Musical Chairs: May 25

Image:Spotify Australia’s Kate Vale is relocating to US

Jocelin Abbey heads ABC Radio and Regional Marketing

Jocelin Abbey, one time GM of Labels & Digital at the Secret Sounds Group and Nova Music Marketing Director, has joined the ABC as the new Head of Radio and Regional Marketing. She’ll oversee marketing activities for the complete suite of ABC Radio properties, including 45 ABC Local Radio stations, triple j, double j, RN, Classic FM and the ABC Radio app, plus numerous digital only stations.

She will also oversee the marketing plan for the Regional Division, working across the priority TV and news content. The broadcaster said, “Jocelin is well positioned to do this, bringing a wealth of relevant industry experience across radio and digital, as a former Nova and Yahoo7 marketing executive.” Abbey also worked as Head of Consumer Marketing & PR at Yahoo7 and Manager Marketing & Communications at the Sir David Martin Foundation.

Nathan Reay takes strategy role at Nova Entertainment

Nathan Reay will take over Nova Entertainment’s newly created role of Head of Strategy and Development on July 18. He will be based in Sydney and briefed to find new strategic initiatives in the changing media landscape. Reay had similar roles in PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Bauer Media.

Spotify Australia’s Kate Vale relocating to US

Kate Vale, head of Spotify Australia and New Zealand, is relocating to the US temporarily. Her husband Justin Viles is setting up base in Los Angeles to expand his transaction marketing business Rokt into the US market. Vale will continue her Spotify duties from its LA office with frequent visits back to Sydney.

AEG Live names CFO

As AEG Live expands operations around the world, it has appointed Jorge Melendez to the post of Chief Financial Officer, where he will oversee the division’s global financial operations across touring, festival and venues. He will report to chairman/CEO Jay Marciano. Melendez was previously at Live Nation as CFO for nine years and 17 years at Sony Music International.

New EP for Brisbane Nova Brisbane

Nova 106.9 Brisbane’s breakfast show Ash, Kip & Luttsy’s new Executive Producer is Samantha Rose Spence. Having worked on the Gold Coast and Perth, she was also on Smallzy’s Surgery in Sydney before moving to Nova Brisbane stepping in for the Integration Manager who was on maternity leave.

Timbaland brings in label vet for Mosley Music

Grammy winning producer Timbaland has brought in music industry veteran “and true visionary” Gary Marella as Executive VP of Mosley Music Group. He previously worked for the Roc Nation-associated management firm Three Six Zero Group, and was Senior VP of Promotion at Universal Records. He and SVP Marcus Spence will jointly oversee its artist roster which includes Timbaland, One Republic, Tink and V. Bozeman, plus all related Timbaland and Mosley Music Group projects.

Timbaland has an album out this year titled Textbook Timbo as well as a film version of his scripted hip-hop musical Opera Noir and the development of a hip-hop docu-series based around a real life agency.

New hires as OneLove expands divisions

Melbourne-based EDM promoter OneLove has expanded into a more A&R-themed company, it told TMN. Under founder Frank Cotela, its A&R division headed by Ant Celestino, has DJ Rob Pix coming on board to work on the new Club Love imprint and Sydney producer Miracle (and new signing) to set up a hip hop imprint. Melissa Jong has joined to head artist management and Christina Rinaldi as in-house PR and publicist. Michael Parisi of Michael Parisi Management will oversee its publishing j/v with Mushroom and act as consultant for other parts of the company. OneLove acts Slumberjack, Generik and Miracle are finding recognition in the US.

YouTube role for Aussie

Australian technology and marketing expert Lucinda Barlow is moving to Los Angeles after being promoted to Global Director of Marketing for YouTube. She was previously Head of Marketing at YouTube’s parent company Google, for Australia and New Zealand since 2010. Her former role is now filled by Aisling Finch, Head of Media for Google Asia Pacific.

Spotify appoints global licensing head

Spotify gets a new VP, Global Head Of Licensing, from June 1, based in London. Francis Keeling was previously with Universal Music Group for 14 years, most recently heading its global digital business, working with digital partners to create and license new opportunities and propositions. “Francis is one of the very best in the business,” says Chief Content Officer Stefan Blom.

Ozzy and Jack’s big adventure

Ozzy Osbourne and son Jack star in a new show produced by the History channel called Ozzy & Jack’s World Detour. Over ten episodes, they visit a number of historically significant locations including Mt Rushmore, Stonehenge (where they met a man who insisted he was the reincarnation of King Arthur), The Alamo (where Ozzy once drunkenly pissed on its walls and got banned), Bletchley Park where World War II codes were broken and the first computer built by Alan Turing) and Sun Studios. It premieres in the US on July 27.

Michael Stanford heads to Ensemble

Michael Stanford, one time National Creative Director of Ten Network’s branded entertainment division Generate, is now Managing Director of IPG Mediabrands’ Ensemble where he will expand content marketing and integrated solutions.

Mike Smith to head Warner/Chappell UK

Virgin EMI Music’s President, Mike Smith, joins Warner/Chappell Music UK as Managing Director in November. Having started my career in music publishing, it is exciting to be returning to a sector of the industry where I enjoyed so many great times,” Smith said in a statement.

Smith began at MCA Music Publishing and EMI Music Publishing where his signings included Blur, Elastica, Supergrass, Doves, Gorillaz, The White Stripes, The Libertines, Scissor Sisters, Arcade Fire and Arctic Monkeys. In 2006, he moved to record labels, first as MD of Columbia Records U.K. and then as President of Music at Mercury Records, and currently President of Virgin EMI.

Smith’s hire is the latest reshuffle that Jon Platt has made at the publisher since becoming its CEO last November and then its Chairman in early May. Other moves have included Paul Kahn as CFO; Katie Vinten and Ryan Press as co-heads of A&R in the U.S.; and Chuck Gamble as VP, Catalogue Promotions.

Universal creates Verve Label Group

Universal Music Group (UMG) has placed some of its most prestigious jazz and classical assets in the US under the newly formed Verve Label Group. Running it, as President and CEO, is Emmy winning music, film and TV producer Danny Bennett who is the son and manager of singer Tony Bennett.

Labels within the new group include Deutsche Grammophon, Decca Records, Decca Classics, Mercury Classics, and distributed label ECM. Bennett will move the group to New York where it will have its own A&R, marketing and promotions teams. Previously the Verve label was in LA where it was under award-winning record producer David Foster. After being at its helm since 2012, he has decided to return full time to producing.