Musical Chairs: February 4

Three big moves at Universal Music Australia

UMA’s Senior Director of Marketing Ben Facey has had his role expanded to integrate data and insights into the International release schedule and marketing strategy. Facey is now Head Of International Marketing & Media. In the role he will continue to report to the two local Managing Directors Michael Taylor and Darren Aboud to grow and develop the Marketing, Content and Media teams.

Claire Fleming, who joined UMA in 2013 as NSW Promotions Manager and was most recently made National PR & Media Manager, has been promoted to Director of Radio. Reporting to Taylor and Aboud, Fleming will be responsible for managing strategy and creative planning for radio and managing media channels. Her work will cover both the label’s international and Australian Frontline repertoire.

Stepping into Claire Fleming’s previous role of National PR & Media Manager will be Jordan Wiggins. Wiggins joined UMA in 2010 and most recently held the role of PR & Media Manager. He reports to Fleming, and will manage radio airplay, content and media opportunities.

Kobalt expanding global sync footprint…

Kobalt Music Group will expand its international sync footprint by promoting Jeannette Perez to the newly created position of SVP, Head of Global Sync & Brand Partnerships. She previously served that role for Kobalt’s US operations during which she grew its North American sync business by 35% last year. She will oversee Kobalt’s global sync team of 50 in “creatively pitching, identifying and securing new film, TV, video game and trailer opportunities.”

…and tightens creative team

Veteran A&R executive Sam Taylor joins Kobalt as SVP of Creative to sign new acts, identify publishing partners and contribute to their management. Taylor worked at A&R at Elektra, Atlantic, Warner/Chappell and most recently at Sony/ATV and EMI where he signed Pharrell Williams and Schoolboy Q. He was also instrumental in putting together the Grammy nominated Song of the Year, Alright, by Kendrick Lamar.

SCA makes Hit Network changes

Southern Cross Austereo made key changes at Hit Network.

Hamish & Andy get an extra hour, with Déjà vu Hour between 6 pm and 7 pm covering segments listeners may have missed earlier in the show.

This means the end of Scoopla, so co-host Jules Lund is moved into digital marketing, consulting with media agencies and directing branded content.

Angus O’Loughlin and Emma Freeman will not only host a new syndicated night show but also the national Take 40 Australia on Saturday afternoons.

Catherine Britt buys Rhythms magazine

Country music singer songwriter Catherine Britt has gone into the magazine publishing business. She and her husband James Beverley are the new owners of blues and roots Rhythms magazine. It went on the market a few months ago when Marty and Verity Jones decided on a lifestyle sea-change after ten years.

Their first edition is out March/April with an editorial team including Jones, founding editor Brian Wise and Samuel Fell who’s currently working on a book profiling the Australian street press. Britt says, “We promise to keep the mag to its high standard and thrive to be the best roots music magazine in the world.”

Roadrunner, FBR, head takes high road

Mike Easterlin who has been GM of hard rock Roadrunner Records and Fueled By Ramen since 2012, has been promoted to President. It coincided with FBR-signed Panic! At The Disco debuting at #1 in the US with their fifth album Death Of A Bachelor.

Roadrunner’s roster includes The Amity Affliction, Trivium (who’re touring Ausraia this year), Slipknot, Theory of a Deadman, Killswitch Engage, Stone Sour and Dream Theater.

Bertelsmann’s Rabe stays another three years

Bertelsmann Chairman and CEO Thomas Rabe had his contract extended a further three years by the German media giant. His former CFO role, which he left in 2012, is taken over full time by Bernd Hirsch after he served interim.

Additions at Melbourne Festival

Melbourne Festival’s new Artistic Director Jonathan Holloway has brought in choreographer, director and Chunky Moves co-founder Gideon Obarzanek as Artistic Associate and Danni Colgan (ex-WOMADelaide, Sydney Festival, London’s Meltdown) as Producer – Contemporary Culture.

Michael Price quits Bundaberg Broadcasters

Bundaberg Broadcasters’ Hitz 939 and 4BU’s Content Director Michael Price has left to return to Brisbane to be closer to family and find new opportunities.

Knight rides in for 3MBS

3MBS gets a new General Manager in Leone Knight (the ABC, Animal Logic, Channel 9, Roadshow Entertainment, Sausage Software) after Anne Frankenberg headed to the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM).

Breakfast co-host for Mixx FM

ACE Radio’s Mixx FM has a new breakfast show The Daily Grind, with Nims of the former show joined by Kaycee Bould from sister station TR FM.

Chadwick at Spotless

The reason we mention BHP Billiton’s Nigel Chadwick taking over as Chief Financial Officer at Spotless is that it is the parent company of Nationwide Venue Management, one of the contenders for the new 60,000 capacity Perth Stadium.

BMG publishing gets fresh US head

BMG’s Chief Creative Officer Zach Katz now heads up its US music publishing division, overseeing its offices in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville.

BMG Publishing has 10% of the US market, after its songwriters contributed to hits as Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk, Fetty Wap’s Trap Queen and My Way, Jason Derulo’s Want To Want Me, David Guetta’s Hey Mama, Justin Bieber’s What Do You Mean?, One Direction’s Perfect and Meghan Trainor’s I’m Gonna Lose You.

4BC drops another local program, one more?

4BC Brisbane axed another of its local programs, with the afternoon slot now networked from 2GB’s Chris Smith. It leaves Ben Davis drive program as the final weekday local show, although the Brisbane Courier Mail has heard that too could be facing the swinging axe.

Hoff gets Hotter

River 949 floater Brayden Hoffman takes over Afternoons at Hot 100 Darwin after Harry Dodshon went to Wave FM for nights, weekends and imaging duties.

Hello Dolly

Bauer Media’s new bi-monthly Dolly will be edited by Josephine Rozenberg-Clarke, former entertainment writer with Cleo and NW. Bauer recently axed Cleo, losing Lucy Cousins to the company.