Musical Chairs: April 20

DAVID MASSEY LEAVING ISLAND FOR OWN FIRM

David Massey, the UK-born American executive who gave Silverchair and Delta Goodrem their US label homes, is set to step down as president/CEO of Island Records in June.

He is reportedly planning to set up his own label and music company with investment funding, similar to former Epic CEO L.A. Reid, former Sony Music Entertainment chairman Doug Morris and former Def Jam head Steve Bartels.

Massey has led Island, part of Universal Music, since February 2013.

As part of Island, he guided the rise of Shawn Mendes, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, Tove Lo and Mike Posner.

He previously served time as head of Epic/Sony and Mercury/Universal.

He also founded Daylight Records with Sony, with a US roster that included Goodrem, Anastacia, Good Charlotte, The Jonas Brothers, Phantom Planet and Cyndi Lauper

NEW GM FOR ADELAIDE’S FRESH

The new GM at Adelaide’s community radio station Fresh 92.7 Dave Shearer began earlier this week, overseeing its content and sales.

Shearer, most recently PD at Nova 919 has also worked in the UK radio market.

Station chair Paul Gordon noted Shearer’s radio experience, saying: “His appointment comes at a great time, as we celebrate the 20th year of Fresh 92.7 and steer the organisation into the next 20 years”.

BRAIDWOOD FINDS LIFE OUTSIDE RADIO 

Carmen Braidwood, who was axed from 96FM’s breakfast show with co-host Brad Fitzgerald because ARN wanted a team that was “hungrier”, has told the West Australian she’s working outside of the radio industry at present.

She’s an MC, business consultant, lecturing at TAFE and an artist in residence at All Saints College working with media students.

The current 96FM breakfast team is Lisa “Lise” Fernandez and Paul Hogan.

SPOTIFY POACHES APPLE EXEC

Carl Chery, Apple Music’s head of artist curation with a specific focus on hip-hop and R&B, has moved over to Spotify as its head of urban.

Based in LA, he will work with the European streaming service’s hip-hop editors around the world to build up the genre’s profile and deepen connections with artists.

NEW ADDITION TO TEAM SHEERAN

Ed Sheeran’s longtime London-based manager Stuart Camp has hired Gabrielle Cawthorne as GM of his company Grumpy Old Management.

She was formerly VP of international marketing at Warner Music UK, where Camp worked for a time.

As reported by TMN, Sheeran’s longtime manager earlier this year split the company from its association with Elton John’s Rocket Music to go independent.

BREAKFAST CHANGE AT 2SER

Tess Connery is new breakfast host at Sydney’s 2SER, after Nic Healey took a new role at ABC North West WA.

CREATE NSW BRINGS IN GUPTA

Create NSW has appointed Western Sydney up-and-comer Michael Gupta to its Emerging Producer Placement initiative, which funds customised six-month paid screen industry internships.

He’ll study the production finance process under screen investment senior manager Sally Regan and the sector investment team, before joining a NSW-based production company for a further three-month period.

NEW EDITOR FOR VOICEWORKS

Writer and comedian Mira Schlosberg is set to be editor of Express Media’s quarterly journal Voiceworks for a two-year period, taking over from Lucy Adams.

GARY ROBERTS EXITS RADIO AFTER 50 YEARS

Gary Roberts, managing director of Nova 93.7 Perth, is leaving on July 2.

Roberts, whose career in radio spans 50 years, was helming Nova for the past 16 years. Before that, he was managing director at Austereo’s Mix 94.5 and 92.9fm in Perth.

He was also on the Commercial Radio Australia board for eight years, three of them as chair (from 1998 to 2000).

Nova 93.7 Perth sales director Jamie Martinovich will also handle interim GM duties until a replacement is found.

NEW CEO FOR 2NURFM

The University of Newcastle’s community station 2NURFM has appointed Deborah Wright as CEO while it celebrates 40 years on the air.

Wright was previously director of regional strategy at Nine Entertainment Co., and CEO and station manager for the NBN Television group of companies.

AUSTRALIA’S JANINE KERR AT RIPTIDE

California-based sync and rights management company Riptide Music Group has appointed Australian expat Janine Kerr as creative director.

Kerr was formerly VP with Fox Sports Music where she was acclaimed by the local industry for exposing Australian acts.

Riptide provides music for advertising, movie trailers, TV programming and promos, major motion pictures, video games, and multi-media production.

MADDOX HANDLES TWO ROLES AT CANBERRA FM

Multiple ACRA Award winner Gemma Maddox joins Canberra FM in two roles, as its social media personality and Hit 104.7 announcer between 12pm and 3pm.

ANNIE CHRISTENSEN A&R DIRECTOR AT ISLAND

Annie Christensen is promoted to A&R director at Island Records.

Starting out at the label in 2003 as work experience, she quickly moved up the ranks, becoming A&R manager after she helped sign Mumford & Sons.

She then signed Spring King and co-signed Ben Howard and Hozier with head of A&R Louis Bloom.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT MAV

After 15 years as CEO of Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV), Jill Morgan AM has resigned.

During her time, she worked with the music industry on a number of initiatives while expanding multiculturalism as an important part of Australian life.

NEW PRESIDENT FOR STARHUB

Major secondary ticketing company Starhub hired Sukhinder Singh Cassidy as president, effective May 2.

SINTRAS LANDS SBS EXEC ROLE 

John Sintras is the new chief audience and content officer for SBS. He brings extensive industry insight and global leadership experience from his diverse roles across Australia and the US, including Starcom MediaVest.

He was most recently based in New York, as global president, business development and product innovation at IPG Mediabrands.

KINDERLINK KIDS RADIO GETS EP 

Elle Beattie is new EP of Early Learning Programs at Kinderling Kids Radio.

She held that role at Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty Drive show until last year when she went on maternity leave.

She has previously worked on Triple M’s Merrick & The Highway Patrol, WSFM’s Jonesy and Amanda and Better Homes & Gardens Radio.