Musical Chairs: July 20

Image:YouTube star Marcus Butler,
Beastie Boys’ Mike D with Zane Lowe,
Former Olympic swimming champion Elka Whalan

Amanda Mason joins Media Arts Lawyers

Joining Melbourne entertainment law firm Media Arts Lawyers is Amanda Mason. She spent the last seven years at Dwyer & Co Legal. Apart from the legal side, Mason also manages artists, organises events and writes for music publications. She is contacted at amanda@mediaartslawyers.com.

Sony’s Ole Obermann to lead Warner’s business development

Ole Obermann, Sony Music’s London-based EVP of Digital Partner Development & Sales for the past three years is to be announced as Warner Music’s new New York-based EVP of Business Development, Billboard has learned.

Nick Randall quits Macquarie Media

Macquarie Media’s National Sales Manager Nick Randall resigned from the company, effective immediately. He joined what was then known as Fairfax Radio Network in 2013 after 13 years with SCA.

Spotify poaches three BBC names

Spotify UK has poached three names from the BBC – presenter Austin Daboh who joins as Senior Editor of Content Programming UK, Sara Sesardic who becomes Music Editor, and assistant producer Dexter Batson.

Daboh twittered, “Spotify is the future of music consumption and I’m excited to be joining as a Senior Editor – I look forward to working with my new colleagues in breaking emerging acts and helping music lovers in the UK (and globally) discover new sounds.”

Gary Barlow starting new show Let It Shine

Take That singer Gary Barlow is starting a new Saturday night show Let It Shine for airing on the BBC early next year. The eight-week show will search for five singers to join a group to perform in a stage musical about Take That to premiere in September 2017. The show will be filmed in Manchester, where Take That formed in 1990 and went on to have 12 #1 singles and seven chart topping albums. Let It Shine will be presented by Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc. Auditions have already begun through the UK.

Barlow, a judge on X Factor until three years ago said, “Back in 1989, we were just a group of normal guys from Manchester who came together to become Take That. The secret to our success was that each of us brought something different to the group and that the five of us had real chemistry. Now with Let It Shine we’re looking for people from all walks of life to form another unique group who can re-create that magic.”

Elka Whalan at ARN for Olympics

Former Olympic swimming champion Elka Whalan will serve as a commentator as part of Australian Radio Network’s news team at the Olympic Games in Rio. She will be heard nationally across the ARN Pure Gold and KIIS networks between August 5 to 21.

Changes at BBC Worldwide ANZ sales team

Following TMN’s report yesterday that BBC Worldwide Australia & New Zealand (ANZ) posted a rise in revenue and sponsorship in the past 12 months, the company is making significant changes to its sales structure.

It has merged TV, digital and format sales under Director of Content Sales, Irene Read. Deborah Tod, who joined two years ago to the month, fills the newly created role of Head of Content Sales, Australia, responsible for the licensing of the company’s content to local broadcast and digital partners, and find new revenue sources.

Sam Stacey steps into the newly-created role of Format Sales Manager, ANZ, to oversee the commercial activities for its local TV formats, manage the production partnership with FremantleMedia Australia and with New Zealand producers and networks where formats sales included Coast New Zealand and Mastermind, produced for TVNZ. Stacey joined BBC Worldwide ANZ in June 2015 from ITV Studios Australia where he was Associate Director.

Mike D gets own Beats 1 radio show …

Beastie Boys’ Mike D last Friday premiered his own bi-weekly Apple Music Beats 1 Radio show called The Echo Chamber. The music played will consist of his own choices as well as those of his guests, set to include whoever he is collaborating with (like Cassius and Slaves) and bands like Blood Orange whom he’s a fan of. The first episode was recorded in the pool house of his Malibu home.

…while AC/DC’s Brian Johnson to host Planet Rock series

Planet Rock tapped AC/DC’s Brian Johnson to host a new five-part series, The Producers. The weekly show sees him explore the lives of some of the world’s top record producers, including Queen’s Roy Thomas Baker, Metallica’s Bob Rock and Foo Fighters’ Nick Rasculiecz.

New CEO for Federation Square

The new CEO for Melbourne’s Federation Square is Jonathan Tribe. He joins from Victoria University, where he was Chief Operating Officer. He was previously Managing Director at hospitality company Delaware North, and has

extensive executive experience managing multi-disciplinary businesses, international operations and business development, and served as Director and President of industry bodies at state and federal level.

Federation Square, which hosts music events as part of its mix, has welcomed 100 million visitors since opening in 2002 and described by the State Government as “a key pillar of Victoria’s $21 billion visitor economy.”

ADA promotes Brandon Squar

ADA, Warner Music Group’s independent distribution and services arm, promoted its SVP of Digital Strategy and Revenue Brendan Squar to EVP of the division worldwide.

Simons filling in at Bay

Diana Simons is filling in at the 10 am to 2 pm shift at BAY FM 93.9 in Geelong for the next three months while Mark Hyland takes long service leave. Simons was previously with Gold FM Gold Coast.

Big Mobile co-founder leaves

Graham Christie, co-founder of Big Mobile eight years ago, is leaving to pursue new opportunities. He says he’s spent the last 12 months putting together a strong team to take over. The company began in Sydney and Melbourne, and now operates seven offices in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.

AJF rebrands to Richards Rose

The two founders of Sydney’s AJF Partnership Sydney, CEO Digby Richards and ECD Adam Rose have after five years bought out their Melbourne partners to form a new independent creative agency Richards Rose. They both maintain their roles.

Alexandra Factor leaves radio

After 8 ½ years at Melbourne talk back radio station 3AW as Sports Editor, Alexandra Factor is the new Corporate Communications Manager at the Victoria Racing Club.

Laffranchi back on airwaves

One time NRL player turned Titans manager Anthony Laffranchi is back on the airwaves. He joins Scott Mayman on the breakfast shift on Radio 97 / FM104.1 Gold Coast.

New appointment at The Orchard

New York based Tucker McCrady is new EVP & general counsel for The Orchard, in this role, McCrady will manage The Orchard’s legal and business affairs team, with global oversight of the company’s digital licensing negotiations, label distribution contracts, acquisitions and all other related legal activities.

YouTube star launches management company

YouTube star Marcus Butler, who has 4.3 million subscribers after vlogging for five years, has set up his own artist management company Stripped Bear Entertainment with Dom Smales of Gleam Futures who manages him. Stripped Bear will discover and develop music artists for a new digital-generation audience.

David Harris to rep Australia at Festival Interceltique de Lorient

Victorian music photojournalist David Harris is appointed Official Australian Photographer for Festival Interceltique de Lorient (August 5 to 14). About 750,000 fans of Celtic music are expected to head to Lorient, France for the festival, which was founded in 1971. This year’s festival has sets from Australia’s Archie Roach, Tommy Emmanuel, Jane Rutter, Claymore, Eric Bogle, Graham Dodsworth, Queensland Irish pipe band Saoirse, SÁSTA, Siobhan Owen Pays de Galles/Australie and Sylvestre Soleil alongside international names as The Corrs and Joan Baez.