Industrial Strength: VIC’s sexual harassment taskforce has first meeting; New indigenous label launching; Two festivals change venues; Music Tas misses out on funding; Private sector support for the arts grows

Victoria’s sexual harassment taskforce has first meeting

Victoria’s sexual harassment taskforce held its first meeting in Melbourne last week. The taskforce was announced In July by Minister for Gaming & Liquor Regulation Jane Garrett to address issues surrounding sexual assault and harassment in licensed venues and music festivals.

At the meeting were Katie Pearson of LISTEN (a group of women working in all aspects of the music industry), academic Dr Bianca Fileborn, Helen Marcou of SLAM (Save Live Australia’s Music), Victoria Police, the Equality & Human Rights Commission, the Live Music Roundtable (including Music Victoria and The Push) and Kirsty Rivers representing Creative Industries Minister Martin Foley. The first draft of a policy was tendered by LISTEN and SLAM, to be discussed at length by a second meeting, next month.

Marcou told TMN, “It’s such a big issue that we have to take it in stages, starting with Melbourne venues. It’ll be a gentle campaign, mostly around educating and training of security and bar staff.” Marcou said that response from venue owners had been “fantastic. Some have already started retraining their security and bar staff on what to do if there’s a complaint. Venues are among leaders in culture and it’s not surprising that they’d want to a safer space not just for women patrons, performers and staff but also members of the LGBT community who’re also at great risk.”

The taskforce is eager to get a report out soon. Among considerations are a system for anonymous complaints, and involvement in a recruitment drive for more females on the police force and in venue security teams.

Voting starts for ARIA awards

Voting for this year’s ARIA awards began yesterday and closes on Sunday September 20. The voting academy is made up of approximately 900 members of the music industry, covering artists and their managers, media, record labels, venues, promoters and agents, publishers and retailers, amongst others.

Music Tasmania misses out on funding

Tasmania’s peak music association Music Tasmania missed out on the State Government’s $2.2 million of grants via the Arts Tasmania’s Organisations Investment Program 2016. Twenty two arts organisations were successful but contemporary music missed out. Music Tasmania CEO Laura Harper said it was a crippling blow for Tasmanian musicians, observing, ‘‘It would seem that contemporary music is still not treated as a legitimate art form by funding bodies in relation to other classical art forms, such as dance and theatre."

Musicians however may benefit from grants to community arts Big Hart ($118,000), Tasmanian Regional Arts ($75,000), Queenstown Heritage and Arts Festival ($46,000) and Performing Lines ($200,000).

Eventbrite slashes fees for Australia

Eventbrite will lower its payment processing fees in Australia, from 3.5% to 2%. The self-ticketing platform entered the local market 16 months ago. Its Australian MD Rachael Neumann said, “With successes like Rainbow Serpent, Beyond the Valley, and Taste of Australia, Eventbrite is seeing strong traction in Australia, and we’re excited to offer more savings to our Australian customers.”

New indigenous label Deadly Records launching

A new indigenous label is launching on September 17. Deadly Records is the brainchild of didg player Russell Dawson whose Koomurri group has been entertaining tourists at Sydney’s Circular Quay for 30 years. The act also played through Europe and Asia.

Deadly will initially release albums by Koomurri, starting with Yuin People this month (with Dawson and tribal song-man Cecil McLeod celebrating the traditional music of the First Australians of the NSW South Coast), followed by Tribal Dance (October), Dreaming (November) and Didgeridoo & Drums in December.

Label manager Darrel Baird told TMN that one project would be to source young remote community players and get them into a professional studio for the first time, covering a Koomurri song and recording some original material. Deadly is released digitally on Ditto Music and on CD from Deadlyrecords.com.au. Dawson’s close relationships with the Native American community and its cultural events will see Deadly focus on the world music market in America and Europe.

Pilot plan to ease noise levels for Nambour

In a bid to revive venues in Nambour, on the Sunshine Coast, the Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance (SCCA) and the Live Music Office have put forward a pilot scheme. Under current rules, a venue cannot go over 75 decibels (a normal rock band clocks in at 110 decibels). At a meeting last month in Maroochydore attended by 25 music and business groups, a proposal was put forward for a 6–to-12 month trial where the noise would be measured at the external boundary of the Nambour hospitality area, rather than outside the venue. Between 30 to 40 venues would be affected. Some have spent thousands of dollars on sound proofing and getting advice from sound consultants.

The proposal has been ratified by various councillors as Nambour’s Greg Rogerson and Noosa Shire’s Frank Wilkie and business groups as Combined Chambers of Commerce. It would need approval from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR). But SCCA President Phil Smith told TMN that the SCCA would through Sunshine Coast Council deal with the Attorney-General.

The outcome of the trial will be used to press for the abandoning of the 75 decibel-rule, regarded as a total hindrance to the state’s live music sector. Would it extend to setting up an entertainment precinct in Nambour? “We want to,” Smith said. He added that while Nambour was not a heavy residential area, it would be in the future, and the issue had to be sorted out now.

In the meantime the Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance continues to foster live music, with a monthly showcase of local talent at C-Square and BalconyTV Sunshine Coast, moves to activate Noosa Junction’s laneways as performing spaces, and holding workshops at Noosa’s new digital hub Silicon Beach.

Launceston’s Basin Concert cancelled

Organisers of Launceston’s Basin Concert cancelled the January 9 event. They cited the rising costs of holding it at the complex Cataract Gorge. “We are unable to find a sound financial model that will see the event be viable and sustainable in the short term,” event management firm Opcon said. It hopes to return in 2017.

Presto introduces HD, more device access

Australian SVOD Presto is offering an initial 2,500 hours of TV and movies on HD on selected devices. Interim CEO Shaun James said, “Presto customers have enjoyed streaming our great movies and drama since launch, but feedback has consistently shown a strong desire for HD.”

The Foxtel/ Seven service also announced support for AirPlay for Apple devices and launched an updated mobile and tablet app. The latter provides new features as Watchlist access, letting subscribers keep track of favourites and view on the go; Play-Next-Episode functionality, which screens the next show in a series; Parental Control and Registered Devices View, so subscribers can review ratings settings and devices on the go.

Presto will also be a launch partner for Telstra’s upcoming Telstra TV service on Roku. The service is also “well advanced” with its expansion plans for additional smart TVs and games consoles.

Canberra, Darwin, digital trials extended

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) agreed to extend the DAB+ digital radio trial licences in Canberra and Darwin for another 12 months. The trials began in 2010.

Commercial Radio Australia CEO Joan Warner said: “The commercial radio industry is buoyed by the support from ACMA on the extension of the Darwin and Canberra trials, and the Communications Department for the announcement of the Digital Radio Planning Committee for Regional Australia. We’re working with our industry colleagues on the planning for the first committee meeting.”

Harry Angus, Lawrence English, get Myer Fellows

Two contemporary music figures were among the ten awarded the 2015 Sidney Myer Creative Fellows. Harry Angus is trumpet player and co-frontman of The Cat Empire, co-founder of Jackson Jackson and the free-improvisation ensemble The Conglomerate.

Lawrence English is a Brisbane based composer, media artist and curator who runs the Room40 label.

Major folk festivals heading for Folk Alliance Conference

Names from some of Australia’s major folk festivals – National Folk, Woodford, Cygnet, Illawarra Folk and Pt. Fairy Folk – are confirmed to attend next month’s Folk Alliance Australia Conference in Melbourne. Also attending are Creative Victoria, Hats Inc,, Music Victoria and Multicultural Arts Victoria.

The theme for the October 9 – 11 event is Connecting The Folk Community, Industry & Culture. About 45 panellists will discuss creating a festival community, bands as a business, touring, marketing and media, performance presentation, management and agents. A keynote is from Dr Neil Cameron who has worked in theatre, festivals and cultural development in Australia and Scotland for thirty four years. All details at http://www.folkallianceconference.org/.

Study: Aussie TV viewing aired

Despite the unprecedented amount of viewing options and devices offered to them, Australians’ love affair with television continues. The latest Australian Multi-Screen Report by OzTAM, Regional TAM and Nielsen showed that the bulk of screen viewing is still on TV sets, with only 12% using connected mobile devices.

But there is a slight move from live broadcast (91%) to more play-back (9%) while 88% of all video viewing is on the traditional TV set. The survey, covering April to June 2015, found that Australians watch on average 90 hours and 53 minutes each month.

Musician among Brit Co’s Accelerate winners

NSW musician Marcus Corowa was among the five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts professionals announced as the 2015 participants of the British Council’s annual ACCELERATE leadership skills development programme. It is the initiative’s sixth year. After three days of leadership workshops last week, the five head to the UK between November 12 and December 7 for more workshops and to work with mentors chosen from their various fields.

Venues Update

* Byron Bay’s La La Land nightclub lost an appeal to re-extend its Sunday night hours to 3 am. These were cut to midnight in 2013 due to licensing infringements.

* Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium hired Colliers International to run a global expressions of interest campaign to find eight naming partners. Starting price: $450,000 per year.

* Sydney’s Newington Inn’s new owner Solotel is renovations over the next two months and announced it will change its name to Public House Petersham.

* The team at Melbourne’s Old Bar is seeking offers to lease out its sister music venue in Castlemaine, in regional Victoria.

* Sydney’s Lansdowne Hotel in Chippendale, announced its Last Call bash on Saturday September 12 will include 14 acts including Juice, Money For Rope, Darker Half and The Ruckus. It then goes dark on September 29.

* The World Bar Sydney's newly opened Blood Moon Theatre space will launch with a run of Don't Look Away Theatre and Blancmange Productions' A Property Of The Clan between September 30 and October 17.

Private sector support for the arts grows 9.7%

Revenue from private giving, corporate sponsorship and fundraising events in the major performing arts sector continued to grow in 2014. It was up by 9.7% to $78.6 million from $71.7 million in 2013, said the Tracking Changes In Corporate Sponsorship And Private Giving 2015 report issued by Australian Major Performing Arts Group. Of the total private sector revenue, 54% ($42.2 million) was private donations (that is, philanthropy)—up $2.9 million on 2013. The number of donors rose by 13.4% to 28 773. The growth was attributed to greater interaction by the arts sector with its benefactors, especially in Victoria and, to a lesser extent, in NSW and SA.

Melbourne Music Bank announces finalists

The Bank of Melbourne announced its 12 finalists for the Melbourne Music Bank. Full list at www.bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank. The final four, chosen from public votes, perform live on Thursday October 8 at the Arts Centre’s State Theatre before a panel of industry folks who will choose the winner. This year’s prize pack includes studio recording time, a film clip, printed CDs, and deals with On The Map PR, Chris Robinson Management, Varasso PR and 123 Agency.

Senate inquiry continues over arts funding cuts

The Senate inquiry into the Federal Government’s $105 million arts funding cuts from the Australia Council, has made three stops –Victoria, Tasmania and West Australia. After Sydney and Queensland, it delivers its report on November 26.

The Government argued the money has basically been moved over to the new National Program of Excellence in Arts (NPEA) and that small to medium organisations will get priority funding.

But the arts sector wasn’t buying, In each city it repeated its fears – it expected closures and lay-offs, it couldn’t plan ahead because of uncertainty, it faced higher administration charges and solo creative will face a disadvantage as NPEA doesn’t include applications from individuals, WA’s Chamber of Arts and Culture spokesperson Henry Boston said that expressions of uncertainty by at least ten associations “had a domino effect of them being unable to pursue and secure partnerships.”

Abbey Road Institute buys Sydney’s Studio 301

Abbey Road Institute Australia has acquired Studio 301 to launch a Sydney version in early 2016 and use it to provide practical elements for music production and sound engineering students. Partner Gianni Michelini and CEO Paul Ledingham are the executive team behind Abbey Road Institute at Southbank Melbourne which starts classes on September 21. Also part of the team is Deke Miskin, who started magazines as TV Hits, Girlfriend, Sugar, That’s Life and Wallpaper and currently developing hotels abroad.

Ledingham insists they are “100% committed to seeing 301 evolve to meet the needs of the 21st century music industry. We’ll continue to service our existing clients and pay homage to the incredible legacy that is Studios 301.” More info at https://abbeyroadinstitute.com.au.

Two festivals change venues

This year’s music, food and wine Gorgeous Festival in South Australia’s McLaren Vale wine country moves to Penny’s Hill Winery from Serafino Winery. Held between November 27 to 28, the music component includes Kate Miller-Heidke, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Stonefield(pictured) and SA acts.

Mackay’s Sarina Festival Under Lights moves this year (September 12) to the Sarina Rugby League Grounds.

Quickflix suspends ASX trading

SVOD service Quickflix again suspended ASX trading as it restructures to source new funding and avoid possible financial insolvency. It told the ASX the restructure was “to become a viable and sustainable business in which losses from its existing consumer business are significantly curtailed or eliminated.”

In June, it reported it had lost $1.096m in the last quarter and had only $913,000 in cash on hand. It has secured $5 million in licensing arrangements with movie studios. Its DVD business remained profitable and it is continuing to source partnerships in Asia. “The board has also identified new enterprise partnering opportunities to leverage its platform and operating expertise to deliver branded and white-label streaming services into other marketers, particularly Asia.”

Number Crunching

344,000 tweets sent in Australia during the MTV Video Music Awards, apparently the most tweeted show in this country since Nielsen Twitter TV Ratings launched. There were 47 million tweets sent globally.

67 consecutive weeks in the UK Top 10 sets a new record for Sam Smith's In The Lonely Hour.

92% of Australians believe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts is important to Australia culture. But only a quarter attend because most are uncertain of how to behave at events and don’t want to offend, according to the Australia Council’s Building Audiences Report.

7.11 million viewers in the UK tuned in to the return of X Factor UK (peaking at 8.5 million), its worst launch ratings for almost ten years. Last year the return drew 9.5 million, and a peak of 10.6 million.

107,142,986 Facebook “likes” makes Shakira the world’s most “liked” person on the social media platform, says the 2016 Guinness Book of World Records.

Copyright Agency moves

The Copyright Agency has moved to Level 11, 66 Goulburn Street, Sydney 2000. All telephone, fax and email contacts remain the same.

Vale

As morning radio host of Mix 104.9 Darwin, award winning Pete Davis was outspoken, controversial and influential. His producer Katie Woolf said, when she announced the news of his passing yesterday to his listeners, “He stood up for what he believed in and he didn’t back down on the issues that he felt were important to all you.” Davis was this year fighting oesophageal cancer and travelled to Brisbane for treatment. He was 58.

Singer Graham Brazier co-founded New Zealand’s Hello Sailor in 1975 and contributed writing credits to hits as Blue Lady and I'm A Texan. The band, who established a reputation as a hard driving swaggering band, lived in Los Angeles (during which he was approached to join The Doors; coincidentally he too ran a book store and was a published poet) and then Sydney for a time. After they broke up in 1980, he released four solo albums. Brazier passed away in Auckland aged 63, from complications due to a heart attack last month.

Queensland sports broadcaster Pat O’Shea, “the voice of the Darling Downs”, passed last Saturday after surgery on a bowel tumor. He was 64.

And a few other things…

While Bryan Adams, Ellie Goulding and Chris Isaak were announced yesterday to play the MCG at the AFL Grand Final on October 2, Hugh Jackman is also being rumoured.

A tale of two music movies. The NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton went straight to the top of the Australian box office, taking $4.528 million on 323 screens on its fist weekend. Meantime, Zac Efron’s EDM turkey We Are Your Friends made all of $37,831 on 144 screens.

One of the first things TPG apparently did when they took over Perth-based ISP iiNet was to cut the staff’s free sweets and fruits.

Brisbane music and lifestyle scribe Andrew McMillen took out the Freelance Journalism category of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance’s Clarion Awards.

Chris Doheny, frontman and songwriter of Melbourne band Geisha (and co-written of Nine Network’s AFL Footy Show theme More Than A Game) and his wife Simone had their fifth child, a son Sawyer.

After a Pozible-funded three month European tour, symphonic metal outfit Ne Obliviscaris were actually on the plane headed back to Australia when they posted to fans they are returning to Europe to open for Cradle Of Filth from October 16 to November 26 covering 17 countries.

The second metal gathering of the tribes, Unify 2016, sold out its early bird ticket allocation in three hours, Unified and The Hills Are Alive announced. It sold out all 3000 tickets in the same time for its inaugural session this January.

Channel [V] is premiering the US show Sisterhood of Hip Hop on September 24, running it on Thursdays at 9.30 pm.

The NSW branch of the Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing (OLGR) is holding workshops from this week in six NSW cities on ways to reduce alcohol-related harm and support the local hospitality industry. See olgr.nsw.gov.au.

The launch of Telstra TV’s streaming service has been put back to next month.

One time Dubbo ZOO FM announcer turned failed Infinity Music Festival promoter Dene Broadbelt, dubbed “Dodgy Dene” by the media, says he’s moving overseas to “live a normal life.” The 22-year old also used the names Dene Mussillon and Harrison O'Connor.

The third Kiama Folk Festival on the weekend drew 850 people, some from afar as South Australia and Victoria, organiser the Illawarra Folk Club reported. Its next event, the larger 31st Illawarra Folk Festival (January 14 to 17) has already confirmed 150 acts and normally draws 9,500.

The NSW Government’s announcement last week it will spend $1.5 billion to build two new stadiums and upgrade ANZ Stadium has put the heat on the Queensland Government. Townsville authorities are demanding it increase its commitment of $100 million for the city’s $210 million 25,000-capacity Integrated Stadium and Entertainment Centre. The Government previously said that unless the Federal Government coughs up funds, it might scale back the $100 million.

Due to a bout of appendicitis in the US, Jeremy Neale won’t be playing tonight’s Dot Dash pre-Bigsound party in Brisbane.

Queensland hip hop duo Lane Harry x Ike Campbell’s song of the year win at the Gold Coast music awards was a two-pronged win for Harry, he told the Gold Coast Bulletin. It also marked the first time his mum saw the act live.

Last weekend Melbourne Ska Orchestra and Sietta played over three nights in Istanbul. It was part of Australia in Turkey 2015, organised by the Oz Embassy.

Perth businessman and arts lover Warwick Hemsley and Federal MP Melissa Parke are engaged. Hemsley is Chair of the WA Chamber of Arts and Culture, a councillor of the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra and past Chair of the WA Opera Company. Five years ago he made headlines when he and Jerry Hall started dating.