Industrial Strength: Part 1

Image: The Avalanches

VINYL RELEASE GIVES AVALANCHES NEW CHART PEAK

The limited edition vinyl release of The Avalanches’ debut Since I Left You has given it a new chart peak of #15 on the ARIA chart. The 4x ARIA-winning platter previously peaked at #21 in October 2001. It also brings up its 30th week in the top 50. Only 5,000 copies were issued globally on iridescent blue vinyl. The album landed at #10 on the Billboard Electronic Music Chart.

SA GOVT CUTS MORE RED TAPE FOR LIVE MUSIC

The South Australian Government has snipped more red tape for live music, and expanded where music can be played. It has introduced the Development (Low Impact Entertainment) Variation Regulations 2017. It means that low impact entertainment (of all genres and artform) is now exempt from DA approval. It also opens the door for non-traditional spaces as cafes to present live music.

STUDY: AUSSIE SOCIAL MEDIA USE UP 14%

Global research on social media use commissioned by social media management platform Hootsuite and social media agency We Are Social found that in Australia, social media use grew 14% in 2016. Now 16 million Australians are on social media, 57% accessing it via mobile.

Data from 238 countries found global social media use up by 21% through 2016 to the current 2.8 billion users. Those accessing social media by mobile rose by 30% to 2.5 billion, or 91% of social media users.

SXSW SETS UP MEET UPS …

Before the Australian and New Zealand delegates and acts head off to South By Southwest, Australian convener Phil Tripp holds a series of meet-ups around the country. The idea is for the newcomers to get tips from veterans, and to meet up with each other so they can be supportive of each other abroad.

Aside from 45 acts, there are 750 delegates from Australia – 65% Interactive, 30% Music and 5% Film.

Melbourne – Friday February 10, at Beer Deluxe (Federation Square). It’s the wrap-up of Pausefest, so rock up and say you’re a SXSW registrant. No need for RSVP.

Sydney – Monday Feb 13 at WeWork Pyrmont, 100 Harris St. A $10 entry fee to offset the venue’s hire charge but free alcohol and food. Book through Eventbrite.

Brisbane – Monday Feb 13, from 5.30 to 6.30 pm at the Hoo Ha Bar, Tribune Street. Organised by Sue Swinburne (s.swinburne@griffith.edu.au).

Auckland – Thursday Feb 23 at 7:00pm at The Golden Crown in Ponsonby. organised by Paul Pritchard (pmpritchardnz@gmail.com).

…AND UNVEILS ANZ FILM ENTRIES

The first announcement of Feature Films showing at SXSW, three Australian and one New Zealand entries were revealed.

In the documentary section, selected from 973 entries was Emma Franz’s profile of the reclusive US guitar hero, Bill Frisell, A Portrait making its world premiere.

Also making premieres are Matthew Salleh’s Barbecue, the global culture that’s grown up around the BBQ, and Ben Young’s thriller Hounds of Love about a 17-year-old kidnapped by a disturbed couple.

The NZ entry is Annie Goldson’s Kim Dotcom: Caught In The Web about the digital pioneer who is battling extradition moves by the US Government. It is making its North American debut.

AIR AWARDS NOMS PERIOD EXTENDED

For those of you needing more time to nominate for the AIR Awards, the nomination period has been extended to February 28.

2XX BACK ON AIR

Canberra’s longest running community radio station 2XX went back on air last Saturday. Station management opted to cut transmission last week due to “profound” signal problems between its studios in Civic and the transmitter at Black Mountain Tower. They were so bad that outages were being experienced more than daily while presenters were on-air.

Existing Telstra phone lines were stabilised in the interim Original plans to migrate 3G is scheduled to take place today (Tues Feb 7), during which time live broadcasting will be suspended briefly during installation.

ACT ARTS FUNDING INCREASES AFTER OUTCRY

ACT Arts Minister Gordon Ramsay has added another $248,000 in funding to the sector for 2017 after a public outcry. In December, it was announced 14 projects would share in about $250,000 of funding through artsACT in 2017, compared to about $730,000 in 2016.

Minister Ramsay said as a result of community feedback, more money would be brought forward from the next ACT budget and a further 14 projects funded.

“I am strongly committed to ongoing discussions with the Arts community on a range of issues, including funding, and formalising ways of consulting with the Arts community on the future of arts and culture in Canberra,” he said.

BRAITHWAITE BACK ON ROAD

Daryl Braithwaite expects to be back on duty after his stay in hospital for surgery to remove a “golf ball size tumour”. He’ll rejoin the Red Hot Summer tour in Mt Gambier on Feb 11.

COUNTERFEIT $50 NOTES HIT SIN CITY CLUB

Gold Coast nightclub Sin City has again been the victim of counterfeit $50 notes. Club owner Tim Martin was stung twice over three nights at the bar. Staff didn’t suss out until cash-up next day. Martin, who says the notes are among the best fakes he’s seen, is going through club security footage to nab the culprit/s.

NOVA UNDERGOES FIRST REBRAND IN SIX YEARS

Nova Entertainment underwent its first rebrand in six years, updating its website, apps, mobile and social assets. The move, based on research done last year, is to cement the network as a brand for the under-40 demographic “in a modern, energetic and dynamic way,” said Chief Marketing & Digital Officer Tony Thomas.

It will be followed by a national campaign on social, digital, TV and out-of-home. Nova will position itself more with live music, as well as sports and digital events.

In the last radio survey of 2016, Nova attracted the most FM listeners aged over 10, numbering 3.2 million.

ALESSIA CARA ON PROMO VISIT

Universal Music Australia will have 18-year-old Canadian pop performer Alessia Cara here on a promo visit Feb 27 to March 2. Her single Scars To Your Beautiful peaked at #3 and went platinum. New single How Far I’ll Go from the Moana soundtrack is the Most added at radio on last week’s AU Singles Report. Its video has been seen 36 million times while debut album Know it All is up to 663 million streams worldwide.

LINDY HUME PRESENTS REGIONAL CULTURE PAPER

Opera, theatre and festival Director Lindy Hume has a new paper out called Restless Giant: Changing Cultural Values In Regional Australia. It looks at the thriving creative communities in regional areas, some which spill through their ideas onto the national stage.

However, regional arts only gets 15% of arts funding. Hume attributes this to the level of interaction between rural and metro sectors – and says it’s something that the regional sector should address, especially to dispel the “poor country cousins” stereotype.