Musical Chairs: July 6

Rob Popplestone to lead Radio Adelaide

Rob Popplestone is the new General Manager of Radio Adelaide. Station Chairman Iain Evans said, “Rob brings a wealth of radio and media experience to Radio Adelaide. With over a decade in community radio, Rob has great empathy and understanding of the community radio culture.”

Popplestone succeeds Deborah Welch, GM for 17 years. Radio Adelaide was previously operated by the University of Adelaide and is now sharing premises with Fresh FM.

Radio Adelaide recently unveiled a new board with NDA Law Managing Director Andrea Michaels as Vice President, Comunet COO Joanna Chronis, academic and community radio sector identity Dr Charlotte Bedford and long time Radio Adelaide volunteer Nikki Marcel.

Alison Geale to head SCA Gold Coast

Alison Geale this week takes over as GM at Southern Cross Austereo’s Gold Coast operations, succeeding Nick Scott. She is responsible for Sea FM, Gold FM and the SCA TV brands. She was Director of Sales at SCA Brisbane.

Myka Hoffman moves from SCA

Former SCA National PR Manager Myka Hoffman has been appointed Head of Public Relations at UMM Agency.

BMI extends Mike O’Neill contract

On track for record revenues and distributions this year, BMI extended Mike O’Neill’s contract as President and CEO for five years, through 2021. O’Neill joined the organization in 1994. He oversees all of BMI’s business operations, in the US and globally, and directs its strategic growth to benefit BMI’s writers, composers, music publishers and licensees.

During his 22 years with BMI, O’Neill has overseen nearly every department within the company, including BMI’s writer, composer and publisher relations group, licensing organization, royalty distribution group and administrative services teams. Under O’Neill’s leadership, BMI generated a record $1.013 billion, distributed and administered a record $877 million, and for the first time, generated $100 million in digital revenue.

Warner/Chappell’s Platt joins NMPA board

Warner/Chappell Music Chairman and CEO Jon Platt has joined the National Music Publishers’ Association’s board of directors. “Jon’s reputation and record of finding and nurturing the industry’s top songwriters is legendary,” NMPA President & CEO David Israelite said. “For decades he has fostered the biggest talent in the business and amassed lasting friendships and limitless knowledge.

Since joining Warner/Chappell Music in 2012, Platt signedJay Z, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Mike Will Made It and MNEK.

New board members for AEAF

Adelaide’s Australian Experimental Art Foundation (AEAF) has appointed three new board members. They are Catherine Baldwin, current interim Director for Australian Centre for Photography; Nici Cumpston, artist and curator of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art at the Art Gallery of South Australia; and highly acclaimed arts administrator David Sefton who most recently was Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival of Arts from 2012-2016.

New CEO for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

Terese Casu is the new CEO of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. She was previously Executive Director of Performance Space where, with Artistic Director Jeff Khan, she “brought an incredible level of expertise and strategy”, said its Chair, Jonathan Casson, streamlining the structure after federal and state funding cuts and “an energised and bold new vision for the future.”

Company Manager Vanessa Lloyd will serve as interim General Manager, working alongside Khan to focus on the delivery of the 2016 Liveworks Festival.

Spirit promotes Singer to global role

As part of its international growth, New York based Spirit Music Group promoted Jon Singer to Worldwide Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer. Previously its Worldwide CFO since 2011, Singer will oversee its global finance operations, analyse and negotiate new deals, source and structure strategic partnerships and joint ventures and contribute to the company’s overall strategic planning and growth.

Nicholson quits 7WAY

Dave Nicholson has left 7WAY FM Launceston, where he presented the breakfast program to return to Queensland.

Lines exits Townsville Enterprises

Tracey Lines, Economic Development Manager at Townsville Enterprise has left the organisation. It works closely with the city’s music sector, among others, as part of its tourism and economic development strategies. TE is expanding from two units, covering economic development and tourism & events, to four units, covering investment attraction and business development & membership.

ABC Western Victoria adds staffer

ABC Western Victoria has expanded its team in Horsham with Rachel Hayter.

Imagem Music adds consultant

Kim Frankiewicz, Managing Director of Imagem Music UK, has brought in music publisher and producer manager Anna Carpenter as consultant. She will deal with its signings in all aspects of A&R. Carpenter began at EMI 20 years ago with EMF and Terrorvision, before moving to Zomba Publishing, working with Jive Records on tracks for key artists as Backstreet Boys. She also operated at 19 Management with their songwriters for Kylie Minogue, Eliza Doolittle and Duffy.

Promotions at Havas

Australian media agency Havas made two senior promotions, with Dan Smith moved to Managing Director of its creative offering Havas Worldwide Sydney and Ben Sjogren to Managing Director of Havas Media.

Matt Young to head Warner Music Artist Services

Warner Music Artist Services is a new division for Warner Music Group’s sales, marketing and distribution arm WEA Corp. It combines its direct-to-fan and merchandise initiatives. Matt Young, who joined WMG in 2008, is promoted to EVP to head the new section. Young says, “We’re evolving what it means to run an integrated artist branding campaign. We’re a one stop solution made up of the best Tour & VIP experts, branding specialists, web designers, CRM marketers, analytics teams and merchandise staff in the business.”

Guerilla adds tech-head Mark McCarthy

Gold Coast based agency Guerilla, whose clients include Bleach Festival and BBC Worldwide, has brought in Mark McCarthy as new Technical Director. McCarthy, who worked in senior digital roles in various agencies over 20 years, is briefed to expand digital boundaries for brand and customer experience.

New board members for MPA

MPA’s new board includes Richard King (Faber Music), Simon Platz (Bucks Music Group Ltd), John Minch (Imagem UK), Stuart Hornall (Hornall Brothers Music), Crispin Evans (Cote Basque Music Publishing), and David Kassner (Kassner Associated Publishers). All were re-elected having been required to retire by rotation.

Kate Cherry named NIDA CEO

Kate Cherry takes over her new post of Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in November. She moves to Sydney from Perth where she has been Artistic Director and joint-CEO for nine years at the Black Swan State Theatre Company.

LG Australia parts with PR chief

Pro-audio title Channel News seemed a tad gleeful when it announced that the Australian operations of Korean electronics company LG has parted ways with its Communications Director Philip Anderson. Not surprising, given the public stoushes between the two in the past.