Industrial Strength: Musical Chairs – Sept 6, 2013

Australia’s John Rash made global music producer for Bacardi 

Founder and director of Australian brand communications consultancy Brand New Sounds, John Rash, relocates to London to take over the newly created position of global music producer for Bacardi Global Brands. He will head up a new non-traditional marketing approach to connect Bacardi with its global youth consumers by creating and building new innovative music-based consumer platforms for Bacardi brands across the world.

Rash scored the Bacardi gig after his success developing and creating strategic music platforms for CUB’s youth brands Miller, Carlton Dry and Bulmers in Melbourne. As its in-house strategic music consultant for CUB, Rash created music platforms Miller Tonight, Carlton Dry New Aussie Music and Bulmers Underground. All three are being rolled out with experiential, digital and brand media programming over the next few months. Before Brand New Sounds, Rash was executive director and partner of Sydney-based Peer Group Media, Australia’s largest music partnership company. Rash also worked for ten years as strategy planner and group account director at ad agencies Campaign Palace, Leo Burnett, Clemenger, BMF and JWT.

Ian Skippen joins 4BC Brisbane 

Former Triple M and B105 breakfast host Ian Skippen took over on 4BC Brisbane’s breakfast show until Christmas. He joined Mary Collier on Monday. He replaces Peter Dick, who left radio for health reasons. The show also lost Kim Mothershaw who is pursuing other commitments after three months. Anthony Frangi, GM of 4BC, said, “Ian has a strong record in commercial media, and his story-telling and communication skills will mesh well with co-host Mary Collier’s style.” Will Skippen stay on at 4BC in 2014?

Shock’s Craig May joins AIR board

Craig May, head of Shock Records, joined the board of the Association of Independent Record Labels (AIR). Leaving was Scot Crawford, who is now GM at Pledge Music.

Sas Metcalfe to head Kobalt’s global creative

With the expansion of its global roster, Kobalt Music Group promoted its very first employee, Sas Metcalfe, from executive VP creative to the newly-created role of president, global creative. The 18-person creative services team is esponsible for Kobalt’s creative deals, including new signings, acquisitions and identifying new partnerships with emerging publishers. Continuing to be based in Los Angeles, Metcalfe also artist, writer and producer collaborations and development for both direct signings plus the talent rosters of some of Kobalt’s publishing company clients. She was most recently head of A&R at EMI Records UK and head of A&R for Warner Chappell Music Publishing U.K.

Johnny McKay back at Territory FM 

Territory FM Darwin’s breakfast co-host Johnny McKay left four weeks ago to become an electrician. But after James Perrin left the show to become promo manager at Grant Broadcaster’s Geelong stations Bay FM, K-Rock and Hot Country, the station asked him to return “with an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

Warner Music promotes Sara Nemerov to global role 

Warner Music Group promoted Sara Nemerov to senior VP/head of global consumer products and brand licensing, Billboard reported.In addition to overseeing consumer products and brand licensing, she will develop retail partnerships and new product lines in collaboration with WMG labels and artists. “We’re trying to find the best avenue for [artists] to make money, as well as helping them have a program and a presence when they’re off-cycle on their albums,” New York-based Nemerov said. One of the acts she brokered licensing deals for was the Gold Coast’s Cody Simpson.

New weekend breakfast show for Today network 

Southern Cross Austereo’s Today Network will launch a new weekend breakfast show on September 14. Weekend Breakfast with Sophie and Dave, which airs from 7 am to 9 am on Saturdays and Sundays, features Sophie Monk and Dave Thornton and is produced by MCM Media. Monk is returning to Australia from her base in Los Angeles.

Pandora makes first NZ appointment 

Pandora is beefing up its New Zealand presence by making its first appointment there. Melanie Reece, from radio/TV network Mediaworks, becomes its sales director.

Ruby Slipperz switches to 96.5FM

Ruby Slipperz, long time radio presenter and entertainer (she is also a member of children’s group Popcorn) has joined 96five Brisbane. She did the breakfast show River 94.9 Ipswich for the past three years.

Warner/Chappell expands global digital team 

Warner Music Group’s publishing arm Warner/Chappell made three key appointments to its global digital business. Ann Sweeney in New York is now EVP of digital strategy and policy. Her role is to globally drive a cohesive digital licensing strategy, oversee the company’s approach to digital legislation, and collaborate with affiliates to build partnerships with established and emerging service providers. Stephen Dallas is appointed vice president of digital legal affairs and business development. London-based Iain Morris takes over the newly created role of head of digital for Europe.

Anna Muscara exits LPA, Helpmanns

Anna Muscara, membership services coordinator for the past five years for Live Performance Australia and its Helpmann Awards, has left to travel and pursue new challenges. Her duties are taken over by Niki Williams.

Anita Jacoby to head ITV Studios 

Anita Jacoby, former co-director of TV production house Zapruder’s Other Films, takes over as head of ITV Studios in Australia. She replaces Leonie Lowe who is setting up her own production house. Zapruder’s Other Films, in which she teamed with Andrew Denton, produced Enough Rope, The Gruen series and Elders, for 11 years until it merged with Cordell Jigsaw last year.

Ticketmaster’s Nathan Hubbard joins Twitter 

Former Ticketmaster president Nathan Hubbard has been named Twitter’s first head of commerce. His brief is to grow revenue by enabling shopping via short postings on the social website.

SCA’s Stacey Skaroto switches to Fairfax

Southern Cross Austereo’s Stacey Skaroto has moved to Fairfax Radio’s 2UE Sydney as agency sales manager – Sydney.

Tiffany Dimmack new production manager at Corporate Sound 

Tiffany Dimmack is new production manager at Brisbane-based Corporate Sound and Phone Sound (part of Media Group). She began as a producer in 2007, first at radio 4BC Brisbane, followed by stints at Southern Cross Media and Prime Radio, with the last three years at Abe’s Audio.