Industrial Strength: Optus and Vodafone enter streaming; ARN revenues rise; Will Labor revive Creative Australia?; Creditors meeting for Hi-Fi Bar

Two more entering video streaming market

Optus and Vodafone are the latest to signal an entry into Australia’s video streaming market.

Optus will reveal its plans for mobile video streaming in the next few weeks while it finalises agreements with content partners as broadcasters and film studios. Optus posted a 6% climb in revenues to $2.3 billion, with mobile revenue up 4% to $1.2 billion and 435,000 new 4G mobile customers.

Vodafone Hutchison Australia chief executive Inaki Berroeta said some users would get video streaming in 2015 as part of a strategy to grow subscriber and revenue levels in the next 12 months. Berroeta said there was a strong indication from customers for such a service.

Will Labor revive Creative Australia?

At a symposium at Monash University in Melbourne on the creative economy, Federal Shadow Arts Minister for the Arts Mark Dreyfus did a keynote on Labor’s arts policy. It’s a hot topic what with its National Conference coming up in July, and all indications pointing to its return to national power at next year’s elections. Dreyfus was a bit light on specifics, explaining the party is still in discussions with the arts sector about the way forward.

Certain elements of its applauded Creative Australia policy may be revived. He agreed all levels of Government must play a major role in advancing the sector’s growth. To a query about superannuation for ageing musicians, he admitted it was an issue “close to home for me”. His father, after all, is 87-year-old award-winning film and TV composer George Dreyfus.

ARN revenues up 18%

The Australian Radio Network’s revenues rose 18% to $180.9 million for the year ending December 2014, as its Kiis FM and WSFM networks performed strongly. Its parent company APN Media had a 27% rise in profit from last year to $75.2 million with gross earnings up 1% to $164.1 million. Revenues from the New Zealand division grew 8% to just under $50 million.

Creditors meeting for Hi-Fi Bar Group

A creditors’ meeting will be held in Melbourne on February 24 for the venue operator Hi-Fi Group. The company’s three Hi-Fi Bar venues – in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney – went into voluntary administration late last week. This was due to a creditor which, according to a statement from the venue operator, "could not be resolved.” The clubs continue to operate as administrator Simon Nelson, from Melbourne accounting firm Romanis Cant tries to find a buyer. A source told us buyers are on the radar, that the creditor was not a bank or financial service, and that one of the bookers, James Power, is retained to ensure smooth flow of operations.

Eminem’s stoush with NZ’s governing Nationals get court date

Eminem’s copyright infringement case against New Zealand’s ruling National Party is set to go to court in Wellington this Friday. The Detroit rapper’s publisher Eight Mile Style claims their election campaign theme song used a riff similar to his Lose Yourself hit without authorisation. The Nationals argue that they did get clearance from Australia’s production outfit Beatbox. The case will centre on whether a backing track riff or rhythm can be copyrighted.

Deadline for Arts SA music grants

Round 1 of Arts SA’s Contemporary Music grant program closes Friday March 6. It is open for recording, touring, record releasemarketing, skills development and show / festival presentations that start after July 1, 2015.

Magic busk

387 buskers gathered on Valentine’s Day on Brisbane’s Maiwar Green outside the Gallery of Modern Art set a Guinness World Record for largest busk in a single venue. The former record was set in the UK eight years ago.

Ne-Yo promo visit

US artistNe-Yo will be in Australia on promo for EMI/Universal between March 2 and 4. The visit is behind his Non Fiction album which debuted at #5 on the Billboard Top 200 and #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop.

Venues update

* Sydney’s Newport Arms is on the market, for a possible sale of $50 million.

* A soon to open jazz club, Rodney’s, in Perth’s Mosman Park, was told it must display signs banning bikie gang colours after intervention by police, The West Australian reported. In its application, Tropical Life Pty Ltd stated that the 120-capacity room would showcase jazz, soul, blues and cocktail music aimed at a sit-down crowd aged 30 to 55 with a “smart casual” dress code.

* The historic Nant Distillery in Tasmania’s Central Highlands will run regular concerts and events, alongside whisky tastings and showcase of Tasmanian food and wine.Its first event Jazz by The Mill on March 7 sees Australian World Orchestra members with singer Maria Lurighi and pianist Andrew Legg perform.

* To lure major name concert acts and sporting events, Gosford Council CEO Paul Anderson is lobbying the NSW Government for $30 million to upgrade facilities at the Central Coast Stadium and expand its capacity to 32,000 from 20,059 as promoters say it is currently financially unviable to bring top acts.

* After the recent outcry, Hawkesbury Council will ensure that one time top music venue Jolly Frog be restored once an application is submitted.

* Newcastle’s Silk Hotel licence will go to new management after Silk Hotels Newcastle Pty Ltd director Vasilis Moshos was disqualified by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority from running a licensed venue for ten years for alleged breach of conditions.

* The Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) in Sydney’s Parramatta has venue and equipment available for hire.

Row at GEM FM

A row has begun at community radio GEM FM in Bowen, Queensland. Emily Harvey, who was Secretary and Treasurer of operating company Bowen Community Broadcasting, was sacked in January. She contacted the Crime and Misconduct Commission, the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation, the Office of Fair Trading and the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia demanding an investigation into its management. Station management denies a need for one, dismissing it as a case of “sour grapes”.

Strong respond to inaugural Errol awards

The Theatre Council of Tasmania is delighted that 25 companies registered 37 shows for consideration by the inaugural Tasmanian Theatre Awards, aka The Errols. Winners, announced this month, compete in the Professional Theatre, Community Theatre and Community Musical Theatre categories.

Adelaide Fringe 215 to beat last year’s $66.3 million?

The Adelaide Fringe, which last year injected a record $66.3 million into the South Australian economy, could break that record this year. Business leaders point to lower interest rates and petrol prices, as well as active promotion of retail, restaurants and nightclubs to intestate and international visitors during their stay. Last year visitors spent $18 million. The Fringe is currently being staged. It’s too early to tell if it will beat last year’s 1.9 million attendance figure and2014’s 10% rise to 447,000 tickets sold.

MusicNT announces date for 2015 program launch

The Northern Territory’s MusicNT is at a March 19 function at the Darwin Entertainment Centre, unveiling its programs for 2015. These include the fourth NT Song of the Year awards, Hot Shots music photography competition, Bush Bands showcases, the intune darwin music conference, the music development Sista Sounds for indigenous female rappers and singer-songwriters and the National Indigenous Music Awards.

Copyright dispute over Ettamogah Pub heading to court

The copyright dispute over the Sunshine Coast’s (former) Ettamogah Pub – which showcases live music – is going to court. It will be heard at the Federal Court in Melbourne before Justice Bernard Murphy on April 15. The pub theme was based on the Kenneth Maynard cartoon The Ettamogah Pub Mob, to which Southern Equity owns the copyright. Timevale, which runs Aussie World, had the licence until last September. Southern Equity demanded all references to the name, photo, interior decorations and colour scheme be removed, But it claims all Timevale has done is to remove the name and utility from the building. It wants the pub to cease operations until all copyrighted references are removed. Aussie World GM David Thompson declined in a statement to comment as the matter was before the court.

Celeb magazines take circulation hits

In the Audit Bureau of Circulations figures for the six months to December 2014, Australian celeb-orientated magazines took a hit. Famous fell 14.5% to 60,122, Total Girl down near 30% to 34,721, Who down 12% to 101,405 with Take 5 and OK! falling about 4% each.

Comparatively, British music magazines fared better according to ABC figures also released last week. Q was up 3.7% to 50,161 (2,383 of which were digital) and Rock Sound was up 2.2% to 13,139. Mojo, the UK’s biggest selling music title, dipped 4.7% to 70,693, Uncut down 5.2% to 53,282 (1,809 digital) Classic Rock down 5.2% to 53,935 (2,853 digital) and Metal Hammer fell by 11.3% to 24,552 (1,373 digital). NME dropped 23% from the year before to 15,384 (1,389 digital) and Kerrang! dipped 13.7% to 30,300 sales.

ANU School of Music renamed The Athenaeum

As part of a $1 million refurbishment to become a creative hub, the ANU School of Music is renamed The Athenaeum. Changes include a wider array of performances (including music) at its Llewellyn Hall, which last year drew 100,000 to 190 events. A new addition is space to exhibit the vast School of Music instrument collection.

Music events added to NSW tourism boost

Vivid Sydney, the Tamworth Country Music Festival, the world premiere of Baz Luhrman’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical and the return of Disney’s The Lion King were among the events that helped NSW attract 29.6 million visitors making a total contribution of $22 billion to the NSW economy. According to NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Troy Grant, last year until September, 130 sporting, cultural and lifestyle events were held in the state, with regional events particularly successful.

Festiv app launches in Tasmania

Tasmanian entrepreneurs Nick Whittle and Craig Midgley are to launch a new app called Festiv. It lists every Tasmanian public event – including music, the arts, nightlife and festivals – with a map and ticketing details.

ACMA: almost 8 million Aussies watched online video content

New figures from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) showed that almost eight million Australians watched OVC (online video content) in the six months to June 2014. This was a 5% rise from May 2013. Online video content was most popular (61%) in the 25-34 and 35-44 age groups, 55% in the 18 to 24, and only 31% with the 65-plus. Most of the content had been shown on live TV, 52% watched TV or films online, and 44% of internet users watched catch-up TV. 67% viewed on a computer and 49% on an internet-enabled TV.

Across the board, Australians spent 96.5 hours a month watching videos on TV, 7.3 hours on laptops, 1.5 hours on mobile phones and 1.4 hours on tablets. But the 18 to 24 age group only watched 44.2 hours on live TV, 9 hours on laptops, four hours on mobiles and almost 3 hours on tablet. Of catch-ups, ABC’s iView is the most popular (71% of all users), then SBS On Demand, (32%), TENplay (22%), PLUS 7 (17%) and 9jumpi (13%). Most (73%) turned to OVC because of time convenience, 56% to skip ads, and 53% because it’s free. The report is at www.acma.gov.au.

QMusic tackles drugs, addiction and music

Queensland’s QMusic tackles drugs, addiction and music in a forum in Brisbane. It will ask why they're so inter-related, why biz folks are drawn to drugs, and how to cope. The free session is on Feb 25 at Brisbane Powerhouse 6pm – 8pm. Stacey Coleman, QMusic Project Officer and a member of the band HITS is facilitator. The panel includes author and columnist Jenny Valentish, SixFtHick’s Geoff Corbett (who has worked in AOD treatment, inpatient detox and outreach), Kellie Lloyd of Screamfeeder and Andrew McMillen whose first book Talking Smack: Honest Conversations About Drugs (2014) featured interviews with 14 musicians including Paul Kelly, Tina Arena, Steve Kilbey, Holly Throsby and Gotye.

Dead Daisies won’t get paid for Cuba visit

Australian/US band Dead Daisies’ trip next week to Cuba is seen as a symbolic thaw of relations between Cuba and the US. They are guests of the Cuban Ministry of Culture, Institute of Music and the Cuban Rock Agency Feb 22 to March 1. While in Cuba, they’ll do shows, record tracks for their next album, do workshops with school kids, and jam with Cuban musicians Yasek Manzano, Carlos Miyares, Michel Herrera, Alejandro Martinez, Harold Lopez and Yaimi Karel. The trip concludes with a massive Cuba Rocks For Peace show at the legendary Salon Rosado de la Tropical on Saturday Feb 28 with David Blanco y su grupo and Anima Mundi.

Billboard says that under the new rules of engagement, the band will not be paid. They can use their US credit cards, and on leaving can only take out $400 worth of souvenirs “and a decent supply of rum and Cuban cigars.”

Vale

Deborah Vincent, lighting op and rigger lost a two month battle with cancer in Perth, after being diagnosed in December. A memorial was held yesterday in Perth, with another planned in Broome in late March or April.

Tama Huata, whose lengthy involvement in New Zealand’s Maori music and performing arts included setting up the Waiata Maori Music Awards and heading theTakitimu Festival, passed in Napier after a long illness, aged 64. He was an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.