Musical Chairs

Image: The hosts of The Right Note

TRIBAL APES OFFICIALLY UNVEILS STREAMING

After a soft launch last November, B&T reports that Australian brand entertainment multi-platform Tribal Apes this week officially launched its SKIPI TV streaming service of journalism, news and entertainment original content. Tribal Apes is a collective of writers, producers and directors.

Its first three shows, shot at its purpose-built Tribal Live at Fox Studios in Sydney, are the music-oriented The Right Note, political media wrap-up The Third Rail and primarily movie review and interview format Watch This.

The weekly Friday show The Right Note has a focus on unearthing the best records and music around through discussion, interviews and studio performance.

Hosted by former triple j host and Frenzal Rhomb guitarist Lindsay McDougall, the team of presenters includes Rolling Stone Australia Editor Rod Yates (who conceived the series), the Sydney Morning Herald’s Bernard Zuel and AAP’s Danielle McGrane.

WOW & FLUTTER LAUNCHES IN UK

A new publishing, sync and music supervision company called Wow & Flutter has been set up in London by former Universal Music Publishing executive Becca Gatrell. She was its Head of Film and Television.

The new firm will endeavour to work with writers from a wide array of genres, with a core focus on high-quality film and TV projects. The publishing division is a jv with UMP, launching with emerging writers Sean Gadd (founding member of Grouplove), Tommy Ashby and Rinngs.

SOUNDCLOUD PROMOTES WEST

SoundCloud promoted Megan West to Vice President of Content Relations. She’ll manage its relationships with labels, artists, managers and audio partners.

TOM MACKAY PRESIDENT OF SONY FILM/TV A&R

Tom Mackay joins Sony Music Entertainment in the newly created position of President of Sony Music, Film and Television A&R. Based in Los Angeles, he will lead strategy and implementation of the major’s film and television partnerships including soundtrack deals.

He was previously at Republic Records since 1998, most recently as Executive VP/GM of West Coast operations where his role included overlooking film and television, and was responsible for the launch of The Voice on NBC.

He played an instrumental role in the signing of Florida Georgia Line, Eli Young Band, 3 Doors Down and Hinder.

NATASHA EXELBY GUESTS ON KIIS

Seasoned journalist Natasha Exelby(left) will be guest breakfast newsreader on Sydney’s KIIS 1065 while The Kyle & Jackie O Show is on survey break April 17 to 21. The show, including newsreader Brooklyn Ross, will return to-air from April 24.

Exelby made headlines around the world this week when her on-air ‘daydreaming’ blooper went viral and caught the eye of the KIIS 1065 team for the poise and humour with which she handled the “oops!” situation.

HOT TOMATO PROMOTES GRAHAM MILES TO CEO

Gold Coast station Hot Tomato promoted GM Graham Miles to CEO. Executive Chairman Hans Torv explained, “The board believes that the title and position of CEO better reflects the broader responsibilities that Graham has assumed as the Hot Tomato business has grown in recent years.”

SEAFM’S ALO BAKER EXPANDS TO TV

Radio host Alo Baker of SeaFM Gold Coast has expanded to television. He is co-hosting a new six-part TV series Aussie Dreamlivers with Jonny Hibbard and Gimli. It gets screened in New Zealand first, dropping on Easter Sunday on TVNZ Duke and TVNZ OnDemand.

RONAN KEATING EXPANDS RADIO ROLE

Former Boyzone member Ronan Keating, better known in Australia for his coach role on The Voice, is named as co-host of the breakfast show on the UK’s Bauer-owned Magic FM with Harriet Scott. He became involved with the station in 2010 presenting weekend shows.

KATIE CUNNINGHAM TO HELM TO NEW SITE

Katie Cunningham, editor of the dance music website InTheMix, is heading a new site launched by its publisher Junkee Media. The new arrival, Music Junkee, replaces FasterLouder.The publisher also added other new titles, includingVideo Junkee, and is rebranding long-running site TheVine asPunkee, aimed at Gen Z.

KURLAND AGENCY EYEING THE GLOBE

US-based Kurland Agency is expanding its services to its acts by hiring Gunter Schroder as Vice President of the International Division where he will be responsible for booking operations covering international territories outside North America.

Its acts include Pat Metheny, Bela Fleck, Wynton Marsalis, Meshell Ndegeocello and Chick Corea, who have toured Australia in recent years.

CHASER AT TRIPLE M SYDNEY

From May 1, the original team of The Chaser present a 12-week series for Triple M Sydney. In the press release, distributed in the wake of the disastrous Pepsi spot starring Kendall Jenner, the cheeky crew claimed the show will be presented by Pepsi, and that they’ll spruik the drink from 10am-12pm weekdays, talking to celebs about how it changed their lives and handing out cans in the street.

The Chaser got their start at Triple M in 2001.

TIM AQUILINA MOVES TO CAIRNS

After a stint with Sea FM and Mix FM on the Sunshine Coast from mid-2013, Tim Aquilina is moving to Cairns to take over as Content Director at Triple M and Hit103.5 FM.

NEW DIGITAL HEAD FOR M2M

Media agency m2m Sydney has hired Brain Seal as Head of Digital, replacing replace Daniel O’Brien. Seal has been consulting in the digital sector since leaving marketing and advertising firm APD as its Head of Performance for three years.

‘BACHELOR’ NAME ON RADIO

Alex Nation, who made her mark on last year’s The Bachelor, has joined Melbourne community radio station Southern FM’s on-air team. She’s on its The Drive Out With Jay, Foz And Alex with Luke Forrest and Jay Bruno.