Musical Chairs May 25

KATE DUNDAS GAINS SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE ROLE

One time Director of ABC RadioKate Dundas, (pictured) takes over as Executive Director of Performing Arts at the Sydney Opera House in July.

According to a press statement Dundas “will be responsible for developing and implementing the Opera House’s integrated artistic vision on-stage, on-site and online”.

“She will lead its event operations and production teams and services, and support the delivery of the work of the Opera House’s seven flagship resident companies, together with the Opera House’s own presenting arm, Sydney Opera House Presents (SOHP), which comprises five senior heads of program (Contemporary Music, Contemporary Performance, Talks & Ideas, Children, Families & Creative Learning and First Nations).”

Dundas also served as Deputy Secretary at NSW Government Arts & Culture. She oversaw the policy and funding arms of Arts NSW and Screen NSW and the government coordination of key cultural institutions including the Sydney Opera House.

During her ABC Radio days, she began its successful move into the digital realm, with the highest listenership for the broadcaster when she moved on in 2014.

FREEDMAN JOINS A DAY ON THE GREEN

Roundhouse Entertainment appointed Linda Freedman as new National Publicity Manager for A Day On The Green.

Freedman has extensive experience in the music industry, having worked for Sony Music and EMI, several tour promoters and entertainment PR companies.

Long-time publicist Chrissie Camp is cutting back her workload and will continue as National Promotions Manager looking after media partnerships and radio.

Melbourne-based Freedman starts on Monday June 5 and can be reached at linda@roundhouse.com.au.

SONY DISMISSES LONG TIME LA REID ASSOCIATE

In the wake of L.A. Reid’s departure from the Sony team amidst claims of sexual harassment, the axe has started to fall on some of his longtime associates.

Laura Swenson, Epic’s EVP of Media and Strategic Development, has been let go, Billboard reports.

She first worked with him as a publicist at Arista Records and then followed him to Universal’s Island Def Jam and to Epic in 2014.

WARNER/CHAPPELL TAPS DEUTSCH TO EXPAND THEATRICAL CATALOGUE

Warner/Chappell has appointed Kurt Deutsch as SVP of Theatrical & Catalogue Development to sign theatrical composers and identify new theatrical projects.

He will remain President of Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records – the multi-Grammy Award-winning theatrical music company he founded in 2000.

Warner/Chappell Chairman & CEO Jon Platt calls him “one of the most prominent figures in the Broadway world” and says, “The theatrical world is in the midst of a renaissance, and Kurt is a leader of this new generation of incredibly gifted songwriters, who are creating brilliant music that transcends genres and cultures.”

Deutsch will additionally manage Warner/Chappell’s rich theatre and standards repertoire, which ranges from works by Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hart, and Lerner & Loewe to Stephen Sondheim and HamiltoncreatorLin-Manuel Miranda.

He will work closely with W/C’s synch, licensing, marketing and mechanical departments to secure performance and recording opportunities for its songwriting roster.

RHODA ROBERTS TO CURATE PARRTJIMA FESTIVAL

Long time Indigenous arts administrator, writer and producer Rhoda Roberts AO will curate the second Parrtjima – A Festival in Light in Alice Springs (September 22 – October 1).

Roberts is currently Head of First Nations Programming at Sydney Opera House, Festival Director of Boomerang at Bluesfest and was Creative Director of the Vivid Sydney Opera House Sails Projection in 2016.

A member of the Bundjalung nation, Widjabul clan of Northern NSW and SE Queensland, Roberts previously worked on Northern Territory’s Garma Festival and Darwin Festival.

She says, ‘I have been involved with many communities in the Territory and my family has strong ties with North East Arnhem Land.”

GODFREY-CASS CONSULTING AT UMPG

High profile publishing identity Robin Godfrey-Cass is consulting on a creative and business level at Universal Music Publishing Group, targeting legacy signings.

After 15 years in the US, he returns to London in early June.

In 1985, Godfrey-Cass became the youngest head of a major publishing company, at 30 becoming Managing Director of Warner Chappell Music UK., and later became SVP of its European operations as well.

Godfrey-Cass was responsible for the signings of Eric Clapton, Michael Bolton, Sting, Genesis, Howard Jones, Whitesnake, Bush and Radiohead to global deals.

COMPOSERS FARRY & GOMEZ SET UP STUDIO, LABEL

Longtime ad, TV and movie composers and producers Lukas Farry and Alejandro Gomez have set up a commercial recording studio Otis Studios in Pyrmont, Sydney, along with new label Sobriquet Records.

The award winning pair have worked on ads for a number of corporate clients including Pepsi, Toyota, Aldi, Steinlager Beer, NRMA, Seek and Officeworks.

Gomez was most recently a composer and music producer at Sonar Music for three years. Farry was a music director and sound designer of Sound Reservoir for seven years.

NEW CHAIR FOR AFTRS COUNCIL

Russel Howcroft takes over as Chair for the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) Council for three years from July 1.

The Gruen panellist and high-profile advertising executive was Executive GM of Network Ten and served on boards and foundations including the Australian Film Institute and the Screen Forever Advisory Board.

Last year he was founding Chair of Think TV, a collaborative initiative between Australian free-to-air and subscription television broadcasters to promote television’s scale and effectiveness for advertisers across all screens.

WATTS LEAVING TRIPLE M

Southern Cross Austereo confirmed that Triple M Sydney drive show host Merrick Watts will step down at the end of the year.

Triple M’s Head of Content, Mike Fitzpatrick said “While we are obviously disappointed, we understand he wants to do some different things,” adding the door was open for his return.

NEW HEAD FOR SYDNEY BIENNALE

Brisbane born Jo-Anne Birnie Danzker is named Director and CEO of the 2018 Biennale of Sydney (March 16—June 11).

Working in arts centres in the US, Germany and Canada, she joins the festival on July 1.

PRS, PPL, ENTER LICENSING JV

UK collection societies PRS (representing song copyrights) and PPL (representing recording copyrights) have gone into a joint venture called TheMusicLicence to simplify the licensing process for licensees. Its GM is Suzanne Smith, who joins from credit rating company Experian.

NEW MD FOR HARDIE GRANT MEDIA

Hardie Grant appointed Nick Hardie-Grant as MD of its content and publishing agency, Hardie Grant Media, effective June 5. He is currently its Head of Digital.