Industrial Strength: July 31, 2013
X Factor off to strong start
Seven Network’s X Factor was the night’s winner when it returned on Monday to its highest ever debut figures. It drew a metro audience of 1.633 million, according to preliminary overnight ratings from ozTAM, The show’s return last year had drawn 1.59 million. Nine’s Big Brother, which was also returning on the night, rated 1.309 million. X Factor was top rating in the 25-54 demographic, but Big Brotherresounded with the 16-39 and 18-49 groups.
More money for South Australia’s live scene
The South Australian parliament passed an amendment to the Gaming Act that offers a CPI increase of $350,000 to the $500,000 Community Development Fund, bringing it up to $850,000. The CDF goes towards Live Music initiatives as touring grants, artist grants and projects. Prior to the vote on 24 July the Fund had not had an increase in 10 years. The $500,000 fund was set up when poker machines were introduced into the state, and now represents less than .5% of the total arts funding budget. The July amendment was put forward by the Greens. Both MusicSA and SLAM SA (Save Live Australian Music) were encouraged by bipartisan support by the Government and the Opposition.
Venues #1: more shows for Hanging Rock
Michael Gudinski’s vision to turn the Hanging Rock site in Victoria into a picturesque place to hold outdoor concerts, just got sharper.Over three years, his Frontier Touring staged Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart and Leonard Cohen there. Buoyed by an economic impact study that Springsteen’s two shows injected $9.7 million and Stewart’s about $2.3 million, the Macedon Ranges Shire Council is extending concerts there by another five years.
Venues #2: from the ashes of Pony comes Boney
Boney is Melbourne’s latest live music and DJs, set up on the site of the old Pony at 68 Little Collins St. It is operated by the team behind Cookie, The Toff In Town and Revolver Upstairs, featuring live music seven nights a week and kitchen designed by chef Karen Batson. It opens on August 6, contacts for band bookings are[email protected] and [email protected].
Venues #3: Sydney gets Gay Bar
Opening next week in the Taylor Square end of Sydney’s Oxford Street is Gay Bar – “a high camp wonderland that is part French palace, part dance floor, and part bar and restaurant”. To feature Sydney’s DJs and entertainers, it is run by Stephen Craddock and Nelson De Sousa, directors of production company In The Dark.
Venues #4: Wollongong’s Yours & Owls sold
After three years, Wollongong music venue and performance space Yours & Owls is sold to a new unknown owner who will not continue the name. The Kembla Street venue showcased local and touring acts, art exhibitions, slam poetry and open mic nights. It was on the market for $40,000. Owners Ben Tillman and Balunn Jones are moving to other ventures. A final music show is on August 30, held at the venue and the Town Hall across the street.
Venues #5: Adelaide’s The Gov wins more awards
The Governor Hindmarsh in Adelaide took out Best Entertainment Venue yet again at the Australian Hotels Association SA Awards for Excellence. But North Adelaide’s Lion Hotel, which features live entertainment in its front bar, took out five wins including best bar service, restaurant and outdoor facility.
NSW comes down hard on scalpers
The NSW Government is working on new laws that crack down on ticket scalpers, sports minister Graham Annesley told the Daily Telegraph. This comes as Swiss-based online ticket exchange viagogo entered the Australian market. The new laws gives promoters and sports organisations the power to stop entry to people who’ve bought scalped tickets. They can cap the prices of onsell tickets or ban the practice. Ticket sellers using websites such as eBay and viagogo will have to post a photograph of the ticket, clearly showing the seat number, enabling promoters to trace scalped tickets.
Ian Kenny makes chart history
With Karnivool’s third album Asymmetry debuting at #1 on the ARIA chart, singer Ian Kenny made chart history this week. His other bandBirds of Tokyo’s album March Fires debuted at #1 in March this year. ARIA revealed he was “the first singer to have two #1 albums in the same calendar year with two different bands.” Prior to this, Jimmy Barnes (1984), Eminem (2004) and Roy Orbison (1989) had two #1 albums in the same calendar year with solo releases as well as releases as members of groups (Cold Chisel, D12, Traveling Wilburys). 2013 is shaping up to be the best year for No.1 albums by Australian acts this decade: the ‘Vool are the eighth local act to hit the top.
Salsa Festival to end
This year’s Adelaide Salsa Festival, on August 23, 24 and 25, is staged for the fifth time, and also the last time, organisers said.
Toot Toot Toots change name to Twin Beasts
Melbourne’s Toot Toot Toots changed their name to Twin Beasts. They explain “After we completed the new album we were discussing future release and tour plans. We found out that the word ’Toot’ was being lost in translation. In a number of counties the word was widely being interpreted as ’fart’. It was actually the first thing people thought of when they heard the word ’toot’.” Toot, incicdentally, is also slang for the blast hole on the side of a bong or pipe, or snorting powdery illegal drugs, or bouncing your ass up and down during sex. Twin Beasts recorded their next album with producer Burke Reid.
Channel [V]’s The Riff wins two
Of the 22 categories at the 11th annual ASTRA Awards in Sydney, two were won by Channel [V]’s show The Riff. It took Most Outstanding Light Entertainment Program while its host Marty Smiley won Best New Talent.
MC Skank wins NT song of the year people’s choice…
Skank MC’s Northern TerrorStory, which won the Hip Hop category of the Northern Territory Song of the Year recently, has also been voted 2013 NT Song of the Year People’s Choice. The six minute tale is about the personal and social challenges faced by a boy in Government care.
…while Mavis’s Cry voted best Ballarat song
A poll by the Ballarat Courier to find the best song to come out of the Victorian regional city of Ballarat was topped by Cry by The Mavis’s, followed by The Dead Salesmen’s Wendouree. Both bands had three entries each in the Top 20, also represented were Epicure, Hunting Grounds, Brown Dog and The Fat Thing.
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Nova architect Dean Buchanan returns to NZ …
One time dmg Group PD and architect of the Nova network, Dean Buchanan, is returning to New Zealand after 15 years in Sydney. He will take up his new post in Auckland in the newly created role of chief content officer responsible for Audience at TRN (The Radio Network). Before and after his radio days, Buchanan ran media personality branding talent management company Plus 1 with publicist Karen Eck, founded Greenfern Entertainment (TRN was one of his clients) and co-owned TV Touring in partnership with Michael Chugg.
…while Keith Fowler lands in Hawaii
Australian radio executive Keith Fowler began as manager of The Beach radio station in Hawaii. With an island rock and reggae format aimed at over-40s, it is the second station in Hawaii owned by Australia’s Resonate Broadcasting run by radio execs Guy Dobsonand Rex Morris. Fowler worked in Australia and Asia, most recently as GM of radio operations for MY FM in China. Resonate is eying more acquisitions in Hawaii and Australia, and considered a move into the Bali market.
Warner Music makes changes in UK
Warner Music UK expanded Parlophone head Miles Leonard’s role to co-chairman alongside Christian Tattersfield who is also CEO of Warner Music UK. In other changes, Warner Bros Records UK vice chairman Jeremy Marsh is set to become EVP, International Marketing, replacing Mike Allen who retired earlier this year. Max Lousada continues as chairman of Atlantic Records UK. Dan Chalmers continues to run Rhino, ADA & Warner Music Artist and Label Services in the UK.
Mark Emerson heads new website movietimes.com.au
Mark Emerson is the GM of new cinema website movietimes.com.au, which launched this week. It is the joint venture of major cinema exhibitors as a one-stop for audiences. “MovieTimes provides film enthusiasts from across the country with a new, more effective and simple way to find, compare and choose session times and locations,” he says. “MovieTimes presently lists movie, cinema and session times information for all Event, Hoyts, Greater Union and Village cinemas as well as a number of smaller locally branded cinemas.” The site currently covers 120 cinemas and close to 1000 screens across the country, with more expected to post their information over the next two months. Some cinema sites experience up to 50% of their sales online, with about 40% of cinemagoers visiting more than one cinema website each month. The MovieTimes App will be launched in the coming months.
SCA appoints UK digital content exec
Southern Cross Austereo has appointed Chris Johnson as digital content and product director, effective September. He will oversee a national team of SCA digital content staff based in Melbourne. Johnson began as a web developer for the BBC in the UK and at Radio 1 was responsible for creating digital products and content across desktop and mobile platforms to improve the real-time relationship between the station’s DJs and its listeners. In his new role, Johnson reports to director of digital and innovations Clive Dickens, a fellow Brit who was Absolute Radio COO.
Lucy O’Brien promoted to entertainment editor
Lucy O’Brien has been promoted to entertainment editor at Ziff Davis Australia, which publishes gaming site IGN and lifestyle mag AskMen.
Jocelin Abbey departs dmg Radio
After seven and a half years at dmg Radio, Jocelin Abbey has left to join the Sir David Martin Foundation, which works to help youth in crisis through a number of Mission Australia programs.
MusicSA brings in names for website
South Australia’s peak music association’s MusicSA marks the tenth anniversary of the launch of its www.musicsa.com.au by announcing an expansion of staff. Current website editor Dr. Elizabeth Reid is bringing in Luke Penman, who runs the play / pause / play blog to revamp the Gig Guide and SA Band Buzz sections. Also arriving as interns are Christian Oliver, Jordan Tito, James Hickey and Shaun Holton to spruce up the Artist, Venue and Business directories. There’ll be more reviews of SA releases, along with the introduction of ’hot pick’ playlists, new artist/industry resources and new columns. “A new look is earmarked for 2014”, Reid says.
Declan Kelly joins CBF committee
Declan Kelly, digital content developer at Melbourne youth station SYN, has been appointed by the Community Broadcasting Foundation to its Digital Radio Grants Advisory Committee (DRGAC). The DRGAC makes recommendations to the CBF Board in relation to Digital Radio grants and provides advice to the CBF Board on Digital Radio grant funding policy.
Ipswich City Council appoints performing arts manager
Ipswich City Council in Queensland appointed Suzannah Conway as performing arts manager. Her focus is to create more arts-related opportunities to people aged 15 to 24, and for them to use performing-arts spaces as Studio 188 and community centres to stage musicals, concerts and theatre productions. Conway ran the Conservatorium of Music in South Bank and was the GM at Opera Queensland for seven years.
New chair for ASTRA
The Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA,) the peak body that represents the local subscription television industry, has appointed Tony Shepard to replace outgoing chair Steve Bracks in November. A well known supporter of arts and sports organisations, Shepard is president of the Business Council of Australia and chairman of Transfield Services and the Greater Western Sydney Giants,
NEW SIGNINGS AND TEAM-UPS
Sony Music Australia signs sports champ Beau Ryan …
Sony Music Entertainment Australia has signed National Rugby League champ and Nine Network’s Footy Show regular Beau Ryan. Under the deal, the label and Ryan will collaborate to create recordings, DVDs and merchandise. Denis Handlin AM, chairman & CEO Australia & New Zealand and president, Asia, Sony Music Entertainment, said “It’s great to have Beau join the Sony Music family.He is a highly talented sportsman, comedian and performer, who has delighted Footy Show fans with his brilliant segments, cheekiness and charm. We look forwarding to working with Beau and creating special tracks and DVD material for his fans.”
Ryan added, “I am extremely happy to be collaborating with Sony Music and to work with Denis and his team. I can’t wait to see what the future holds with this chapter and I know we will be having plenty of fun creating the recordings and material together. I even called DJ Yallah last night, who is living it up overseas at the moment, and he is totally excited as well.”
…and appoints Initiative and Mediabrands as media agency
After six years with Ikon, Sony Music Entertainment Australia has shifted its media agency account to Initiative Australia and the IPG Mediabrands group. The account will be led out of Initiative’s Sydney office, effective immediately. Its managing director Annick Perrin, remarked, “Sony Music is one of the marquee brands for any agency to partner with.” Sony chief Denis Handlin AM said: “Our artist development, marketing, promotion and business diversity are at the forefront of the industry. Initiative and IPG Mediabrands displayed excellent knowledge and sensitivity to the requirements of Sony Music’s business and the continually evolving media landscape. I am delighted to welcome them as our new media agency partners.”
New deals for Guy Sebastian
After denting the US charts via team-ups with Lupe Fiasco and Eve, Guy Sebastian increases his profile in the United States by signing with Cherry through which to release his next album. He is also appointed Australian spokesperson for MyMedicalRecord. It will use his song Don’t Worry Be Happy as part of a campaign to spruik a happier healthier lifestyle. Royalties will go to charities designated by the singer, including the Children’s Hospital at Westmead in Sydney, International Red Cross and World Vision Australia.
Shock adds Bloods to roster
Shock Records has signed Sydney garage-punk-pop trio Bloods. The band’s current single Back To You topped AirIt for two weeks and is claiming the #40 spot on Channel V’s top 50 songs of 2013 So Far. The act counts Cat Power, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Kate Nash amongst their fans, says Shock. New single Into My Arms, also from forthcoming six-track debut EP Golden Fang, is out on August 16. The band hits the East Coast on its first headlining run joined by Major Leagues (Sydney/Melbourne) and The Fabergettes.
Caligula’s Horse joins Welkin Entertainment
Welkin Entertainment announced that Brisbane progressive heavy rock band Caligula’s Horse has joined both its booking agency roster and its record label. Welkin Records will release the band’s sophomore album The Tide, The Thief & River’s End on October 1. Label manager Tim Charles hailed the act as “destined to be recognised as one of the best progressive rock bands in Australia.” The band’s debut single and video Dark Hair Down is athttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRzhYqvSvkw.
Ole extends Timbaland deal
Ole entered into a music publishing co-venture deal with writer and producer Timbaland, who has worked with Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Usher, Eminem, Ludacris, Kanye West, No Doubt, Black Eyed Peas and Alicia Keys. Part of the deal, building on a publishing deal signed in 2012, allows Timbaland to co-sign third party sources to his Blue Stone Music Publishing. Ole recently bought Sony Pictures Entertainment’s music publishing for a reported US$125 million.
Bauer Media to acquire Absolute Radio
Bauer Media UK which owns the magazines Heat, Kerrang! andGrazia, and radio stations Kiss and Magic, has struck a deal with Times of India to acquire the five year old Absolute Radio business.Music Week reported that the deal, believed to be worth £22 million, is subject to regulatory clearance.
ABC iview extends reach in living rooms
ABC TV’s internet TV channel, ABC iview, is available as a free inclusion for customers of the Fetch TV IPTV service. It is fully integrated into the Fetch TV main menu, providing users with ready access to iview content on their TV. “As a public broadcaster our focus is on making ABC content as easily accessible as possible,” points out its controller of Controller of TV Multiplatform Arul Baskaran. “Fetch TV is another way the ABC is providing TV on the viewer’s terms, at a time and place of their choice.” The ABC has commissioned programs exclusively for iview.
Event Safety Alliance Australia formalises ties with US counterpart
Event Safety Alliance Australia, the live event body set up to promote safety practice guidance in this country, has formalized a partnership with Event Safety Alliance United States. It will include sharing data forThe Event Safety Guide from international guide handbooks as Purple Guide and IstructE TDS. The American alliance’s executive directorJim Digby, heads touring and production for Linkin Park. “The work of the ESA has no borders and continues to stretch the global reach necessary to improve the current condition of event safety around the world,” he says. Roderick van Gelder, risk manager for stage safety for the Australian body, adds, “I am not a big believer in a heavy handed approach. Educate, show & tell, make people understand why there are right ways and wrong ways.” More info athttp://www.eventsafetyalliance.org.au.
TRIPPING
Which singer was told by her doctor she’s losing her eyesight?
Which media identity had his/her entire weekend at Splendour In The Grass ruined because of rumours at the office that he/she might lose her job?
Which radio exec is explaining why he sent out a half-nude selfie to colleagues?
When 4BH Brisbane’s Michael Price heard that Nova got the media partner deal for the Michael Buble tour, he rang up his buddies at Nova 106.9, the Ash, Kip & Luttsy team, and challenged them to name five Buble songs in 30 seconds. They managed two.
The Sydney launch of the Australian Road Crew Association drew 140 pre-1992 workers from around the country. Jimmy Barnes and his family turned up to play for them. Aside from catching up for old times, the ARCA was set up to combat the high suicide of road crew members. Here’s a tip: impose a liquor tax on venues to set up superannuation for them.
Which Perth clubber ended a row with a taxi driver by vomiting on him?
Which exec, whose company is crashing, added to her woes by getting busted for drink driving?
Sharp eyed viewers of the return of Big Brother noted that two radio presenters had made it on: Nova’s Tim Dormer who was introduced as a student, and NXFM’s Heidi Anderson.
Tip for artists from MusicSA’s website: “Beware of generic emails asking for ’hand-signed autographed photos’ and copy of your CD. These ’signatures’ can & have been used illegally by dodgy operators overseas in ’contracts’ to press & distribute music! (A true story from a friend’s Vic band…).”
Smooth 91.5 Melbourne rejected running ads from Kingston Funeral Services saying it didn’t fit its laid back format (well, not laid back as in dead).
Most of us wait to age before we think about memoirs. But Gold Coast popster Cody Simpson is, at the tender age of 16, putting out a book in October called Welcome to Paradise: My Journey. Then again, not many 16-year olds go Top 10 in the US with their debut album, as he has, so let’s not be churlish.
When Tim “Timomatic” Omaji returned to play his old hometown Darwin, he was issued a dance-off challenge at his show at Discovery nightclub by Hot100’s breakfast presenter Tom “Tomomatic” Lewis. Something to do with the similarity of their stage names, who started using it first, and who wouldn’t back down.
LIFELINES
Married: Splendour In The Grass attendees Mahalia and Matthew tied the knot on the grassy knoll overlooking the campground on the Saturday. They were surrounded by family, friends and, oh, 25,000 punters.
In Court: a Cairns, Queensland, woman is suing an artist for almost $400,000 for defamation, alleging he took a video of her without her permission and texted it to a third person which went on to others. According to the claim, the publication of the video implied the woman was someone who is “unfit to hold her position” because people incorrectly believe she posed for the video and allowed its distribution (Cairns Weekend Post).
Vale: Richard Winter, one time Program Director at 5AD Adelaide (now Mix 102.3) and involved in the Sydney launch of Vega, had a massive heart attack on the weekend. He was at a car rally, ready to go, when he complained of feeling unwell, and collapsed. He was 52.
NUMBER CRUNCHING
US$8.2 billion what Vivendi SA is selling its majority stake in video game company Activision Blizzard Inc.
$255 million estimated earnings in the past 12 months by Angus and Malcolm Young of AC/DC and elder brother George Young of The Easybeats, which put them at #48 in the BRW Rich Families List.
10.7 million fans views in one day of the new One Direction video on Vevo.
$255,077,33 raised by Kim & Dave from Heart 107.3 in Hobart for the Give Me 5 For Kids campaign.
34% rise in attendance last year for opera, says the Australian Council.
$750,000 spent on by Kanye West and Kim K on gold plated toilets.
$1.81 billion revenues for Facebook in Q2 2013, with net profit of $509.7 million.
8 of the Top 10 radio brands consumed on mobile are owned by Southern Cross Austereo, according to Nielsen’s June Online Ranking Report.