Industrial Strength: Universal spends $80k celebrating Lorde; Aus acts eying Asian market; Daniel Johns in court

Longer hours for WA nightclubs

WA nightclubs can open until 2am on Sunday nights, when West Australia’s liquor laws are changed next year. The Government released its response to its commissioned review of the Liquor Control Act at http://www.rgl.wa.gov.au.

Among other changes are a new class of licence for small bars, the maximum fine for those who refuse to leave venues raised to $5,000, bouncers to complete the nationally accredited Responsible Service of Alcohol, and hotels, taverns and bars extending trading by two hours to midnight on Sundays.

Nine denies Ticketek, Allphones Arena, sale

Nine Entertainment denied speculation it is selling live events ticketing agency Ticketek and Sydney’s Allphones Arena. Last Thursday, The Australian claimed Nine was working with investment bank UBS to jettison the two in a deal worth about $360 million. Nine said it has “no intention of selling these businesses and that it has not engaged advisers to conduct a sale process.”

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Universal spends $80k celebrating Lorde’s win

Universal Music NZ notched up a bar tab of $80,000 at its after party to celebrate Lorde’s six wins at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards in Auckland. The New Zealand Herald said the bash, at Fort Lane, was the hottest ticket of the night and wrapped at 4 am. Why not? She’s earned $11 million so far. It was also smiles for FOUR channel which broadcast the awards. They enjoyed their biggest ratings with 465,200 tuning in. It was the first time FOUR broadcast it live, than on delay, to incorporate social media interaction. The official hashtag #VNZMA trended at #1 on Twitter.

Voting begins for 4ZZZ Hot 100

Brisbane’s 4ZZZ has launched voting for its 35th HOT 100 for tracks played by the station between November 2013 and November 2014. The countdown will be broadcast from midday Jan 1 on radio, online and mobile devices.

Second Countdown special draws 919K

The second 40th anniversary Countdown special on the weekend on ABC-TV saw 919,000 tuning in, down from 965,000 the first week. In the meantime, ABC Radio’s Libbi Gorr celebrated by interviewing Garth Porter of Sherbet and Greg Macainsh of Skyhooks about their infamous feud. Both denied there was one, saying things were always friendly between them. Macainsh blamed it on the media. He singled out Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum as the main culprit, quoting on-air from one of Moll’s mid-70s column in a TV magazine which excitedly said the two sets of fans were mobilizing into armies. Porter for his part admitted he’d never liked the name Sherbet and tried to get it changed when he joined, and that their notorious nude shot with them wrapped around each other, a promotional idea of manager Roger Davies, was an “uncomfortable” experience.

Ten music acts receive Arts Tasmania grants

Ten music acts were recipients of Arts Tasmania’s grants. They were Chase City ($15,000 to complete their debut album), Reuben Koops ($15,000 for his second album), Matthew Fargher ($15,150 towards the Continental Drift international collaboration project), Tom Vincent ($13,997 towards compositions for the Tom Vincent Big Band), The Embers ($12 925 towards the national release of the band’s debut album, a tour and a publicity campaign), Heath Brown ($10,600 for Reverberation), Psycroptic ($10,400 towards a North American tour), Dean Stevenson (a guarantee against loss of up to $10,000 towards the presentation of Tim Passes in Melbourne), Mark Bain ($9,182 for a collaboration between Epsom Brass and multi-media composer Maria Grenfell) and Infernal Outcry ($7,200 for a music video).

Additionally Lois Reid will be funded to offer female musicians an opportunity to acquire recording and mastering skills.

Recently, the Music Tasmania association received a $55,983 Assistance to Organisations grantto continue growing the island’s contemporary music sector.

Terry Halliday Meaney passes

Sydney singer-guitarist Terry Halliday Meaney, who was in bands as Geeza, Speed Limit, TMC, 2112, Terrani and Swallowing Cars, passed away.

More Aussie acts eying Asian market

More Australian acts continue to include Asia as part of their touring schedules. Jagwar Ma are in Vietnam to play Ho Chi Minh City on December 4, as part of a series that includes The Vaccines and Lemonhead.

Canberra duo Peking Duk returned from a run through the multi-city NH7 Weekender Festivals in India where, in between suffering food poisoning, did some songwriting with Indian musicians as Filter Coffee.

Perth’s Karnivool, who’ve been playing India since 2011 and pulling up to 10,000 at some shows, are returning soon for a four-city run.

Sydney songwriter Miriam Lieberman also recently returned from India where she shot a video with local film maker Ronicka Kaur for a song about the ancient city of Varanasi which features on her Birds of The Moon album.

Gympie Muster plans for greater economic benefit

Queensland’s Gympie Muster festival is strategising new ways to increase its economic impact. This year it generated $5 million for the Gympie region, and almost $10 million for the local economy. Last week, 40 supporters assembled to offer ideas in the first of two workshops, the second to be held this Saturday. Five task teams were formed, each to focus on the program, marketing, logistics, finance and community elements. The national media attention gained by the Muster is valued at $4.9 million for the Gympie area.

Plaque in memory of late drummer

Perth’s Cottesloe Council is considering a plaque outside the Ocean Beach Hotel delivering a message on violence and innocent lives. The words are still under wraps, but will be in the voice of Andy Marshall, the 29-year drummer who died after being pushed out of a first floor window in 2011. The man responsible is serving jail time.

Leibowitz & Weinberg becomes Kosher Group

Sydney EMD touring firm Leibowitz & Weinberg widened its global services and, with it, a name change to The Kosher Group. Aside from touring acts, it expanded its artist services for 24 acts from overseas and Australia.

Adelaide gets two new creative hubs

Adelaide musicians Alicia Vega and Kelly Brouhaha established a music hub in Port Adelaide called The Backyard. Renew Adelaide found them a National Trust Building at Lipson Street to set up a live performance stage, hot desks and free workshops for eight weeks. The idea is to encourage more creative collaborations, the duo said.

The St Paul’s Creative Centre hosts a new collaborative working space for the arts and creative industries. Part time and full time memberships are available for hot-desking. More info at emma@musitec.co.There are also ground floor spaces for permanent tenancies. More info at becc.bates@sa.gov.au

Daniel Johns in court

Daniel Johns of Silverchair fame was ordered by Newcastle Local Court to undergo a traffic offenders program after he pleaded guilty to driving his black Jaguar with a blood alcohol reading of 0.126 near his home in the suburb of Merewether on October 28.

Falls Festival inducted into Tourism Hall of Fame

After winning the Victorian Tourism Award for ‘Excellence In Sustainable Tourism’ for the third year in a row, Falls Festival Lorne was inducted into the Hall of Fame. They are the first festival in this category to do so.

Recently, Falls Marion Bay won Major Festivals & Events at the Tasmanian Tourism Awards second year in a row. This was for drawing 6,000 people from outside Tasmania each year, injecting $11.5 million into the economy, and $8.6 million in export revenues. Both events are nominees in their respective categories at the national Australian Tourism Awards next year.

Launching Pad #1: Cocoon Concepts Records

Cocoon Concepts Records is the latest label to emerge from Melbourne’s underground. It was originally set up to release the music of former Ma Damquree and Taipan member Tony Tralongo’s prog rock project Cocoon. CCR this month releases the debut by new ultra-prog band Triangle. The Shockwaves concept album, (based around a 15th century alchemist) has got a worldwide distribution deal based in France.

Launching Pad #2: Premier Guitars

Premier Guitars, based in Sydney (premierguitars.com.au) specializes in selling and storing stringed instruments (like guitars and basses) and amps. Founded by John Spence, it also offers a broking service for owners wanting to sell their instruments to its database, for which it charges 20% commission.

More opportunities for Canberra musicians

Canberra musicians get two more places to showcase at next year. Up and coming acts will be booked on weekends during the ACT run of Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinemas January 19 to February 22. Meantime, bands will play at the Canberra debut in March of Fairfax Night Noodle Markets, which drew 800,000 in Sydney and Melbourne in the past 12 months.

Northbridge’s Beer Works Tavern wins late night appeal

Perth promoters Graham Hardie and Bill Oddy’s company Operators Entertainment Enterprises won an 18-month battle to be allowed for their Beer Works Tavern to be open until 2 am on weekendin s. The 450-capacity venue for over 25s in Northbridge, to open next year, will have DJs and bands.

Vevo LIFT chooses Broods

The latest act to feature in Vevo LIFT are NZ sibling duo Broods who are currently touring Australia. For two months from mid-December, the act will get exclusive content and a deeper insight to their story. Last year Tonight Alive and Gossling got the Vevo treatment.

Sunshine Coast arts centre lobby group turns to crowd-sourcing

A lobby group pushing for a new Sunshine Coast arts centre that could give local musicians a place to play, have turned to crowd-funding to keep the battle going. The Sunshine Coast Arts and Convention Centre Group is pushing for the centre, to open 2020 in Maroochydore city centre, will include an auditoriumand theatre, both which can have capacities ranging from 1,000 to 4,500. It will also have exhibitions, conferences and banquets. It is estimated that the centre will generate$493.9 million directly and indirectly.