Musical Chairs: March 16
Darren McMullen to host The Big Music Quiz
Darren McMullen (pictured), former host of The Voice for five seasons until quietly dropped last year, is new front man of Seven Network’s The Big Music Quiz. The prime time show, which it commissioned to Endemol Shine Australia, sees celebrities face off in teams and solo before a studio audience of 800, to a playlist of popular music covering all genres and eras. Viewers at home play along via an app.
Currently based in LA, McMullen will return to Melbourne with actor girlfriend Crystal Reed when the show begins production in April. “I’m really excited to be joining the Seven family and to be hosting new primetime shows in Australia,” he says. “It’s the perfect time to try something different and Seven is the place to do that and more. I can’t wait to get started.”
Matt Dyktynski joins mix94.5
Melbourne-based actor and comedian Matt Dyktynski returns to his hometown of Perth to join mix94.5’s breakfast team of Clairsy & Kymba from March 29. Station Content Director Erica Hodge said: “The sudden & tragic loss of Shane McFarlane last year hit the mix94.5 team very hard, and it has been important that we take the appropriate amount of time before adding to our radio family again. Matt is a wonderfully warm, smart and really funny Perth bloke who will bring his own brand of humour and personality to our show.”
Howie Gabriel to head Cooking Vinyl’s move into US
Label executive veteran Howie Gabriel will spearhead the UK’s Cooking Vinyl Group’s move into the US. The company, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is opening a full service label division. Gabriel was most recently EVP of Marketing at Warner Bros, and SVP of Label Management at Sony Music’s RED Distribution.
Based in New York, Gabriel will sign and develop domestic and international artists as well as releasing artists from Cooking Vinyl’s existing UK roster. Initial releases include Billy Bragg, Dolores O’Riordan and Teddy Thompson, while the Cooking Vinyl roster includes global acts such as Marilyn Manson and The Prodigy. Cooking Vinyl America recently signed a distribution deal with RED.
Cassar-Daley at 98.9FM
Clay Cassar-Daley is presenting the drive show at Brisbane indigenous radio station 98.9FM. His mother is 4KQ breakfast announcer Laurel Edwards, and his father is award-winning country music singer songwriter Troy Cassar-Daley.
Changes at Triple M Brisbane?
A report in the Confidential column of the Brisbane Courier Mail suggests that the contracts of Greg “Marto” Martin and Ed Kavalee had not been extended and they’re be looking for new work. Our besties at Radio Today chased the story up and got a one word response from Head of Content Mike Fitzpatrick: “Hogwash”.
Drake at Sony/ ATV
Jennifer Drake has joined Sony/ATV as Senior Director, A&R, based in Los Angeles. She was previously at Universal Music Publishing Group as Creative Director.
Wick Studios parts with Robnett
Melbourne’s Wick Studios has parted after 10 months with Lynn Robnett. She joined the complex to advise acts and find overseas connections for them. Robnett has returned to the US. Wick says it’s business as usual with Glenn Scott and Dan Corless.
Dan Widdowson leaving Hope 103.2
Christian music station Hope 103.2 is losing long time breakfast co-host Dan Widdowson from April 7. He is becoming a full time pastor on the NSW Central Coast – a dream come true, he says, and the culmination of many years of combining radio work with the youth ministry he began in 2006.
Mary Vallentine retiring from MRC
Mary Vallentine, highly regarded CEO of the Melbourne Recital Centre, is stepping down at the end of June. She arrived as part of a revamp of the venue’s management in 2010 a year after it opened. Under Vallentine, number of performances doubled in five years to 500 a year, attendance from 100,000 to 165,000, and the endowment fund from $2.5 million to $6 million.
Bradley for breakfast
Billy Bradley who worked at Southern Cross Austereo in Sydney is now at Capital Radio Networks Eagle FM 93.5 in Goulburn, presenting the cereals shift as Billy For Breakfast.
Jacob Cummings at Nova Brisbane
16 year old Jacob Cummings has left the Courtney & Jacob team at 96five Brisbane after a year to become a casual announcer and panel op. Born in Dunedin, NZ, he moved to Australia when he was seven, entering radio via 101FM.
Golesworthy heads to Redwave
Tayla Golesworthy, former breakfast co-host at Radio 97, is now part of the sales team at Redwave Media (Spirit and Red FM) in Geraldton, WA. She got her start doing work experience there and was also a street team member, and before 97 was Integration Director at Boom Radio.
Lucy Adams to edit Voiceworks
Express Media appointed Lucy Adams as Editor of its flagship publication, Voiceworks, a literary title aimed at readers aged under 25.
NZME chief Jane Hastings exits
NZME Chief Executive Jane Hastings resigned after 18 months in the role, and departs on April 8. She will be replaced by current CFO, Michael Boggs, who joined the company 12 months ago. NZME’s assets include New Zealand radio brands ZM, The Hits, Hauraki and NewsTalk ZB.
CRO for SoundCloud
Alison Moore joined SoundCloud as Chief Revenue Officer. She will oversee its upcoming consumer subscription products, marketing, and ad strategy/sales/products for both US and global markets. Moore worked in senior executive positions at NBC Universal’s TV Everywhere, digital women’s lifestyle brand DailyCandy and HBO.
Digital prodigy Poole at Google
Chris “Moot” Poole, who at 15 set up online community 4chan and ran it before he sold it 12 years later, is now part of Google’s social team, including Google+. “I continually find myself drawn to their intelligence, passion, and enthusiasm — as well as a universal desire to share it with others,” he said. It’s a long way from 4chan which became known for its trolling as posts were anonymous, posting naked photos of female celebs and encouraging Justin Bieber fans to cut themselves alleging he had cancer, and launched the activities of hacker group Anonymous.
Chris Taylor to run Entertainment One’s music division
Canada’s independent film, TV and music company Entertainment One has appointed music industry attorney and entrepreneur Chris Taylor to the role of President, Entertainment One Music. His role is to oversee Ent One’s global music operations (which includes rapper The Game and Michelle Williams, formerly with Destiny’s Child) and lead teams in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville and Toronto. He also brings with him recording, publishing and artist management firm Last Gang, whose recording roster includes Death From Above 1979, Chromeo and Ryan Hemsworth, and management handles Lights and Arkells.
New hires at Affinity
Sydney-based tech-driven media, CX and creative agency Affinity is expanding after a strong 2015 during which it landed some high profile clients. Award-winning creative duo Martin Greguric and Nicholas Brown have filled out its creative team, Renée Stekel is Business Director, Dhwani Mathur at its account management division, and Peter Chui in the data science team.
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