Musical Chairs: Heather Croall to head Adelaide Fringe; Sophie Monk joins X Studio; New ABC appointments; Grinspoon’s Davern in retail

Heather Croall returns to SA to head Adelaide Fringe

UK-born SA-raised Heather Croall is new Director / CEO of Adelaide Fringe. She is currently Director / CEO of the Sheffield International Documentary Festival, which she took from a struggling event in 2006 to one of the most acclaimed. She begins after Greg Clarke winds up his fifth Fringe this year.

Life Is Noise announces new Operations Manager

Perth-based national tour company Life Is Noise announced Jack Midalia as new Operations Manager. One time resident of Perth (where he worked at Artrage, RTRFM, the City of Perth and as Life Is Noise’s website editor), Midalia moved to Melbourne late last year, and will set up the promoter’s second office in the southern city.

Midalia replaces Rachel Davison who left after three-and-a-half years to continue with Rachel Davison Management and to do contract work. Her resignation led Life Is Noise Director Dave Cutbush to “restructure our operations with more of a focus on the important music markets of Melbourne and Sydney.”

Sophie Monk joins The X Studio

Media personality and singer Sophie Monk is the new face of Sydney’s X Studio facility. She will host celebrity events at its X54 entertainment venue, and serve as a presenter of interviews with Australian and international celebrities on its social broadcast site The Xcast.

New EP for Triple M national drive show

The new Executive Producer of the National Drive Show on Triple M is Matt Simpson who last year set up the Matt & Bruno: The Probe podcast. The duo were previously producers of the Kyle & Jackie O Show at 2DAY.

Ryan Tothill back in Sydney for KIIS

Ryan Tothill returns to Sydney as APD for KIIS. He was most recently at SEA FM/ 2FO Gosford as Content Director. Earlier stints included ACD and Music Director at B105 Brisbane, producer at 2DAY FM Sydney for Hot 30 and the Kyle & Jackie O Show, and MD and Drive host at NXFM Newcastle.

Peter Yiamarelos ends Europe sojourn

Peter Yiamarelos returns to Australia to take over as Content Director of SEA FM/ 2FO Gosford from Jan 15. The one time Group Programming Director at the Australian Radio Network headed off to Europe for a lengthy sojourn, during which he was Head of MAD radio in Athens, Greece.

Rob Potts reappointed to CMA board

Sydney-based promoter Rob Potts, CEO of Rob Potts Entertainment Edge, was reappointed to the US Country Music Association (CMA) board for his thirteenth consecutive year. The CMA has 7,000 members around the globe. Potts is the sole Australian-based member of the board and only the second Australian-based person to serve on the board since it set up in 1958. During his time on the board, he has worked to find opportunities for Australian country music artists in the US market. Working with Chugg Entertainment, he expanded an international touring market for US country acts in Australia.

He chaired its International Committee; and served on the Artist Relations and Awards and Recognition Committees. He also chairs the CMA Australian Advisory Group (AAG), which he helped found in 2004. It is made up of reps from major record labels, cable television, commercial radio, APRA and the live music industry. It provides regular input to CMA on the state of the Australian industry and on interaction and between the two markets.

New CEO for Deezer

Deezer’s new CEO, Dr. Hans-Holger Albrecht takes over from February 1. He replaces Axel Dauchez who announced his departure last April. Albrecht comes from the telco, entertainment and services sectors, and was previously President and CEO of telecom and media group Millicom. Deeze, with a user base of 16 million in over 180 countries, closed its Australian and New Zealand office in February 2014 after two years.

New ABC appointments

Just before the holiday break, ABC announced that Di Costantini, former Head of TV Marketing, will head up its new in-house creative agency.

Carolyn McDonald is Head of News Marketing and Jo Mullaley Head of TV Marketing. Mullaley’s appointment made the Communications Manager role redundant.

Dylan Brookes is Lead Publicist. Lynne Shaw reverts to her former role as National Events Manager, working on pan ABC projects as well as TV-centric projects such as the Logies.

Steve Bibb, formerly at TV content company CJZ, Landmark Television and Nine Network, is new Head of Factual effective January 19.

Aaron Rich jumps ship to FOX

Aaron Rich, Late Nights host at Nova, jumped to FOX FM Melbourne to do Mornings, replacing Byron Cooke who is now at SEA FM Central Coast.

Reid quits Today show

The Today show’s Hollywood based celeb gossip and entertainment reporter Richard Reid announced on social media he has quit. His stint on the show, he said, was “one of the wildest and most rewarding of my career.”

INgrooves founder / CEO Robb McDaniels steps down

INgrooves CEO Robb McDaniels stepped down from the company that he founded in 2001 as a US digital distributor of European electronic dance music. He will remain as a consultant and board member. He said that having set up INgrooves as “one of the most forward-thinking media distribution, marketing and technology companies in the world, with more than 175 employees in five global offices," he wanted to move on to fresh enterprises.

Kim Williams joins Copyright Agency board

Former News Ltd CEO Kim Williams joined the board of the Copyright Agency drawing on his strategies on leadership and digital media.

Ross Turner back in Queensland

Grant Broadcasters moved Ross Turner from 7HOFM Hobart to PD at HOT91/Zinc Sunshine Coast with a role in its network stations in Queensland.

Patricia Karvelas to present RN Drive

After 13 years as a senior journalist and Victorian bureau chief at The Australian, Patricia Karvelas will present ABC Radio’s RN Drive (6 to 7.30 pm) from Monday January 26. She replaces Waleed Aly. Karvelas began her media career at the ABC and SBS as a producer and presenter.

Return to radio for Gary Shannon?

Gary Shannon could return to radio this year, telling Perth’s Sunday Times he is in preliminary talks with “a couple of parties”. The paper reported Shannon, who last year got himself a tattoo of a radio mic to note his 38-year career, is in hospital after a major fall which caused five fractured ribs, a punctured lung and his bleeding three litres of blood into his chest cavity.

New owners for NSW venue

Belinda Eykamp and David Barnes are the new owners of live music showcasing Sportsman’s Hotel in regional NSW town Bingara.

Grinspoon’s Davern sets up music/ books store

During Grinspoon’s indefinite hiatus, guitarist Pat Davern has opened Bangalow Music and Books with his partner Katya Shiel. It sells stringed instruments, accessories, vinyl albums and books. He will also give guitar tuition at the store, located in new creative hub, the Station Street Studios.

Morrison, Barratt hit note on QSO board

Jazz musician and composer James Morrison AM and Prof. Margaret Barrett, Head of the School of Music at the University of Queensland, joined the board of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.