Musical Chairs: February 2
TRIPLE J ANNOUNCES HOOK UP TEAM
triple j announced that Nat Tencic will host its sex & relationships showThe Hook Up.
The sex-positive feminist has been discussing the topic on the radio for a long time, starting with The Naughty Rude Show on Melbourne’s community SYN FM and then ABC News and Radio Australia reporting on sex and queer issues, including sexual health, domestic violence and gender equality.
She joined triple j in 2015 and worked a number of roles, including producing and presenting its music news, being part of the Unearthed team and doing the occasional Lunch slot.
Producing the show is James Findlay, who has a Master’s in Public Health (Sexual Health), and helped shape the show since its inception in 2016.
He produced memorable content like dating with a terminal illness, closing the orgasm gap and the infamous beginner’s guide to fellatio.
TWO NEW FACES AT VIACOM ANZ
Viacom International Media Networks announced two changes at its Australian and New Zealand operations.
Chris Ellis is VP of Commercial & Business Development while Robyn Campbell assumes Program Sales Manager for both territories.
Ellis has 20+ years of experience in the media industry, including the ABC and Bauer Media, and most recently a partner in digital innovation consulting firm Blue Road Group.
He will be based in Sydney, reporting directly to Ben Richardson, GM of VIMN Australia and New Zealand.
Campbell has 15+ years of track in programming sales, including at the ABC. She reports to Ellis and Lauren Marriott, VIMN’s UK-based VP of International Program Sales.
INTERNATIONAL ROLE FOR SONY’S JENIFER MALLORY
Sony Music has promoted to Jenifer Mallory to EVP International. She was previously SVP in that role.
Based in New York, Mallory continues to initiate and oversee worldwide marketing campaigns for artists signed to Sony’s US labels, which include Columbia and RCA.
She was behind major campaigns for new releases by Pink, The Chainsmokers, Harry Styles and Camilla Cabello, and three of the company’s biggest ever hits – Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’, Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky’ and John Legend’s ‘All Of Me’.
She was listed in Billboard’s 40 Under 40 power list in 2016.
RCA RECORDS ANNOUNCES CO-PRESIDENTS
RCA Records named EVP John Fleckenstein and EVP of Promotions Joe Riccitelli as co-Presidents. Based in New York, they’ll be responsible for all divisions of the company except for A&R.
The move came after President Tom Corson left to become co-Chairman and COO of Warner Music Group.
ALLY BRADLEY UPPED TO SCA’S TASMANIA GM
Southern Cross Austereo has promoted Ally Bradley to GM of Tasmania.
Herrole covers running Hobart radio stations 107.3 Triple M and Hit 100.9 and its television assets as Seven Network.
Since joining SCA in 2000 in Albury, Bradley has held positions in South Australia and regional Victoria as Account Manager, Sales Manager and General Manager.
She has been living in Hobart for three years.
OPTUS STADIUM DROPS COO ROLES
Just a day after the opening of Perth’s new 60,000-capacity sports and entertainment Perth Stadium, its operator VenuesLife has told Chief Operating Officer Brad Paatsch that his services are no longer required.
According to the West Australian, the move is said to have stunned Paatsch who had struck some vital deals for the stadium.
These included the naming rights with Optus, the Bankwest deal to sponsor the venue’s Club premium membership program, and with suppliers including Gage Roads, Mrs Mac’s and Coca-Cola.
He also built a stadium function business which has written $1 million in revenue the West Australian said.
VenuesWest said his retrenchment was part of an overall management restructure, and not related to any issues with the venue.
Although Optus Stadium ran well during an Opening Day before a reported 100,000, at the first sporting games, the beer ran dry and patrons complaining of lengthy waits for some food outlets.
Paatsch joined VenuesLive in November 2016 from the Fremantle Dockers, where he was GM for Strategic Projects.
‘GROPING’ DJ BECOMES GENERAL
David Mueller, the Denver radio presenter who lost his job after being accused by Taylor Swift of groping her during a backstage meet-and-greet, has resurfaced.
He now co-hosts the breakfast show at a station in Greenwoods, Mississippi and now using the name of Confederate general Stonewall Jackson.
His new station boss says there’s been some backlash, mostly stirred up by Swift fans, but he decided that after meeting Mueller face-to-face he believed Mueller’s professed defence that Swift had got him confused with another DJ.
ADELAIDE’S FRESH FM LOSES GM
Adelaide community station Fresh 92.7FM’s Troy Sincock has quit his role as station General Manager – which he has held for ten years – effective March 16.
But he will remain with the station, which he helped set up twenty years ago.
He wants to spend more time on his podcast business Dave And The Beanstalk.
NOW VEVO LOSES TWO MORE SENIOR EXECS
Vevo, which is yet to replace CEO Erik Huggers after his exit in December, is now hit with the departures of two senior execs.
British born New York-based SVP of Creative Content & ProgrammingTom Connaughtonis leaving shortly, as is Head Of ProductMark Hall(two years after it acquired his video startup ShowYou).
JUNCTION ARTS UNVEILS 2018 MANAGEMENT TEAM
Launceston’s boutique arts and cultural festival, Junction Arts Festival, has unveiled it’s 2018 management team.
Greg Clarke (Artistic Director of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, former CEO of Adelaide Fringe Festival) returns as Creative Director, marking his third year with the festival.
Also rejoining are Ryan Limb as Operations Manager and Brigitte Trobbiani as Marketing Communications Manager, while Frith Mabin is appointed Executive Producer.
They report to Junction’s Chair and President, Liz Frankham.
FORMER ARN HEAD GETS BOOST
One-time ARN Melbourne General Manager Steve Smith is the new CEO of Boost Media International, following the decision of founder George Buschman to look at the company’s bigger picture strategies as Chairman.
Smith will handle day-to-day operations.
Boost works at helping media owner clients in Australia, USA, South East Asia, Middle East, India and Pakistan grow their revenue streams through different platforms and consults on other issues.
Smith was most recently at The Arabian Radio Network, based in Dubai as its Chief Operating Officer for the past nine years.
FREMANTLEMEDIA LOCAL CHIEF LEAVING
TV production company FremantleMedia Australia – whose shows include The X Factor, Australia’s Got Talent and Australian Idol – announced that its CEO Ian Hogg left this week after nine years.
VICE DIGITAL CHIEF EXITS AFTER HARASSMENT CLAIM
Vice Media’s Chief Digital Officer, Mike Germano, who was put on leave in early January after sexual harassment claims by two female employees, will not be returning to the company.
Meanwhile, Vice Media President Andrew Creighton was also put on leave while an outside investigator checked similar accusations against him.