Musical Chairs: December 16

Image:Vevo’s EVP of international, Nic Jones gets a new role

Melanie Withnall becomes CBAA Vice President

Sydney community radio station 2SER’s Managing Director Melanie Withnall was elected new Vice President of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA). She replaces Phillip Randall who now takes over as President. Withnall previously served on the board as Financial Director.

The board also formally appointed Bethany Atkinson-Quinton, presenter at Melbourne’s youth station SYN, as its Women’s Representative.

Another international role for Vevo’s Nic Jones

Streaming platform Vevo’s EVP of international, Nic Jones (pictured), is now its Chief Revenue Officer, based in San Francisco. He will be responsible for global sales and international operations, and replaces Jonathan Carson, who is leaving Vevo to pursue opportunities outside of the company.

Jones said: “Vevo is at a very significant point in its history and 2015 has been an important year for us as we pivot our business to become more product-focused and globally aligned. I’ve had the privilege to work and grow our international operations and am excited to bring them together in this expanded global role to drive our business forward with increased velocity.”

Sarah Morgan exits Mushroom Group

Sarah Morgan, long time publicist at Michael Gudinski’s Mushroom Group, left the company yesterday. She’s heading back to New Zealand to do a Bachelor Of Commerce, majoring in Agricultural Commerce, after which she’ll work with farmers and the rural industries to device better and more organic food.

ABC’s Tim Holt retires …

After close to 20 years at ABC Southeast NSW, Tim Holt presented his final morning show last week. He had made his mark in radio before he joined the broadcaster. Inspired at the age of 19 to get into radio by ‘60s Sydney radio identities Ian McCrae and Ward Austin, he arrived at the Bega Valley in 1971 and worked for the local station. In between stints as a concreter, motorcycle shop owner, public works foreman and bar, he joined the ABC in 1996 presenting Saturday Breakfast and then Weekday Mornings.

… so does 4RO’s John Krosch

John Krosch, breakfast presenter at 4RO Rockhampton in Central Queensland is retiring at 63. He’s been in radio for 40 years, and done everything from announcing, voicing documentaries, and being a station manager in Bundaberg. Last year he was set to semi-retire, even buying himself a motorhome to do some travelling with. But 4RO brought him in to temporarily fill-in and he decided to stay another year.

4RO has replaced him with Aaron Stevens who did mornings from River 949 Ipswich effective next month. Stevens will continue to be host of the ACRA award winning 2020 Retro Countdown throughout Grant Broadcasters.

Major changes at AU Review

The AU Review has gone through a major restructure. Editor-in-Chief Larry Heath is stepping down after 7 ½ years to focus on growing his company Heath Media, which also runs Iris and Hello Asia!, publishes books and runs events. As of this week, Heath Media is the new booker for the Courtyard Sessions at the Seymour Centre in Sydney, taking over from The Festivalists.

A new Editor-in-Chief will be announced in early 2016, Heath told Musical Chairs.

Also stepping down this week are Managing Editor Helen Scheuerer, Arts Editor Kat Czornij, Arts News Editor Kat Hunter and Interviews Editor Emmylou Macdonald.

The changes come after its best figures this month, Heath said: close to 500,000 unique page impressions across the network, and huge growth in EDM subscription numbers.

Three changes at Pandora ANZ …

Pandora Australia/ New Zealand has made some changes. Chris Freel is its new Commercial Director. He was previously Fairfax Media’s National Agency Sales Director, handling advertising for its 200 websites.

It follows recent moves as Annaliese Van Riet is now Director of Human Resources and Nina Ta fills the newly created General Counsel role as well as Senior Commercial Lawyer in consumer, media & technology. Rachel Page joined as Group Sales Manager – Victoria.

…and at Pandora global

Pandora hired Rob Passaroas as VP of Product Management, Automotive and Consumer Electronics. His 19-year background in technology included 13 at BMW where he was involved in its life rich in-car entertainment solutions.

Imagem widens Leo Chantzaras’s role

Imagem Music has widened Leo Chantzaras’ role of Senior A&R Manager to more global responsibilities, as Senior International A&R Manager. In his original role, based at the German office, he signed Finnish songwriter Erik Nyholm and German rapper Fler, who has had two German #1 albums. Chantzaras is also known by his stage name Freakchild who has penned 25 platinum and gold releases in Europe and Asia.

He now works on all Imagem signings internationally. Imagem Music UK MD Kim Frankiewicz said, “As an A&R he has every angle covered. He sees things from a manager’s view, an artist’s view, and as a songwriter. Having Leo work on an international level really demonstrates the joined up thinking we have across the group which will be of even greater benefit to all artists across our roster.”

Jessica Thomas exits WAM

Jessica Thomas is leaving her role as Business Manager at WAM (West Australia Music). Her role is being advertised, as is the newly created role of Administration Officer. See wam.org.au for full details.

Australia Council restructures

Due to a restructure due to its funding cuts post-Federal Budget this year, the Australia Council has retrenched 14 jobs but will bring in six new names sourced externally over the next six months. These will increase capacity in digital, co-investment, music and research.

No specific names have been confirmed. But the departures so far have been plucked from dance, visuals, orchestra and opera. According to an email from Frank Panucci, Executive Director Grants, the funding cuts also saw “a reduction in the scale of strategic activities which support artistic, market and audience development nationally and internationally.”

Arts administrator Sandy Verschoor joins Adelaide City Council

Arts administrator Sandy Verschoor filled the Adelaide City Council’s vacancy created by Greens senator Robert Simms’ move to Federal Parliament. Verschoor was Executive Producer of the Adelaide Festival of Ideas, Associate Director of Arts Projects Australia, which included roles with WOMADelaide and Adelaide Film Festival, CEO of Adelaide Fringe Festival for four years and most recently GM and producer at Windmill Theatre.

Breakfast change at SEA FM Gold Coast

SEA FM Gold Coast’s breakfast team Galey, Ross & Charli is losing Ross Wallman. After a year, he’s returning to Perth and taking a “break for now”.

Two new GMs for Caroline

Capitol Music Group Chairman and CEO Steve Barnett announced that Piero Giramonti and Jacqueline Saturn who head up the Harvest imprint, will also look after the group’s indie services division Caroline.

Giramonti and Saturn have effectively sparked up Harvest, with successful signings with Banks, Glass Animals, The New Basement Tapes, Best Coast and Matt & Kim. Caroline too has had a good year, with 12 Grammy nominations, five for Alabama Shakes’ US chart topping Sound & Color. Caroline will move headquarters from New York to LA.

Bree & Gawndy for Sea Central Coast

Brianna Tomasel & Daniel Gawned of Nova 106.9 Brisbane will now present 101.3 Sea FM on the NSW Central Coast’s Bree & Gawndy for Breakfast show.

The current breakfast team Byron & Kristie has disbanded. Kristie is part of The Thinker Girls who’ve signed with Australian Radio Network, and Byron returns to Melbourne to join FOX’s Fifi & Dave on Breakfast.

Adrian Fini joins PIAF board

Property developer and arts patron Adrian Fini joined the board of the Perth International Arts Festival. He brings with him understanding of the arts, strategic thinking and creative flair, said board Chair John Barrington. Fini, a partner in FJM Property, also chairs the Art Gallery of WA Foundation and last year received an OAM for his contributions to the arts.

6PR confirms 2016 lineup

Macquarie Media’s Perth news talk station 6PR’s announced that Steve Mills and Basil Zempilas (Breakfast), Gary Adshead (Mornings), Peter Bell (Afternoons), Adam Shand (Drive), Sports Today’s Karl Langdon & Brad Hardie and Perth Tonight’s Chris Ilsley have all re-signed Joining is Darren de Mello for Sunday Afternoons. A new Saturday morning show Sportsworld features Langdon, Tom Moody and Kim Hagdorn.

Tim Shaw at 2CC

A veteran radio and broadcaster Tim Shaw might be. But he’s better known as the man plugging Demtel steak knives on TV in the 1990s, with the catchphrase, “But wait, there’s more”. (So much so he was once mobbed outside Parliament House… by visitors, you understand, not the politicians). Shaw takes over next month as host of 2CC’s Talking Canberra. He replaces Mark Parton who hosts his final show this week to focus on his marketing business.