Musical Chairs: January 25

Image: Gregg Nadel

ELEKTRA GETS NEW PRESIDENT

Warner Music imprint Elektra Records’ new President is Gregg Nadel, who joined the company twenty years ago straight out of college. In senior A&R and marketing roles, he went on to sign Zac Brown Band, 2016 multi-Grammy nominee Sturgill Simpson and Kaleo, among others. He also spearheaded marketing campaigns for Ed Sheeran, Coldplay and Vance Joy.

Elektra was founded in the ‘50s by Jac Holzman, who signed influential acts as The Stooges, MC5, The Doors, Love, Judy Collins and The Incredible String Band. Later inks were Metallica, Bjork, Missy Elliott, The Cars and Stereolab.

WATTS SHIFTS TO DRIVE

Radio head Merrick Watts launched his new drive Merrickville for Triple M Sydney this week. Southern Cross Austereo said it was “designed to put a spotlight on everything that’s great – and not so great – about Sydney. “From 4:00pm to 6:00pm every day, Merrick talks about what Sydney is talking about alongside fellow comedians, footy players and sports legends, journos and probably an ex-convict or two.”

GALE APPROACHES GOLD COAST

Paul Gale returns to Gold Coast airwaves, joining 1029 Hot Tomato’s drive show with Mal Lees and Moyra Major from February 1. Gale was 16 years doing breakfast on the Coast. For nine years, he partnered with Major before she joined the Hot Tomato ranks in 2012.

JO DIPPLE TO LEAVE UK MUSIC

Jo Dipple announced she is in June leaving umbrella trade organization UK Music where she has been CEO since January 2012. Since that time, Dipple has passionately and with strong leadership skills, lobbied the Government on regulatory issues such as copyright, has been a part of protecting the UK’s live music industry and has recognise the BBC’s vital role in supporting British culture and music.

CASTLEMAINE FESTIVAL GETS NEW DIRECTOR

Glyn Roberts is the new director for the Castlemaine State Festival, taking over from Martin Paten after this year’s festival (his fifth, and running March 17 to 26) and leading the 2019 event. Roberts is currently creative producer at La Boite Theatre Company and curator of Brisbane Festival’s Theatre Republic.

JAMES PERRY TO HEAD LOCAL LAUNCH OF FANDOM

James Perry, who last month left entertainment platform Evolve Media after seven years, will spearhead global pop culture Fandom in Australia and New Zealand. Owned by Wikia, in the newly created role of Managing Director ANZ, Perry is negotiating with games and movie operators for a March 2018 launch.

Perry previously launched TopGear.com.au and Sheknows.com.au in this market and ran the Acquisition and integration of Musicfeeds.com.au into Evolve Media (originally known as Gorilla Nation Media).

ARTS ACCESS CEO MOVES ON

After almost four years as CEO of Arts Access Australia (AAA), the peak national body for arts and disability, Emma Bennison is stepping down. The first position with a disability to be appointed to that role, she is joining Blind Citizens Australia, the national organisation of Australians who are blind or vision-impaired.

KIIS BRINGS YUMI STYNES BACK

Kiis FM has responded to Hit Network placing Carrie Bickmore and comedian Tommy Little in the afternoon slot, by bringing Yumi Stynes back to the airwaves alongside Katie Dimond (Monty) and Rebecca Judd for The 3PM Pick Up in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

Stynes, who was axed from Mix FM’s national afternoon show in 2012, and returned a year later as Sydney’s first all-female FM breakfast team with co-host Sami Lukis, has four children. The show marks Judd’s first foray into radio.

NAZ IDELJI HANDLES SONY COMPILATIONS

Naz Idelji is new Director of Compilations at Sony Music UK, incorporating her current duties as Head of Ministry Of Sound Recordings Compilations. After joining Ministry in 2013, Idelji developed brands as Anthems and The Annual, and set up new collections including Throwback and I Love.

ARN BOLSTERS 97.3 BREAKFAST

As part of its relaunch of Brisbane 97.3FM’s breakfast show Bianca, Terry & Bob, ARN brought in two experienced radio veterans. Liam Renton takes on the newly created role of executive breakfast producer (as well as Assistant 97.3 Content Director) and Nic McClure will consult during the show’s launch phase.

NEW CEO FOR GOLD COAST PRECINCT

Criena Gehrke takes over as new CEO/Director of The Arts Centre Gold Coast on Feb 20. The 16.9ha site will be renamed the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct as the multimillion-dollar arts, music and cultural destination evolves at Bundall over the next ten years. The first stage, costing $37 million and including an outdoor amphitheatre, will be ready before the Commonwealth Games. She replaces Destry Puia.

BETH AQ AT PBS BREAKFAST

Beth AQ, a mainstay at production duties at Melbourne’s community radio stations PBS, SYN and 3RRR, becomes co-host of PBS’ The Breakfast Spread on January 30 alongside Nick Brown.

ALLURE SNARES TWO VIDEOLOGY EXECS

Digital publisher Allure Media has tapped two Videology execs – Managing Director Sarah Wyse will become its Chief Revenue Officer, while Gemma Labadini is Business Development Manager. Allure’s titles include Business Insider Australia, Gizmodo and Lifehacker.

CHANGES AT FIVEAA

Adelaide’s FIVEaa had Stephen ‘Rowey’ Rowe and Mark ‘Bicks’ Bickley return on January 23 as part of its readjustment of its lineup for the 3—6 pm weekday slot. Jon Blake is back to host a one hour show from 7:00pm to 8:00pm at the end of March, leading into Jeremy Cordeaux from 8:00pm to Midnight.

VEVO TAPS MUSIC JOURNO

As Vevo expands its original content creation, it has appointed a music journalist to drive its strategy, Joseph Patel, its New York based VP of Original Content, comes from music and lifestyle Fader. He was VP of Content and Creative there, increasing traffic by 300% and video views for original content by nearly 700% with documentaries, scripted shorts, music videos, festival livestreams and social media. Patel was also at MTV handling content and programming.

SYDNEY MD FOR DEEPEND

Independent digital marketing and communications agency, Deepend appointed Hamilton Jones as Managing Director – Sydney. He has worked in the sector for 20 years after setting up his first digital and creative agency at the age of 25.