Difference.

The team’s star player and emerging artist Alex the Astronaut was named Player of the Tournament.

Spotify handed their $3000 cheque to their charity, Support Act Ltd. Over in the new look Division 2, BMG won all 6 games to finish top of the table. They were awarded $2000, which also went in the direction of Support Act.

Musica Copa has now raised a total of $52,000 for charity since 2013.It is organised by UNDR Ctrl’s Paul Stix and Purple Sneakers’ Martin Novosel.

Other teams competing this year were Audiopaxx, Cattleyard, Falcona, FBi Radio, Future Classic, I OH YOU, Inertia, inthemix, Lucky Ent., MTV Australia, Mushroom, Nike All Stars, Of Leisure, Select Music, Sony Music, Sweat It Out x Maker Agency, UNDR ctrl, and WME.

RAE HARVEY CALLS ON MUSIC BIZ FOR WILD 2 FREE

The Living End’s longtime manager Rae Harvey is calling on the music industry for help with her Wild 2 Free animal welfare charity which has a special focus on raising orphaned Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

These kangaroos are decreasing in population with the rise of commercial harvesting. They have a 30% survival rate in the wild and 50% in care.

Harvey and her partner Sayo Prentic, relocated from Melbourne to the Far South Coast, NSW specifically to help in the plight of the Eastern Grey Kangaroo.

Tragically, a fire engulfed the home at their new wildlife sanctuary, just three days later, meaning they’ve been faced with extreme challenges.

But they’ve soldiered on to keep up Wild 2 Free’s work to rescue, rehabilitate and release kangaroos… and other animals in need.

Harvey says, “We’re good at it! We have a 96.4% success rate in returning these fragile joey orphans to the wild, as strong and healthy kangaroos.”

Harvey and Prentic are looking for memorabilia or merchandise (signed or unsigned), you can donate for their online auctions? Email rae@wild2free.org.au if you can contribute.

You can also sponsor a joey or make a donation: it costs $1200 on average to get a joey released. More info at wild2free.org.au.

PHOTOGRAPHER ZO DAMAGE OPENS POP UP SHOP

Recently decorated Melbourne photographer Zo Damage, who recently won an Outstanding Achievement Award, has opened a pop-up shop over the summer.

Save The Sound is located in the city’s Queen Vic Market at

Shop 115 Therry St, opposite the Deli Shed main entrance.

It offers limited edition prints, framed photographs, and mugs from her shots of artists, venues and festivals.

Damage’s ambitious 365 Day Live Music Photography Project and book The Damage Report – where she photographed a band a day for an entre day – got her an Outstanding Achievement Award at this year’s Age Music Victoria Awards.

THE MOST SHAZAMED TRACKS OF 2017

1. Ed Sheeran, ‘Shape of You’

2. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber, ‘Despacito’

3. Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie, ‘Rockabye’

4. Charlie Puth, ‘Attention

5. The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk, ‘I Feel It Coming’

6. J Balvin & Willy William featuring Beyonce, ‘Mi Gente’

7. Kygo & Selena Gomez, ‘’It Ain’t Me’

8. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay, ‘Something Just Like This’

9. Harry Styles, ‘Sign of The Times’

10. Burak Yeter featuring Danelle Sandoval, ‘Tuesday’

NEW AUSTRALIAN SAFETY GUIDE FOR LIVE GIGS

The local live music sector now has its own Australian Entertainment Safety Resource Guide, funded by a number of production and other companies in the sector.

The subscriptionwebsite has 21 chapters covering emergency planning, fire safety, first aid, contractor management, rigging, special effects & pyrotechnics, crowd dynamics, fencing & barriers, lasers and venues & site designs.

The guide explains, “Disasters have happened, but so far nothing involving the catastrophic failure by the crew in Australia or New Zealand.

“The risk is that if a rig falls on to a stage or audience, legislators may impede the industry and audience confidence will fall.”

Each chapter will link to legislation, standards, best practice and techniques and topics will be continually updated by author Roderick van Gelder, who works in the pro-audio industry,

ONLINE PETITION TO STOP SYDNEY SUPER-STADIUMS

An online Change.org petition asking the NSW Government to stop the $2 billion demolishing and rebuilding of ANZ and Allianz stadiums in Sydney and spend the money on schools and better health services had generated 50,000 signatures in the first 24 hours, the Sydney Morning Herald reported yesterday.

BLOW FOR NEWCASTLE MUSIC AS VENUE CLOSED

Newcastle has lost all-ages music venue with the City Council threatening The Commons community hub with legal action if it continued to showcase music.

A series of farewell shows this month, announced by Andrew Brassington’s Boys Don’t Cry booking agency, were also axed. One last Friday was scrapped at the last minute, while two others were shunted over to the Cambridge Hotel.

A new venue is being negotiated for the underage gig. A public meeting is held on December 6 from 6.30 pm at Fellowship House to discuss future plans.

BANDS ON TRACK VROOOMS BACK

Bands on Track is an annual competition in South Australia which gives six emerging bands the chance to play the speedcar Adelaide 500 and open for some major names.

Two will be chosen for each of three days.

The Friday night features Cold Chisel, Kasey Chambers and Bad//Dreems, the latter who coincidentally won the 2014 competition.

Saturday is headlined by +LIVE and Sunday by Robbie Williams.

Entries close on December 15 at www.bandsontrack.com.au, and announced on January 15.

Previous winners included now-familiar names as The Beards, Grenadiers, Horror My Friend, Wanderers and Koral & The Goodbye Horses.

Bands On Track is delivered in partnership with Music SA.

Its General Manager Lisa Bishop said,” Coincidentally it is also Music SA’s 20^th birthday and over the years the Bands On Track initiative has been a special partnership.

“This is a great opportunity for local artists to perform on such a large stage and thanks to the Adelaide 500 this tradition can continue.”

VICE MEDIA SACKS THREE OVER SEXUAL ASSAULTS

In the wake of Warner Music Group axing one of its highest placed Swedish executives for multiple instances of sexual harassment, as reported in TMN yesterday, Vice Media in America has also made similar moves.

It sacked three employees for “verbal and sexual harassment to other behaviour that is inconsistent with our policies, our values, and the way in which we believe colleagues should work together.”

The company used an outside investigator once complaints were made.

Last month, the company set up a female-led advisory committee tasked with advising on ways to improve the company’s culture and address persistent staff complaints.

The company has also suspended Jason Mojica, the head of Vice Media’s documentary films unit.

In further news, acclaimed music conductor James Levine, longtime musical director of New York City’s Metropolitan Opera, was suspended from that post because of sexual misconduct allegations dating more than 30 years to his tenure as Musical Director of Ravinia Festival near Chicago.

WOMADELAIDE DIRECTOR HONOUREDAT RUBYS

Ian Scobie, Director of the WOMADelaide, was presented with the Premier’s Award for Lifetime Achievement at SA’s arts 2017 Ruby Awards in Adelaide last Saturday night.

Scobie’s contribution, especially to South Australia, also included stints leading the Adelaide Festival and Arts Projects Australia which he co-founded.

Feast Festival and Vitalstatistix co-founder, Margie Fischer, took Sustained Contribution by an Individual while the Geoff Crowhurst Memorial Award went to Alysha Herrmann, new Creative Producer – Youth at Carclew and Country Arts SA.

Adelaide Festival won two, for Best Event of 2017 and Best Work for Saul.

This year’s People’s Choice Award broke records with close to 1700 votes and a heated fight for first place right to the very end. But the winner was… Whyalla City Council and Adelaide Fringe’s uneARTh Festival – Whyalla.

AMBULANCE STAFF PROBED AFTER GEORGE MICHAEL 999 CALL

A report showed that Thames Valley Police questioned two Ambulance Service staff after a 999 call on George Michael’s death became public.

The call was made by George’s partner Fadi Fawaz who found him dead when he arrived on Christmas Day at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Police began investigating the leak between May and October after the singer’s family expressed its anger. No one was charged.

CHUGG ON BUILDING AN ACT

Michael Chugg, speaking at the Mumbrella’s Entertainment Marketing Summit, said many of his fellow promoters “frustrate” him because their tour ad campaigns are short-sighted.

He explained, “You sell out a tour quickly because all the fans have gone and bought all the tickets, so stop advertising, so when the act arrives five months later the only people who know they are coming are the people who got the tickets.

“That is just stupid, if you want to build an act and grow an act you need to tell the other 19 million people that they fucked up and missed out on getting a ticket.”

As Mumbrella reported, he also explained how the Elton John regional tour was asuccess because it got local and tourism councils involved.

“We ended up selling 23,000 tickets in Cairns, 16,000 tickets in Mackay and we sold 21,000 tickets in Wollongong in half an hour because of this massive campaign.

“Not only did we turn the whole towns on, we got massive, massive national exposure. It’s about just making it an event and everybody participates.”

COURTNEY BARNETT SEARCHING FOR TITLE

Chatting on Beats 1, Courtney Barnett revealed that her follow up to Sometimes I Sit And Think And Sometimes I Just Sit is “almost ready” and she’s thinking up a title.

“It’s all one sentence thoughts, you know trying to come up with something clever.”

But she was a bit wary of revealing if it was going to be a solo album or would feature her backing band (“I love those guys, they’re the greatest musicians”) and even more so when asked if it was finished.

“It’s well, I mean, maybe I gave too much away but it’s getting close.”

STUDY: MOBILE USERS RESPOND MOST TO VIDEO ADS

InMobi’s 2017 Mobile Marketing Trends revealed that Australian and New Zealand mobile users have most responded to mobile video ads, with consumption up 300% from 2016 to 2017.

In terms of engagement, video ads generate 3,7 times more banner ads, 2.7 times over native ads and two times more than interstitial ads.

ANZ is 5^th largest mobile ad destination in the Asia Pacific, with South Korea at the top of the list.

STORMZY BLITZES MOBO AWARDS

A recent visitor to Australia, Stormzy, scooped the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) awards in London with three wins.

The full list of winners are:

Best Male Act – Stormzy

Best Female Act – Stefflon Don

Best Album – Stormzy – Gang Signs & Prayer

Best Newcomer – Dave

Best Song – J Hus – ‘Did You See’

Best Video (In Association With Link Up Tv) – Mist Hot Property

Best Hip Hop Act – Giggs

Best Grime Act – Stormzy

Best R&B/Soul Act (Supported By Mi-Soul) – Craig David

Best International Act – Wizkid

Best African Act (In Association With The Beat London 103.6fm) – Davido

Best Reggae Act – Damian Marley

Best Jazz Act (Supported By Jazz Fm) – Moses Boyd

Best Gospel Act (Supported By Premier Gospel) – Volney Morgan & New-Ye

OZ COMIC-CON DROPS PERTH, ADELAIDE

When popular pop culture convention Oz Comic-Con returns in 2018, Perth and Adelaide will not be part of the schedule.

It draws thousands of fans of comics, films, TV shows, games, art, pop culture and cosplay.

Organisers regaled via Facebook, “Our Perth and Adelaide fans are some of our most passionate fans in Australia – you are what makes the events so fun.

“However, recently we have felt that the events have not reached the high standards that we aspire to, nor to the expectations that you have.”

However, “The Championships of Cosplay will continue with a presence in Adelaide and Perth as part of the national event and the official Australian leg of the ’Quest for the Crown’ global competition.

“We will have more news on this in January 2018.”

A petition was quickly launched on change.org for the decision to be reversed.

AND A FEW OTHER THINGS …

We hear Guy Sebastian is “between managers” at the moment, with Delta Goodrem’s manager helping out in the interim.

With plans to make Surfers Paradise a family-friendly tourism hub, a number of council, tourism and business people are pushing for its nightclubs to be shifted to Southport.

Which music industry worker made a citizen’s arrest on a man going berserk on a train?

Just why has Fox stopped production on the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody? Official reason: to the “unexpected unavailability” of director Bryan Singer.

Are Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings and Sweden’s Spotify AB in talks to take a 10% stake in each other’s music streaming companies. The deal would come just before both of their IPOs and allow the two to jointly negotiate future licensing deals with major music labels.

You can’t please all the people. Vanfesrt’s camping had turned into bog-day-out and heavy rains were forecast. And some patrons were still posting on social media they were “annoyed” the event got cancelled.

The 90-minute UK special Nation’s Favurite Elton John Song drew 543,000 for Seven Network, ‘Your Song’ was #1, followed by the excruciating ‘Candle In The Wind’, ‘Rocket Man’, ‘I’m Still Standing’ and ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’ from The Lion King.

NZ fans were camping outside Auckland’s Spark Arena 40 hours before Harry Styles’ show there.

Christina Aguilera’s tribute at the American Music Awards to Whitney Houston’s The Bodyguard soundtrack has seen it return to the US soundtracks and R&B charts.

Alex Lahey, in between telling a Denver newspaper that three tacos at meal times are enough to keep her going, also paid a huge compliment to Missy Higgins when asked which artist got her into songwriting in the first place.

Lahey replied, “There’s this one artist in Australia who I believe is basically singled-handedly responsible for this generation of — especially female songwriters in our country — and that is Missy Higgins. She released [The Sound of White], that was just massive and basically encouraged young women to write songs in Australia with a very Australian voice.

“You hear a lot of people my age who are doing the same thing that I’m doing, and we all reflect on that record. It was a pretty seminal Australian songwriting kind of album — not so much like a legacy act; it was current with the times.”

New Zealand based tech entrepreneur Kim Dotcom is getting married for the second time on January 20, his uni student girlfriend Elizabeth Donnelly revealed on Instagram. Dotcom, still fighting against extradition to the United States, moved to Queenstown from Auckland in July.

Wollongong based Jake Sara, whose rap videos are seen on YouTube, will return to the Wollongong Courthouse on December 8 for sentencing. He pleaded guilty last Friday to a charge of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm. TTCV footage showed the 23-year old punching Ryan Gripton outside Pepe’s on the Beach on April 16, knocking him out cold for 10 minutes and causing him to need surgery for a broken jaw. Sara’s defence was that he had earlier in the night got into an argument inside the venue with the victim’s brother, and a melee broke out when Gripton grabbed him by the neck. Sara said he had left the venue with his girlfriend when the men followed him, despite attempts by venue security to separate them. He insists he punched Gripton as a “pre-emptive strike”, according to his lawyer.

In an upcoming episode of the Graham Norton Show, Robbie Williams reveals that he began getting some strange emails from Pink – they didn’t know each other but had mutual friends – asking him about food recipes. “It was only after a while that she finally said: ’Wait, are you, Robbie, the chef?’. I was shocked, but said no – I’m Robbie: the Williams.”

Melbourne label and touring company Mistoletone celebrates its 11^th year with an outdoor concert on Sunday, December 17 at the Malthouse Theatre Courtyard, Performing are New York’s !!! (Chk, Chk, Chk), Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, Tropical F*ck Storm, Spike F*ck and DJs POCOCK and Post Percy.

Knowing what a heavy metal fan Indonesian President Joko Widodo is, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen gifted him a Metallica boxset whose vinyl case he got Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich to autograph.

Two NZ tourists and one from Britain were handed four-week jail sentences in Singapore for using fake passes to get into Ed Sheeran’s shows at the Indoor Stadium last month. They claimed they got the passes (stamped with promoter AEG Presents Asia name) from an unknown person and got seven other ticketless fans inside after they paid S$1,050 each. Another person is being investigated.