Musical Chairs: May 11

WARNER CHAPPELL NAMES COULSON-SMITH TO HEAD A&R

Warner Chappell has made Tom Coulson-Smith its A&R manager in the UK. Based in London he was previously at Imagem where he worked with James Earp, Lion and Lxury.

Amber Davis, whom he reports, to said, “Tom is a young, hungry A&R and someone I believe can have a real impact at Chappell.

“He’s got a reputation of signing and developing writers early, which is how we like to work at Chappell.”

Coulson-Smith began his career in music as a session musician, playing on tour for acts including AlunaGeorge. He joined Imagem as an intern and worked himself up the totem pole to A&R manager.

BMG BOLSTERS A&R ATTACK

BMG has bolstered its frontline publishing attack for its US operations, bringing in veteran A&R exec Monti Olson from Warner Bros to share duties with Shani Gonzales.

Gonzales has led A&R in the US since 2016, and overseen major clients such as Poo Bear, DJ Khaled, Bibi Bourelly, Nate Cyphert and Nic Nac.

During his lengthy career, Olson worked alongside Maroon 5, Christina Aguilera, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, Ari Levine of The Smeezingtons and The Matrix.

NEW AD FOR PERTH FESTIVAL

Eminent Perth musician Iain Grandage is the new artistic director for the Perth Festival for three years starting 2020.

He takes over from Wendy Martin after next year’s event, her fourth festival.

The trained cellist has seven Helpmanns under his belt for his compositions for theatre (Cloudstreet, Secret River), for dance (When Time Stops), for opera (The Rabbits, with Kate Miller-Heidke), for silent film (Satan Jawa, with Rahayu Suppangah) and as a music director for Meow Meow’s Little Match Girl and Secret River.

Grandage returned to WA recently after a decade in Melbourne.

He says taking a leadership role at the Perth festival is a cycle – attending it in the early ‘90s took him down the musician’s path.

Under his reign, expect more music and indigenous content in the programming.

NEW CHAIR FOR REGIONAL ARTS

Regional Arts Australia has tapped visual artist Simon Spain as the new chair of its board. He joined the board last year and replaces Kate Fielding.

Based in regional Tasmania, Spain is an experienced senior manager in the arts sector with proven diverse skills in building partnerships and driving community initiatives.

He is currently wrapping up a PhD at RMIT University in Melbourne, examining the transformative role of personal and community creativity.

PROMOTIONS MANAGER FOR SCA

Ophelia Standley-Thompson is the new promotions manager ay Southern Cross Austereo in Rockhampton in Far North Queensland.

She was previously based in Lithgow, NSW working as the program director with Midwest Radio Network.

DEF JAM EXPANDS A&R TEAM

Def Jam’s new chairman/CEO Paul Rosenberg has expanded his A&R team.

Noah Preston is upped to senior vp A&R, while Alexander Edwards joins as a vp A&R.

Def Jam signed a record deal with Jacksonville, Florida’s YK Osiris, and a joint partnership with producer Ronny J (Lil Pump, XXXTentacion) and his Listen Up Forever Records.

TAG MIXES UP ANDREW CRAWFORD

Andrew Crawford, best known for studio and live sound mixing for the Hillsong United ensemble, has been brought into Technical Audio Group (TAG) as master of mixing.

He will focus on mentoring engineers working on Allen & Heath products, especially dLive range, as part of A&H’s strategy to give engineers greater control “to deliver great mixes and efficient audio workflows,” according to the company.

KHAY BACK IN GIPPSLAND

Ryan Khay returns to Gippsland in Victoria as new content director for ACE Radio Network’s TRFM & GOLD 1242.

In the last three years, he has been programming Rait FM Radio Network in Port Moresby and managing the Ngaanyatjarra Media Radio Network near Alice Springs.

NEW STEERING COMMITTEE FOR ROAD CREW ASSOCIATION

The Australian Road Crew Association (ARCA) has announced a new steering committee.

It consists of production and music industry identities Ross Ferguson, Robyn Good, David Harding, Irene Enery, and Tony and Sharyn Moran.

They will work with directors and co-founders Ian Peel and Adrian Anderson on ARCA’s future direction.

One of the association’s major fundraising initiatives is the Desk Top series, of live tapes of major acts made by their road crews and donated to ARCA for the benefit of other crews.

DENDY PROMOTES MOTA TO HEAD ROLE

With Dendy Direct stopping operations on May 14, cinema group Dendy has promoted Scott Mota – head of marketing for Dendy Cinemas and On-Demand – to the newly created role of group marketing head.

He will oversee marketing, communications and brand strategy for the Dendy Icon Group, which comprises of Icon Film Distribution and Dendy Cinemas.

AHA SA PRESIDENT STEPS DOWN

After 24 years as the president of the Australian Hotel Association’s South Australian chapter, Peter Hurley has stepped down.

He wants to give the association’s CEO Ian Horne the chance to bring in new ideas and strategies of the new generation of hoteliers.

He will focus on his Hurley Hotel Group.

GIBSON TO HEAD SCREEN DIVERSITY NETWORK

Courtney Gibson, CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC), has been named as the new chair of the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network.

“Together there is so much great work we can do in improving practices, building relationships and sharing learnings to create new pathways and opportunities for great Australian talent from underrepresented groups,” she said.

“Our influences, decision-makers and screen stories need to reflect who we are today.”