Industrial Strength: November 1
SONY ACTS HELP FOUNDATION RAISE $1.1M FOR CANCER
Sony Music Australia acts Jessica Mauboy, Guy Sebastian, Mark Vincent, Marina Prior and Daryl Braithwaite – along with visiting UK act Rag’n’Bone – helped the Sony Foundation raise a record $1.1 million for youth cancer cause You Can. It brings the total to over $5.5 million.
They performed at the 8th Wharf4Ward function in Sydney, a lengthy lunch with 800 guests from business, politics, media, celebrities and sport.
YouCan is funding the building of specialised youth cancer centres for 15-25 year olds. It donated $1.8 million for the first in Perth, $1.5 million for one in Melbourne this year, building a third in Sydney and planning a fourth in Brisbane.
AMAZON LOOKING FOR AUSSIE CEO
Ahead of its stand-alone streaming launch next year, Amazon has been pow-wowing with a number of prospectives to take over as Australian CEO.
Not only is it looking for someone with knowledge of the Australian market, but also “an understanding” of the local freight industry. This would be for its “express home delivery” service, most likely using Uber drivers.
X FACTOR HITS LOWEST
Sunday night’s edition of Seven’s The X Factor registered its lowest amount of viewers in its eight seasons, with 676,000 metros tuning in. It was well and truly trumped by Nine’s The Block in the same timeslot, which reeled in 1.175 million metros.
The reboot of the show with new judges and new initiatives, following last year’s ho-hum ratings, clearly hasn’t worked.
Last night’s figures were even worse, at 603,000.
MORE A-LIST COLLABORATIONS FOR IMPALA’S PARKER?
Following on from his collaboration with Lady Gaga and Mark Ronson on her Perfect Illusion single, Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker teases more A-list team-ups could be on the way. “There’s definitely a few other things coming up.
“You don’t have to be switched on to realise that if I do this, and then this happens… it’s just the way the music world works, you know? So there’s going to be other things happening, but I think I’d be ruining it if I mentioned who.”
AUSTRALIA HEADING TO EUROVISION
Australia has officially been confirmed among 43 nations to be represented at Eurovision 2017 in the Ukrainian capital Kiev in May. It’s the third time for Terror Australis after being granted a wildcard entry in 2015.
Guy Sebastian came fifth that year in Vienna, and Dami Im was second in May this year in Stockholm.
Still no word on where SBS Australia is at with the Asia Pacific version of the song contest.
GUVERA STAFF IN US, LATIN AMERICA, STILL UNPAID?
After Guvera slammed close the doors of its offices in Australia, United States, Latin America, Russia and Europe in late June, staff in the US and Latin America are still pleading to be paid.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported it has seen an email sent to the company’s Australian founders pleading for a payment plan as “many of us are facing financial distress”.
FEAR OF MILEY LEAD TO ATTACK
Melbourne homeless schizophrenic Andrew Johannesen told Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday that a fear that singer Miley Cyrus would attack him with a meat cleaver drove him to punch three people before he bought an axe, which he then used to threaten a couple in Melbourne’s CBD in April.
The court heard he thought the US singer had been in “psychic communication” with him for years. He has to serve a year in custody before being eligible for parole.
SURFERS, BROADBEACH, VENUES VOTE FOR LOCKOUT
Licensed venues in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach have voted overwhelmingly for 1 am lockouts and 3 am last drinks. They had been given a choice by the Queensland Government before it brings in the 1 am lockout on February 1. The other option would be 2 am last drinks and no lockout.
24 of the 26 venues under the Safe Night Out Surfers Paradise voted for the 3am option, saying it was the right choice for Surfers as it needed to maintain its late night tourist image. Those in Broadbeach also overwhelmingly voted this way.
NT POLICE INVESTIGATING SKINNYFISH BREAK-IN
Northern Territory Police are still investigating a break-in at record label Skinnyfish’s Darwin offices. Skinnyfish estimated that $60,000 of gear was stolen. This included four computers, Gurrumul’s favourite guitar, a Martin HD-28, gifted to him by the company, the only two Royer Ribbon microphones in the NT, and instruments and equipment belonging to Tiwi Island boy band B2M who’re heading to Taiwan for the Pulima Festival this week and scrambling around finding replacement gear.
Skinnyfish had been celebrating co-founder Michael Hohnen’s birthday party and Skinnyfish artist Tom E Lewis being named a finalist for the 2017 Australian of the Year awards.
ROLLING AMONG $100 NOTES
Sia Furler was ranked #79 in the BRW Young Rich list with $32 million.
A list of NZ young-25s saw 19-year-old Lorde with an estimated fortune of $11 million.
HILLSONG HITS #1 ON US CHRISTIAN CHART
Hillsong United’s live album Let There Be Light is their 12th chart topper on the US Top Christian Albums Chart. Recorded at Qudos Bank Arena it entered at #1 after selling 16,000 copies in its first week.
“More than anything, our greatest hope for this record is that it will give people something to sing that rages against the chorus of division and fear that seems to be making so much noise right now,” Hillsong’s Joel Houston told Billboard. “God knows the world needs more love, more empathy, more hope, more light.”
PAULINI IN THE BODYGUARD
Sydney–based Fijian-born R&B five-octave singer Paulini plays Whitney Houston’s role of Rachel Marron, the singer with stalker problems, in the Australian production of The Bodyguard The Musical which premieres at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre in Sydney in April 2017.
Ironically Paulini first came to attention as a teenager as winner of the National Star Search Competition with a treatment of Whitney’s When You Believe. The Bodyguard The Musical co-producer John Frost remarked, “When Paulini came into the audition room and sang those Whitney Houston hits, we knew she was born to be our leading lady.”
AUSTRALIA MADE MOVIE CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY…
Richard Lowenstein’s Australian Made movie, of the famous six-city 1986 tour, celebrates its 30th anniversary with 40 Event Cinemas and Village Cinemas on Friday, November 25 for one night only.
The tour starred INXS, Jimmy Barnes, Divinyls, Models, The Saints, I’m Talking and The Triffids to demonstrate that Australian acts were of equal calibre of international acts. It was the brainchild of INXS manager Chris Murphy, and Mark Pope, who at the time was overseeing Barnes’ career.
It caused a significant change in Australian pop culture. Australian Made created the blueprint of the Australian travelling festivals as Big Day Out and Soundwave. But as Michael Hutchence said at the time, “It’s grown-up time. We’ve come of age. This has proved that we’re part of the world music scene.”
…WHILE PUSH BEGINS FOR MICHAEL HUTCHENCE STATUE
As the 20th anniversary of the death of Michael Hutchence appears next year (November 22), fans have mobilised social network pushing for his birthplace Sydney to set up a bronze statue in memory. Fans are looking at the new International Convention Centre precinct. The idea is endorsed by his half-sister Tina Hutchence.
WA LAUNCHES STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
Western Australia’s Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA) has launched Strategic Directions 2016-2031, the state’s first long-term policy of its kind for the arts and culture sector as a partnership between Government, business and community.
It’s a road map to ensure ambitions for the sector are realised through a unified approach by government, the community and private enterprise.
The DCA said, “Many local, national and international partners will assist in identifying new opportunities for continual creative growth and expression. Something we can look forward to in 2031 is a bigger and busier culture and arts sector that continuously creates new jobs and opportunities.”
15 MANAGERS READY TO TAKE CONTROL
15 music managers were picked for the Australian Music Industry Network’s professional development program CONTROL: The Business of Music Management.
Five are from Victoria: Shaun Adams, Pete Sofo, Carolyn Logan, Lorrae Therese McKenna and Jill Shelton.
From NSW are Andrew Boon, Luke Girgis, Regan Lethbridge and Narayan Wallace.
Others are Nicola Pitt (Alice Springs), Dominic Miller (Brisbane), Rachel Davison (Perth) and, from NZ, Dylan Keating, Fenella Stratton and Manu Taylor.
The first of two residential workshops is in Hepburn Springs outside Melbourne in late November. Mentors are Terry McBride from Canada, Teresa Patterson from NZ, Australia’s Tom Larkin and entertainment lawyer Julia Kosky from LA.
“What an impressive line-up of music managers from across Australia and New Zealand,” said Patrick Donovan, Chair, Australian Music Industry Network, “They represent some of our most loved artists including Archie Roach, Frank Yamma and hot up and comers like Tash Sultana.
“CONTROL will help take them from strength to strength.”
MUSIC IN SEVEN’S 2017 SCHEDULE
Seven unveiled its 2017 programming schedule at an event in Sydney, which confirmed that music has a role.
There’ll be a mini-series on the life of Olivia Newton-John. Directed by Shawn Seet, produced by Margot McDonald and executive produced by Jo Porter and Julie McGauran, Olivia Newtown-John is a FremantleMedia Australia production for Seven, made with the assistance of Screen Australia and Film Victoria.
Jessica Mauboy will continue another year of juggling music with TV as The Secret Daughter is returning next year.
Dancing With The Stars has been scrapped due to poor ratings.
Seven also set up a digital division Platform 7, a youth-focussed content play that would distribute shows to the channels millennials are using.
JEFF ST JOHN PREPS AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Wheelchair-bound singer Jeff St John releases his autobiography The Story of Jeff St. John this month through Starman Books.
Over 258 pages, the man born Jeffrey Leo Newton recounts how at an early age he was diagnosed with Spina Bifida, which led to months of hospitalisation and finally kept him in a wheelchair. In the meantime he toured relentlessly and had hits with Big Time Operator and Teach Me How To Fly.
Relationships didn’t last, he was wracked with self-doubt and he almost killed himself. Now 70 and living happily in Perth with soul mate Marilyn, he continues to be dogged with medical issues. The book comes with 300 images and an extensive collection of memorabilia including gig posters, magazine covers and song lyrics, together with a comprehensive discography.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE
Vying for the December 6 AACTA subscriber TV awards in Original Music Score are Darrin Verhagen’s Boys In The Trees, Marco Beltrami’s Gods of Egypt, Antony Partos’ Tanna and David Barber’s Teenage Kicks.
In the meantime, the Molly mini-series picked up a swag of nominations. The two-parter is up for Best Telefeature Or Miniseries. Samuel Johnson was recognised for his portrayal of “Molly” Meldrum in Best Lead Actor In A Television Drama.
Ben Gerrard who played Meldrum’s troubled housemate Caroline is nominated for Best Guest Or Supporting Actor In A Television Drama.
SONG CONTEST HEADS TO TAMWORTH
The 3rd annual Regional Song Contest is heading to Tamworth. Open only to 13—19-year-olds, prizes include live sets on the Fanzone Stage at the 2017 Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Last year’s winner Georgie Taylor, 14, went on to play a number of major festivals. 2014 winner Harry Marshall, 17, recorded with producer Kev Brown and is signed to The A&R Department. Tyler Shoobert, 16, is working on his debut indie music release with comp organiser fRETfEST.
STAN HAS 600,000 SUBSCRIBERS
In a presentation to investors, Australian streaming videos on demand service Stan claimed it had 1.4 million sign-ups and 600,000 active subscribers. It claimed a 75% conversion rate from those trialling the service for free. Average viewing time tripled from September 2015 to September 2016.
Fairfax Media and Nine Entertainment Co company anticipatebreaking even in the second quarter of the 2018 financial year if it builds active subscriber numbers to 1 million.
Original content seems to be the key to this: a chart showed an initial surge in sign-ups when it launched in January 2015, then a sharp fall until September when original series began.
TEMPUS SUN WIN MELBOURNE MUSIC BANK
Moonee Ponds’ six-piece Tempus Sun won the Bank of Melbourne’s Melbourne Music Bank. They received a grand prize worth $60,000 including studio time with a producer, mixing and mastering engineers to record an EP, concept design, production, filming and editing of two film clips, 500 CD copies of the EP, a radio plugger, manager and booking agent, media training and styling, On The Map PR services for a month, an east coast tour and a spot at the renowned Beyond The Valley music festival.
Judges included Bank of Melbourne’s Head of Brand and Marketing Jac Phillips, outgoing Beat editor Cara Williams, Emily Cheung from On The Map PR, manager Matt O’Connor, Damian Costin from 123 Agency and Frank Varrasso from Varrasso PR.
AND A FEW OTHER THINGS
The Australian Road Crew Association has landed another benefactor. Following on from Air Supply donating proceeds from their tour earlier this year, Chugg Entertainment is the first promoter to donate five cents per tickets sold at its shows. ARCA’s mission to raise money for road crews in distress has no government funding, and working with Support Act Ltd.
Byron Bay hard rock band Parkway Drive’s Devil’s Calling will be one of three theme songs for WWE’s NXT TakeOver in Toronto. The band includes wrestlers Seth Rollins and Tomasso Ciampa among their fans.
Shock! Horror! Barnaby Joyce is not a Smiths fan! During his Australian tour, which wrapped up last night in Newcastle, Morrissey scribbled off a lengthy missive to Joyce that Australia’s animal live-export industry is “the slow boat to hell”. Joyce responded via Twitter that he isn’t “a big fan of The Smiths,” but is “a great fan” of the families reliant on the animal live-export industry. So there.
Aussie pop singer/songwriter Cody Simpson and David & Victoria Beckham’s 17-year-old son Brooklyn were spotted attending Kanye West’s Los Angeles show together.
This Sunday’s Live at The Foreshore concert has sold out all 4,000 tickets. The bill includes Ross Wilson, Richard Clapton, 1927, Dragon, Wendy Matthews, Steve Kilbey, Rose Tattoo, Thirsty Merc, Chocolate Starfish, Sharon O’Neill, Dynamic Hypnotics, Eurogliders and Pseudo Echo.
Leigh Carmichael, Creative Director of Tasmania’s Dark Mofo festival, recently appointed to the Australia Council board, told The Mercury he is contemplating turning up to its first meeting with four-packs of Moo Brew beer. The drinks’ label designs were based on paintings by Melbourne artist John Kelly’s series of paintings protesting what he saw was the Council’s moves to commercialise and brand art.
Ray Itaoui, owner of music retail Sanity Entertainment, has bought a mansion in Vaucluse, Sydney, for $60 million. The sale, on Carrara Road, is Australia’s biggest of a single house this year. After losses of $21.1 million in 2009, Sanity posted a $10 million profit in the year to June 2015. Itaoui, who migrated from Lebanon, began at Sanity as an area manager in 2001.
Screenwest this week moved offices to the second floor of the ABC building on Fielder Street in East Perth.
Wollongong-based Filipino-Australian singer-songwriter Cyrus Villanueva has announced his first shows outside Australia – two dates this month in the Philippines, where his dad and brother are professional entertainers.
Geelong’s K-Rock has brought back its The Band competition to find the best unsigned or independent artist in Geelong and the Victorian Surf Coast.
The Rubens sold out their Sydney and Melbourne zoo shows (Twilight At Taronga and Melbourne Zoo Twilights respectively) with second shows added in both cities.
Speaking on triple j, Cub Sport’s Tim Nelson said that one of the tracks on their next album would be a collaboration with Sarah Blasko in which she plays ukulele. They’d penned two songs together during an APRA Songwriters Hub in September.
Screen Sound CEO Tracey Vieira has been named the 2016 Telstra Queensland Business Woman of the Year.
Grant Broadcasters suspended Hobart’s 7HOFM breakfast co-host Anna Dare for comments made about the Dreamworld Thunder Rapids Ride where four people died, An apology was posted on the station’s website for her “serious lapse in judgement” It added, “The announcer is devastated at such a lapse.”
Sydney’s Pacific Opera company, which has launched the careers of 70 young singers, is looking at the grim possibility of closing its doors. Its main source of income, private donations, have dried up. It’s begun a crowdfunding campaign, a new donor drive and fund raising initiatives to raise $100,000 by end of November.
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