Industrial Strength: Musical Chairs – Aug 22, 2013
Wollongong appoints Live Music Task Force
Wollongong City Council appointed ten people to the Live Music Task Force to review current policies and procedures to promote live music in the city. They are Yours and Owls café owner Ben Tillman, Oscars Hotel operations manager Carlie Carroll, live music advocate Jessie Hunt, tertiary educator Phil Slater, booking agent and operator of Music Farmers Jeb Taylor, festival promoter Michelle Hanley, former Lord Mayor adviser Shaun Prince, Illawarra Folk Festival operations manager Neil Roswell, production manager Simon Leamon and community radio presenter Peter Langstaff.
Councillor Ann Martin will chair the Taskforce, with councillors Vicki Curran, John Dorahy, Bede Crasnich and Leigh Colacino involved. The Taskforce will be supported by Sydney live music activist John Wardle who recently appointed to the National Live Music Office. Observer roles have also been offered to Alex Masso from Music Council of Australia and Dr Ianto Ware, the National Live Music coordinator, the Council reported. The man behind the push for the establishment of the Wollongong Live Music Taskforce, Dr Robert Carr commented on the new taskforce: “This brings the Wollongong Taskforce strategically into line with State and national efforts. It is great to see the number of musicians taking part.”
Scott Jenson starts at Nova Brisbane
Scott Jenson started this week at Nova 106.9 Brisbane as sales director. He’s been in marketing for 15 years, including at Clemenger BBDO, Brand Advantage, and Citigroup in Sydney and the Melbourne Racing Club. Most recently he ran his own commercial marketing business in Melbourne focused on sports and entertainment before moving to Brisbane in May.
Nathan Hubbard out at Ticketmaster
Live Nation confirmed that Nathan Hubbard is out as global president of its subsidiary Ticketmaster. Some of his duties will be taken on by Ticketmaster North American president Jared Smith. These include global contact centers, ticketing product groups, customer service and client relations. Ticketmaster is about to launch a new secondary platform TM+, which it claims will revolutionize ticket reselling.
Holmes leaves Hot Tomato
Paul ’Holmesy’ Holmes, part of Hot Tomato Gold Coast’s breakfast show for the past seven years, announced on air that he was leaving the station. “This is the last show that I’ll be doing at Hot Tomato,” he told listeners. “The decision was made yesterday.”
New global head for Warner/Chappell Production Music
Warner/Chappell Production Music – the production music arm for Warner Music Group – named Randy Wachtler as global president and CEO. His production music company 615 Music earned more than 70 awards for excellence in music composition including two National Emmys.
Nic Kelly tapped for 2DAY FM show
Nic Kelly, national content manager of Project U, the music and pop culture site which he co-founded, was tapped by Southern Cross Austereo to host its new Monday to Thursday night social media show Trending Tonight. The 18-year old is also a presenter on Sea FM on the NSW Central Coast.
Reality TV judges round-up
Jennifer Lopez’s boyfriend Casper Smart, while spruiking his new TV show, accidentally blabbed to E! News that Lopez is returning as judge to American Idol. After last year’s ratings freefall, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson were herded out the door. Keith Urban is returning to Idol but, a producer for the show said that the deal with Lopez had not yet been closed.
Meantime, Louis Walsh, the last of the original judging panel of X-Factor UK will step down following the upcoming season after ten years. The ex-manager of Boyzone wants to return to managing acts. He’s signed Shane Filan from Westlife and is putting together a new boyband. This year, the outspoken Sharon Osbourne returns to the panel, joining Gary Barlow and Nicole Scherzinger.
BBC Advertising hires sales VP
BBC Advertising hired Alistair McEwan as vice president of advertising sales across Australia and New Zealand. He will be based in BBC Worldwide’s Sydney office as part of the senior management team.
ABC TV changes
Tim Brooke-Hunt, controller of children’s content across ABC Television, will leave in September to pursue new opportunities in children’s entertainment. Under his watch, ABC TV’s children’s programming extended beyond drama and animation into entertainment, sketch comedy, docos and factual/reality genres. He played a significant role in establishing the Asian Animation Summit and developed ABC’s co-production relationships with Asian partners including China’s national broadcaster CCTV. In two new major appointments, Catalyst’s series producer Matt Scully is made a commissioning editor in the Factual department and Showtime Australia’s Anthony Mrsnik becomes manager for international acquisitions and business development.
Vision Radio promotes Steve Monroe
Vision Radio Network promoted Steve Monroe to assistant content manager, working alongside content manager Craig Johnstone.
New names for AIM board
Four new names join the UK’s Association of Independent Music board. They are Lesley Bleakley (Beggars Group), Sarah Bolshi (Sunday Best), Shirin Foroutan (Mute Group) and Michael McClatchey (Moshi Mosh). They replace Kerry Harvey-Piper (Red-Grape), Natalie Judge (Matador), Simon Raymonde (Bella Union) and Ben Watt (Buzzin’ Fly).