Musical Chairs: December 7

WARNER APPOINTS OBERMANN TO GLOBAL ROLE

Warner Music Group appointed Ole Obermann as Chief Digital Officer and Executive VP of Business Development He will oversee its global business development strategy, exploring ‘new forms of commercial innovation’ and creating new digital revenue opportunities. He will also be tasked with expanding WMG’s streaming activities – which he did at Sony Music in his ten years there.

NEW UK LABEL HEAD FOR CAROLINE INTERNATIONAL

Caroline International announces that taking over as new UK label head in April is Nicola Spokes. She is currently Marketing Director at Ministry Of Sound, where she has been for 15 years, starting off in its international department and overseeing campaigns for a list of acts including Example and London Grammar (pictured). Caroline International is Universal Music Group’s global label services company, providing artist and label services to a range of indie labels.

LAURA COSGROVE TO SP JONESY & AMANDA

Laura Cosgrove is new Senior Producer at Sydney station WS FM’s Jonesy and Amanda. She has been with the show for a year. Her predecessor Mindy Thomas remains with Australian Radio Network, in an Account Manager role.

CHANGES AT MIX/ HIT CANBERRA

There have been changes in the breakfast shows at Mix 106.3 and Hit 104.7 Canberra for 2017. Matty Heap is Executive Producer for Ryan and Tanya, effective January 13. He was producer of Kristen and Rod on Mix.

Gabby Ianelli, intern and fill-in producer at Kristen and Rod, has been given the full-time role of Breakfast Producer starting January 26.

Courtenay Davies will move from Hit 104.7 mornings to Drive on Mix 106.3. Taylor Hunt, currently on afternoons on Townsville’s Hot FM, will replace her, also assuming the role of Assistant Producer for Ryan & Tanya on Hit.

PERTH STADIUM ANNOUNCES GM FOR EVENTS

The upcoming Perth Stadium in Burswood has poached another Cricket Australia executive for its senior ranks. Chris Loftus-Hills comes on board as GM for Events and Operations on January 16.

Loftus-Hills started out as Events Manager at City of Stonnington in Melbourne. Joining Cricket Australia eleven years ago, the stadium’s operator VenuesLive said, he had overseen “significant growth in the events program” and creating “one of the leading match-day experiences in Australian sport”.

NEW CHAIR FOR GPAC TRUST

Planning, environmental and development law specialist Michelle Quigley QC is the new Chair of the Geelong Performing Arts Centre Trust in Victoria. A passionate advocate for the arts and the role creativity can play in shaping communities, in the late 1990s and early 2000s she worked pro bono with the Abbotsford Convent Coalition in Melbourne which opposed a planned redevelopment at the heritage-listed St Heliers Convent. The successful campaign led to the establishment of the Abbotsford Convent, a creative and community space that provides home to hundreds of artists and projects a year.

NEW MARKETING HEAD FOR LIVE NATION US

Lisa Licht is the new Chief Marketing Officer of its US Concerts division. She was previously EVP of Marketing. LN’s North American division is on track for another record year in ticketing, already attracting more than 48 million fans to its events, up from 44 million in 2015.

HENSCHKE RETIRES FROM ABC

After 34 years at the ABC and six years on local radio, 891 ABC Adelaide drive presenter Ian Henschke is retiring from the broadcaster at the end of this week.

ABC Adelaide Local Content Manager Graeme Bennett called his contribution to the ABC “significant”. He added, “It’s certainly been a great career. Ian’s time at 891 ABC Adelaide, underpinned by his decades of newsgathering and storytelling experience have won the respect of our growing audience.”

KIIS DIGITAL EXEC DEPARTS

After two years, KIIS Executive Digital Producer Oscar Gordon has moved on. “Oscar’s creativity and enthusiasm has helped build one of Australia’s number one destinations for entertainment,” Group CD Duncan Campbell told staff.

TRSN EXPANDS QLD MANAGEMENT

Felicity Smith this week joined The Radio Sales Network (TRSN)’s Queensland team in the newly created role of Queensland State Manager based in Brisbane. She held senior roles at Seven West Media and WIN NBN.

LUKE BONA TO HOST NEW TRIPLE M SHOW

Former Macquarie Radio host Luke Bona will host Triple M’s new national metro and regional overnight show, launching on Monday December 12 at midnight in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. The rest of the network comes on board from January 9. Growing up in Sydney’s indigenous community and a hard rock fan, Bona pitched the idea of the show when the broadcaster put out a call for new programs.

HATFIELD TO OVERLOOK ENTERTAINMENT TITLES

In her new role as GM of Entertainment and Family, Louisa Hatfield will oversee Pacific Magazines’ titles as WHO, That’s Life and digital-only FamousLIVE and the soon-to-be-relaunched Girlfriend.

PLEDGEMUSIC EXTENDS CO-FOUNDER DEAL

PledgeMusic extended the contract of co-founder Malcolm Dunbar so he continues in his role as president of UK and Europe, whilst expanding his role to include additional international duties. Under Dunbar, the UK and European operations were up 75% in revenue from last year. Internationally it has 3 million members.

CHANGES AT FIVEaa

Radio veteran Jeremy Cordeaux told his listeners he’s leaving FIVEaa Adelaide as it wanted to move him out of his afternoon slot to another. “But that would mean I’d be taking someone else’s job and I just couldn’t do that,” the 71-year old said. Cordeaux emphasised the parting of ways was amicable. “Right up front, there’s no bad feelings, no bad blood.”

In the meantime, Jon Blake is returning to FIVEaa Adelaide in 2017. He will join the breakfast team of David & Will, and also hosts his own one-hour show each night from 7-8pm.

RONNIE STANTON MOVES TO US

Radio Today reports that Australian-born Ronnie Stanton is moving to the US after stints on Canadian radio. He is now VP of Programming at Alpha Media. He will oversee the Rock, Classic Rock, Alternative, Oldies and Classic Hits formats, and assume the PD role for San Jose – Hot AC formatted KBAY, and AC formatted KEZR. In Australia Stanton worked at Nova 100 Melbourne, Hot 91 Sunshine Coast and K-Rock Geelong.

FEENEY FOR 612 BRISBANE BREAKFAST

Former Channel 9 journalist Katherine Feeney could be Spencer Howson’s replacement on 612 Brisbane Breakfast, suggests the Brisbane Courier Mail. In a shock move, Howson quit after eleven years. Rebecca Levingston took over as an interim presenter this week.

ABC EXEC TO LEAD MUSEUMS VICTORIA

The head of the ABC’s international arm, Lynley Marshall, is the new CEO of Museums Victoria – the organisation that runs Melbourne Museum, Immigration Museum, Scienceworks and the Royal Exhibition Building. She begins in February, replacing Dr Patrick Greene who retired after 15 years. She will be the first woman to serve in the role in the organisation’s 162-year history.

MAN WHO INTRODUCED MUSIC TO STARBUCKS MOVES

Howard Schultz, who as CEO of the $84 billion coffee brand Starbucks, brought it to the music industry, is stepping down from his role in April. He remains as Executive Chairman.

Under his direction, Starbucks became a significant music player. In 1999 he acquired music retailer Hear Music and sold branded compilation CDs in its stores. It set up Hear Music Records and, in partnership with Concord Music Group put out albums by Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Sia, Elvis Costello and James Taylor.

JANE MARWICK DEPARTING ABC PERTH

Jane Marwick is departing 720 ABC Perth where she was drive presenter. Currently halfway through a law degree, she said she wanted to pursue other opportunities. Her last day is Thursday December 22.

BLUE ROOM LOSING KERRY O’SULLIVAN

Perth’s The Blue Room Theatre is losing Executive Director Kerry O’Sullivan. She is moving to Melbourne in April. After stints as Producer and Project Officer, O’Sullivan took over the head role five years ago.