Industrial Strength: Survey: music listening rises for Aussies; National inquiry on arts cuts begins; Aus digital music provider secures $5.1m; WAM announces Higher Note

Survey: despite digital obsession, music listening rises for Aussies

Australians are obsessed with the internet, which now ranks alongside TV (at 60%) as the main source of leisure past time. But listening to music ranks behind these as third most popular entertainment, according to the fourth annual Deloitte Media Consumer Survey, out yesterday.

Despite greater obsession with social media (80% utilise it, 23% up to three times a day) and internet, listening to music has risen by 36% and going to see live performances up five points to 23%. The survey covered more than 2000 Australians.

The arrival of SVOD services has seen time spent watching TV and video content increased to 17.2 hours a week across the past year. Subscriptions to video streaming services, currently at 12%, is expected to reach 65% by 2021. Subscriptions to music services rose by 36% between 2013 to 2015.

Senate national inquiry on arts cuts begins in Melbourne

After 2,260 submissions were made, 30 arts leaders fronted up when the Senate inquiry into Commonwealth arts cuts began in Melbourne. Those represented included Live Performance Australia (LPA), ArtsPeak, the Melbourne Fringe and the Footscray Community Arts Centre.

The mood was certainly angry. Greens senator Scott Ludlum blogged, “People want to know why this is happening and why they're being forced to cut staff, sack people or cancel touring schedules.”

Not only does Senator George Brandis’ alternative funding National Program of Excellence in Arts (NPEA), cut $105 million from the Australia Council, but it does not giving funding to individual artists or continuous funding for arts group. Small to medium companies now have to compete for a $62 million pool which has declined by 28% of $23 million.

The LPA, which represents the country’s live performance sector, was fearful for the operational capacity for the small to medium sector. It pointed out there are no guidelines to show the arts and music sector on how the funding programs between OzCo and NPEA will work. “Therefore, a national Creative Industries Plan should be developed that clearly states strategic priorities and measurable goals including delivering arts excellence. The framework should clearly articulate how the funding objectives of the NPEA and the Australia Council complement each other."

Regional Arts Victoria’s Esther Anatolitis also feared small to medium arts organisations across regional Victoria faced permanent closure “as they will have no access to the operational certainty provided by this kind of funding.”

The Indigenous theatre and disabled artists sectors raised specific concerns. Arts Access Victoria said the changes "created tremendous stress and upheaval in our organisation" after its six-year funding was slashed to three. Cuts to Ilbijerri, said its director Rachael Maza​, restricted touring and creative independence and risked further marginalising indigenous voices.

The Senate Committee Inquiry has four more public hearings: Perth (Sep 1), Hobart (Sep 3), Brisbane (Sep 11) and Sydney (Sep 18).

Senator Brandis, in an interview with The Weekend Australian Review dismissed the criticism as driven by “self-interest”, that it was not about “excluding ideas” and that his NPEA was here to stay.

Queensland’s early lockout plans now political hot potato

The Queensland live music industry’s campaign against Queensland’s proposed lockouts for nightclubs and live music venues, has now become a political hot potato. The Liberal National Partyannounced it will try and whip up crossbench support to stop the Labor Government’s move, saying it will “cost hundreds of jobs and threatens the future of many small businesses in the late night economy.” When in power, the LNP had its own Safe Night Out Strategy but lost its funding in the last state Budget.

Australian digital music provider secures $5.1m funding

Australian digital music provider Tuned Global secured $5.1 million in further investment from venture capital firm Exto Partners. This will fund further international expansion into the US and Asia-Pacific (where it operates in six countries) and support the development of digital music services and apps.

Tuned Global allows companies to connect with customers through three customisable music services: a music streaming app which has notched up the 500 million mark, music toolbox technology and music download platform (it claims 100 million downloads of its 16 million tracks). Its Melbourne-based Managing Director Con Raso says, “Our music solutions present an outstanding opportunity for many brands including in in the FMCG consumer goods sector, MVNO mobile networks, as well as the food and beverage, entertainment or sport industries. Tuned Global connects directly with audiences to offer the music that everyone wants, while providing these brands with deep insights into their customers.”

Additional sessions for CBAA conference

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) unveiled more session topics for its November 12 to 15 conference in Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast. These include fundraising academic Prof Adrian Sargeant on a better understanding of the donors’ psyche to get more money out of them, a radio presentation skills sharpening workshop with actor and voice artist Lex Marinos, engaging with Indigenous communities and content, an update from the Community Radio Network, and the intensive Deep Dive workshop aimed at GMs from stations with over 10 full time staffers or a $700,000 p.a. turnover.

Number crunching

52.7% of global online watching of videos will be on mobiles by 2016 and set to rise to 58.1% by 2017, according to Online Video Forecasts, a new report by ZenithOptimedia.

100,000 extra playback viewers for each episode of The Voice in Australia.

$86.2 million grossed by Taylor Swift’s 1989 North American tour so far, at 20 performances to 771,460 fans.

400 square metres of heavy-duty aluminium foil and 700 polystyrene spikes in an old abandoned factory in Berlin used for video for Kimbra’s new single Goldmine.

2.4% of JB Hi-Fi’s sales are online, representing $85 million, and a growth of 17%, CEO Richard Murray told an investors’ conference this week. The chain’s site gets 1.2 million weekly users.

Label management program RELEASE calls for applications

RELEASE, the five-stage program designed to aid independent label owners in Australia and New Zealand grow their business is calling for applications. The scheme is presented by the Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN)with support from the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) and Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ). Funding has been provided by the Australian Government and the New Zealand Music Commission.

RELEASE incorporates two residential labs over six months. Both will be held near Melbourne, the first from November 29 to December 2. Participants will work with a number of advisers and mentors, including Terry McBride of Nettwerk Canada, Australia’s entertainment lawyer Julia Kosky and marketing and label owner Andy Bryan, and New Zealand manager and label owner Craig Pearce. Participants will be guided through a review of different business models, while a psychologist will advise on time management, resilience and life/work balance. Applications close September 25. More information at www.amin.org.au.

New design for Ruby Awards trophy

The trophy for the Ruby Awards is getting a new design to mark its 10th anniversary of celebrating South Australia’s arts, artists and cultural events. The glass studio at the Jam Factory in Adelaide is working on the revamp, to be introduced at this year’s event on December 11. Nominations are opened until September 14. The awards were named after the late arts patron and theatre director Dame Ruby Litchfield.

WAM announces Higher Note, MISS

After the success of its Higher Ground workshop for managers, WA music association WAM is holding Higher Note for self-managed artists. Facilitated by Scott Adam (coordinator of Music Business CIT), it covers strategy, publicity & social media, business management, touring and legal. It is on Sept 17 and 18. Speakers include artist manager Cath Haridy, accountant Tom Harris, John Butler Trio tour manager Kester Sappho, EMI’s Dixie Battersby and publisher Clive Hodson among others. See wam.asn.au for details on applications.

The 2015 Music Industry Sundowner Series (MISS) concentrates on all things songwriting, and held at The Rosemount Hotel Tuesday September 8 from 6pm. RTRFM presenter and songwriter Sarah Tout moderates the panel including François Tétaz (via Skype) and Ricky Maymi.

Venues update

* Melbourne’s Shadow Electric, a multi-purpose venue based within The Abbotsford Convent, is seeking help from the public after two expensive Technics SL-1200s were stolen from its green room during a fundraising launch for a magazine.

* The Consortium nightclub in Townsville’s Flinders Street East precinct is to re-open.

* Ipswich Council has put a revamp of Murphy's Town Pub on hold for the time being until a tender decision is made on development plans of Ipswich City Square.

* Home nightclub in Sydney’s Cockle Bay was threatened by the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing with a $5550 fine for using images of people snorting drugs and having sex to promote last Saturday’s Blow event.

* Sydney’s Newtown Social Club is launching a Monday music series to showcase local acts.

* Melbourne’s Howler will host the Love Street music and arts festival in October.

* Perth Arena set up a 4.6m tall permanent iiNet Social Post interactive installation to deliver brand experience for patrons. It features 3D animation and allows up upload Twitter and Instagram posts of their photos. The best photo will become the iiNet Super Fan of the Month and win a $300 Ticketek voucher.

And a few other things …

The Hoodoo Gurus Vivid Live performance – of all past members joined various lineups playing their songs – premieres on MAX on Friday August 21 at 6.30pm. The special includes drummer Mark Kingsmill’s final show after 30 years.

Congrats to Nova Entertainment Group CD Paul Jackson and actress Emily Symons who had a son after two years of being together.

Taylor Swift stepped in to grant permission for the use of one of her songs in a production called Seventeen by Sydney’s Belvoir Street Theatre. The show faced cancellation before its August 5 opening after Swift’s publisher stepped in at a late stage to say Shake It Off could not be used. Director Anne-Louise Sarks sent Swift a tweet. Seventeen had applied for clearance for all its songs through APRA AMCOS and thought everything was fine.

AC/DC’s first singer Dave Evans is writing his memoirs, and tells us “some of the biggest publishers in the world” are interested. Evans continues to perform through the US, East Europe and Australia. He is keen that AC/DC’s first lineup(with him, bassist Larry Van Kriedt and drummer Colin Burgess, replaced respectively by Bon Scott, Mark Evans and Phil Rudd) be detailed.

Meantime, in his first TV appearance since his latest legal woes, Rudd told 3D News in New Zealand he expects to return to AC/DC after his eight-month home detention: “Get my job back, get back on the road and make a lot of money." He didn’t expect a jail sentence, he confessed: he thought he’d be able to go back to work right away.

New Zealand charity Parachute Music has announced a bi-monthly song grant for emerging artists aged under 25 with a Christian faith. The recipient will be paired with a top producer to create a track in Parachute Studios.

After experimenting with Smooth Suite in Melbourne last year, the pop up accommodation for its brand clients to chill out in, debuts in Sydney at the InterContinental in Double Bay. Through August and early September, guests get champagne and chocolate while listening to smoothfm before dinner and a spa.

Townsville musician Michael Bowkett is busking to raise $4500 to relocate his new fiancée from Melbourne. His handwritten sign to explain his predicament gets good vibes from passers-by. Alas, the cash-raising got delayed when he was laid up with severe chest pains, he reported on his Tiny The Bad Teddy Facebook page.

Perth alt-country’s performer Ruby Boots’ US tour in September has additional good news. A new track Blindly Believing co-written with Vicki Thorn of The Waifs (and featured on The Waifs new album) was premiered on US radio. Boots’ tour includes a set on Music City Roots during the Americana Festival in Nashville.

The Living Legends show at Melbourne’s Gasometer saw Dave Graney and Clare Moore sit for six hours as other acts paid tribute to them by playing their songs. The pair kicked off shows with the reunited Dave Graney and The Coral Snakes playing all their ‘90s material including the Night Of The Wolverine album in its entirety. An expanded edition of Night Of The Wolverine is on iTunes with the original album and seven demos Graney did on acoustic guitar in 1991.

Australian LGTBI magazine Archer has expanded distribution to USA.

After being dropped from Nova Brisbane after a drink driving charge, Ash Bradnam called his former breakfast colleagues Kip and Luttsy with an update. “I’ve got a problem. I’m an alcoholic. I had a relapse. As a result of that I have disappointed a lot of people. I have been in a really bad place over the last few months. But I don’t think I’ve ever felt stronger.” He faces court this month.

NSW police are claiming use of ID scanners in Kings Cross clubs and bars has cut theft by 70%. According to 9News, these make it easier for them to hunt down offenders and advantages when investigating incidents.

A profile in the Gold Coast Bulletin of Neil Innes, owner of new Sunshine Coast live music venue 19 Orchid Avenue, is that he has never run a venue before, dabbles in acting, has a degree in biomedical science from Bond University, helps run a security company Senni Group with his father Matt Innes and, as part of the family business, has a factory in the Philippines making a handguns and military style assault rifles.

NZ steel guitarist Bill Sevesi, 92, is being inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame at this year's APRA Silver Scroll Awards on September 17.