Musical Chairs: Feb 10
Chugg Entertainment CEO Matthew Lazarus-Hall stepping down
Tour promoter and artist management firm Chugg Entertainment’s CEO Matthew Lazarus-Hall(pictured) will step down from his role late next month, to spend more time with his young family. However he is setting up a consultancy company, through which he will remain part of Chugg Entertainment as a consultant. Through his consultancy he will also continue to run the CMC Rocks QLD festival operations, continue in his leadership and operational role with Laneway Festival across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore and be involved in other Chugg Entertainment specialist projects.
Executive Chairman Michael Chugg said, “Matthew has been an incredible business partner for the last decade, his vision for what Chugg Entertainment could become has seen the business grow significantly since he joined me in 2004. Many of the great things we’ve achieved would not have been possible without him.”
The CEO role will not be directly replaced at this time. Michael Chugg will continue to run touring operations with General Manager of Touring, Susan Heymann.
Warner Music’s Stu Bergen promoted to global role
Warner Music Group has created a newly created post of CEO, International and Global Commercial Services. It has promoted President of Warner Recorded Music, Stu Bergen, to fill it. He will oversee WMG’s international recorded music operations outside the US and UK as well as Warner Music’s Global Marketing team; WEA and ADA – WMG’s Artist & Label Services divisions and Warner Classics.
Bergen said: “In the era when technology has removed musical barriers between nations and cultures, success can come from anywhere and translate everywhere. It is critical that we draw on the full worldwide strength of our organisation to cultivate hit music and superstar artists, as well as generate ground-breaking business models and creative marketing strategies.”
ABC South East’s Ian Campbell leaving
ABC South East’s Ian Campbell has already stepped down as Regional Content Manager as part of a restructure where the role will be replaced by that of a Chief of Staff. Campbell, who joined the broadcaster nine years ago, winds up his on-air role on March 4.
Lucy Buckeridge moves to head Domino
EMI Music Australia’s Lucy Buckeridge has moved to Domino Records, taking over the role of Label Manager for Australia and New Zealand. She remains an EMI employee until this Friday.
Hannah Reilly hosts j’s The Hook Up
Sydney writer and comedian Hannah Reilly hosts triple j’s new Sunday night The Hook Up. It has experts and celebs being graphic about their love lives (the first show had Adam Hyde of Peking Duk and Luke Dubbz of Hermitude revealing how they lost their cherry) and helping listeners with theirs. 23-year-old Reilly co-hosted FBi’s Girls Gone Mild and writes for The Chaser.
Meantime, two new Double J shows are The Funhouse with Richard Kingsmill picking tracks from 40 years, and Classic Albums with Caz Tran on discs that changed music.
Beyonce overhauls management company
As Beyonce moves her Parkwood management company from New York to Los Angeles, she has parted ways with some of its executives. Long time GM and close friend Lee Anne Callahan-Longo left late last year after five years because she didn’t want to relocate, but will remain part of the singer’s team.
New Head of Digital is former Pledge Music executive Dan Ghosh-Roy after Lauren Wirtzer-Seawood joined Instagram. New COO is Steve Pamon, who ran the sports and entertainment marketing department at JP Morgan Chase.
Mal Hedstrom retires from radio
After a 45-year career in the radio sector, Mal Hedstrom has retired. His last posting was at Sun FM 97.9 Sunraysia. His other stints included KOFM Newcastle, 2NM Muswellbrook and 2PK Parkes.
DREAM Festival chief quits
One of the architects of Dubbo’s DREAM (Dubbo Regional Entertainment, Arts and Music) festival has resigned. John Walkom was inaugural chairman of Events Dubbo Inc and ran the festival for six years. However, even as he took on DREAM duties, he said there was a time when he needed to step back to concentrate on his duties in Dubbo City Council (he chairs the Finance and Policy Committee) and runs his own business. Vice-Chairwoman Anne Field takes over.
Festival GM joins GPAC Trust
Alice Nash, former GM of the Big West Festival and Associate Producer of Theatre at the Next Wave Festival, is appointed to the Geelong Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) Trust. She was most recently Executive Producer and co-CEO of Geelong’s Back To Back Theatre working actors with intellectual disabilities.
Dave Stretton moving back to NSW
Dave Stretton, GM of Grant Broadcasters’ 106.3/Zinc in Townsville, is moving back to NSW to take over as Program Director for 2ST and Power FM in Nowra.
Newcastle’s The Edwards introduces record shop
Newcastle’s The Edwards bar, set up by on-hiatus Silverchair bassist Chris Joannou, cafe owner Chris Johnston and interior designer Tim Leveson, is celebrating its first anniversary by setting up a pop culture record store on the premises. Called The Shop, it is run by long time music retailer Chris Dunn. It will stock records, prints, books, movies, art and clothes and will have events as cult movie nights.
Fuamoli upped at AU Review
After Larry Heath stepped down as Au Review Editor in Chief, Deputy Editor Sosefina Fuamoli is promoted to the role. Other appointments include Fergus Halliday as Iris Editor, Philippe Perez returns to the website as Arts Editor and Josh Champion as Interviews Editor. Lauren Mitchell, Clare Armstrong and Kerrie Geier are added as new Assistant Editors.
Goodwin movies from Polydor to Glassnote
Polydor UK’s long time Head of Campaign Strategy Liz Goodwin moves next month to Glassnote as its UK Managing Director. She won awards for her campaigns, which have included Lana Del Rey, Elbow, Snow Patrol, Lady Gaga, Marilyn Manson, 30 Seconds To Mars and Eminem.
Chris Price becomes Head of Music at BBC Radio 1
Chris Price has taken over one of the most powerful positions in the UK music industry, as Head of Music at BBC Radio 1. He will shape the playlist of the Top 40 station, which has a weekly audience of 10.5 million, and decides which acts it will support.
Price was former Head of Music at Last.fm and Director of Music Programming at MTV U.K. and Ireland. He worked at Radio 1 between 2000 and 2006. Price replaces George Ergatoudis who left to join Spotify in the newly created position of Head of Content Programming for the U.K.
Eric Ryan at 3BO
Eric Ryan began this week at 3BO FM Bendigo, co-hosting the Cogho & Ez breakfast show with Bryan Coghlan.
Matt Hayward expands Film Construction
One-time freelance composer Matt Hayward takes over as Executive Producer of Film Construction Australia. It specialises in different film formats for clients, from online content to long form entertainment. After scoring TVC music for agencies and production companies in the region, he moved into post-audio production, setting up Sound Reservoir and music production firm Eclectic Music Machine.
New breakfast tea for Star FM
Star FM Gippsland launches its new breakfast show Elliott & Mandy on February 22. Elliott Lovejoy from Sun FM in Canada is teamed with Amanda Angiolino.
Ross Watson exits Power FM
Ross Watson has left 103.1 Power FM Ballarat’s breakfast show after 2 ½ years. He’s going back to being a mechanic, working at Renaut Ballarat. He leaves behind Jules who’s done the show for seven years and will now look a working with her sixth co-host in the time.
Alirio Zavarce attaches strings
Adelaide director, writer, performer and musician Alirio Zavarce is new Artistic Director of No Strings Attached Theatre of Disability, having worked for the ensemble for many years. He replaces Dr PJ Rose who left after 20 years.
From Talpa to Syco
Tim van Rongen is joining Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment as Senior Vice President, based in both Los Angeles and London. His brief is to expand Syco’s TV business with new and current formats. He was most recently EP at Talpa Global BV working on both The Voice and The Voice Kids in Europe and China.
Ipsos adds two
Research company Ipsos Australia added Sharon Barnes to the new Indigenous Research Unit, working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities, and Sandra Bienayme for the public affairs team.