Musical Chairs: Moves at SoundCloud, KIIS, Music Victoria, Downtown, MCG & more

SOUNDCLOUD’S NEW GLOBAL HEAD OF MUSIC

SoundCloud hired music industry veteran Lisa Ellis as global head of music & artist relations, based in New York City.

In her role, she will be liaison to the global creative community, working with artists, managers, and labels to help them grow across SoundCloud’s creator-driven ecosystem.

“Lisa has spent decades championing artists,” said CEO Kerry Trainor.

“She’s a passionate music executive, whose leadership, experience and strategic vision will be an asset to the team and our partners.

“Her connection to the creative community, understanding of the unique role SoundCloud plays in launching creators’ careers and helping them connect with fans is invaluable, and will help us continue to empower and grow the largest, most diverse community of audio creators.”

Ellis joins SoundCloud as a principal partner at Provenance Ventures, a holding company for Provenance Media, a television and digital content development and production company, and also Provenance Films, a feature film development and production company, where she will continue to serve in an advisory role.

Before that she was at Sony Music Group, overseeing management at Columbia and Epic, and president/GM of Sony Urban Music as well as in its film and sync divisions.

She played a key role in the development, planning and branding of artists such as: Prince, Michael Jackson, Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Will Smith, Jessica Simpson, Lauryn Hill, John Legend, Nas, Maxwell, Three 6 Mafia, Cypress Hill, and Kanye West’s label G.O.O.D, the SoSo Def roster, and Loud Records. 

She is also an advisory board member of Girls Make Beats, a non-profit that focuses on developing female producers and songwriters.

MAJOR CHANGES FOR KYLE AND JACKIE O SHOW

KIIS 1065’s The Kyle & Jackie O Show (pictured) )promoted Sonia Jahshan from the role of senior producer for the past two years, to executive producer.

In other changes at the show, Tom ‘Draco’ Whitaker will join producer and also be on air for KIIS 1065.

Draco brings to the role experience working in regional, provincial and metro radio.

Missy Baflour will move from her part-time role as on-air advisor for The Kyle & Jackie O Show to fulltime in 2019.

This promotion follows the decision of Vanda Leigh to relocate to Norfolk Island for a sea change.

NEW BOARD MEMBERS FOR MUSIC VICTORIA

Three new names have joined the Music Victoria board – Heidi Braithwaite (Riot House Publicity), Melinda Dine (The Push Inc) and Tim Heath (Theatre Royal Castlemaine)

They join existing directors Chelsea Wilson, Sarah Blaby, Chris O’Neill and Cath Haridy.

NEW A&R CHIEF FOR DOWNTOWN

Downtown Music Publishing, which launched in Sydney and Paris this year, appointed Delmar Powell as vice president of A&R.

He served as director, A&R urban at Republic Records. He signed and developed Marc E. Bassy, and worked with artists such as Hailee Steinfeld, Kiana Lede, Natalie LaRose, Zendaya and Adrian Marcel.

He represented Republic as the A&R liaison for NBC’s The Voice.

He also held positions at Atlantic Records, TVT Records and Jive Records.

SENIOR HIRES AT MICHAEL CASSEL GROUP

With its growth in major Australian theatrical productions, international touring and concert presentations, Sydney-based entertainment company Michael Cassel Group announced three senior hires.

Seasoned producer and entertainment executive Todd Lacy joins as head of production from New York where he held a senior role at the Madison Square Garden Company.

Mark Sutcliffe who had positions with the Sydney Opera House, Seven Network and the Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival joins as director of concerts & events.

Former Ticketmaster executive Glenn McGuinness comes on board as director of business affairs.

ANOTHER THE BRAG EXIT

Our story yesterday about Sydney’s The BRAG moving to a quarterly print format reported that its digital and print editor Joe Earp had departed.

The title’s Allison Gallagher also announced that she was made redundant. She also wrote for Tone Deaf.

ABC RADIO FLEXES UP FOR 2019

The ABC’s local radio program slate for 2019 sees a few changes.

The Brisbane breakfast sees the arrival of Loretta Ryan as

Rebecca Levingston moves to mornings.

Perth has had a shakeup, with Barry Nicholls having a 4 am start on early bird statewide breakfast.

He will be followed from 6 am—10 am for the breakfast slot by Russell Woolf and Nadia Mitsopoulos and Jessica Strutt presents the morning Focus.

Gillian O’Shaughnessy’s afternoon program is extended and Christine Layton is new Saturday breakfast host.

Canberra moved Paula Kruger from breakfast to afternoon and Anna Vidot to drive.

In Newcastle, Jenny Marchant and Dan Cox handle breakfast together and Aaron Kearney brought back to present drive.