Musical Chairs: Nova’s Andy Sinn heads to Emotive; Redfoo out of X Factor; Melanie Tait joins ABC; Samsung Australia losing exec

Nova’s Andy Sinn heads to Emotive

One time Nova Entertainment music, commercial and partnerships exec Andy Sinn is now Commercial Director at APN News and Media’s content marketing arm Emotive.

Simon Joyce, former MCM CEO who founded Emotive in Feb, cited Sinn’s “skills in branded content creation alongside proven commercial acume.” Emotive’s clients include Optus (its series of ads with British comic Rick Gervais to publicise its Netflix tie-up notched up 4 million views in five days in Australia) and ARN’s iHeartRadio.

Sinn, whose brief is to expand revenue sources, said, “Brands are increasingly becoming publishers and Emotive has a unique formula to help them on this path by creating remarkable content and then ensuring it finds the right audience.”

Dani Pola quits Hit 107 Adelaide

Dani Pola, co-host of Hit 107 Adelaide’sbreakfast show quit after six months, telling listeners, “I’ve been having a few (health) issues behind the scenes and breakfast radio doesn’t fit in with where I’m at mentally at the moment.” Her last show is on April 17. Pola and comic Amos Gill, were brought in by SCA when it rebranded the station from SAFM but they struggled to find listeners.

Melanie Tait joins ABC Local Radio Tasmania

Melanie Tait takes over as presenter of Statewide Evenings on ABC Local Radio Tasmania first week of May. Starting in radio as producer of John Laws, Tait went on to work as a producer, reporter and presenter on a range of local and national programs for ABC Local Radio, ABC Rural and more recently the Weekend Arts program on Radio National.

International A&R for Downtown Music Publishing

As New York based Downtown Music Publishing expands its creative services globally, Taeko Saito joined as International A&R. At SONGS Music, she signed Diplo, The Weeknd and DJ Mustard, and Australia’s Leah Haywood and Dr. Luke when at AAM.

Violet Merhi joins Hit 104.1 FM

Violet Merhi joined Hit 104.1 FM Sydney as AMD and on-air presenter. She was at NXFM Newcastle as Music Director and presented mornings.

Pandora’s Tommy Page heads to Cumulus

Pandora's VP of Artist and Brand Partnerships, Tommy Page, is now at Cumulus Media which operates 460 radio stations. Cumulus is broadening into live events, and at Pandora the one time recording artist, Warner Music A&R and Billboard publisher helped bridge partnerships with the music community. At Cumulus, he will connect listeners and brands through "unique experiential opportunities and custom programs.” Aside from its 480 stations, Cumulus content is distributed by Westwood One to 8,000 more stations.

Sound Alliance’s i_have_ADD moves to ABC

i_have_ADD, one time Editor for six years of Sound Alliance’s EDM site InTheMix, left to join the ABC.

Two CIT students land radio jobs

Two Central Institute of Technology (CIT) Perth students landed radio gigs at Redwave Media’s Spirit and RED FM networks. Katrina Markey is a production assistant and Christian Dichiera is a floater.

Radio’s Dan King heads to TV

Dan King joins Foxtel on May 24 as Sound Designer for Fox 8 and Arena. He was PD of Star 104.5 until last November. He was Imaging Producer at Nova Sydney, 91.3 Singapore, MCM Sydney, B105 Brisbane and SEA FM Gosford.

Mark and Carl Fennessy to depart Shine Australia

Mark and Carl Fennessy, co-founders and CEOs of Shine Australia, –producer of The Voice and Australian Idol – will leave this year before its official merger with production house Endemol Australia. Details of the new entity – as structure, leadership and start date – will be released after a consultation process led by Endemol Shine Group’s co-CEO of International Operations, Martha Brass. The new company is valued at US$2 billion. It will have 600 scripted and nonscripted formats across operations in 30 markets.

Redfoo out of X Factor

Redfoo will not return as a judge of The X Factor this year as Seven Network goes for a reshuffle. The Sydney Daily Tele says two new “superstar” names are being brought in. Which means one of the other three – R. Keating, N. Bassingthwaite and D. Minogue – will be told to amscray.

New Editor for InStyle

Emily Taylor rejoins Pacific Magazines as Editor of Instyle Australia, May 4. She is currently working in London in print, digital and social media covering fashion and beauty. She was previously Associate Editor at Marie Claire until 2012. In the latest audit, Instyle Australia has a circulation of 48,151.

Samsung Australia losing executive

Samsung Australia is losing Head of Public Relations + Communications, Richard Noble, after 3 ½ years, reportedly for a job in San Francisco.

Beth Rep moves to Cairns

Beth Rep, co-host of Zinc FM Mackay’s breakfast show heads to Zinc FM Cairns for its afternoon slot.

GH Hotel splits with Robbo

A statement from Melbourne’s entertainment venue GH Hotel reveals that Mark Robinson (DJ Mark Robbo) “no longer works, or is any way, affiliated” with the venue since March 16.

Circus Oz AD quits after 17 years

Circus Oz Artistic Director Mike Finch steps down on June 30 after 17 years. He said his departure was the right time, a year after Circus Oz moved to its purpose-built Collingwood headquarters and the establishment of new programs including Strong Women and the Indigenous development BLAKflip,

Hobbs heads south

Stephanie Hobbs joins the ARN Melbourne newsroom replacing Kiara Parker. She was previously at SCA’s Hot FM Townsville newsroom.