Industrial Strength: November 20

MAJOR AUSSIE SONGWRITERS MAKE VAST PROJECT

Some of Australia’s greatest songwriters wrote and recorded an album called Vast in the historic deserted settlement of Cossack (BAJINHURRBA), in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Bernard Fanning, Sally Seltmann, Paul Dempsey, Glenn Richards (Augie March), Oh Mercy, Alan Pigram (Pigram Brothers), Jae Laffer (the Panics), Kav Temperley (Eskimo Joe), comedian Paul McDermott and others camped with visual artists and a musical instrument maker for a week.

The songs that emerged were their response to the awe-inspiring landscape, a celebration of the land and the people of the coastal desert region.

A documentary of the sessions will be issued shortly.

All proceeds generated by the Vast album sales will be used to promote, encourage and advancing artistic pursuits in the Pilbara region.

The fund will be available for any Pilbara resident, the award of a grant dependent on the review and recommendation of the Vast Project Trust panel. For more go to: https://thevastproject.com

AUSTRALIA COUNCIL SET TO ANNOUNCE LOANS IDEA

The Australia Council is about to announce a trial of small loans to musicians and other artists as a form of cash flow.

It’s seen as an option for Council’s own admission that it has so many applications for grants, especially from the contemporary music sector, that it would need a pool of $3 million a year.

The Council’s Frank Panucci revealed this during a hearing by the Commonwealth government’s parliamentary study on the arts and music economy.

The Council will partner with various state agencies on the pilot.

The advantage of the loans is that currently, young emerging acts are paying for their careers by maxing out their credit cards and paying high interest.

Panucci pointed out, “We have seen small microloan programs for artists offered in Australia and overseas—very small pockets of them.

“We’ve done work with those organisations that have delivered them and we’ve identified that the repayment rates are extremely high.

“The defaults are less than five per cent, which is pretty phenomenal.

“We want to do the pilot and run it for a year because more flexible ways of being able to support artists are the thing that drives the Australia Council.”

TOUR GROSS #1: U2 GET EXPERIENCED

U2’s just completed Experience + Innocence run through North America and Europe grossed US$126.2 million, according to Pollstar which crunched the numbers.

The paddys sold out 59 performances in 30 arenas on both continents, racking up $126,188,794 in sales.

The final ticket count from the Live Nation-produced tour hit 927,034, Pollstar said.

The tour is among the best sellers of the year, alongside the other $100 million mark juggernauts by Pink, Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake.

It would certainly be up there in terms of production: this one had an awesome “barricage”, a 29m-long free-floating catwalk wedged between two 7m-tall translucent ultra-HD video walls.

When Experience + Innocence wound up in Berlin last week, Bono dramatically stated, “We’re going away now.”

That generated sobbing and wailing in some quarters that U2 were splitting up.

The Bonester usually says something like that at the end of a tour. One time it was “we’re going away and dreaming it all over again”.

TOUR GROSS #2: CHER IN AUSTRALIA

Cher’s 12 shows in Australia grossed US$12.3 million and two shows in New Zealand took in $1.7 million – and sold a combined115,776 tickets, Billboard recorded.

MUSICA COPA CHARITY BACK WITH 2018 DATES, PLAYERS

Now in its sixth year, music industry charity five-a-side football tournament Musica Copa announces its 2018 date, teams, star players & new additions.

It kicks goals on Friday, December 7 at KIKOFF Fraser Park in Marrickville, Sydney.

All proceeds from the event are donated to charity, with a minimum $10,000 prize fund up for grabs for the winning teams from Musica Copa’s two divisions.

Joining longtime participants Sony, MTV, Future Classic, last year’s winner Universal, and many others, this year sees new teams/businesses – Architects of Entertainment & Music & Booze Co, Astral People, Century Venues, Network Ten & The Loop and Red Bull Music.

On the pitch, will be Hayden James, Montaigne, Winston Surfshirt, Alex The Astronaut, Pat Liney (Cosmo’s Midnight), MUTO and Winterbourne plus members of Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, World Champion, Erthlings and Motorik Vibe Council.

Having confirmed his status as a top grade goalie at Musica Copa’s ABILITY FEST tournament, comedian Matt Okine makes his debut.

New to Musica Copa this year is the Ultra Football Players Lounge featuring the latest Nike Always Forward product pack, players ‘nickname’ pressing machines, a chill-out zone and foosball tables plus a shop selling essential soccer items.

Also new for 2018 is Half Time Talk; a new content series produced by Musica Copa to explore the special link between football and music.

DMA’s launched the series just before the World Cup and this month Winston Surfshirt talked about his passion for Portsmouth FC, how England performed at the World Cup and his new band POLOSHIRT.

RATINGS #1: “ALL TOGETHER NOW” MOVES UP

Seven’s singing program All Together Now increased its overnight metro viewing on Sunday to 698,000, up from 684,000 the week before.

It was the top non-news/current affairs show of the night.

It ranked #1 with the 16 – 39 age group, and #2 in the 25—54 and 18—49 demos.

RATINGS #2: NZ AWARDS HIGHEST OF ALL TIME

The telecast on Three channel of last week’s Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards drew their highest ratings to date.

77,675 viewers from the 25-54 demographic tuned in, up from last year’s 70,304 input from that age group.

The awards peaked with a 20.1% share, with a 10% growth in on-demand viewing and up 13% in live streaming.

AVICII’S FAMILY REMEMBER HIM

An emotional and dignified memorial service was held eight months after Swedish DJ Avicii’s death at the Hedvig Eleonora Church in Stockholm.

Hundreds of fans amassed inside and outside the church, joining family and friends.

The 28-year-old killed himself in Muscat, Oman in April this year.

His father Klas Bergling delivered an emotional tribute while a choir sang Avicii songs, including “Wake Me Up” and “Without You” as the DJ’s photos were placed on the altar.

In a statement the family said:

‘Our beloved Tim was a seeker, a fragile artistic soul searching for answers to existential questions.

“An overachieving perfectionist who travelled and worked hard at a pace that led to extreme stress.

“When he stopped touring, he wanted to find a balance in life to be happy and be able to do what he loved most – music.

“‘He really struggled with thoughts about Meaning, Life, Happiness. He could not go on any longer. ‘He wanted to find peace.

“Tim was not made for the business machine he found himself in; he was a sensitive guy who loved his fans but shunned the spotlight.

“Tim, you will forever be loved and sadly missed. The person you were and your music will keep your memory alive.

“We love you, your family.’

DIDI SIGNS WITH MELBOURNE MUSIC WEEK

Chinese ride-sharing giant  DiDi is among the partners at the current  Melbourne Music Week.

There is a dedicated pickup and drop off zone right behind their hub at ACMI on the Russell Street Extension.

First-time DiDi users get 10 x $5 ride vouchers (limited to first 5000, T&Cs apply) when their download the app via this link → http://bit.ly/2zXJ9Gb.

NEW NATIONAL INDIGENOUS ASSOCIATION SET UP

A consultation process is underway across Australia by December 7 to inform the development of a National Indigenous Arts and Cultural Authority (NIACA).

See here for discussion paper: https://niaca.com.au/discussion-paper/.

SONOS REPORTS $270M IN Q4

California-based wireless speakers and home sound systems maker Sonos exceeded Wall Street expectations when it posted revenue of $272.9 million in Q4.

Its loss in the quarter was $1.7 million.

Revenue for the year was as $1.14 billion and losses were $15.6 million.

Sonos is in over 7.4 million households around the world.

Highlights were an expansion into Japan, and a partnership with IKEA, with plans to add Google Assistant to its platform soon.

COLLARTS MOVES TO NEW CAMPUS

Collarts aka College of the Arts has moved to its new

state of the art Wellington Street campus in Collingwood, Melbourne.

Teachers, students, alumni and music industry types gathered at the campus to celebrate the $5.2 million expansion while students performed.

It boasts studios, a critical listening room, three computer labs, more student break out areas, more classrooms, individual tech rooms, a large 110 seat auditorium and a theatrette for lectures and film screenings.

BTS MOVIE AT VILLAGE CINEMAS

South Korean cutie-pies BTS first movie Burn the Stage: The Movie. has sold nearly 1 million (940,000) pre-sale tickets in 70 countries, according to distributor Trafalgar Releasing.

The film, which is shown in Australia via Village Cinemas,

takes a look at the 2017 BTS Live Trilogy Episode III: The Wings Tour.

It played 40 concerts in 19 countries to 550,000 fans.

AND A FEW OTHER THINGS …

The sale of Gold Coast independent radio station Hot Tomato to regional network Grant Broadcasters (due to finalise on November 30) didn’t come with a price tag. However, the yakety-yak around the watercoolers is that it was a figure not too far from $30 million.

Police investigating the death of Liam Anderson, son of Rose Tattoo’s Angry Anderson, are looking for a “mysterious jogger” who might have seen the alleged assault.

Coldplay to go back into studio next year to work on “surprising” new album.

40,000 people have signed a petition asking Maroon 5 not to play halftime show at the Super Bowl.

Eagles of Death Metal’s Jess Hughes can’t attend an anniversary event of the Batacan club shooting in Paris after he got run over by a car,

The petition to save Sydney’s Theatre Royal is quickly catching up to its target of 7500 signatures. By the end of the weekend, it was sitting at 6505. The Sunday Telegraph reported that a global consortium backed by Richard Branson offered $10 million to revamp the place but was turned down by the deserted theatre’s owners.

Kanye West donated $150,000 to a family of a security guard shot dead by police in Chicago, while Metallica forked over $100,000 to help California’s wildfire relief efforts.

Ian Moss has joined Busby Marou’s One Hot Night festival in Rockhampton next month, alongside Dean Lewis, Tia Gostelow and local faves Silky Fuzz.

The HIT105 breakfast host Abby Coleman and husband Scott Burdon welcomed their third son Koa last Friday.

In between starting work on Spice Girls reunion stuff, Emma Bunton is recording a solo album, her first for BMG. “Love being in the studio!!!!” she squealed.

Zayn Malik no longer a practising Muslim because he “doesn’t want to be defined by religion.”

Speaking of which, the world’s latest Muslim, Sinead O Connor wants to outlive Bono so that he won’t speak at her funeral: “he’d shite on.”

A 12-year-old New Zealand Metallica fan who launched an online petition to get his heroes to play NZ got a letter from prime minister Jacinda Ardern.

“It’s great to hear about young New Zealanders who are passionate about music.” she wrote. “I grew up listening to Metallica, and I’m really impressed by all the effort you have put into getting them to play a show in New Zealand.

“All the best with your campaign, William, and I hope you get to see Metallica play soon!”

Aussie singer-songwriter Jade Imagine is joining Julia Jacklin on her run of UK shows this month. Two of the dates, in London and Manchester, are sold out.

ACT Police reported that at last Saturday’s Spilt Milk festival in Canberra, they arrested one person, took three into custody and seized eight tablets.