Industrial Strength: May 29
SONGWRITERS SUMMIT IN BALI
23 songwriters and producers from Australia and abroad spent 10 days in Bali for the 9th annual Bali Songwriting Invitational. This year’s guest list included M-Phazes, Illy, E^ST and Maribelle and global hit writers Oak Felder, Paul Phamous, Ben Andrew, Rahki, Teddy Walton and Jenna Andrews.
The summit was founded by Peter Coquillard of Milk & Honey Management and Michael Taylor, managing director, Universal Music Australia.
This year’s meet was hosted by The Invitational Group and Oak Felder whose writer credits have popped up on songs recorded by Alessia Cara, Demi Lovato, Alicia Keys and Rihanna.
LIVE NATION SHAREHOLDER WITHDRAWS LAWSUIT
A lawsuit by a Live Nation shareholder that claimed the company paid its executives over $9 million in cash bonuses that were not deserved based on their performance, has been withdrawn two days after it was filed in New York.
According to LN, the “frivolous lawsuit” got its figures wrong, and “Live Nation is fully transparent on our pay practices, and payment of executive bonuses was fully in-line with those practices which are clearly laid out in our 10-K and Proxy.”
MARLON WILLIAMS DIRECTS VIDEO, HEADING TO EUROPE
Marlon Williams takes to the other side of the camera for the music video for new single ‘Party Boy’.
It conjures the image (a composite of people he knows) of that guy who has just the stuff to keep the party going ‘til dawn, and who you might catch “sniffin’ around” your “pride and joy.”
Williams admits, “I’ve never directed anything before. I can’t even direct my dirty laundry into a washing machine. So this was an eye-opening experience.
“I present an exploration into the dynamic between the individual and the pack.
“Antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated and ostracisation will be the result.”
After selling out his entire Australian tour, Williams will return for a second show at the Forum in Melbourne on June 22.
He heads back to Europe for a mammoth run, taking in 23 festivals between July 6 at Roskilde in Denmark and winding up on August 25 at Once In A Blue Moon in Amsterdam.
Other stops include Eurockennes in France, Latitude in the UK, Stimmen in Germany, Positivus in Latvia, Cambridge Folk Festival in the UK, OFF in Poland and Paredes de Coura in Portugal.
ART IS MURDER’S McMAHON OPENS TATTOO SHOP
Thy Art Is Murder’s Chris McMahon has opened Wicked Ink tattoo and piercing store in Campbelltown in Western Sydney – the third Wicked Ink outlet after Penrith and Goulburn.
The store on Queen St is decked out, like the others, with artwork, Japanese pieces and voodoo sculpture.
McMahon’s own body art includes a huge 11.11 – on account that his grandfather and some friends died on November 11, good stuff and bad stuff happens to him at 11.11 and the number 11 keeps coming up in dreams.
Thy Art Is Murder is heading off tour Europe for six and a half weeks.
GREEN LIGHT FOR WALSH BAY ARTS PRECINCT
Sydney’s $207 million Walsh Bay Arts Precinct is closer to becoming a reality after two developments.
Two state planning applications were given the go-ahead.
So did residents and owners of local businesses after issues such as transport, congestion, sound levels and trade were sorted out.
Work on the precinct is expected to start in July, to be finished by 2020.
Tenants announced so far are the Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Dance Company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australian Theatre for Young People, the Sydney Philharmonia Choir, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Bell Shakespeare Company.
GORILLAZ ON THE WAY BACK?
Cryptic clues currently being dropped by Gorillaz suggest they could be readying to release new material.
Posters appearing at All Points East festival in London has phrases as ‘No more unicorns anymore’, ‘Save us from him’, ‘You gotta have fate’, ‘Algorithm is a dancer’, and ‘G is the magic number’.
All point to a website TheNowNow.Tv which plays a video of a retro TV show with a disco-type soundtrack and a silhouette of cartoon Gorillaz member 2-D playing guitar, and the date June 29.
MINAJ TIES WITH BEYONCE IN US AIRPLAY CHART
Billboard noted that Nicki Minaj now ties with Beyonce for most Top 10s among women on the mainstream R&B/hip hop airplay chart as ‘Chun-Li’ makes it into #8.
They share 7th spot with 30 entries apiece. Drake tops the list with 58.
58. Drake
54. Lil Wayne
48. Chris Brown
35. JAY-Z
32. Usher
31. T.I.
30. Beyoncé
30. Nicki Minaj
KWAME HITS 1 MILLION STREAMS
20-year-old Sydney hip hop artist Kwame, who’s been opening on Peking Duk’s national dates, has hit 1 million streams on Spotify.
It places him alongside Manu Crooks and Camouflage Rose.
As he drops a clip for ‘WOW’, he’s doing a Vivid Sydney show. Last year an appearance there saw 2000 folks unable to get in.
TINA ARENA BRINGS EVA TO MELBOURNE
After its Sydney Opera House premiere season, Tina Arena will play Eva Peron in her hometown of Melbourne. The musical Evita will play at the State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne from December 5.
The production is by Opera Australia artistic director Lyndon Terracini, Australian theatre producer John Frost and UK theatre producer David Ian.
Arena said, “To perform Evita in my hometown of Melbourne is an opportunity I could not turn down.
“I feel like I am ready for this role now, even though I’m a little terrified.
“I don’t think I would have been ready for it before because you need to have lived somewhat emotionally to play Eva Perón.
“I’m so thankful to Andrew Lloyd Webber for thinking I’m right for it, and to Opera Australia and John Frost for asking me.”
Starring opposite Arena as Juan Perón will be opera superstar Paulo Szot, whose last Australian performance was the title role in Opera Australia’s Eugene Onegin.
AHA NSW LAUNCHES OWN LEGAL FIRM
The NSW chapter of the Australian Hotels Association has launched its own legal firm, Hospitality Legal Pty Ltd, to provide more services to members.
It will initially focus on industrial relations and employment law.
The legal firm is headed by Phillip Ryan, director of legal and industrial affairs for AHA nationally.
CANBERRA RUNS ITS OWN EUROVISION
Currently running heats in the nation’s capital is Canbeurovision, a local version of Eurovision with entries from 24 suburbs.
It is run by Eurovision fan Chris Endrey who says the response from locals has been strong and unexpectedly patriotic.
We won’t know what the ultimate prize is until Friday June 8 at the Polish White Eagle Club. But Endrey says the act who scores the lowest in each heat gets a free music lesson.
SEVEN NEW LANGUAGE PROGRAMS FOR SBS RADIO
SBS Radio launched seven new language shows yesterday to support expanding migrant groups. The broadcaster caters for 68 languages.
They were Hakha Chin (mostly spoken in Chin State, a region in Western Myanmar), Mongolian, Kirundi (from Burundi), Tibetan and Karen programmes launch on Monday 28 May, with Rohingya and Telugu coming soon.
More than one in five Australians now speaks a language besides English at home. It was one in seven 20 years ago.
NOVA ADELAIDE GM LEAVES
Nova Entertainment Adelaide has made changes to its leadership structure in the city for Nova and FIVEaa.
GM Neil O’Reilly will leave at the end of June, FIVEaa program director Craig Munn is upped to station manager, and sales director, Katie Bridges to commercial director and market lead.
CRAIG MCLACHLAN ACCUSERS WANT TO BE ANONYMOUS
Three women who have made accusations of indecent assault against actor and musician Craig McLachlan – one made a police report – have applied to keep their names suppressed.
Their lawyer said, “These people did not choose to come to the media.
“In my submission… it’s not in the public interest that alleged victims have an inhibition in coming forward.”
McLachlan is suing the ABC and Fairfax Media for a series of joint articles where female colleagues in the 2014 stage production of The Rocky Horror Show claimed harassment, bullying and sexual misconduct by the lead actor.
He denies the claims and is seeking damages from the media companies. He is also suing the lead actress on the show, Christie Whelan Browne.
UMBRELLA FESTIVAL LAUNCHES
Music SA is unveiling the full program of its Umbrella Winter City Sounds on May 31 at Chateau Apollo in Adelaide.
The event generates two weeks of live music July 13 – 29.
DARK MOFO ARTIST TO BE BURIED UNDER ROAD
One of the events of Tasmania’s Dark Mofo winter festival will see performance artist Mike Parr buried under a busy Hobart street for 72 hours in a container.
During that time, the 73-year-old will have a sketchpad, pencils, water, bedding and a meditation stool with him when he is lowered below Macquarie Street on June 14.
He says he’s making a statement at how the genocide of Tasmania’s Indigenous people have been swept under modern day culture “and kept out of sight”.
SHOWCASE APPLICATIONS FOR AUSTRALIAN MUSIC WEEK
Australian Music Week is inviting export-ready acts to apply for showcases at its November 7 –11 event in Cronulla, Sydney (here).
There are 150 spots, and AMW as cut deals with ECMA (Canada), BreakOut West (Canada), Focus Wales (Wales) and Zandari Festa (South Korea) whose reps would come out to check the Aussie acts with the view to showcasing him at their events and launching them in their territories.
NO CHARGES FOR MIGOS
Offset of multi-platinum hip hop trio Migos won’t face charges over the car accident in Atlanta in early May, which left him hospitalised with minor injuries and his car smashed up.
Police have closed the case, as the rapper crashed into a tree and no one was hurt in the accident.
CBAA INVITES IDEAS FOR WORKSHOPS
The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) is inviting ideas for workshops for its annual conference.
This year it’s held November 8—10 on the Gold Coast.
In 2018, submissions from interested speakers should focus on one of the following topics:
Fundraising
Community Engagement
Outside Broadcasting
Technology
Sponsorship
Governance
Make a submission by June 13 here.
NSW’S 14 MOST VIOLENT VENUES
Liquor & Gaming NSW has unveiled the 14 most violent venues in NSW, with Sydney Junction Hotel atop the state list and the Munich Brauhaus in the Rocks heading the Sydney list.
Sydney Junction Hotel, Newcastle (25 incidents)
Munich Brauhaus, Sydney (21)
Ivy, Sydney (19)
The Coast Hotel, Coffs Harbour (17)
The Sunken Monkey, Erina (15)
Amaroo Hotel, Dubbo (14)
Sugar Lounge, Manly (14)
King Street Hotel, Newcastle (13)
Scruffy Murphy’s, Sydney (13)
Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee (13)
Home Nightclub, Sydney (13)
Camden Hotel, Camden (12)
Penrith Leagues Club, Penrith (12)
Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach (12)
BRISBANE GAMETES TAKE ON CITY COUNCIL
Don’t get mad, get even. That’s what Brisbane band The Gametes plan to do.
They were one of 24 acts shortlisted in Brisbane City Council’s music video competition The QUBE Effect.
But when singer and guitarist Tom Hardin watched their posted video on his computer, he was startled to find that the word “male impotence” had been blurred by the council.
Having ascertained it wasn’t a smudge on the screen, the band tried to speak to the council’s lawyers but, Hardin says, got no joy.
The council’s explanation is that “sexually explicit content, discriminatory comment and political comment” were not permitted in the competition.
So The Gametes have asked supporters to vote for their video.
The Facebook post stated, “You can fight against OPPRESSION. This is a vote for FREE SPEECH, a vote for LIBERTARIAN GOVERNMENT, a vote for men to be free from the SHACKLES of their IMPOTENCE.”
The idea is that if they win, they’ll donate half of the $2000 cash component of the prize to a men’s sexual health organisation.
SPANISH RAPPER FLEES COUNTRY
Spain has reportedly issued a global arrest warrant for rap artist Valtonyc.
He was convicted to serve 3½ years in jail after the National High Court found that some of his lyrics glorified terrorism and insulted the Spanish royal family.
While supporters are rallying and talking to powers that be in the European Union, Valtonyc seems to have skipped the country and hiding somewhere in Belgium.
ADELAIDE MUSOS NEED FUNDS FOR STUDIO IN KENYA
Adelaide rapper DyspOra and folk singer Delia Obst are collecting donations of money and music gear for a new recording studio in a refugee camp in Kenya.
The studio is in the Kakuma Refugee Camp, where DyspOra (aka Gabriel Akon) lived in for a time after he and his family fled war in South Sudan.
Last year DyspOra won Best Male Artist at the South Australian Music Awards.
However, donations have to be confirmed before tomorrow when Obst is heading to Kenya with Adelaide-based NGO Barefoot to Boots (BTB).
More information on how to help is at the BTB website or
email [email protected].
HIGH LEVEL OF NEW ZEALANDERS INTERACT WITH THE ARTS
Creative New Zealand’s triennial survey, New Zealanders & The Arts: Attitudes found that a high 80% of Kiwis have participated in and/or attended an arts event in the last 12 months.
74% feel proud when a NZ artist succeeds overseas, 67% reckon the arts should reflect NZ’s cultural diversity, and 61% believe the arts should be part of the education of every New Zealander.
59% say the arts contribute positively to NZ’s economy, 57% think they improve NZ society, 50% think their community would be poorer without the arts.
Young New Zealanders (10-14 year-olds) participating in the arts feel more confident (67%) and good about life (62%) while also making friends (58%).
However, despite such lofty beliefs, 62% in the study admitted that while some arts events interested them they still did not attend much.
The NZ government will use the statistics to find new ways to get NZ to attend more arts and music events.
AND A FEW OTHER THINGS …
Gang of Youths had to postpone some US and Canadian shows and return to their current home base London after singer Dave Le’Aupepe had vocal problems.
“My voice, which has caused me lots of trouble before, is in a bad way,” he recounted on Instagram, adding that in London he’ll get “treatment (speech therapy, vocal training etc).”
Business, political, sports and arts figures are pow-wowing about building a boutique sports and entertainment stadium on the Gold Coast.
Courtney Barnett’s Tell Me How You Really Feel has debuted the UK charts at #9 on the Official Charts Company’s Top 100, at #1 on the Vinyl Album charts and at #3 on the Independent Albums chart.
Robbie Williams and his songwriting collaborator Guy Chambers are working with David Walliams on a new adaptation of his book The Boy in the Dress for the Royal Shakespeare Company. The tale of a 12-year old cross dressing schoolboy is set to premiere in December 2019.
Amy Shark performs at Metricon Stadium this Saturday, June 2 to celebrate the Gold Coast SUNS playing their first home game since being turfed out during the Commonwealth Games. Shark returns from a US tour on May 31.
How did Drake respond to Pusha T dissing him on his latest track? Sent him an invoice for $100,000 for “reviving his career”!
Halsey’s Hopeless Fountain Kingdom has just sold a million in the US.
Video Ezy Figtree, in the Wollongong area, closed its doors last Sunday before being turned into a vet clinic hospital. Co-owner Frank Floro thinks his store was the last, or one of the last, video stores in NSW. Once there were 500 Video Ezy outlets across Australia.
Gold Coast electronic composer Jim Ottaway took out two wins in the Zone Music Reporter awards in New Orleans. They cover new age, world, ambient, electronic, solo piano, relaxation and instrumental. Ottaway’s Timeless e-Motion won the Electronic category and Deep Space Blue for Best Ambient Album.
Julie Goodwin, co-presenter on Nova Star 104.5’s breakfast show had her licence suspended for six months and fined $600 after pleading guilty to drink driving in Gosford Local Court.
Weezer obliged dedicated Twitter account @WeezerAfrica’s campaign for them to cover Toto’s 1982 karaoke classic ‘Africa’ – by recording another Toto hit, ‘Rosanna’ and sending it to them.
Not too long ago R&B singer Stan Walker cooed he had a “beautiful girlfriend who I’ve kept hidden away” because “she’s my little secret”. Not any more. During a holiday on the Cook Islands, he couldn’t resist sharing on Instagram some photos of his frolicking with “Sandra” (as he called her) but who is really photographer Alex King.
Rachael Beck fell in love with the Kimberley area of WA after performing at the Kimberley Moon Experience as part of the Ord Valley Muster and travelling around the region (she gives workshops on youth and mental health) that she told the West Australian she plans to make a musical about the area within the next 18 months.
Queensland band Boatkeeper’s new single ‘Refugee’ was inspired after singer Boyd Fuller was watching Anh Doh‘s comedy show The Happiest Refugee, seeing what was happening in The Middle East, Manus Island and Africa. As for Australia’s stance, the song goes “we’re strong, smart, show some heart, surely there’s a better way to fix this part.” The track is off their sophomore EP Vessels, which is out on June 8 and launches at Black Bear Lodge in Brisbane on June 22. Their first EP, Windward, notched up 1 million Spotify streams.