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News March 7, 2019

Musical Chairs: Scott Cohen, Peter Batchelor, Irving Azoff, Nick Arnold & more

Musical Chairs: Scott Cohen, Peter Batchelor, Irving Azoff, Nick Arnold & more
Image: Scott Cohen (Supplied)

ORCHARD CO-FOUNDER SCOTT COHEN AT WARNER

Scott Cohen, a co-founder of distribution company The Orchard, has joined Warner Music Group (WMG) in the newly created role of chief innovation officer, recorded music.

Cohen who left The Orchard last month after 22 years, reports to WMG CEO, recorded music Max Lousada and work closely with senior management to “help chart the long-term course of the company at the intersection of music, technology, and culture.”

“Scott spots and champions emerging technology with the same level of passion, creativity and ambition that our A&Rs bring to artist development,” said Lousada in a statement.

“A valuable addition to our senior team, he’ll be an amazing brand ambassador and thought-leader, who joins a great lineage of maverick entrepreneurs at the independent major.”

Added Cohen, “It’s no longer enough for entertainment companies to merely embrace change, they need to create the future themselves.

“What attracted me to Warner was the sense that Max and his team are building an environment where truly original, disruptive ideas can flourish. Warner is uniquely positioned to take an agile but principled approach to growing the universe of opportunity for music.”


PETER BATCHELOR STEPPING DOWN FROM CBF

Peter Batchelor is stepping down as president and chair of the Community Broadcasting Foundation.

He leaves on June 30 and has been in the voluntary role for the past six years.

A replacement in the national role to enhance the community media sector is being advertised on the CBF website.


‘WHIPPY’ DANGAR RETURNS TO HOT TOMATO

Brendon ‘Whippy’ Danger is returning to the Gold Coast as content director of 1029 Hot Tomato.

He worked the Coast in the early 2000s, after stints in hometown Newcastle and Brisbane, and later worked as content director at KIIS 101.1 in Melbourne.


IRVING AZOFF LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL ARM

Oak View Group, the LA-based company founded by Irving Azoff and Tim Leiweke three years ago, have set up an international arm based in London.

It will explore arena and stadium development and partnership opportunities in the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and is already in advanced discussions on a number of projects.

OVG International will be headed by a number of top-flight live music executives.

They are led by Jessica Koravos, president of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group and former MD of AEG Live, who is co-chair alongside Tim Leiweke.

Others are Sam Piccione III president; Mark Donnelly, COO; Brian Kabatznick, EVP business development & facilities; Marc-Elie Robert, SVP commercial; Martha Rolle, legal counsel and Gary Hutchinson, stadium consultant.

Oak View Group was set up to create a positive disruption to North American business in the music, sports, and live entertainment industry.

It is currently developing arenas in Seattle, New York and Austin, and runs the Arena and Stadium Alliance which consists of 28 arenas.


FROM BUZZFEED TO JUNKEE MEDIA

Junkee Media tapped former Buzzfeed video producer Nick Arnold for the newly-created role of video news director as the publisher expands further into video in 2019.

He was one of those affected by Buzzfeed’s international scull last month.

His background is in journalism and TV in the UK and Australia.


ADELAIDE FESTIVAL EXTENDS AD TENURES

Adelaide Festival has, for the second time, extended the tenure of artistic directors Neil Armfield AO and Rachel Healy.

They are now the festival’s longer serving ADs, overlooking seven instalments from 2017 to 2023.

Since they took over in 2017, Adelaide Festival immediately tallied up its biggest box office numbers in its history, and exceeded that in 2018.

This year’s event, currently running, is 22% ahead of 2018 at the same time, with 24% of ticket sales from outside South Australia.

According to the festival, over the past three years, turnover has grown 44% from $12.5 million to $18 million, with corporate sponsorship up 46% and philanthropic support escalated by 505%.


BMG PRODUCTION MUSIC PROMOTES THREE TO GLOBAL ROLES

BMG Production Music (BMGPM) promoted UK executives Alex Marchant, Ciaran McNeaney and Sam Delves to global roles, following what it calls “a significant acquisition and growth period for the company.”

Subsequent to BMGPM’s acquisition of the UK-based production music company Deep East Music (DEM) in 2018, it is promoting DEM owners and co-founders Marchant and McNeaney to new key international roles (which sees them also working the Australian markets), respectively director of global marketing and director of global production, effective immediately.

Delves is promoted to manager – global marketing, up from digital marketing manager since 2017.


CD FOR HOBART CURRENT

Rosie Dennis is named creative director of the inaugural Hobart Current, a new partnership between The City of Hobart and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery which relaces the 27-year-old City of Hobart Art Prize

It is a major biennial program that will nurture and showcase contemporary artists working across different media, which may include visual art, performance, music, film, design, and literature.


ALI HARNELL FOR WOMEN NATION

Ali Harnell moves from AEG to Live Nation, to take over in newly created position of president and chief strategy officer for Women Nation.

The division will focus on women’s initiatives including empowering current and future women executives.

The Women Nation Fund is “an investment fund designed to provide capital to female entrepreneurs in the promotions and events industry,” said LN, which has a global work of 45% female.

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