Musical Chairs: April 26

KANYE AND SCOOTER SPLIT 

Kanye West and manager Scooter Braun have parted ways after two and a half years, according to reports from the U.S.

But just why the split took place is rattling up in the air.

Initially, when West came under Braun’s aura, he brought his longtime manager Izzy Zivkovic with him. But in late March, Zivkovic was no longer part of the team.

One version of the latest story is that West has apparently decided he can’t be anyone’s client anymore and that he has decided to dispense with a manager altogether.

A variation of this is that West asked Braun to just look after him – and Braun who’s got his hands full with Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jepsen and Ariana Grande among others, declined.

And yet another version is that the two men and their companies will work together on various projects.

But all the reports are alluding to the fact that Kanye is behaving erratically, similar to just before his 2016 tour when had to be cancelled when he checked into hospital.

He also seems to have had a bizarre phone call with Ebro Darden of New York radio station Hot 97, who reported that West told him he “really love[s]” Donald Trump and had been hospitalized for an opioid addiction.

He’s supposed to have said, “Nobody really showed love for me when I was addicted to opioids and in the hospital.”

This statement could have dire legal and insurance consequences for West, if he’s talking about cancelling the previous tour due to drug use.

Last year insurers Lloyd’s of London paid out most of the $10 million the rapper demanded via a lawsuit, where he said the insurer was dragging its feet when it came to signing a cheque and claiming his collapse was due to marijuana.

West’s inner circle has already disputed any opioid addiction.

All this reshuffling comes as West says he has two albums out in June: his own and a collaboration with Kid Cudi.

CHANGES AT REMOTE CONTROL

Remote Control has announced two changes in its team.

Charlie Ellison is its new Sydney based Publicist.

“She comes to us with a strong history of brilliant PR campaigns and an undeniable dedication to the artists she works with,” Remote Control said.

“Her passion for music and wealth of industry knowledge makes her a valuable addition to the Remote Control team.”

Darren Lesaguis moves into the newly created role of digital coordinator to provide support to digital manager Vanja Bezbradica.

NEW HEAD OF PROGRAMMING AT SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

High profile arts executive Fiona Winning is the new head of programming at Sydney Opera House, effective immediately.

She will head programming, producing and artistic development for the venue’s Sydney Opera House Presents schedule, which programs close to 700 performances.

They cover contemporary music, contemporary performance, First Nations, talks & ideas, children, families & creative learning, and classical music.

Winning’s diverse background in a number of mainstream and independent mediums includes head of programming for Sydney Festival (2012-17) and director of Sydney arts hub Performance Space (1999-2008).

NICK JONAS, DEMI LOVATO, IGGY AZALEA MANAGER TO ROC NATION MANAGEMENT

After a week of speculation, Billboard overnight confirmed that Phil McIntyre – manager of Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas and Iggy Azalea and executive producer of American Idol– is now president of management at JAY Z’s Roc Nation.

McIntyre’s company Philymack has been in partnership with Roc Nation since 2015.

Now aside from his own clients, he will oversee its roster of music, sports and celebrity personalities, including Rihanna, J. Cole and DJ Khaled.

NEW GM FOR EMI VIRGIN

Rob Pascoe steps up as GM at Virgin EMI UK, widening his role from being director of radio programming.

He has been 16 years at the imprint’s parent company Universal Music, first working with Mercury Records before moving to Virgin/EMI.

LEADERSHIP CHANGES AT UNIVERSAL PUBLISHING

Universal Publishing Production Music (UPPM) president Michael Sammis announced George Macias as SVP and general manager, Jane Carter as UK MD and head of Focus Music, Patrick Appelgren as VP of Continental Europe and Ken Nelson as SVP of global production.

SINCLAIR, NAIDOO HOSTING 2CH BREAKFAST

EON Broadcasting is bringing in a new breakfast team on April 30 to lift 2CH Sydney’s breakfast slot from the low of 2.7% in the second radio survey of the year.

They are 2CH afternoon announcer Trevor Sinclair and well-known ABC and SBS news and current affairs presenter Indira Naidoo.

Group content director Rod Brice believes they’ll “reflect the vibrancy of the Harbour City’”, with Sinclair’s “passion for his hometown of Sydney, extensive musical knowledge and a heart for excellence on-air” and Naidoo’s “incredible journalistic skill … (and) her joy of life and living in Sydney.”

NOISEY GETS NEW EDITOR 

Shaad D’Souza has been named Australian editor of Vice Media music site Noisey.

Other changes at parent company Vice Media are former executive production manager of The Project, Rachel Tuffery, filling the newly created head of production role, and Wendy Syfret promoted from i-D editor to head of editorial.

WYSE MOVING ON FROM ALLURE MEDIA  

Sarah Wyse exits her role as chief revenue officer at digital publishing group Allure Media.

Aaron Macarthur, who joined six months ago as head of sales and partnerships as Wyse hire, now moves up to national sales and operations director.

Among Macarthur’s past gigs was as Sydney commercial director at Southern Cross Austereo.

SPIRIT LOSES CHAPMAN 

Judith Chapman, head of Karratha-based Spirit FM for eight years (and 13 years at the station), has quit to travel around Australia with her husband Ian and then concentrating on her own company My Memory Lane.

“Running a radio station in a remote location like Karratha has been really challenging,” she said.

“With cyclones, tornados and lightning strikes that have all threatened to take us off the airwaves.

“I feel lucky to have been part of the community, and I feel proud of my contributions of the last eight years.”

APPLE MUSIC EXPANDS IN NASHVILLE

Apple’s increased content of country music has seen it open a dedicated office in Nashville. Apple executive Jay Liepis is moving back to the city to lead a team working with artists, songwriters, managers and labels across various genres.

ARTS PARTY’S NEW TEAM

The Arts Party’s 2018/9 new leadership team is Barry Keldoulis (leader), PJ Collins (secretary), Pamela Aitken (treasurer), Carol-Anne Croker (policy officer), Selina Kucks (publicity officer), Steve Doig (technical officer), Malcolm Thomson (Victorian committee contact), Dan Craig (social media lead), Sue Davidson (ordinary member), Kylie Macey (social media officer) and Emily Winter (social media officer).

LEGAL AND BUSINESS AFFAIRS AT SCREEN PRODUCERS AUST

Elle Curran has begun as director, legal and business affairs at Screen Producers Australia. She was most recently at the ABC, following stints at Flame Media, ITV Studios and DWA Entertainment Lawyers.

NEW BLOOD AT DESTINATION NSW

Destination NSW, which works closely with the music and entertainment industry, has new appointments to its board.

The new Chair is corporate executive and Cricket NSW chair John Warn (replacing John Hartigan after four years), Sally Loane of the financial and hospitality sectors and one-time arts minister George Souris AM.

Wendy Machin stepped down after being first appointed in 2011.