Musical Chairs: November 10

AMAZON BUILDS UP LOCAL MUSIC TEAM

With the imminent launch of the streaming platform and online store Amazon Music Australia, the tech giant has been slowly putting together a local team.

Former Music Editor at Pandora Australia, Matty Newton, is Senior Music Curator at Amazon Music.

For 18 years before that the musician and producer ran Matty Newton Creative which worked with artists, producer and record labels providing solutions ranging from; songwriting, music & audio production, live recordings, social media marketing, publicity, artist management, event production.

Also curating at Amazon Music is Adam Lewis who recently left his role as Group Entertainment Manager for the Solotel Group’s 20 venues.

The one-time Sydney-based music booker and club DJ presented programs on FBiRadio and served on its board, in between programming the Secret Garden Festival.

Joining as Content Editor is Shannon Molloy, former national entertainment reporter at News Corp for the past four years.

Other additions to Amazon’s Australian office are one time Foxtel Digital Media Manager Kate Marshall as Senior Marketing Manager.

In August, Rocco Braeuniger from its German operations was named Australian Country Manager of its retail network.

NEW GM AT UNIVERSAL NORWAY

Universal Music has finally found a replacement for its GM in Norway, a year after Peter Singsaas left after 22 years.

A&R Director Bjorn Rogstad, who signed Astrid S and Seeb, now has the top job.

ROUNDER TAPS LAWYER TO HEAD LABEL

US Americana label Rounder Records has appointed entertainment lawyer John Strohm as its new President:, Billboard reported.

Rounder is home to Steve Martin, Bela Fleck, Abigail Washburn, Chris Hillman, George Thorogood and Pokey LaFarge.

It was acquired in 2010 by Concord Music which moved its offices from Boston to Nashville.

NOVA EXTENDS GREG BURNS TO FOUR CITIES

Nova entertainment is expanding the reach of morning presenter Greg Burns. Based in Sydney, he’s already heard in Melbourne

Now he’ll also be heard in Adelaide and Brisbane. But it won’t be syndicated, like the Drive show, but will be personalised for each city.

As a result of these changes, in Brisbane, current morning presenter Katie Mattin moves to afternoons replacing Tim Wong-See who is exiting the station.

In Adelaide, Cale Porter is expected to move to weekends.

NEW ENTERTAINMENT SHOW FOR KIIS NATIONAL

Next year sees a new entertainment night show for the KiiS national network.

Celeb HQ is headed by Zoe Marshall and John ‘JC’ Caldwell 7pm to 8pm right after Kyle & Jackie O’s Hour of Power. Craig ‘Lowie’ Low will contribute special news and features from his base in LA.

The Thinkergirls national nightshow won’t return in 2018 after two years, but Australian Radio Network is thought to be finding a spot for them.

IHEARTMEDIA DEEPENS RESEARCH

Dr Michele Madansky is joining iHeartMedia as its EVP of insights, research and data analytics later this month.

Previously with Google and Buzzfeed, she will develop and manage data and research efforts across its radio, online and mobile operations.

NEW BOARD MEMBERS FOR NORPA

Four new members have joined the Lismore-based NORPA (Northern Rivers Performing Arts).

They are Lindy Hume (new AD of Ten Days on the Island in Tasmania, previously PIAF and Sydney Festival), Lismore mayor and arts advocate Jenny Dowell OAM, Tiffany Lucas a senior law associate and one-time Development Director of Melbourne Theatre Company, and Bundjalung woman and dancer and health worker Sarah Bolt.

NEW GIG FOR EX-SOUNDCLOUD/ PANDORA AUSSIE EXEC

Former Pandora and SoundCloud Australia executive Shaun Alexander has found a new gig. He is the Chief Revenue Officer at the mature-age content platform, Starts At 60, which is expanding nationally and getting more active in brand tie-ups.

Alexander was SoundCloud’s County Manager and Commercial Director for Australia and New Zealand.

Before that, he served as Head of Brand Partnerships at Pandora.

RABBIT, GOODWIN STAY ON

The two-year-old Star 104.5 Gosford breakfast team of Dave ‘Rabbit’ Rabbetts and Julie Goodwin (MasterChef’s first winner) are confirmed to hold their timeslot next year.

KAVALEE GETS A HIT

Comedian and TV’s Have You Been Paying Attention? cast member Ed Kavalee will be joining Em Rusciano on Sydney’s 2Day FM breakfast show in 2018

“I just hope my old room at my share house on Cleveland Street is still available,” he said.

Kavalee replaces Harley Breen, who winds up at the end of the year as, according to the Hit Network, he “has decided to have a sleep-in in 2018” as he has a young family.

When Breen broke the news to his listeners, he said he wanted to do more comedy.

SYDCON MUSIC HEAD GETS GLOBAL APPOINTMENT

The University of Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music, Head of School and Dean, Professor Anna Reid, is one of five councillors around the world elected to the Global Music Education League for a five-year term.

It is new council developed to promote music education and exchange.

The other councillors came from music schools in New York, Chicago, Helsinki and Beijing.

NETTWERK EXPANDING IN DEVELOPING MARKETS

Nettwerk has signalled it wants to source more repertoire from developing music markets. It has promoted Sameer Sadhu to Director of A&R in Developing Markets.

Previously with Singaporean-based label services firm Secret Signals and Hong Kong-based Love Da Records, Sadhu last year signed Singaporean singer/songwriter Linying, the first in that island country to get a North American deal.

RADIO LOSES THREE TO RETIREMENT

SCA’s NSW Central Coast station 2GOwill be announcing a new breakfast team for 2018.

Sarah King and Paddy Gerard are leaving after a lengthy stay, for 26 and 14years respectively.

Ill health has forced musician and songwriter Country Bob Browne to present his last broadcast on November 14 of his weekly Country On show on Radio 2GLF after 35 years.

BEST MATES JOIN GEELONG WEEKENDS

Geelong duo Andy Sunderland and Ben Toyne, who came to fame appearing as “Best Mate” contestants on the 2016 season of Channel 9’s The Block, will helm K Rocks morning shows on Saturdays and Sundays over the summer.