Musical Chairs: L.A Reid setting up new company, while Australian Cultural Fund gains new GM

L.A. REID SETTING UP NEW COMPANY

L.A. Reid who was ousted from Sony Music as Epic Chairman/ CEO is apparently setting up a new entertainment company to launch next year, Billboard reported.

Sources told the magazine that Reid’s plan is to have a record label, a publishing company and a division to represent record producers.

He’s been sounding out artists and executives to be part of the company.

Reid’s departure from Sony in May came after a former female assistant accused him of sexual harassment.

Sony reportedly reached a settlement with her in the last couple of months.

Billboard’s sources suggested that despite the controversial circumstances of Reid’s exit, major executives still want to work with him so he doesn’t become a competitor.

ACTION BRONSON ON A DATE

Action Bronson’s successful foray into television with his Viceland food show Fuck That’s Delicious extends with Snapchat dating show Hungry Hearts.

Debuting on August 30, the US rapper will be curating dates for young singles “orchestrating the activities from behind the scenes and giving a play-by-play as only he can. At the end of each episode, Action will predict whether or not the two will go on a second date before it’s ultimately revealed.”

A Fuck That’s Delicious cookbook is on his schedule for later in the year, along with a late night show on Viceland.

NEW BREAKFAST TEAM AT POWER FM

Kristel Dally and Damon Adams are the new breakfast presenters at Power FM in Murray Bridge, South Australia.

Because of the amount of applicants for the co-host role, Daily went through five weeks of on-air trials and chose Adams.

The one-time primary school teacher and Australian Radio School graduate was most recently at 5MU where he pulled double duty as Promotion’s Manager.

She said, “Yes, it’s true he’s a Port Adelaide supporter but he does have some redeeming features… his enthusiasm and passion for radio.”

NEW GM FOR AUSTRALIAN CULTURAL FUND

Kate Hancock is the new GM of the Australian Cultural Fund. She was most recently GM at Theatre Works and before that, produced the Adelaide Fringe’s Royal Croquet Club, the Blue Room Theatre and Performing Lines WA.

Her predecessor Esther Gyorki has moved on to Regional Arts Australia in the Communications Manager role.

AMAZON TICKETS LOSES UK GM

Geraldine Wilson who as GM built up Amazon’s ticketing division Amazon Tickets as a player in the UK live market, has left the role to take a break from full time work.

TOM PROVE JOINS COMMUNION PUBLISHING

Tom Prove, former GM at Touch Tones Music Ltd, has taken over that role at Communion Publishing, Music Business Worldwide reported.

His arrival comes as the publisher extended its long-time admin partnership with Kobalt Music, in the wake of a #1 UK album with Catfish and the Bottlemen and a Top 10 with Bear’s Den.

SARAH GRIGG AT THE FLOW

One time Radio Adelaide volunteer Sarah Grigg is now a journalist at Flow FM in the Wimmera Mallee region.

Grigg who grew up on a wheat and sheep farm in the area, moved to Adelaide to do her double degree in Media and Arts at the University of Adelaide.

She also edited a college journal and worked as a volunteer fire fighter with Parks Victoria.

SCREENWEST CEO DEPARTING

Screenwest’s CEO for the past decade Ian Booth is leaving at the end of the year.

“He has guided the agency and the Western Australian screen industry through a period of significant achievement and growth,” said the organisation’s Chair Janelle Marr.

Later this year, Screenwest becomes to a not for profit structure, distancing itself from the Federal Government and allowing it closer collaborations with the business and philanthropic sectors.

KMP ARTISTS FOUNDER MOVES TO NEW ROLE

KMP Artists, tour producer and arts agency for music, dance and family entertainment in North America and the Asia Pacific is undergoing a CEO change.

Cabaret singer and dancer Kristopher McDowell, who founded the agency in 2004, will move into a consultant’s role for Asia-Pacific projects while he takes over the newly created role of Program Manager at Merrigong Theatre Company.

Andrew Delicata takes the top job in September.

Aside from its programs, Merrigong Theatre Company also manages the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC) in Wollongong, and community venue Wollongong Town Hall.

GM FOR ADELAIDE’S QUEER CULTURAL CENTRE

Adelaide’s LGBTI Feast Festival has tapped Joel Allan as GM of Australia’s first Queer Cultural Centre and added him to its board.

His background includes Adelaide Fringe, Melbourne Comedy Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival as well as festivals in Dubai, the Caribbean and San Francisco.

The Queer Arts and Cultural Hub, set up with $150,000 funding from the SA Government, will be a place for emerging LGBTIQ creatives to develop and workshop their projects at its two performance spaces and artist residency rooms, among others.

The hub was spearheaded by Feast’s GM Cassandra Liebeknecht.

NEW TECH HEAD AT POWERHOUSE

Chris D’bais is the new Technical Director at the Brisbane Powerhouse. He was previously technical manager at Meyer Sound Australia.