Musical Chairs: November 3

CLARE BOWDITCH EXITING ABC RADIO ROLE FOR MUSIC

After two years presenting Afternoons at ABC Radio Melbourne, singer-songwriter Clare Bowditch turns off the mic on Wednesday, November 29 to focus on two major projects.

“In 2018 I will release my first book and my eighth album, both projects that have been waiting in the wings since I whole-heartedly accepting the role of Afternoons host in 2016,” she posted on Facebook.

“It’s time I gave them my full attention in a way that just isn’t possible when you’re hosting a daily radio show (even when you adore it as much as I adore it).”

PHARRELL WILLIAMS BECOMES CO-OWNER OF ROLI STARTUP

Award-winning singer and producer Pharrell Williams has become the co-owner of music start-up ROLI and will also serve as its Chief Creative Officer.

He will work with founder Roland Lamb to develop new and revolutionary musical instruments that will be digitally connected and easily accessible to all.

Williams got involved after he realised that ROLI was working on similar devices that he also had been thinking about.

ROLI’s devices include The Seaboard, a futuristic piano that lets you press down parts of the keys to change how they sound, and Blocks which is a modular music system that works with mobile devices.

Lamb said Williams’ own ideas about making music more accessible to people had created “an exciting back and forth dialogue within the company.”

DANIEL AHERN BECOMES FBi’S THIRD PD

Daniel Ahern will on November 27, take over as Sydney community station FBi Radio’s third Program Director since it began operations in 2003.

The 24-year old law graduate who clerked at entertainment law firm Media Arts Lawyers was most recently Assistant/Acting Music Director at 2ser.

A multi-instrumentalist signed to Future Classic, he has worked as a journalist, researching media law for the Gazette of Law and Journalism, edited for radioinfo, and reported for Richard Ackland’s Justinian.

FBi’s Managing Director Clare Holland states: “I’m really excited to see what Daniel brings to the role.

“Throughout the selection process, he showed a sophisticated and exciting vision for what FBi should sound and look like in this shifting landscape.

“He’s young, creative, smart and talented – he embodies all the things FBi represents.”

ACT, CREASEY, HAVE ROLES AT ADELAIDE FRINGE

Adelaide Fringe appointed Courtney Act and Joel Creasey as ambassadors for 2018.

Act, the RuPaul’s Drag Race finalist and former Australian Idol contestant, was born in Adelaide and now lives in Los Angeles.

She makes her Fringe debut with her show Under The Covers.

“As an open access arts festival, the Adelaide Fringe has such a diverse and engaging line-up of artistic talent and I’m always honoured to be part of that,” says Act.

Creasey who’s played Fringe four times will debut his new show Blonde Bombshell from March 5-11.

“I’ve been performing at Adelaide Fringe since 2013 and it’s always a thrill because the audiences are so willing to take risks and give off such a great energy,” he observes.

KARL KONGKHAM HEADS WARNER THAILAND

Canadian born Karl Kongkham is new Managing Director of Warner Music Thailand.

Aside from his passion for music, Kongkham has experience in running digital and social media campaigns as Business Director for global agency Leo Burnett Group’s ARC Worldwide and MSLGROUP subsidiaries.

After graduating from the University of Toronto, Kongkham has lived in Thailand for 18 years.

He plans to break internationally Warner Thailand signings as Boom Boom Cash, Carabao, My Life As Ali Thomas, Pongsit Kampee and Telex Telexs.

HIT 104,7 CANBERRA TEAM SPLIT

After less than two years together, Hit 104.7 Canberra ’s Ryan & Tanya breakfast team host its final show together today, before both members leave Canberra.

Ryan Jon is returning to Perth to join breakfast host Heidi Anderson at Hit 92.9 with former AFL player Xavier Ellis from January 8. The two-step in for Will & Woody who’re doing the drive shift for KIIS FM next year.

Social media star Tanya Hennessy is furthering her multi-media projects, most of which are yet to be revealed.

In the last ratings, the breakfast show ranked fourth in the market.

WARNER REIGNITES ASYLUM IN THE US

Warner Music Group officially relaunched its Asylum imprint in the US, under long-time WMG executive Kenny Weagly as President and Grammy-winning producer Dante Ross (for his work on Santana’s Supernatural album) as Senior Vice President, A&R.

Asylum was founded in 1971 by artist managers David Geffen and Elliot Roberts, to give “full artistic expression” to Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Glenn Frey, JD Souther, Tom Waits and, for a time, Bob Dylan.

The label went through many transformations under WMG.

It’s first signing, rapper Ugly God had a viral hit with ‘Water’, which has sold 1 million units.

Asylum was already relaunched in the UK in 2004 and includes on its roster Ed Sheeran, Charli XCX, Rudimental and Anne-Marie.

NEW EDITOR FOR KERRANG!

Sam Coare is new Editor of British hard rock magazine Kerrang!, the eighth in its 36-year history.

In the past five years, he served a number of roles at the title, which will remain a weekly and has plans to expand its global footprint with digital growth, live streaming, content partnerships and a series of events.

MATT NIKOLIC PROMOTED AT PODCASTONE

PodcastOne promoted Matt Nikolic to Audio Imaging and Production Manager, Radio Today reported.

“Matt’s work has always been first class and now he gets to create a whole new black book of audio production and imaging for audio on demand and act as a mentor to our new team members,” PodcastOne’s head of Podcasting Grant Tothill said.

He’s just completed 250 hours of production (from editing to soundscape design and creating a music score) he completed for the true crime thriller The Trials of the Vampire.

BMG PARTS WITH BRAZILIAN MD

Eighteen months after BMG launched in Brazil by buying Basement Brazil publishing and management firm and installing its founder John Telfer as its Managing Director, it seems Sao-Paulo-based Telfer has moved on.

FRANCIS LEACH SHIFTS CHAIRS AT SEN

1116 SEN afternoon presenter Francis Leach will leave the afternoon show to move into other operations of the station.

These include continuing his A-League, Football and EPL commentary and with a new Sunday night A League show next year.

EMMA MULLINGS MOVING TO AMERICA

Emma Mullings, Hope 103.2-afternoon presenter since May 2015, is relocating to Miami with her husband Terence (they met while at 2DAY FM) and three children, where the pair is setting up a church next year.

Mullings is quite the all-rounder. She’s a singer, set up the Positive Hits music show on Christian Vision channel, was a cast member of Seven’s The Buzz and The Circle, a writer for a number of sites including Mamamia, and starred in the 2014 short movie Sugar Free which entered in Tropfest.

“Amazing but scary”, she says of her Miami move.

Laura Bennett from the Hope breakfast show replaced her on afternoons.

RICHARD PALMER EXITS MACQUARIE MEDIA

Richard Palmer, Head of Digital at Macquarie Media for the past five years, is now at Director of APAC Market Development at global digital audio industry Triton Digital.

Under his regime, Palmer revamped the websites of 2GB and 2CH, introduced the network’s audio ad platform, podcasts and app services.

In 2015 he was involved in a court case with Ray Hadley who angrily criticised the slow upload of content one day on the 2GB site. But the two ended on amicable terms, with Hadley wishing him well on-air on his last day this week.

SOUNDCLOUD LOSES CFO TO TUNEIN

SoundCloud’s Chief Financial Officer Holly Lim has left after a year to take up that position at San Francisco –based entertainment, radio and sports streaming service TuneIn.

Its CEO John Donham said, “Holly’s experience in consumer subscription services, entertainment, and original content uniquely qualify her to join our team and help drive our business forward.”

EX-PEDESTRIAN EDITOR AT WE ARE SOCIAL

Suz Tucker, one time Managing Editor at Pedestrian and Oyster Magazine has filled the newly created role of Editorial Director at the Sydney offices of global brand agency We Are Social, overseeing its content directors team/

REUBLIC HIRES KERRI MACKAR

Universal Music imprint Republic Records has hired Kerri Mackar as Senior VP of Brand Partnerships.

Based in New York, she will drive brand partnerships for the label’s artists as Ariana Grande, Drake, DNCE, Florence + the Machine, Jessie J, Kid Cudi, Lorde, Nicki Minaj, the Avett Brothers and The Weeknd.

Mackar previously held senior marketing positions at Billboard and Rolling Stone.

ABC’S STEPHEN O’DONNELL MOVES TO TV

After eleven years as Good Games presenter at ABC Radio, Stephen “Bajo” O’Donnell will from next month be a presenter on Amazon’s Twitch TV.

The gamers video platform each month draws 45 million gamers to broadcast, watch and chat.

CHAIR SHUFFLE AT CIRCUS OZ

Nick Yates, Managing Director and CEO of communications, construction and technical services business BSA Limited, takes over as Chair of Circus Oz for the next two years.

Yates has proven his leadership mettle on boards of ASX listed corporations as well as arts and education organisations including six years as Chair of the children’s cancer charity, RedKite.

Yates has already been serving on the Circus Oz board for six years when Wendy McCarthy AO stepped down this week after nine years.

Also joining the board is Tanya Hosch, a Torres Strait Islander woman who is currently GM of the Australian Football League’s Inclusion and Social Policy, Chair of PWC Coopers Indigenous Consulting, a member of the NAB Indigenous Advisory group and Director of the Indigenous Land Corporation.

ALLURE HIRES AARON MACARTHUR

Brand development company Allure Media has announced Aaron Macarthur as its National Sales Director. His eleven years in the media sector included stints as Sydney Commercial Director at Southern Cross Austereo and Group Sales Director at News Corp Australia.

GOLD COAST NIGHTCLUB PR RETIRES

Jimmy Ozturk, the streetside nightclub promotions manager along the Sunshine Coast, has retired after 35 years.

The 69-year old snappy dresser worked the beat at clubs as Shooters, Cocktails, Central, Players, The Penthouse, Rose and Crown and Bourbon Bar.