Industrial Strength: January 9

MORE REASONS WHY AUSTRALIA NEEDS PILL TESTING AT FESTIVALS

While various state governments hum and haw about introducing and funding pill testing at Australian music festivals, our cousins across the pond have shown why it is desperately needed.

New Zealand’s Stuff site reported that drug testing at NZ summer festivals by the Know Your Stuff group found some MDMA pills had two-times their normal dose – higher than ever before, its director Wendy Allison said.

Many of the drugs are said to have come from Amsterdam.

MALCOLM YOUNG TRIBUTE TO RAISE MONEY FOR DEMENTIA FOUNDATION

A number of musicians are getting together next month in Melbourne to pay tribute to the late Malcolm Young, and raise funds for the Dementia Foundation.

Gathering at the Corner Hotel on Saturday February 17 to rip through AC/DC classics are tribute band Whole Lotta Rosie with Jackie Barnes (Jimmy Barnes Band), Pete Wano and Nat Allison (Suzi Quattro Band), Lachy Doley (Powderfinger) and Paul Christie (Mondo Rock).

The date coincides with the 43rd anniversary of the release of the first Akka-Dakka album High Voltage.

GUNS N’ROSES NOW 4thBIGGEST TOUR OF ALL TIME

Guns N’ Roses’ Not In This Lifetime… Tour has now become the fourth biggest tour of all time, after grossing $475 million. It played 123 shows, including in Australia, to an audience of over 4.3 million.

The figures do not include the festivals that the band played during the tour, and the figure is expected to climb, given that the band’s global trek hasn’t finished yet – they return to Europe in June.

The three all-time highest grossing tours of all time are:

U2’s 360° (2009-2011) which grossed $736 million.

The Rolling Stones’ A Bigger Bang (2005-2007) at $558 million.

Coldplay is A Head Full of Dreams (2016-2017) grossed $523 million.

Guns N’Roses replaced Roger Waters at fourth spot: The Wall Live (2010-13) generated $459 million.

WA TICKET PRICES UP AS COPS TO BE PAID FOR EVENTS

West Australian music fans will have to pay a bit more for their tickets as the WA Government is introducing a new law whereby uniformed police officers will be paid for providing security at major concerts, and entertainment and sports events.

This will put the state in line with NSW, Victoria and Queensland, where the force charges $120 an hour for each officer.

It is expected that promoters will pass the extra costs to consumers, but are not expected to be more than 50 cents a ticket.

Police Minister Michelle Roberts said these events would get top protection, especiallygiven the current public safety climate.

RIGHTSIFY AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA

Australia is one of the countries where California-based Rightsify has opened for business as part of a global roll-out of its licensing agent reseller program.

It enables businesses and individuals to grow their revenue by offering curated music playlists and music licensing to businesses.

Add-on services are also available music licensing without having to pay any third-party licensing organisations, custom playlists offering each business their own sound, voiceovers via hold messages and in-store announcements and branded mobile apps.

L.A. REID SET TO MAKE COMEBACK

Eight months after being shown the door at Epic Records over sexual harassment claims, Antonio ‘L.A’ Reid is about to make a comeback.

He’s raised US$75 million from private equity sources for a new label, set up offices in Hollywood and started to hire.

Reid discovered and launched the careers of Pink, Usher, DJ Khaled, Future, Fifth Harmony, TLC, Toni Braxton and OutKast so it’d be interesting to see who he launches next.

JESS RIBEIRO LAUNCHES POZIBLE CAMPAIGN FOR SXSW

Tarot readings, a house concert, a spot in a songwriting workshop, postcards from Texas – these are just some of the items on offer from Jess Ribeiro who’s just launched a $10,000 Pozible campaign to get her and her band to SxSW.

She’s dropping her third album later this year, so SXSW and additional appearances at Canadian Music Week (May 7-13) are essential to start getting some global deals in place.

The actual cost is upward of $50,000, and the campaign ends in 28 days. Find out more on her Pozible page.

TWO-WEEKEND FAREWELL FOR DING DONG LOUNGE

Melbourne’s Ding Dong Lounge is holding its farewell over two weekends.

This week there’s the game and trivia night Bingo Starr with writer Dan Watt and sets by The Grogans, Foolish Boys and Bleach on Friday January 12, and the next night The Mamas and DJ Dave Shaw.

The final send-off is on Saturday January 20 are Bareback Titty Squad with their trademark live mashups.

FALLS FREMANTLE DELAYS

Delays getting into the first day of last weekend’s Falls Downtown in Fremantle led some disgruntled patrons from taking to social media demanding their money back.

They said that what they called “poor planning” meant that they missed out on seeing some early acts as Jungle Giants and Methyl Ethel.

Falls conceded there were delays, and moved staff to take care of the bottleneck at the gates.

DJ CHRIS BRADLEY, ACCUSED KILLER KNEW EACH OTHER

DJ Chris Bradley and the man accused of causing his death, martial arts fighter Javen O’Neill, knew each other, the NSW Supreme Court was told.

O’Neill and Bradley were at a Christmas party in Byron Bay when an altercation blew up, and the DJ was allegedly punched three times.

O’Neill, said by the judge to have a “short fuse” and prone to drug and alcohol binges, was arrested on the tarmac of Ballina Airport before a flight to Sydney.

His lawyer tried to suggest that the witnesses at the party were unreliable because of the drugspresent there.

But the judge responded, “There is no doubt the man was punched in the head. He didn’t just drop to the ground from cocaine.”

DCA, PERTH FESTIVAL LOSE FUNDING

The West Australian Government has been swinging the axe with its funding.

Among the casualties losing some money were the Department of Culture and the Arts ($218,000 over three years) and Perth Festival (formerly Perth International Arts Festival), who will be down $318,000 in funding over the next three years.

LORDE ‘ISRAEL’ CONTROVERSY CONTINUES

Lorde’s decision on Christmas Day not to play Israel in June in Tel Aviv’s 15,000-seat Convention Centre continues to kick up dust.

Following a full-page advertisement in the Washington Post calling her “a bigot” and NZ’s Israeli ambassador wanting to talk to her, 100 artists signed a letter of support published on the weekend in The Guardian newspaper.

Among those who signed it were Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno and Roger Waters, actors Mark Ruffalo and John Cusack and film director Ken Loach.

“We deplore the bullying tactics being used to defend injustice against Palestinians and to suppress an artist’s freedom of conscience. We support Lorde’s right to take a stand.”

Lorde made her decision after criticism from the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement.

MELBOURNE MUSIC DOCO ON THE WAY

Now Sound is a documentary due in March looking at the current Melbourne music scene, and why it is globally recognised as one of the great music capitals of the world.

Directed by Tobias Willis and produced by Marcus Rimondini, it takes in the scene with both footage and interviews.

The filmmakers point outNow Sound isn’t just a total love letter to Melbourne – the film explores relevant topics within the music industry and the importance and power of grass roots ideas filtering up into the wider industry. “

A key theme not addressed properly before has been how one-off events such as 2010’s SLAM (Save Live Australian Music) rally, and regular events as the Reclink Community Cup and Grizzfest have brought the music community together and created an impact on the scene.

It also looks at the role of niche festivals, labels and community radio, as well as another important topic – how the state’s taking the lead in improving gender equality and safe spaces has already started to see more LGQBTIA acts emerge.

A campaign is currently running to raise $10,000 to finish off the documentary. Find out more at the film’s Pozible page.

TASMANIA GETS SUMMER RETREAT FOR MUSICIANS

Music Tasmania is presenting a three-day coastal summer retreat for musicians before Party in the Paddock begins on February 8.

The team-up with Vibestown will see five musicians join singer songwriter Ali Barter and Holy Holy musician and producer Oscar Dawsonbetween February 6 and 8 for workshops on songwriting, production and a performance at Bay of Fires Bush Retreats.

Deadline to apply is January 18 at musictasmania.org.

This project was made possible by the Federal Government’s Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia.

Music Tasmania’s CEO Laura Harper recently made a call to the Tasmanian Government to change the Gaming Control Act.

She wants to facilitate some profits from poker machines going to the contemporary live music sector to build up its professional skills.

CONCHORDS FLYING BACK

In between tour dates, New Zealand’s Flight of the Conchords are planning to make a return to TV with a one-off hour -ong special later in the year.

Rumours are that it will be based around their current live show.

It’s been nine years since Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie’s first series, which was also screened in Australia, the US and the UK.

VEVO TO “BREAK EVEN” IN 2018

Vevoappears confident at “breaking even” in 2018 after revenue grew 30% to $650 million last year, up from $500 million in 2016.

Throughout 2017, Vevo was racking up 25 billion views each month.

The company reckons that its revenue rise was helped by the YouTube controversy, where brands as AT&T, Verizon, PepsiCo and Walmart pulled their advertising after theirdigital displays were placed next to videos with graphic content.

Late last year, Vevo CEO Erik Huggers announced he would be stepping down from his role, with CFO Alan Price taking over in the interim.

MORE EVENTS FOR TASMANIA’S NORTH?

With Hobart’s events calendar already full, the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania is pushing for the state government to set up a fund – of between $500,000 and $1 million a year – that would draw major entertainment and sporting events to the north and north-west parts of the state.

Both the Labor and Liberal parties like the idea – which is good news as Tasmania heads for state elections this year.

MOVIE SET AROUND BATACLAN SHOOTINGS DUMPED?

A made-for-television movie about the love affair between a French woman and an Afghan immigrant – who meet helping the victims of the terror attacks at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris – may have been dumped.

Ce soir-la (That Night) was commissioned by French state television broadcaster French 2, which centres aroundan Eagles of Death Metal concert in November 2015 where 89 people were killed following a terrorist attack.

Among the victims was the partner of Claire Pelter, who recently launched an online petition which drew 30,000 signatures to support her call to drop the movie.

“This project injures us, hurts us, shocks us,” she wrote. “We are scandalised that such a film could see the light of day so soon after such a violent event.”

French 2 said the film was still in editing stage and did not have a broadcast date.

It said it would delay the screening until the broadcaster gets more feedback from victims organisations – all, or most, of whom who are expected to share Pelter’s outrage.

BLACK ARM BAND CALLS IT QUITS

The award winning globally acclaimed Black Arm Band collective has called it quits after eleven years due to funding cutbacks.

It started as a small project as part of Art House but developed into a major initiative which saw it touring international festivals, pushing for reconciliation strategies, working in remote indigenous communities to find and develop new talent, and producing works such as Hidden Republic and dirtsong.

It’s rotating line-up included Archie Roach, Lou Bennett, Kutcha Edwards, Emma Donovan and Dan Sultan.

Despite noble aims, there were reportedly too many behind-the-scene leadership changes and financial blows for it to continue.

FOXTEL MUSIC: FROM HUMAN NATURE TO NICK CAVE

Foxtel Arts & Smooth’s highlights for February include the Australian Premiere of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: One More Time With Feeling (Thursday 8 at 9:30pm) and Love Songs with Human Nature, on Wednesday 14 at midday.

The first of the eight-part Soundbreaking series, tracing the history of the music industry and explores the impact of music on our lives and memories, airs on Thursday 15 at 7:30pm.

NEW OWNER FOR MUMBRELLA, TEAM REMAINS

Australian media and marketing site Mumbrella has been bought by a little-known family-owned American company called Diversified Communications.

Co-founder and Content Director Tim Burrowes emphasises that the same team, including co-founder and CEO Martin Lane, will remain in place, and that the sale means the title will grow faster

An international editor will be hired, either in NY or London, while work will also start setting up the second Mumbrella360 conference in Singapore.

STUDY: 60% VIDEO PLAYS ON MOBILE BY MID-YEAR

Video technology company Ooyala predicts 60% of video plays around the world will be on mobile devices.

It noted that the figure was 58% in the third quarter of 2017, fuelled by a sharp growth in watching long form videos.

Smartphones are the most popular of mobile devices (46% of users) especially with the 18-49 demographic.

VALE

* Antony Van Der Meer went by the stage name of “Trance” when he was working at Adelaide dance radio station Fresh FM for almost six years. He then went on to be retail manager at Keswick software services firm Hilti Australia.

While hiking in thein the picturesque Kings Canyon region in the Northern Territory on New Year’s Day, he was struck by lightning. He was 35.

* Helen Kellie joined SBS as Director of Marketing from the BBC in late 2012, before being promoted to Chief Content Officer 18 months later. The broadcaster’s Managing Director Michael Ebeid said she undertook the task “with unrivalled passion and energy.”

Among her major projects was the Eurovision Song Contest, one of the ratings high for SBS. Helen Kellie passed away after a battle with cancer.

* Jesse Cox was an award winning Sydney-based radio producer who started at community radio FBi (among his achievements was its national distributed documentary and storytelling program All the Best which he created and executive produced) before he went to ABC Radio National for four years. There he created its Trace podcast, for which he won an Innovation Walkley last year, along with Rachael Brown and Jeremy Story Carter.

Last September he took over as Head of Content at Amazon audio entertainment company Audible APAC. It’s head, Matthew Gain, called him “one of the finest audio producers in this country” and added, “Jesse was an incredibly talented, inspiring and innovative member of the Audible team who, within only a short space of time, made an incredible impact both on his colleagues and in his work.

Jesse Cox died of a rare soft tissue that suddenly spread to his brain. He was 31.

AND A FEW OTHER THINGS…

Another Australian act has topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. This time it’s producer Tom Budin who teamed up with English singer Luciana on the track ‘X With U’. However Budin who exclaimed “Absolutely unbelievable!” when he heard the news had a problem. He’s off alcohol for the moment, and was wondering if he should still have a glass of bubble to celebrate.

After five years in the Thundamentals ranks, rapper PON CHO has left to focus more time on his investments in cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin. Thundamentals said he was always welcome back if he wanted to do any collaborations on their music.

Going viral was a punter-filmed video of Ricki Lee, Kate Cebrano and soccer star Tim Cahill ding an impromptu Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ at Koi Lounge Bar on the Gold Coast.

32-year old Scott Wyatt who last year handed himself to authorities after setting off fireworks in the toilets of two Canberra nightclubs, has been sentenced in the ACT Supreme Court to two years and six months jail and eligible for parole in June. Last year he was sentenced to a rehab facility but that did not work out as he attacked another inmate and tested positive for cannabis when he returned.

Musician Woonun Edwin Willoughby, 26, was found not guilty of murder for an incident in 2015 because he was considered mentally incompetent. But the son of well known drummer Bart Willoughby faces a lifetime of mental health supervision.

The Adelaide Advertiser reported that Southern Cross Austereo is suing Adelaide luxury car dealer Krause Motors for alleged non-payment of $33,300 in radio and TV advertising fees. However the trader’s lawyers claim the sum was not paid because SCA had breached consumer law by engaging in “misleading and deceptive conduct” by “grossly overstating the impact and anticipated return on investment” in regards to radio advertising.

Musica Viva CEO Mary Jo Capps was given a honorary Doctor of Visual and Performing Arts degree by the University of Melbourne for her contribution to music and the University. She served 10 years, including as Chair, of the Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (VCA & MCM) advisory board.

New Zealand jazz saxophonist, producer and composer and DJ Nathan Haines, 45, has had major surgery to remove part of his voicebox after a throat cancer diagnosis.

Jazz performer James Flynn is leaving Perth to set himself up in Singapore to head his new company BRMB Entertainment where he will write and produce productions for stage and television. The Ellington Jazz Club is showcasing a farewell gig on Friday January 12.

Adelaide DJ Chris C aka Christos Cafcakis was one of eight men charged over Australia’s biggest methamphetamine bust in Geraldton (worth $1 billion) earlier this month. Another accused ran a number of licensed venues in Adelaide.

20-year old Sydney DJ/producer and classically trained multi-instrumentalist Jordie Ireland, who is signed to Universal Music, is approaching 1 million worldwide streams of his new single ‘Take Cover’. It is also the second most added track on Australian radio.

Sydney band Strangers are calling it quits after eight years and two albums, and will play farewell shows in Sydney and Melbourne in the late summer. Singer Ben Britton explained, “As much I will miss singing my little ol’ heart out I want to explore other avenues and experience life on the other side of being in a band.”