Musical Chairs: Jeremy Sheers back on radio; Syco promotes Tyler Brown; New breakfast team for Pulse; Peter Tregear quits School of Music

Jeremy Sheers back on radio

Jeremy Sheers is relocating from Perth to Tasmania to take over as Program & Content Director North-West Coast Tasmania – Devonport & Burnie from September 14. He stepped out of radio running a production company after stepping down as Content Manager at 6iX in December.

Dave Howard, who began as Program Manager with Devonport and Burnie’s SeaFM, 7AD and 7BU in May, will be new PD in Launceston for LAFM, CHILLI FM and 7SD.

Gary Shannon at 6IX

Gary Shannon has joined 6IX Perth, hosting a new series of regular segments including What’s On In Perth. Program Director Stuart Endersby calls Shannon “without doubt a legend of Perth radio” while GM Evan Broadway added “his loyal Perth fan base …want him back on Perth radio. Not to mention our clients.”

Another BBC name heads to Apple Music

After Apple Music poached BBC’s Zane Lowe and then four of its producers, BBC 6 Music's Camilla Pia is also heading there. Last week Pia was announced as a nominee for the Indie Champion category of the UK’s indie AIM awards.

Syco promotes Tyler Brown to A&R head

Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment promoted Senior A&R Manager Tyler Brown(pictured) to the newly created post of Head of A&R at Syco Music. He has worked at its A&R department for seven years, beginning by working with Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle and Westlife. Syco says Brown was "instrumental in the success of Labrinth" and "played a pivotal role in the success of One Direction.”

New breakfast team for Pulse FM

Christian station Pulse 94.1 FM Wollongong unveiled a new breakfast team. Aaron Wright joins from Vision Radio Sydney’s Hope 103.2 where he was breakfast announcer and Program director for the last ten years. Kate Staples is from the film and TV industry, most recently at Gosford based 4BMedia.

Radio Adelaide loses Angus Randall to the ABC

Radio Adelaide’s breakfast host of three years, Angus Randall, presents his final show for the station tomorrow (Thursday 20). The one-time co-host of Local Noise is moving to Sydney to join the ABC at its Ultimo Studios. He begins as Overnight Producer at the News Production Desk.

Robyn Archer lands NIDA role

Singer songwriter and arts advocate Robyn Archer AO, is the inaugural Chair of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)’s new Master of Fine Arts in Cultural Leadership course, set to launch in 2016.

Tom Payne expands Tassie radio role

One time Tasmanian TVT-6 (now WIN) evening news presenter Tom Payne (1972 to 2000) can be heard on a weekly afternoon 90 minute music program on community station FM96.1 Hobart. He was breakfast announcer at 7HT and also had radio stints in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne.

Redundancies follow Endemol Shine merger

The merger of production houses Shine Australia and Endemol has probably seen up to 40 redundancies, Mumbrella reported market speculation.

Peter Tregear quits School of Music

Peter Tregear, Head of the School of Music at Canberra’s Australian National University is leaving at the end of August. He was contracted until February 2017. His move came three months after an embarrassing blunder with the publication of a job ad seemingly looking for his replacement but later explained to be an addition to his role. Classically-trained musician Tregear was brought in thee years at a time when the School of Music was facing budget cuts and an exodus of executives. During his tenure, he revived orchestral, jazz and choral ensembles, ran the Winter Jazz Festival last year, oversaw $1 million of refurbishments, brought in INXS’s Andrew Farriss as a Coombs Fellow and reached a new high in ‘cooldom’ when he joined The Rolling Stones on stage last year leading the 23-strong Consort of Melbourne choir during You Can’t Always Get What You Want.

The Voice brings in Rihanna in the US …

Singer Rihanna joins the ninth season of The Voice USA as an advisor to the coaches Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine and Pharrell. NBC Entertainment had originally courted the singer to be the show’s first black female judge to boost its ratings.

…and Paloma Faith and Boy George in the UK

Paloma Faith and Boy George are new coaches for The Voice in the UK, joining returning coaches will.i.am and Ricky Wilson for the fifth series of BBC One show when it returns in January 2016. They replace Tom Jones (who apparently was furious with the decision) and Rita Ora, who has defected to The X Factor. Faith recalled how she has a track record for breaking new acts, citing Adele, Kate Nash and The Noisettes whom she booked as unknowns for her regular club night. Boy George said, “I'm a huge fan of the show and have watched and engaged with it from series one.”

Diana Costantini to head new ABC agency ABC Made

ABC TV’s former Head of Marketing Diana Costantini will head the broadcaster’s new in-house creative agency ABC Made. It will cover TV, radio, news, international, commercial and digital with a team of radio and TV promo producers, digital and print designers, motion designers and conceptual writers. Foxtel and Ten are among those who set up similar in-house agencies saying the centralised model is cheaper.

Moves at Thrive PR

Independent agency Thrive PR + communications’ Melbourne GM Louise Parris is taking a new executive post of National Business Development Director. Parris was one of the founders of the firm. Her former role is now filled by Kelly Stambanis, who has been 15 years with the agency and most recently its National Strategy Director.

BBC Advertising promotes Jamie Chambers

BBC Advertising upped Jamie Chambers to Regional Sales Director for ANZ. He is responsible for growing ad sales for its digital assets and international deals for global channel BBC World News.