Industrial Strength: June 14
Image:Lorde co-writes withBroods
Dates announced for WA Festival, conference
Western Australia’s peak music association WAM announced that this year’s WAM Festival is extending to four days. It runs November Thursday 3 to Sunday 6, set to draw 10,000 punters, 166 acts and 64 conference speakers.
The conference component is on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 at The State Theatre. Conference coordinator Claire Hodgson commented, “We’ve seen some fantastic stories emerge for acts, industry personnel and organisations in the past few years, and each conference we’ve been further refining the event to provide more opportunities for the talented individuals and groups in our close-knit WA music industry.” For inquiries, Hodgson is at claire@wam.org.au.
Gun Fever Director Greg Sanders returns for his third and final year as WAM Festival coordinator. “There have been a tonne of great new artists, killer new venues and big ideas emerge over the last year, so I can’t wait to get stuck into the music programming, as well as enhancing the traditional aspects of the Festival,” he says.
The festival is looking for brand partnership opportunities (contact WAM’s Development Manager, Georgia Kennedy: Georgia@wam.org.au) and a graphic designer to create visuals for it as well as WAM Song Of The Year 2016-2017 (expressions of interest to WAM’s Marketing & Communications Officer Aarom Wilson: Aarom@wam.org.au).
Bands call for gig etiquette forum
Two Melbourne bands have lashed out at bad behaviour within their audiences.
High Tension were angered when one of their crowd in the pit was groped during their show with Deafheaven and Hope Drone. They took to Facebook with a lengthy excellent post about gig etiquette, their pride that the person who was groped spoke out, and the need for audiences to keep venues safe for the vulnerable.
“Do you ever wonder as to why the attendance of women and members of the LGBTIA community at metal shows is almost always a mere percentage? Even though a love for metal / aggressive music is NOT exclusive to men?” Given that a similar incident took place a weekend before at a Camp Cope show, the band’s Karina suggested a debate / forum should be held to discuss the issue.
One of those who applauded the sentiment and need for a forum was The Smith Street Band’s singer Wil Wagner. He posted on the band’s own Facebook: “Venues are the one place we feel welcome, for some of us it’s the only home we’ve ever really known. It’s straight up evil to ruin that for people. I’m not talking about having one too many drinks or not knowing every rule of gig etiquette, I’m talking about people grabbing girls and throwing punches. Assaulting people.
“This weekend was beautiful, life affirming and uplifting and those are the memories I want for all of us after a show. But if you come to a show to fuck with people or make the night worse for someone else then stay at home. Cause you sure as fuck aren’t welcome in ours.”
So you can imagine that some days later when a fight broke out during The Smith Street Band’s sold-out show at Perth’s Capitol Theatre, a button was well and truly pushed for Wagner. He demanded the perpetrator be thrown out and told the audience, “Just once I’d like to play a room of respectful people.” The crowd was OK with that but definitely thought uncool his next statement, “and you wonder why no bands come to Perth,” responding with scattered boos. Two songs on, Wagner picked it up again with comments about “gig etiquette” and how if there was continual trouble at their gigs the band would have no choice but to break up. The set was wound up early.
More Greens arts policies released
Having already announced $270.2 million in additional funding for the arts over the next four years, the Greens Party delivered a second round of policies for the sector. Go to www.greens.org.au/arts for full list of policies. The latest ones focus on financial security for artists and musicians, including a regular living wage, to address the problem that 20% of artists live below the poverty line.
* Artistic activities that provide community benefit to be eligible for Centrelink mutual obligation requirements at a cost of $51 million over four years.
* Setting up a new low-income artist superannuation supplement worth an additional $500 per year (to $1000) for working artists who meet the eligibility criteria for the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset (LISTO) announced in the 2016-17 Budget, costing $23 million over four years. This is to help artists and musicians who run their own small businesses or earn low wages and therefore do not receive super and unable to adequately save for their retirement.
* Formation of an arts sector-led taskforce to advise about the opportunities and risks posed by the digitisation of distribution and consumption of creative works to ensure the continued creation of local artistic content.
The Coalition has yet to announce its arts policies, with Federal Arts Minister Mitch Fifield passing on the opportunity when he appeared at the National Arts Election Debate in Melbourne last Wednesday, as Labor and Greens presented their election platforms.
Commercial radio revenue up in May
The commercial radio ad market grew 4.23% year on year to a total of $67.845 million through May. According to figures sourced by Deloitte and released by Commercial Radio Australia, all five metropolitan markets were up. Melbourne was up 6.19% $21.060 million; Brisbane by 4.79% to $10.798 million; Perth by 4.42% to $9.048 million; Adelaide by 2.76% to $6.146 million and Sydney by 2.38% to $20.793 million.
The growth in May took total revenue for the five markets for 11 months of the financial year to $700, 460 million, up 5.88% on the same period in 2014/15.
For the 11 months ending in May, Adelaide stations showed the largest traction, up 10.54% to $65.040 million. Melbourne grew 6.28% to $214.723 million; Perth by 5.50% to $96.617 million; Sydney by 5.17% to $214.562 million and Brisbane by 4.24% to $109.520 million.
Troye Sivan heading back to US
Troye Sivan returns to the US in October for a second headlining run. They will take in major venues including the Hollywood Palladium (two nights), Terminal 5 in New York (two nights) and The Tabernacle in Atlanta. His US booking agency CAA’s Brian Greenbaum told Pollstar that the 20-year-old’s recent US run “sold out instantly across the board.”
Greenbaum added, “When management and I were able to see him perform for the first time in the rehearsal studio, we were just blown away. With his online presence with all of the videos he was producing, and his acting career (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), he was already very natural and very comfortable. We knew we could put him in real venues and real markets right away.
“It doesn’t matter whether Europe, in Australia, or the U.S., I think kids in that certain age group really identify with him. He has an ability to write songs and connect with an audience in a way that many people who have done it for years don’t.”
Queensland venues drop legal plans over lockouts
Queensland venue operators have abandoned plans to take legal action against the State Government over the lockout laws – the first aspects which roll out on July 1. But they will still lobby to stop the proposed 1 am lockout, due to come into effect on February 1. “We really don’t think a 1am lockout is a good idea at all, but without a change in government we don’t think their opinion is going to change on that matter,” opined Cairns CBD Safe Night Precinct President John Lynch.
MusicNT announces 20th anniversary plans
Northern Territory’s MusicNT is celebrating 20 years since a bunch of passionates got together to set up MIDI (Music Industry Development Incorporated) to rally for a venue to replace The Old Workers Club in Darwin. Since then it’s broadened out its work, changing its name to Music NT in 1991.
Celebrations include a 20th birthday showcase on Friday July 9 at the Darwin Railway Club. The next day sees a Music Industry Connect at the MusicNT’s Darwin office from 11 am to 2 pm, followed later in the day by the 5th NT Song of the Year Awards at the MAGNT 6pm-11pm.
Venue Updates: creative award wins, closures, bans, deaths
* Sydney arts and culture venue Carriageworks was a winner at the 2016 NSW Creative Laureate Award for its “huge and positive impact on the cultural and social life of Sydney and NSW.” In 2015, it presented over 45 projects and employed 800 artists. Last week it hosted a Bjork virtual reality exhibition, a music event called Curve Ball, Sydney Table which brought Sydney’s best chefs and creative minds, and a four-screen video projection that took viewers into an Iranian bazaar.
* The North Fremantle Bowling Club launched a weekly open mic night on Sundays from 4pm-6pm.
*Adelaide nightclub Red Square hit back at accusations deaf patrons were refused entry by releasing security footage from the incident.
* Melbourne’s Shebeen club on Manchester Lane will have to close at the end of June after 12 months. Although initially claimed to be over noise complaints by co-owner Simon Griffiths (its band room shares a wall with the Melbourne East Police Station’s sleeping quarters), the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation said in a statement that the real issue was “in relation to the venue supplying liquor in a way not permitted by its licence”. It was granted a restaurant and café licence in 2010, and not been changed to music and alcohol when “transferred to the current licensee in 2013.”
* The proposed new sports and entertainment Townsville Stadium took a step further last Friday, with the Queensland Government, National Rugby League and North Queensland Cowboys jointly pledging a further $50 million towards it last Friday. The Government’s contribution has risen from $100 million to $140 million. The remaining fresh $10 million is made up of the NRL funding interest payments on the loan and the Cowboys taking a loan and paying 10 years’ rent for the venue upfront.
* A 34-year-old man working on the HBF Stadium in Mt Claremont on the afternoon of a Culture Club concert, died after falling through the roof for 20m. The concert went ahead, and police and WorkSafe were investigating. The worker was either a scaffolder or painter.
* Under new Adelaide City Council rules, late night bars and alcohol-focussed events – including live music venues and nightclubs – cannot open for more than two weeks in Victoria Square, one of the city’s six main squares. Events of up to 10,000 patrons cannot operate past 2am on weekends and midnight during the week. The rules, in conjunction with the city’s hospitality industry, came after an outcry from local stores that the Adelaide Fringe’s pop-up Royal Croquet Club was grabbing too much business.
Darwin Festival audit to remain in vault?
In the wake of the public slanging match and sacking of the Darwin Festival board, the Northern Territory Government has not decided whether to publicly release the Deloitte audit on last year’s event. The NT News says Arts Minister Gary Higgins is ducking the issue.
Meantime the arts community is annoyed the whole thing became politicised. Darwin Community Arts director Bong Romilo said the real issue should be the festival’s long-time survival, and that artistry and risk-taking of such events should overcome commercial success.
Death strikes NSW rave
A 25-year-old man was found dead in a vehicle at a rave held on private property in Newton Boyd, 160 kilometres west of Grafton, NSW. Police claim the dance party, attended by 2500, was not authorised, and that organisers did not stop the event when told to after the man’s body was discovered. A post-mortem examination will be conducted this week.
Meantime, the Forgotten Kingdom party in Emu Creek, near Bendigo in regional Victoria, also aroused the attention of police. This time it was to respond to complaints about noise, for which infringement notices will be served on organisers, police said. On early Sunday morning, a “substance affected” man was taken to Bendigo Health.
Study: More Aussies shifting to triple screening
Australians are increasingly watching TV on a number of screens at the same time. The latest Australian Multi-Screen Report covering Q1 of 2016 indicates an average of 6.4 screens per house (tablets have the biggest growth), up from 5.4 four years ago. In fact 75% of Australians – mostly in younger age groups, nine in 10 online consumers aged 16-34 – claim to engaged with more than one screen simultaneously. 33% say they double or triple screen at the same time. The 35–49 and 50–64 year-old segments both increased their multi-screen behaviour, with the bulk of growth in triple-screening.
The latest report shows that 86.1% watch broadcast TV (FTA and subscription channels) on an in-home TV sets – compared to 88.1% in Q1 in 2015. 2.31 million devices are connected to catch-up services. 84.3% of viewing is to TV content watched on in-home sets within seven days of original broadcast: on average 85:12 per month .We spend an average of 30 hours and 38 minutes per month (30:38) on other TV screen use, with 13:34 of that in prime time.
Survey #1: Darwin
Darwin’s first radio survey in ten years saw Grant Broadcasters’ two stations in the lead – HOT 100 with 37.5% (and most popular with under-40s) and Mix 104.9 with 18.2%. ABC Local with 17.6% was third, most popular with the 40-64 and over 65 groups. triple j had a 9.4% share.
Survey #2: Shepparton
The first ratings in 15 years for Shepparton in regional Victoria showed Star FM with 32.2% of the market, and leading the under 54 demographic. It was followed by 3SR FM (20.2% share, and lead contender for the ears of the 40—64 group), ABC Local (15.5% and most listened to by the 65+ demo) and triple j (5.1%).
Port Fairy Folk Festival gives $20,000 grants
Port Fairy Folk Festival awarded over $20,000 in grants to local associations to upgrade facilities. Among them were The Lake School of Music ($4500 over next three years) and St Helen’s Rural Fire Brigade ($4000 towards a water tank and quick fill pump) as well as schools, and an equitation club to get a portable dressing room. The Port Fairy Football and Netball Club received $2000 for its fun run walk and the Ex Libris Book Fair $1000 for its annual festival.
National Arts & Disability Strategy gets evaluated
The National Arts and Disability Strategy is an initiative of the Meeting of Cultural Ministers which comprises Australian, state and territory government arts and cultural ministers. As part of the evaluation, it seeks views from the arts and cultural sector on its effectiveness in supporting, encouraging and promoting access to, and participation in, arts and cultural activities by people with disability for 2013-2015. It is open at http://mcm.arts.gov.au/node/59/ until June 17.
Gympie Muster appoints Drew McAlister for talent search
Over its 26 years, the Gympie Music Muster’s Muster Talent Search was the launching pad for Brooke and Samantha McClymont (The McClymonts), Drew McAlister (McAlister Kemp) and Mark O’Shea (O’Shea). This year, Drew McAlister is announced as its ambassador.
McAlister, whose 2003 win was followed by Golden Guitar, ARIA and CMC wins, describes its personal and career-defining impact:
“In 2003 I entered the Muster Talent Search. I didn’t really know what to expect but with a little luck I was fortunate enough to win on the night. Winning gave me two things, a chance to start my career in country music and with the prize money I bought an engagement ring and proposed to my then girlfriend now wife and mother Justina. 13 years down the road things are working out great, all thanks to the Muster Talent Search!”
Entrants go in the running for $30,000 worth of prizes including studio recording for an EP, Fender instruments and professional EP distribution services. Applicants can join either the Junior Talent or Open category by submitting their performance online at mustertalentsearch.com. Top three category semi-finalists will perform for the big title at the Grand Final on Main Stage on Sunday August 28. The Gympie Music Muster stages Thursday August 25 and Sunday 28.
New festivals for Gold Coast, Canberra
Latest addition to the Gold Coast’s festival schedule is Shakafest (Saturday August 27, Miami Tavern Carpark), which celebrates “all things street, skate and music”, the latter a mix of rock and hip hop live acts and DJs. These include Dune Rats, Drapht, Spit Syndicate, The Vanns, Von Villains, Ivey, White Blanks and Peach Fur. Promoter Wedge Head Events owner Tamie Bennett says there’ll also be live graffiti and stalls. “We are creating an experience that will appeal to so many different scenes on the coast; Shakafest will draw in all walks of life and expose people to new genres of music, sports and art.”
Kicks Entertainment stages the inaugural Canberra festival Spilt Milk on Saturday December 3 at Commonwealth Park. Flume headlines a bill with Peking Duk, Slumberjack, Paces, Cosmo’s Midnight, Hermitude, L D R U as well as Violent Soho, Gang of Youths, Vera Blue, Allday and Vince Staples. The multi-experience event includes an arts exhibition and food from top eateries.
More Festival Updates: sell-outs, newies, fires
* One Electric Day looks like heading for a sell-out after 7000 tickets were snapped up on its first day of sale. Jimmy Barnes, Icehouse, James Reyne, Russell Morris and The Badloves play at Werribee Park Mansion in Melbourne.
* The retro-music and cars event Cooly Rocks On in Coolangatta and Tweed Heads seems to have drawn over 100,000 people June 3 to 13 to catch rock, rockabilly and swing acts and 1300 hot rods and custom cars. Festival Manager Phil Villiers said official figures this week would indicate if this year matched 2015’s figure of 115,000. Among events and offers were 140 retro market stalls, 100 craft market stalls, drive-in movies, pedal car and the Miss Cooly Rocks On 2016 quest which was won by the splendidly named Miss Holly Wouldn’t. Cooly Rocks On pumps $36 million into the Coolangatta/Tweed Heads region.
* Despite freezing rain, Portarlington Celtic Festival in Victoria drew 15,000, Festival Director Una McAlinden confirmed. There were live sets from Damien Leith and Marcia Howard as well as Gaelic dance, theatre and comedy.
* Townsville City Council distanced itself from any responsibility for a grass fire sparked by a fireworks display which was part of the Pacific Festival. It insists the pyrotechnics was commissioned by a Brisbane company.
* WA promoter Sunsets Events is looking for people to handle paid or volunteer roles for its North-West Festival. More info from work@sunsetevents.com.au.
Two new DAB+ stations for SCA
Southern Cross Austereo has launched two new DAB+ brands. Easy has a Continuous Easy Favourites format and replaces Stardust, while Oldskool covers hits from the 80’s, 90’s and Noughties replacing More Brand. SCA’s Head of National Content and Development Dave Cameron outlined, “The Oldskool channel is the perfect complimentary extension to the Hit Network’s incredibly successful FM music format, and Easy now provides a completely talk and clutter-free alternative for lovers of smooth music from the 60’s to now.”
Slim Dusty remembered
Country music pioneer Slim Dusty considered 13 his favourite number, given he was born on June 13, 1927. EMI Music celebrates his birthday each year, this year more so as yesterday was 13 years since his passing. The question “What Does Slim Dusty Mean To You?” saw a montage of messages collected from friends, family and fans. These included Troy Cassar-Daley, Lee Kernaghan, Beccy Cole, Brendan Nelson, Colin Buchanan, Warren H Williams, Pete Denahy, The Wiggles, Ray Hadley, Felicity Urquhart and Don Spencer.
They were compiled into a video by media company Cadence Media, and launched on Facebook at https://SlimDusty.lnk.to/VideoMR. Cadence Media Director Rich Thompson explained, “We saw how everyone responded to Slim Dusty – the man and his music – through social media, at the Slim Dusty Centre in Kempsey and in letters posted over the years. To celebrate and embrace this collective love and respect it needed to be a collaboration of music, vision, and messages.”
In addition, there was the official launch of a limited-run Slim Dusty Movie Exhibition at the Slim Dusty Centre. Dedicated to Dusty and Joy McKean’s 1984 docudrama The Slim Dusty Movie. Only. The exhibition includes props, costumes and memorabilia plus previously unreleased/unseen behind the scenes images from the movie. EMI also released a limited edition vinyl version of Dusty’s 100th album Looking Forward, Looking Back, released in that format for the first time.
Number Crunching
35,000 people attended Perth’s #SOTAFest (Celebrate WA, State of the Art Festival) at Elizabeth Quay which had a music bill of all WA acts.
$10,000 raised by 2WS FM’s Amanda Keller for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation and the 2016 Gold Telethon.
25,000 signatures targeted by June 28 for a petition to induct late Kiss and Billy Idol manager Bill Aucoin into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
$500,000 worth of free advertising offered by Nova Entertainment to clients to push the Smoothfm brand further.
Vale
* David Sell was a New Zealand music critic, academic and author. He wrote for 25 years for The Press and was involved in the publication of 35 books. He was music lecturer, then associate professor, at the University of Canterbury for 28 years, serving two terms as Dean of Music and Fine Arts and Head of the School of Music for eight years. He served on a number of music and arts association boards. He died last Friday in hospital from a lung condition. David Sell was 86.
* Noel ’Keithy’ Lord spent 26 years at radio 2TM and 92.9 Tamworth, with roles including ad sourcing and helping on-air talent with segments. The best known of these was larrikin Wal of Wal From Walcha. He retired from radio in 1995, and asked back two months later by former Station Manager Bill Morrison – and stayed until November 2013. He was married to Marcia for 65 years, with four children and two grandchildren. Lord was also Tamworth’s town crier for 15 years. He loved to tell of the 1993 World Championships in Brisbane. While ringing his bell, the donger fell off and hit a town crier from Tasmania on the leg. They began to swear at each other, not realising it was being broadcast to the thousands-strong crowd until it began laughing. “We didn’t win the championship, but we won best comedy act.” Noel Lord was 86.
And A Few Other Things …
Melbourne’s Cookin’ On 3 Burners attack on the UK charts continues with French DJ Kungs’ remix of This Girl. After entering the Top 10 last week, it’s jumped up to #4. It’s also #2 on the Dance chart, #2 in Downloads and #9 in Streaming. In the Capital FM chart, it knocked Justin Timberlake off top spot!
Iggy Azalea celebrated her 26th birthday, shouting a vacation with some besties on a yacht off Mexico.
Media personality and one time Bardot member Sophie Monk has after 15 years, returned to live on the Gold Coast. She forked out $1.1 million for a five bedroom place in a waterfront gated property (the pile of bricks comes with its own stables), boat jetty and swimming pool. A long way from her start as a Marilyn Monroe impersonator at Movie World.
Birds of Tokyo and The Living End were announced to headline the Supercars concerts at the motor-racing event in October. There sis some rumbling it might be the last, as the race event, which drew 197,872 last year, has yet to get fresh funding from Tourism and Events Queensland despite applying 16 months ago.
Severe flooding in Paris saw this year’s MIDEM draw 4400 delegates, down from 5500 last year, representing 600 labels and 85 countries. Director Jérôme Delhaye laughed off rumours it might move in 2017 from Cannes to Barcelona.
While recording his new solo album Angus Stone and entourage stayed at the palatial home of producer Rick Rubin in Hollywood. Stone, during interviews promoting the record, said he assumed everything was complimentary. Not quite. He got poked with a bill for $20,000 for “sushi and organic smoothies.”
Lorde co-wrote Broods’ new single Heartlines, promoting its release via her huge social media following. Both acts share producer Joel Little.
The Punks For West Papua documentary and tour through Australia is getting bigger. More screenings will be announced in the lead up to International Punks For West Papua Day on June 25 with benefit gigs in some cities around the world. A New Zealand documentary road trip is in the works for later in the year.
US band Fear Factory’s guitarist Dino Cazares finished their Australian tour seated on a chair at shows with his right foot swathed in bandages. He tore a muscle while in Melbourne, and was told by doctors not to put pressure on it for the remaining two Aussie dates.
Tkay Maidza is heading off to Los Angeles for June 26’s BET (Black Entertainment TV) awards, where she is nominated for Best New International Act. She’s up against Emtee (South Africa), MHD (France), Section Boyz (UK), WSTRN (UK) and FALZ (Nigeria).
Boy George will celebrate a birthday when the Culture Club tour hits in Brisbane. But at the Melbourne show last week, long time buddy Molly Meldrum lurched up on stage to sing Happy Birthday.
With all the hackers hijacking Twitter accounts of international names (including Tama Impala) and posting obscenities and false stories, NZ singer songwriter Anika Moa encountered a different kind of hacker. After calling out on social media for information on how to retrieve her contact details, the hijacker got in touch. He explained he was a 16-year old Kiwi, apologised and instructed her how to set up new passwords. She told him he was “so polite yet so naughty”.
To celebrate its 35th year on air, Charles Darwin University’s Territory FM reverted to its original TOP FM for the day, and played selections of tracks from the past three and a half decades.
ABC-TV youth drama Dance Academy, sold to 160 countries, is going on the big screen. A $6 million theatrical release version went into production this week.
Ross Wilson is recording a version of Johnny O’Keefe’s The Wild One as the theme of this year’s Community Cup on June 26, Noise 11 reported. It said that when Wilson performed the song (better known perhaps through Iggy Pop’s version Real Wild Child) at a club show at the Flying Saucer Club in Melbourne, he intro’d it as “I believe this was the first genuine Australian rock and roll song ever written.”
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