Industrial Strength: HMV confirms Australian talks; Closures hit four venues; MEAA comments on Aus Council cuts; Four new festivals for spring; Record entries for CBAA awards

HMV CEO confirms Australian talks

While we reported recently that HMV (His Master's Voice)is looking at a return to the Australian market, the British retailer’s CEO Paul McGowan confirmed talks have begun about bringing the brand to Australia, India and China. He reveals he’s been inundated with requests from businesses looking to take the brand overseas, adding, “We have been approached by so many people.” In another interview, he stated, “It makes sense to look overseas.” So far, the only licensing deal signed is with Qatar’s Al Mana Lifestyle Trading for 15 HMV shops in the Middle East.

300 attend inaugural Gold Coast awards

Blues musician Karl S. Williams summed up the feeling at the inaugural Gold Coast Music awards before 300. After taking out a win, he said, “I’m in incredible disbelief and totally humbled. I’m just excited that the Gold Coast finally has an event like this.” Initially, it was to have been held in Burleigh Brewing Co. outdoor area but rain forced a quick move into its second still-to-be-finished brewery.

The full list of winners were Casey Barnes (people’s choice), Karl S Williams (artist of the year), Hanlon Bros (emerging artist), venue booker and Rabbit Media founder Polly Snowden (local music champion), The Soundlounge (live music venue) and Buskers by the Creek (live music event) while song of the year went to Anarchy by Lane Harry x Ike Campbell.

Report: Guitar the most popular instrument in Australia

The guitar is the most popular instrument in Australia. It represents nearly a quarter of all musical instruments sold here in 2014, with a retail value of over $126 million. This is according to a global report by US-based NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants), which revealed that last year fretted instruments posted their best performance in seven years, up 7%. Acoustic guitars led the charge with a 10% gain, with over 150,000 imported in 2014. A further 73,000 electric guitars and basses were powered by 87,000 amplifiers. A further $12.5 million worth of guitar and bass strings kept the instruments sounding good.

Of other instruments, electronic percussion eroded unit sales of traditional drum kits down 1.1%. Pianos were slightly up (uprights were best performers, up 9.1%, grands dropped 5.1%) and woodwind, brass and wind up 3.1%.

The figures (see report here https://www.namm.org/files/ihdp-viewer/global-report-2015/) were released as the Australian Music Association holds its inaugural Melbourne Guitar Show, on August 8 and 9 at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne. Dedicated to everything guitar, visitors will be greeted by a 9-foot tall replica of a red Fender Stratocaster. It’s the biggest pop-up guitar shop Australia has ever seen: where else can attendees see, try and buy as well as witness over 40 performers?

Closures hit four venues around the country

Sydney’s Empire Hotel, closed for a second for 72 hours last weekend for alleged drug behaviour, has lost two of its clubs: Saturday night’s Spice Club has closed, while Friday night’s Meantime will find a new host venue.

After 40 years, Port Macquarie’s Down Under nightclub is for sale. Owner Rod Bell decided to close after long time licensee Max Gunsberger retired early July.

Launceston’s Shout Lounge shut its doors at its Racecourse Crescent premises.

The Cairns Civic Theatre is temporarily closed for remediation works to the stage area after possible Asbestos Containing Material was identified by inspectors.

MEAA comments on Australia Council​cuts

The release of Australia Council’s revised post-Budget funding cuts grants structure resulted in an angry response from the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, the union and industry advocate for creative professionals. It compared the $12 million for individuals and groups and small arts organisations in 2015-16 with the $46.2 million available in 2013-14.

CEO Paul Murphy commented on “just how bad the cuts to the Australia Council budget are for notions of artistic freedom, diversity and independence. These grants are essential to support the work of individual artists and small organisations that push the envelope.

“But these funding changes risk disrupting a delicate and already stretched sector. They will undoubtedly have negative effects on many thousands of Australians who value the arts.”

He said the MEAA would continue to fight for a funding system that supported all artists and arts organisations, both big and small, and which kept the funding of the arts at an arm’s length from political interference.

Jess Carroll launches Inmocean

Music manager and publicist Jess Carroll has launched her new management and promotions company Inmocean (www.weareinmocean.com). It includes her current management roster including Rat & Co, Hoodlem, Second Hand Heart and Ocdantar. Carroll guided these acts to album releases and tours through Europe and North America, and worked at Falls Festival Lorne for six years. She is contacted at jess@weareinmocean.com.

Four new festivals for spring

Four new festivals have been announced for the spring, three for NSW.

This That is held Saturday October 31at Newcastle’s Foreshore greenspace. It mixes craft beverages curated by local bars, cuisine from local and Sydney caterers and artisan markets with Australian and international acts on two stages – This for leading and emerging names, and the That stage catering for electro-dance acts. Full line-up is announced on Thursday July 30.

The inaugural Murwillumbah Country Roots Fest bows October 2 to 5 with 60 artists over three stages. Kasey Chambers headlines a 100% Aussie bill which includes The Audreys, Sara Storer, Shane Howard, Archie Roach, Busby Marou, Bill Chambers, Henry Wagons and Richard Clapton. The festival is the brainchild of country music singer-songwriter Lou Bradley who’s released four albums over the past ten years. More details: www.mbahcountryrootsfest.com.

HiFi Days is an all-ages outdoor festival landing in Cronulla, Sydney, on Sunday November 22. Promoters have it at Gunnamutta Park, in an amphitheatre with Port Hacking River as the background with acts including UB40, The Bamboos, Phil Jamieson, The Snowdroppers, Caravãna Sun and Fripps & Fripps.

Highlands will debut in late October in the rolling hills of the Victorian countryside of Yea, billed as “three days of sunshine, music and friends.”

New Zealand film associations merge

Film New Zealand and the NZ Film Commission will merge from August 1. Patsy Reddy, Chair of the board of the NZFC explained “The idea is to “[create] a one-stop shop for film makers and screen companies in New Zealand and overseas.”

Film New Zealand staff will move into the NZFC premises, but CEO Gisella Carr and the board will step down.

Music names among B&T Women in Media finalists

Among finalists for B&T Women in Media awards are Nova Entertainment’s Group Marketing Manager Leanne Glamuzina (mentor section), National Publicity Director Jane Elliott (public relations) and National Head of Direct Tamie Williams (sales). Also included were Australian Radio Network Account Director Susie Michaels (sales) and one-time The Brag editor turned Junkee Media Managing Editor Steph Harmon (journalist/producer).

Funding campaign for Jimmy Little Foundation

With the Jimmy Little Foundation losing Federal funding for its health work with the young in remote indigenous communities, a number of initiatives are announced to make up the shortfall. One is a concert at the Sydney Opera House on August 8 with Archie Roach, Kevin Bennett, Street Warriors, Brendan Gallagher and Kahl Wallis as well as Little’s daughter Frances Peters and niece Deborah Cheetham. A five-week crowd-funding campaign is set through Start Some Good and a symposium at the University of Technology, Sydney on September 29.

Music venues shine in Australian Bar Awards noms

Venues supporting live music venues are shining in the Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards. In the Pub of the Year category are The Catfish, Melbourne, Newtown Hotel, Sydney, Coogee Pavilion, Sydney, The Rochester Hotel, Melbourne, The Henson, Sydney, Oxford Tavern, Sydney, The Brisbane Hotel, Perth, Statler & Waldorf, Brisbane, and Marlborough Hotel, Sydney.

Many others including Perth’s Flying Scotsman, Canberra’s Wig & Pen, Darwin’s The Deck Bar, Brisbane’s Story Bridge Hotel, Adelaide’s Wheatsheaf, Hobart’s The New Sydney Hotel and Melbourne’s The Newmarket are in the state awards.

Up for Nightclub of the Year are Laruche, Brisbane, The Emerson, Melbourne, Family, Brisbane, Spice Cellar, ERSKNVL Sydney, Ms Collins, Melbourne, Kit & Kaboodle, Sydney, Eve, Melbourne and Ivy Pacha, Sydney

The winner of the Best Live Music Bar will be chosen from Brooklyn Standard, Brisbane, Cherry Bar Melbourne, Donny’s Bar Sydney, Ellington Jazz Club Perth, Frankie’s Pizza by the Slice Sydney, Howlin Wolf Wollongong, Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall Brisbane and Spring Street Social Sydney

Number crunching

2,500 people made submissions to the senate inquiry into Arts Minister George Brandis’ arts funding cuts.

500 signatures needed by a Change.org petition to get John Farnham to play at the Meredith Music Festival in December.

5 million warnings have been sent out by France’s three strike piracy system.

North Queensland radio station for sale

106.3 The Lounge in Port Douglas in North Queensland is up for sale. Its smooth music format covers instrumentals, new age, laid back electronica and mellow rock. Enquiries to station owner Martin Fineberg at mfinebrg@1063thelounge.com.

Record entries for CBAA awards

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia announced a record number of entries for the 20 categories of its Community Radio Awards. Over 100 judges will review the 250+ entries and announce the finalists on August 28 with the awards in November as part of the CBAA conference.

ArtsNT Grants Round 2

Applications opened for the NT Arts Grants Program – Regional Arts Fund Community Grants. Providing up to $20,000 for projects in the Creative Communities category (which increase community access, economic impact and new partnerships) and the Activating Artists category (that increase the skills of artists and artist workers). Full details at www.artsandmuseums.nt.gov.au/arts. Deadline is August 17.

Venues update: new hours, owner changes, new arrivals

* Scarborough, WA’s biggest venue, Matisse Beach Club, has been allowed to increase its capacity from 750 to 1000. But it wasn’t as successful with its application to extend trading hours on Wednesdays to Saturdays from midnight to 2 am, and on Sundays to midnight. The weekdays hours are only until 1am. The new times are only for two years, rather than the usual five-year period, so police and licensee Sean Reid to monitor the impact of the new hours.

The club got some unpleasant publicity when Mark Ronson slammed it for falsely advertising he would play its Winter Funk Festival last Saturday night when the DJ was on the other side of the country for Splendour. The venue has apologised and is investigating why the night’s promoter made the claim.

* The Imperial in Melbourne, best known for comedy events, has been bought by venue operators and caterers The O’Brien Group for $11.45 million.

* The Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre (DRTCC) reported 370,000 attendees since it opened five years ago this month. It hosted 483 shows, 103 of those were sell-outs.

* Sydney’s new EDM showcase space, Middlebar in Darlinghurst, on the old Lo-Fi site, operates Wednesdays to Sunday to 3am. Venue Manager David Rozariowill showcase local DJ residencies and sideshows by international names.

* Melbourne’s Toff In Town has begun a regular Songwriters' Club every Wednesday where major names will do career-spanning sets. It is the initiative of Dave Stevens who ran Pure Pop Records as a store and venue until last year.

* Sunshine Coast promoter Beats Cartel and the Wharf Tavern launched a new Friday Live At The Helm series to feature original bands.

* Jay Rayner and David Chestwig of Melbourne venue Shadow Electric will through August relocate its music/video collaboration series Visions to Estonian House to reinvigorate that West Brunswick space.

Vale

Doug Rowe was founder and guitarist with one of Sydney’s first alt-country rock bands The Flying Circus. Formed in 1968, its early hits as Hayride, La La and Run Run Run gave them a pop image. They tried to escape it by relocating to North America but found minimal success. Rowe ran a studio in Toronto, before returning to Australia where he joined Grand Junction.

Reg James, the “face” of radio syndication and production firm Grace Gibson Productions wrote about his time there (Yes Miss Gibson) and was set to publish his memoirs. He started there in 1946 as office boy, and spent his entire working years there, rising to Sales Manager and finally to General Manager. He was 86.

Caroline Mary Fitzmaurice Grafton co-founded pro-audio magazine CX and the ENTECH trade fair. She and then-husband Julius Grafton ran sound and lighting companies in NSW including Graftons Sound and Lighting in 1984 and then Australian Monitor. She died yesterday at 59 from brain cancer.

And a few other things …

Kanye’s coming! Kanye’s coming! Fresh from playing to major festivals to tens of thousands, will Kanye West’s next appearance be at the tiny Tatura Hotel in NSW? The joint’s been crowd-funding like crazy for renovations, selling off naming rights to its chairs, pool table, toilet and poker machine. Now it’s started a “Carn Kanye!” campaign to get the great man to be at its launch party.

At the Dublin stop of Nova’s Red Room Global Tour, Ed Sheeran’s expected 40 minute set extended to just shy of 90 minutes. The next stop, in London, was with Craig David playing another intimate venue. During both stops, the Nova names of the 50-strong entourage of competition winners and media hung out with former Nova Content Director Mike Cass who now works for Bauer in the UK.

Not sure what Queensland Attorney General Yvette D’Ath will make of this. But Surfers Paradise Safe Night Out president Michael Fusco plans to invite her to an all expense night to the Surfers entertainment precinct to see how thriving it is, before she brings in new laws to introduce a 3am lockout and shorter trading hours. The AG’s night would include accommodation, stretch Humvee travel, lavish dinner and private VIP nightclub booth service.

A new book sees rock band Youth Group singer Toby Martin trace the rise of Australian country music as a medium before the arrival of rock and roll in this country. Yodelling Boundary Riders: Country Music In Australia Since The 1920s got its title from Tex Morton who arrived from New Zealand in 1934.

New homes for radio: Mackay community radio station My105FM will move into new premises in Wood Street. The former Retravision building was bought by Mackay Regional Council last year. Part of it is leased for five years at $3,000 a month to Mackay and District and Islander Media Association Limited, which operates the station.

Forever Classic 2XL, Snow FM and KIX Country Snowy Mountains have a new broadcasting hub in Cooma on Sharp St.

Gympie Music Muster has a new mascot, a zebra called Zambezi, which it got after joining the Australia Zoo's Adopt-an-Animal program. In return, the zoo erected a giant billboard for the festival at Brisbane Airport as part of Festival Director Jeff Chandler’s out-of-the-box approach to marketing the Muster.

Brisbane’s BigSound is strengthening its team for 2016, and looking to add a programmer. Details from joel@qmusic.com.au, deadline is August 7.

One of Guvera’s main share holders, identity not revealed but said to have a 10% share, is planning to sell half his stake, offloading 5 million shares at a time.

Forty years after starting his degree in English and drama at the University of Queensland (where he met Grant McLennan and formed the Go-Betweens) Robert Forster returned there to receive an honorary doctorate.

After eight months of fund raising, Rockhampton seven piece funk/soul outfit Natural Culture head off for their first European tour – and been just advised they’ll be playing to 10,000 at the August Blues festival in Estonia.

Fremantle’s Josh Johnstone is returning for his fifth European trek. He just recorded an album with Eskimo Joe’s Joel Quartermain.

5 Seconds of Summer took out the Best Fandom category in the second Alternative Press Music Awards in the US.