Musical Chairs: January 28

Mandy Chang heading ABC-TV’s Arts

Documentary producer/ director Mandy Chang is ABC-TV’s new Head of Arts. Aside from docos as Comic Book Heroes Autopsy On A Dream – The Story Of The Sydney Opera House and Matilda And Me, she helped create the ABC iView Arts channel. She also worked on the development of the upcoming TV series David Stratton’s Story of Australian Cinema.

Director of TV Richard Finlayson said, “The ABC has a steadfast ambition to become the home of Arts in Australia. Mandy’s appointment to this role is a clear signal that we intend to commission and produce world-class content across all our platforms and bring the best of the arts to a wide Australian audience.”

ARIA’s Dan Rosen joins Creative Partnerships board

ARIA and PPCA Chief Executive Officer Dan Rosen has joined the board of Creative Partnerships Australia. He was tapped for his “strong experience in the creative industries, arts administration and policy.”

Inaugural Chair Carol Schwartz and CEO Fiona Menzies have had their terms extended for another three years.

New global content & programming exec for Vevo

Vevo’s Head of Content & Programming in the UK, Tom Connaughton, has been moved to New York to take over the newly created role of SVP, Content & Programming to head the global team.

Before joining Vevo UK in 2011, Connaughton held that role at MySpace and was previously in A&R at Sony Music, and has a reputation for team building. “We’re entering into an exciting era for Vevo, with new models for storytelling and audience engagement,” he said.

Moves at SCA

Southern Cross Austereo made key changes for production and imaging on the Hit and Triple M Networks. David Konsky is promoted to Head of Network Production – Hit Network, working alongside Hit Network CD Gemma Fordham.

Matt Nikolic steps up to National Imaging Producer, working out of Melbourne and handling the Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth Hit brands.

Dom Evans is promoted to Head of Production for Fox FM Melbourne.

Brendan “BT” Tacey is now Head of Triple M production, working alongside Triple M Group CD Mike Fitzpatrick.

National Commercial Director Karen Halligan left after 14 months to take over as 2IC at the Sydney operations of media agency ZenithOptimedia.

Seeing red

Dan Cole is now Network Content Director of Redwave Media while Red FM announcer Ray Love is now Network Music Director.

O’Shea syndicate nationally on KIX Country

Australian award winning country duo O’Shea already have their media commitments. Their O’Shea USA on Foxtel’s Country Music Channel is in its fifth season. They’ve been hosting Qantas’ Big Country for three years.

Now the pair host the nationally syndicated The Nashville Hour from January 29 at 4pm. It will be on 40 markets in Australia’s largest country music KIX Country. Operated by Grant Broadcasters, KIX Country Radio network has a potential reach in excess of 4 million listeners. The show will use their contacts in the US contacts from their time based in Nashville.

SEASAC appoints international President

SEASAC, the smallest of the three US performance rights organisations, is making moves to widen its international presence. It has tapped publishing veteran Alexander Wolf to fill its newly created position of President of SESAC International.

Wolf was Executive Managing Director of Solar Music, the rights management joint venture between the UK’s PRS and Germany’s GEMA to administer the Sony and EMI publishing catalogues. Before that he was Managing Director of CELAS, set up to represent EMI Music Publishing’s international repertoire for online and mobile use across Europe.

Peters, Pachi, take over 2GB Sunday nights

With Miranda Devine taking a break from her Sunday 6—8pm show on 2GB and 4BC for more family time, Natalie Peters and Michael Pachi who have been looking after the time slot during summer, will stay on permanently.

New Chairman for Perth Theatre Trust

The Perth Theatre Trust, which manages four West Australian venues, now has lawyer Morgan Solomon as its new Chairman. He brings with him legal expertise and a passion for the arts, the Trust said. It manages the State Theatre Centre of WA, His Majesty’s Theatre, Subiaco Arts Centre and Albany Entertainment Centre and leases Perth Concert Hall, which is managed by WA Venue and Events Management Pty Ltd.

Another career move for Rebekah Horne

Rebekah Horne, who began as head of MySpace Music Australia, then moved on to oversee DMG Radio’s digital division before becoming Network Ten’s Chief Digital Officer three years ago. There she launched Tenplay in September 2013 and built it into “one of the leading online entertainment services in Australia,” says Ten CEO Paul Anderson, citing 13.5 million video views and 25 million page views a month.

On February 29 Horne begins as Chief Digital Officer of the NRL (National Rugby League). The NRL is expanding its digital engagement with fans, through live games, tipping, ticket buys. It says 9 million fans follow the NRL through the NRL Telstra digital network and social media.

Her previous role at Ten is filled by Liz Baldwin who had similar roles at Nine Network and Shine. Baldwin takes over on February 12.

Four departures at Twitter

While Twitter’s spectacular rise has slowed down in the past year, SVP of Engineering Alex Roetter, VP of Human Resources Skip Schipper, VP of Social Media Katie Stanton and SVP of Product Kevin Weil are exiting the company.

Former Ticketmaster CEO Nathan Hubbard has taken over as Interim Head of Media.

George Papadopoulos heads Pacific Stat

Former WIN Corp CEO George Papadopoulos is appointed Group CEO of Pacific Star Network, parent company of Melbourne AM station SEN 1116 and 1377 MyMP. Papadopoulos’ previous roles included Technology Director of JB Hi-Fi.

Coopers appoints new NT manager

South Australian brewery Coopers, a strong financial supporter of music events around the country, is the beer and cider sponsor of the Darwin Festival and of the Hidden Valley leg of the Supercars series in the Northern Territory. It’s moved Floyd O’Toole to be new Sales Manager for the NT, following record (3.6% rise) sales there.

Ad tech veteran heading SpotX

Online video advertising platform SpotX has brought in ad tech veteran Marcus Tan as MD, replacing Matt Von der Muhll who left eight months ago. While Muhll was based in Sydney, Tan will remain in Singapore, as his brief is to grow the company beyond Australia and New Zealand.

Matt Dern takes over at Territory FM

Matt Dern has taken over as Acting Station Manager while JIH Seymour takes leave from the role as he enters semi-retirement. He continues on a part time broadcasting capacity. Seymour was one of the original team who launched the station in 1987 with just two turntables.

Kickstarter gets first Head of Music

After its 2009 launch, Kickstarter has appointed its first Head of Music, Molly Neuman. She has been most recently Interim President of the American Association of Independent Music.

Caitlin McCormack heads to Gold Coast

Caitlin McCormack has left Hobart (and 100.9 Sea FM) for the Gold Coast where she is national daytime announcer for SCA’s 40+ regional markets.

Marcus Westbury to oversee Melbourne precinct

Festival head and TV presenter Marcus Westbury takes over in February as the inaugural CEO of Melbourne’s new inter-disciplinary Contemporary Arts Precinct (CAP) on the grounds of the former Collingwood Technical College. He was founder of Renew Newcastle and Renew Australia. CAP Chair Daniel Besen hailed his “entrepreneurial spirit and desire to create something exciting and new.”

Jason ‘Snowy’ Carter out of radio

Adelaide breakfast veteran Jason ‘Snowy’ Carter who was last heard on radio in 2014, has gone into real estate, the Adelaide Advertiser revealed. After a seven-week full time course he started work as an agent in Harris Real Estate’s Stirling office.

Richard Evans to head ACO

High profile arts administrator Richard Evans takes over as Managing Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra in April. His past stints included CEO of Sydney Opera House, Executive Director of the Australian Ballet and GM of The Bell Shakespeare Company.