Musical Chairs: Moves at RTRFM, Green Music Australia, BMG, CCMA & more

KAREN LEE TAKES THE HELM AT RTRFM

Perth community radio station RTRFM has appointed Karen Lee as its new general manager.

She officially begins next year, replacing Stu MacLeod who quit in November to head Fairbridge Festival.

RTRFM is WA’s oldest FM station, entering its 42nd year with 48 specialty music and talks programs, presented by over 350 volunteer presenters.

The station said: “Lee comes to the station with many years of experience in creative industries working in the private, not-for-profit, and public sectors across music touring and events, arts and community projects, and business management.

“Lee has been a long standing advocate for artists’ rights and local culture.”

CHANGES AT GREEN MUSIC AUSTRALIA BOARD

At Green Music Australia’s AGM, Blair Palese, founder and CEO of 350.org Australia, assumed the role of chair from Mahalath Halperin.

“I am trilled to take up the role of chair at Green Music Australia and support the team’s plans to expand our focus next year,” said Palese.

“I want to thank Mahalath for her leadership as chair and welcome the incredible lineup of new directors taking up the reins to help ensure we can have a powerful impact next year.”

Halperin, one of the founders of GMA, will remain on the board.

New directors stepping in are artist Montaigne (Jessica Cerro); APRA AMCOS health, safety & wellbeing manager Carla O’Neale, who has previous experience in waste at local government level; and Susie Sugden, chief commercial officer and chief marketing officer at Temple & Webster.

Retiring from the GMA board are Katie Noonan, Eadric Ayres and Kristy Wandmaker.

Board members staying on are Patrick Kelly, co-CEO at Museum of New and Old Art (MONA), Asher Christophers, director of Austep Music, and GMA founder and former CEO Tim Hollo.

Berish Bilander and Emma Bosworth are co-CEOs.

Bilander said: “Our recent AGM allowed us to plan a great program for next year.

“We are planning to expand efforts across Australia’s festival circuit to become more waste conscious and introducing a Climate Change Declaration for artists and the music industry to help build pressure for greater and faster action on the issue of our time.”

GMA will continue its #BYO Bottle campaign in 2019, and a variety of similar projects are in early stages or under development.

VICTORIA LOSES SHADOW ARTS MINISTER

Victoria’s Liberal opposition party is set to announce a new shadow arts & culture minister.

Heidi Victoria lost her seat in Bayswater after a protracted count following the Saturday November 23 state election saw her lose her seat by 296 votes.

It saw a landslide for the ruling Labor government.

Victoria served as arts minister for a year in 2013, during which time she increased funding for Arts Victoria, set up an investment scheme for the arts sector, pushed for the Collingwood arts precinct and encouraged music theatre in the state.

CHASER MOVES TO SUMMER BREAKFAST

The Radio Chaser team has begun hosting the Summer Breakfast weekdays slot on Triple M Sydney in the run up to Christmas, having previously handling the 3pm to 4pm slot.

They temporarily step in for The Grill Team which recently lost Matty Johns during the off-ratings period.

WAAAPA FINDS EXECUTIVE DEAN

The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University has announced David Shirley as its next executive dean.

A trained actor and director in film and TV, Shirley is currently director of the Manchester School of Theatre within Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).

He is is also chair of the Federation of Drama Schools, a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (FRSA); and associate editor of Theatre, Dance and Performance Training Journal.

Current WAAPA executive dean Professor Julie Warne retires in 2019 after 14 years in the role.

BMG CHANGES US STRUCTURE

BMG is splitting its US repertoire organisation into three segments based in Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York.

The US makes up 50% of the company’s business.

BMG US president of repertoire & marketing, Zach Katz, announced he is stepping down at the end of the year.

He is resurfacing in a global technology company with close ties to the music industry.

In Los Angeles, Thomas Scherer is promoted to EVP, repertoire & marketing, Los Angeles.

In Nashville, Jon Loba, EVP BBR Music Group, and Kos Weaver, EVP BMG Nashville, will take joint control.

In New York, John Loeffler becomes EVP, repertoire & marketing, New York.

JASON SCOTT TO EXIT AS PEDESTRIAN TV, ALLURE MERGE

Allure Media’s CEO of five years, Jason Scott, is exiting after a move to combine it with Nine’s youth publisher, Pedestrian TV.

Allure is home to Popsugar, Gizmodo and Business Insider, and will be folded into Pedestrian TV,

The wider Pedestrian TV Group will now be run by its founders Oscar Martin and Chris Wirasinha, reporting to new Nine publishing head Chris Janz.

Nine acquired a 60% in Pedestrian for $10 million in 2015, and this year bought the remaining 40% for $39 million.

NEW SENIOR EXECUTIVE FOR FEDERATION SQUARE

Melbourne’s Federation Square’s senior executive team gets a boost with the arrival of events specialist Suzana Bishop as general manager, commercial and public engagement.

Bishop held senior leadership roles with the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), The Australian Grand Prix and The Royal Melbourne Show.

FOUR SENIOR APPOINTMENTS AT NITV

After its best year in 2018, national Indigenous television service NITV is expanding with four senior hires under channel manager Tanya Orman.

Adam Manovic, who has been with NITV for over 10 years, is now managing producer of internal productions.

Rhanna Collins, who joined four years ago, is now an executive editor, working across NITV’s news and current affairs digital and on-air portfolio.

Walkley Award-winner Julie Nimmo joins as senior digital editor, working across NITV’s online news and current affairs.

Jack Latimore takes over as a senior digital editor.

NEW COMMITTEE FOR CAPITAL COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION

Tamworth’s Capital Country Music Association (CCMA) has a new committee.

One time president Peggy Gilchrist takes over the presidency again (from Steve Newton who held the role for eight years) while Lex Grant was re-elected vice president.

Also elected were Sue Hartley (secretary), Ron Buckpitt (treasurer) and Jeanette Bucher (publicity officer).

Committee members re-elected were Dot Gilchrist, Patti Morgan and Rodney Walker.

New members included Dave Alexander, Lynette Guest and Nev Miller.

Shaza-Leigh Butler was announced as new patron.

NEW GM FOR JUNKEE MEDIA

Youth publisher Junkee Media announced Meisha Hill in the newly created role of general manager. She was most recently at the New York Times.

Among recent changes at Junkee, John Buchan arrived as sales director and managing editor of custom and native titles, Lisa Omagari, moved to the new role of creative studio director.