Musical Chairs: June 29

New frontman for X Factor Australia

Model and TV presenter Jason Dundas(pictured) replaces Luke Jacobz as host of Channel 7’s X Factor Australia. Jacobz quit in the dying moments of last year after five years and is now in LA to study and break it as an actor. Dundas said, “I’m incredibly humbled and excited to be a part of a show that provides Australians with a platform to live out their dreams as a singer.”

Seven’s Director of Production, Brad Lyons, commented; “We’re thrilled to have Jason on-board. He has a great energy and sharp instincts for live television. His music entertainment background also makes him a great fit for the show.” He spent the last four years in LA, as a special correspondent for CBS’ Entertainment Tonight, hosted MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew series and a number of live specials for VH1.

PerformanceExecutive Director, Terese Casu moves to Mardi Gras

Performance Space losesitsExecutive Director Terese Casu inJuly. Having commenced her role at Performance Space in early 2015, Casu has been appointed as CEO of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Casu commented: “I remain a committed ambassador of Performance Space and I look forward to my ongoing relationship with the organisation, both personally and professionally.”

Chooky Fowler drops his breakfast

After 22 years on 92.5 Gold FM Gold Coast, Richard ‘Chooky’ Fowler has bowed out of co-hosting breakfast. His final show tomorrow (June 30) will be an outdoor broadcast with Bridge & Spida. Fowler, who told Radio Today he is winding down to spend more time with his mother in New Zealand, will be popping up as a casual on the station.

Janice Brock resigns from Sony/ATV

Janice Brock, joint Head of A&R, UK at Sony/ATV Music Publishing alongside David Ventura, has resigned 12 months into her current role. Ventura takes over as Head of A&R. Brock joined the company in New York in 2007 and moved to London a year later, working with Kasabian, Naughty Boy and Mikky Ekko.

CBF announces board, advisory committees

After receiving over 130 nominations, the Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) announced the members of its Board, advisory committees and grant assessors pool from July 1. The CBF is an independent non-profit funding agency that seeks, secures and distributes funding to support the development, creativity and sustainability of community broadcasting in Australia.

Board of Directors: Peter Batchelor (President), Ellie Rennie, Nathaniel Garvin, Luchi Santer, Bryce Ives, Esther Pearce, Steve Ahern,Teresa Cleary, Gregory Vines.

Sector Investment Advisory Committee (SIAC) provides independent advice on funding objectives, policy and practice and consider Sector Investment funding processes: Ellie Rennie (Chair), Michelle Brown, Anna Schinella, Chris Roper, Catherine Haridy, Cameron Paine, Stephen Jolley.

Development & Operations Grants Advisory Committee will advice on grants for 2017: Anna Schinella (Chair), Michael Taylor, Leenie Fabri, Jurgen Schaub, Michelle White, Campbell McNolty

Content Grants Advisory Committee will make recommendations on grants open for application in 2017: Michelle Brown (Chair), Shane Dunlop, Libby Jamieson, Nicola Joseph, San Hoang, Rob Meaton, Gerry Lyons.

New COO for Capital Radio Group

Kevin Blyton, Managing Director of Capital Radio Group announced Josh Elliot as Chief Operating Officer, effective July 1. He has been part of the Group for 12 years and will oversee Radio Snowy Mountains, Radio Gippsland, Charlotte Pass Snow Resort, Selwyn Snow Resort, Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel, Snowy Mountains Airport, Jindabyne Cinema and Cooma Twin Cinema.

Warner Music expands Emmy Lovell role

Warner Music UK has expanded the role of Emmy Lovell, VP Digital for Parlophone and Warner Bros. Records UK, to oversee digital for all its labels. As VP of Digital, her brief is to identify and develop technologies, platforms and partners that can enhance the creative and commercial impact of Warner Music UK’s artists, working closely with business development to translate them into opportunities the company’s labels can tap into. She also heads up the innovation centre in The Firepit, developing pilot projects.

At Parlophone, Lovell’s ground breaking campaigns over three years included the live stream launch of Coldplay’s A Head Full Of Dreams from their studio, and an interactive gaming app for Drones by Muse. She also developed digital strategies for Kylie Minogue and The Chemical Bros.

Luke Bradnam for Triple M

Luke Bradnam will host Triple M Brisbane’s Drive show in 2017, effective January 9. The station’s Content Director David Rymer said: “He’s a unique talent, a true Queenslander and an outstanding radio talent.” Bradnam hosted Drive on Hot Tomato Gold Coast

Louis Tomlinson on America’s Got Talent

One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson is named a guest judge on America’s Got Talent alongside country singer Reba McEntire, R&B singer songwriter Ne-Yo and comedian and TV host George Lopez. They assist AGT judges Simon Cowell, Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel for the Judge Cuts episodes, set to air July 12 on NBC.

New Label Manager for Dine Alone

Canada’s Dine Alone Records, which earlier this year teamed with Sydney-based Hub Artist Services to set up an offices covering Australia and New Zealand, appointed Jason Croke as new Label Manager. He previously served as former Director of Sales for Nettwerk Music Group.

Sydney Opera House’s Bielski to AD NZ festival

Jonathan Bielski, Head of Programming and Director of Programming at the Sydney Opera House for 13 years, takes over as Artistic Director for the Auckland Arts Festival. Most recently he has been Project Director for Auckland Theatre Company’s new ASB Waterfront Theatre. NZ-born Bielski replaces Carla van Zon, who had the role for six years, and retires after she delivers the March 8-26 2017 event. Bielski begins in November and leads programming for 2018, 2019 and 2020.

David Atkins to head White Night

The Victorian Government appointed theatre director, producer, dancer and choreographer David Atkins to take over as Artistic Director of White Night Melbourne – the dusk to dawn arts love-in which in February drew a record 600,000 people and injected $17 million into the state economy (but, alas, also drew complaints it was getting over-crowded), and its new regional sister event White Night Ballarat. The Melbourne event is on Saturday February 18 and Ballarat is on Saturday March 4. Atkins managed events as the Sydney 2000 Olympics, the Doha 2006 Asian Games and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. His predecessor was Andrew Walsh who successfully staged the first four White Nights.

Atkins arrives just as the Victorian Major Events Company (VMEC) – which ran White Night Melbourne, along with the Grand Prix, and Winter Masterpieces – is amalgamated with Tourism Victoria and the Melbourne Convention Bureau as Visit Victoria. A new CEO for Visit Victoria, Peter Bingeman, was announced in May, and officially starts next week. The Age reported that VMEC’s CEO Brendan McClements​ and COO Kelly Dickson have departed.

New breakfast present for 2SER

Nic Healey takes over as Sydney community radio station 2SER’s new breakfast presenter at the end of June. He replaces Mitch Byatt who has left the radio industry. Healey began as a volunteer producer and presenter at 2SER in 2013, presenting the Sunday breakfast slot and appearing on the weekday show with the I Can’t Believe It’s Not News weekly segment.

New chairman for Pureprofile

As Sydney digital company Pureprofile prepares to expand into the North American and European markets, it appointed Andrew Edwards as its Non­-Executive Chairman. Edwards, one time global board member at Leo Burnett, has many contacts in the new territories and knowledge of the markets.

Kalamaras heads to 3MBS

After four years as Marketing and Events Manager at Melbourne community radio station PBS FM, Con Kalamaras is leaving on July 7. The one-time APRA exec is taking up his new appointment at Fine Arts station 3MBS as Business Development Manager.