Industrial Strength: September 6
QUEENSLAND TO DIGITAL UPGRADE CONCERT STADIUMS
The Queensland Government is spending $7 million to digitally overhaul sports and entertainment venues Suncorp Stadium and The Gabba with the installation of four massive new screens in 2017. At about 140 square metres in size, they are more than double the size of existing screens at Suncorp Stadium.
Treasurer and Minister for Sport Curtis Pitt said that it was needed to keep the venues competitive with other states, and that the request had come from venue hirers. The two venues have drawn over 1.5 million people over the last year.
SUPREME COURT RULING DELAYS CALLINAN REVIEW
The Callinan Review of Sydney’s lockout laws, due at the end of August, is now scheduled for release on September 13. Former High Court justice Ian Callinan asked the NSW Government for an extension after the recent Supreme Court decision that the Secretary of the Dept. of Justice did not have the authority to impose the lockouts, and that music venues and strip clubs were exempt.
FLUME TRACK PASSES 200M SPOTIFY PLAYS
As Flume(pictured) tears through his world tour, Never Be Like You ft. Kai continues to create waves. The track, which is quadruple platinum in Australia and platinum in the US where it’s sold 1 million units, has just passed 200 million plays on Spotify. It has entered the Top 10 at radio in the US. As a thank you, the 24-year old Sydney producer has put together a live music video for it, featuring fans filmed at shows in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and America.
Flume’s 70-date world tour has sold over 290,000 tickets, selling out all shows across North America so far (the Skin album which debuted at #1 in Australia, entered the US Hot 100 at #8) including a record four sell out shows at the Shine in Los Angeles, and an epic Forest Hills Stadium show in New York.
He has launched his new online store with a fresh range of apparel, music, and accessories at http://shop.flumemusic.com. He’s also announced that a new EP Skin Companion, made up of four tracks also recorded during the Skin sessions, is out on November 25 through Future Classic.
EMMYS SCREENING ON FOX8
The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre will be screened live in Australia on Fox8 on Monday September 19 from 10 am. Foxtel recently signed for another three years to broadcast the event. It will also broadcast the red carpet pre-show live from 9am.
Foxtel notes that it already screens in Australia many of the shows that are up in the various categories. These include Game of Thrones (HBO) with 23 nominations, American Idol (FOX8), Project Runway and RuPaul’s Drag Race (both on Arena) The 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards and 58th Grammy Awards (FOX8), Vinyl (Foxtel), Jimmy Kimmel Live and Amy Schumer: Live At The Apollo (Comedy Channel), and the 69th Annual Tony Awards (Foxtel Arts) along with numerous drama and comedy offerings.
FOUR NEW STATIONS FOR IHEARTRADIO NEW ZEALAND
iHeartRadio New Zealand has launched four new digital stations. Havoc International Airport is an eclectic playlist curated by one time rock singer turned TV and radio personality Mikey Havoc; Coast Soul of 50 years of R&B curated by Tim Roxborogh; Newstalk ZB 24/7 and 90s Bus focussing on the best bangers from the ‘90s. iHeartRadio New Zealand has over 483,000 registered users* and over 642,700 app downloads^, with audiences listening for over 2 million listening hours in July.
X FACTOR UP FOR SPA AWARDS
Series 6 of X Factor Australia is nominated in one of the eleven categories of the 16th Screen Producers Australia Awards They’re on Thursday November 17 at Crown Palladium, Melbourne, as part of the 31st Screen Forever conference held November 15 to 17.
The Seven music series, made by FremantleMedia Australia, is in the Reality Series Production category against Dancing With The Stars Series 15 (FremantleMedia Australia), I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! (ITV Studios Australia), The Great Australian Bake Off (FremantleMedia Australia) and The Real Housewives of Melbourne Series 3, (Matchbox Pictures).
KEITH URBAN UP FOR CMAS
Keith Urban is up for Entertainer of the Year at the CMA (Country Music Association) Awards in Nashville on November 2. It airs live in America on ABC. The NZ-born Gold Coast raised superstar is up against Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks and Luke Bryan.
HIP HOP ARTIST MIRACLE LAUNCHES WVS LABEL
22-year-old Sydney-based Ghana-born hip hop producer and musician Miracle has launched a new label WVS (pronounced Waves) to sign up Australia’s emerging multicultural hip hop creatives. Already on the roster are Brisbane’s Travy P and Moroccan-born Anfa Rose whose April 2016 mixtape Debauched with Sydney producer Dopamine already boasts 1 million streams.
WVS emerged from a studio hub in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Alexandria. Miracle, born Samuel Joe Andah, got his moniker when he survived a serious respiratory problem which almost killed him and dubbed her “miracle baby” by his mum. The family moved to Australia when he was 12, and hearing Kanye West’s Jesus Walks changed his life forever.
QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT DITHERS ON ID SCANNERS
In another example of the Queensland Government rushing into lockout laws without necessarily thinking things through, it’s abandoned introducing compulsory ID scanners. According to legislation passed earlier this year, all venues were told these had to be installed by yesterday. We’re not sure how many venues spent money putting them in. But a letter went out on the day from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) to say the Government had halted the roll out to assess if their introduction was “practical” and “deciding if networked ID scanning was an appropriate and cost-effective way to support the enforcement of patron bans.”
…WHILE ’WE WILL ROCK YOU’ GAMBLES ON LOTTERY
With the Queen-themed We Will Rock You musical beginning in Melbourne’s Regent Theatre until October 30 (after runs in Sydney and Brisbane), organisers have introduced a lottery where audience members can get a limited number of specially priced tickets. They put their names into a lottery barrel before the show, and each can win two tix each 90 minutes before each performance.
KINGS TO BE LATEST NEW ZEALAND IMPORT
The biggest act this year out of New Zealand is producer Kings, who signed to Warner Music NZ earlier this year. His Don’t Worry Bout’ It single has been at #1 in his home country for seven weeks and last week went gold. It’s also crossed over to radio airplay in Australia where he hopes to tour shortly, while he’s also looking at working the North American and European markets in the near future.
For the past six years, Kings has been working out of Auckland’s North Shore where his Arch Angel Records studio and label are based. He’s been working with BulletProof, Dan Aux, General Lee, Jolyon Petch (Club Luxury), eSquire UK, Crazi Biza and Dick Johnson. Last year collaborations with General Lee and DJ A^K went viral. Asked about the possibility of his taking Lorde’s international crown, his immediate response was, “I want to collaborate with her!”
NSW OFFERS FINANCIAL HELP WITH ARTLANDS CONFERENCE
The NSW Government is offering to help fund those wanting to attend the annual key regional arts and cultural event ARTLANDS conference October 27 to 30 in Dubbo. About a thousand delegates are expected to attend. Regional NSW, metropolitan and Western Sydney based independent artists and arts workers from organisations with 10 or less staff members can apply for a bursary, which consists of a full registration to attend the four-day conference, worth $895. Full details at the Arts NSW website, deadline to apply is Monday September 26.
SIX ACCELERATE 2016 PARTICIPANTS ANNOUNCED
The 2016 participants of the tailored leadership skills development programme, ACCELERATE, were announced at a celebration held at Melbourne’s Bunjilaka Aboriginal Culture Centre. They were singer Jilda Andrews (ACT), arts manager and playwright Kamarra Bell-Wykes (Vic), arts manager and writer Travis De Vries (NSW), illustrator and arts worker Jonathon Saunders (NT), designer Francoise Lane (Qld) and museums and galleries curator Glenn Iseger-Pilkington (WA).
They travel to the UK for three weeks in November to develop their skills in consultation with high-profile individuals and organisations in their artistic fields. On completion of the programme, participants will form part of the national ACCELERATE alumni network, with access to continued support, training and international opportunities.
ACCELERATE is the joint initiative of the British Council and the Australia Council for the Arts in partnership with Arts NSW, Arts NT, Arts Queensland, Creative Victoria and Department of Culture and the Arts with additional support from SBS NITV. British Council Director Helen O’Neil said that it “has been successful in developing long-lasting links and opportunities between arts practitioners in Australia and the UK and in creating career pathways for future generations” and that “By the end of this year, ACCELERATE will have been instrumental in shaping the careers of 35 incredibly talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander creative leaders.”
FINANCIALS #1: PACIFIC STAR NETWORK POSTS 15% REVENUE GROWTH
Pacific Star Network reported a 15% revenue growth of its radio and print assets to $23.98 million. Net profit was $1.09 million after a loss of $79,000 last financial year. Radio contributed $14.49 million (up an extra $100,000). Its radio properties include Melbourne sports radio SEN 1116, music station 1377MyMP and DAB+ brands Aussie, Kool and Rythmos.
FINANCIALS #2: REVENUE UP FOR BEYOND INTERNATIONAL
Production house Beyond International’s revenue was up 8% to $101.22 million but its net profit fell 10% to $5.31 million. Its TV production and copyright category saw revenue up 9% to $38.37 million, home entertainment down 9% to $24.48 million while distribution revenue was up 14% to $25.84 million.
SINGING WITH DARREN MIDDLETON
Some time back, while former Powderfinger guitarist Darren Middleton was working on an EP, he gave up with the brainwave of asking members of the public to contribute their vocals to the chorus of a track Lightning Halos. He posted the request via a short video and was a bit stunned when it got 33,000 views in two days.
“I’ve had people sing into their phones, send multiple versions with harmonies, professional recordings, pairs of friends, classrooms of enthusiastic singers,” said Middleton. As a result, he’s expanded the idea and wants the whole world to sing on it – office groups, class rooms, from Australia and abroad. Email your version of the chorus to Lightning Halos to [email protected] and Middleton will go through everyone and put them all into the song. The EP is due out in November.
THE ACMF BRINGS BACK SONGWRITING COMP FOR 14TH TIME
The Australian Children’s Music Foundation (ACMF) – “committed to bringing the magic of music to children across Australia” – is bringing back its National Songwriting Competition for the 14th year. It is sponsored by APRA/AMCOS and AMPAL School age students are encouraged to put pen to paper and enter an original song, for prizes including equipment and tuition. Visit www.acmf.com.au, entry deadline is midnight October 20.
ADDITION TO MUSIC SA MUSIC BUSINESS COURSES
In 2017, Music SA will introduce a new course in its Music Business studies. It will be a Certificate II in Music Industry (Pop Performance & Songwriting). This is in addition to courses as songwriting and performing and music event management – all Certificate III – and the Certificate IV in Music Industry which has a full or part time options. All Music SA Certificate courses are VET and SACE accredited.
AH, AH, AH, AH, STAYING ALIVE…
After getting its mitts on one of the original 500 pressings of The Saints’ debut single (I’m) Stranded, the State Library of Queensland (SLQ) has made another acquisition from another global act that began its career in Brisbane. But this one is a bit larger: it’s thought to be Australia’s largest collection of Bee Gees memorabilia. It has been donated (initially grudgingly, we understand) for an undisclosed price by Melbourne collector Mark Crohan, who’s been amassing for 50 years since he was 12. They include albums, sheet music, press cuttings and other memorabilia.
The SLQ started a call-out for Gibbs stuff when Barry Gibb was in Queensland for the opening of Bee Gees Way at Redcliffe and it realised it only had one valuable item. Crohan contacted the SLQ. Laurel Dingle commented, “It’s going to last a lot longer here than in his garage.”
To celebrate the new collection, the SLQ hosted a free talk on the Bee Gees, featuring Dingle and one time Brisbane radio DJ Bill Gates who helped launch their career (and one of the reasons, aside from ‘Brothers Gibb’ why the toothy brudders ended up with their monicker). The day of the talk coincided with Barry Gibb’s 70th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the issue of Spicks And Specks.
MUSIC PART OF BEST EVENT FINALISTS
Among those up as finalists for the Best Event awards were Vivid Sydney 2016, Blues on Broadbeach, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016, Melbourne Reclink Community Cup, Deni Ute Muster, Summerset Arts, WOMADelaide 2016, Star Sydney, Etihad Stadium, Luna Park Sydney Venues and Chameleon Touring Systems. The winners are announced on September 21 on the Sunshine Coast.
WA OPENS UP FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING
Western Australia’s Dept. of Culture and Arts (DCA) has opened up to applications for its $15,000 Commercial Development funding. These are for projects to increase sales or business revenue, build audiences or client bases, access new markets or increase market share, promote or strengthen business/brand profile, or develop strategic business or commercial significance.
Closing date is October 6. Check out http://www.dca.wa.gov.aufor more information.
BOMBS AWAY HEADING BACK OVERSEAS
Australia’s Bombs Away begin a 9-date world tour on September 16 in Providence, Rhode Island before a festival in Arkansas, a stop each in Canada and South Korea, three in North Ireland with the trek winding up on October 15 in two UK or European cities to be finalised.
With a new single Sneak Out (“pop future tropical house”) just issued through Central Station Records, they return for 10 Australian shows between October 21 and December 29. They have 1 million followers on social media, a total of 300 million views of their tracks and had five concurrent Top 10 tracks on the ARIA, Billboard, iTunes and Beatport charts.
RUBY AWARDS OPEN UP TO PUBLIC VOTES
Nominations are open for South Australia’s Ruby Awards, which recognise artistic excellence, creative achievement, innovation, community involvement and inspirational leaders who have made a difference. They are presented annually by Arts South Australia on behalf of the State Government. This year, its 11th, a companion app that marks the first time South Australians can vote for their favourite finalist in a new People’s Choice category. Noms must be delivered to Arts SA by 5 pm Monday September 12.
Category winners receive a ruby-coloured glasswork, crafted by JamFactory. The recipient of the Premier’s Award for Lifetime Achievement is honoured with a gold nameplate on the back of a seat at the Adelaide Festival Centre.
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO SUPPORT WEST PAPUA
Following Punks For West Papua raising of funds and awareness of genocide and human rights abuses of indigenous Papuans by Indonesia, through gigs and documentary, more artists are coming together for several weeks from September 30.
Rize Of The Morning Star is presenting a series of music and arts events under the banner of Rockin’ For West Papua. Shows are being organised for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Perth, Byron Bay, Gold Coast, Lismore, Newcastle and Arnhem Land with more to be announced in all corners of the globe. These are being coordinated by filmmaker Anthony ‘Ash’ Brennan who created the award winning documentary Punks For West Papua.
Musicians, artists and anybody who wants to make a stand, are invited to show their colours in the month of October by organising gigs, exhibitions, festivals or any social gathering or display of support to let Indonesia, USA, Australian and UK governments know that people are standing for West Papua. All funds raised go to the United Liberation Movement For West Papua. Its leader Benny Wenda says, “Indonesia has tanks and guns. West Papuans only have guitars. Music is the only weapon we need for freedom.”
SPARCMEDIA LAUNCHES DATA, INSIGHTS, SERVICE
Problematic advertising is growing in Australia and New Zealand. A recent AdRoll survey found 92% of marketers expcted their 2016 budgets for it to grow significantly or at least stay steady, Sparcmedia is offering advertisers data and insights services to get the best bang for their bucks.
NUMBER CRUNCHING
1 million views for a spoof of Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off by a 50-strong group of Palmerston North, New Zealand, nursing home retirees (average age, 82).
2.1 million votes cast for 602 nominees in 7HOFM Hobart’s Apple For The Teacher comp to recognise the impact teachers can have on their charges.
6.5 million US viewers for the MTV Video Music Awards, down by over 4 million after the 2015 event drew 10 million.
VALE
* Richard Neville was one of Australia’s major contributions to the 1960s global counter-culture. One of the great journalist minds emerging from the ‘60s, he played a role in the rise of alternate media, covering legalised abortion, indigenous rights, police brutality, censorship and homosexuality with great courage and radical vision in Oz magazine, which he set up in 1963 with fellow university students Martin Sharp and Richard Walsh. It was damned as obscene, and a laughable court case which found them guilty was hastily overturned after a pubic outcry. The UK version of the magazine lead to similar legal hot water in the ‘70s when jail sentences were also overturned after public campaigning lead by the likes of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Neville returned to NSW to live and became a futurist. His fascination with people outside the norm was reflected in his books, the biography of Indian serial killer Charles Sobhraj and Hippy Hippy Shake about the hippie movement of the ‘70s. Walsh told 702 ABC Sydney, “Richard was charming in the right sense of the word. He just loved people of all kinds.” Germaine Greer applauded his “supple mind” on last night’s ABC-TV show Q&A. Richard Neville died at home in the Blue Mountains aged 74 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
* US country singer-songwriter Kacey Jones had strong links with the Australian country music circles. Aside from her constant visits, she also hosted her long time friend, Melbourne country columnist David Dawson’s Australian TV show Nu Country from Nashville. She was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer two years ago. She opted for alternative, holistic therapies which she paid for through GoFundMe. She passed on the first day of spring, at 66, in Nashville.
* Jock Healey was a Melbourne-based sound technician who worked in the Australian film industry from the mid-1980s, and also on television’s The Wedge, Newstopia and The Saddle Club. He was regarded as a mentor in student and community film circles. Healey was killed when struck by a tram.
AND A FEW OTHER THINGS …
We’re hearing whispers that a major Australian company will stop CD production in the next year and shut down some of its entertainment divisions.
If you’re scouting the internet for reviews of Queensland-born Melbourne-based singer songwriter Emma Louise’s show in Los Angeles, don’t bother. She never got to play it. In Sydney ready to leave for the US, she had to fly back to Melbourne as she had forgotten her passport. She arrived in LA to be told she had the wrong visa, and held in a holding cell for eight hours to be shipped back. But US authorities relented and let her into the country on the proviso she didn’t play any shows. So she went shopping for clothes instead.
Among 200 recommendations still considered by the South Australian Government as part of its review of liquor laws was that a ban on under-18s in licensed venues after midnight, be extended to 9 pm. This would not apply to specific under-age concerts, of course. But no decision has been made over this, Attorney General John Rau says.
Sony Music Entertainment Australia is bringing reggae-pop band Magic! to the country for their third promo tour September 12-16. This one is behind new single Red Dress and includes a one-off show at Sydney’s Newtown Social Club on Tuesday September 13.
Lorde slipped in virtually unnoticed at the world premiere of Richie McCaw’s movie Chasing Great at the Civic in Auckland. Her version of Tears for Fears’ Everybody Wants To Rule The World is on the soundtrack.
Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd revealed to the NZ Herald that he recently had a heart attack and has had a stent inserted.
After a year during which its content could only be viewed on Street Press Australia’s Themusic.com.au, long time Perth streetie X-Press has reactivated its own www.xpressmag.com.au site.
It’s not every day that a major brand like JB Hi-Fi opens up in a regional centre. So the grand opening of its Home store in Dubbo, NSW, drew a huge crowd to Orana Mall – some turning up as early as 7 am. Former Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson cut the ribbon before the masses swept in. The store hired 47 locals.
It’s been a week of total highs and total lows for New Zealand hip-hop dancer and choreographer Parris Goebel. The 22-year old’s clients include Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Nicki Minaj. She was recently in New York for the MTV Music Video Awards where her directing and choreography work on Bieber’s Sorry video got three nominations. But after that, she was hit with the news that her 15-month on nephew, Amarni, had passed away in New Zealand. “Today I feel pain, all over my soul. It’s hard to believe my munchkin is gone,” she posted online.
In the run-up to the 25th anniversary of regional NSW’s Dolphin Awards, organisers North Coast Entertainment Industry Association (NCEIA) is asking members of the public who’ve ever attended the awards to upload any photos or anecdotes on to www.nceia.org.au. The awards are on December 6 at the Ballina RSL Club. The photos will be used in a glossy souvenir being given to all guests.
Such is the reputation that Australian recording studios and personnel enjoy worldwide, that touring acts have often slipped into local studios to record tracks or do demos. In the most recent incident, Perth producer Charlie Young told The Sunday Times that Ben Haggerty aka Macklemore had slipped into Crank Recording studios in Northbridge to lay down some tracks. “Ben is a nice guy, respectful of everyone around him and is a phenomenal lyric writer, coming up with lyrics lightning fast,” Young told the paper. Justin Bieber was also a visitor, but was accompanied by his 20-strong entourage and arrived after his security checked out the studio. Young recalls the Canadian singer as quiet, well-mannered with an “incredible work ethic”.
Leading Edge Tamworth took out the Excellence in Customer Service in Retail category at the 2016 Regional Business Awards held at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Conference Centre.
Australian country music last week quietly celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of Tex Morton in New Zealand. He moved to Australia and later found success in the United States. A prototype Keith Urban, if you will.