Musical Chairs: October 12

CHRIS BOWEN TO DEPART MUSIC AUSTRALIA

Music Australia CEO Chris Bowen has announced he will depart at the end of 2017 after five years service.

“After thirty-five years in the industry, I have decided it is time to leave salaried employment, ease back, and plan a few small musical activities in Brisbane’s Samford Valley,” he revealed.

The second CEO in the organisation’s 25-year history, Bowen took over from founder Dr Richard Letts in 2013.

The association stated, “During his tenure Chris has overseen a rebranding, introduced new services and digital assets, expanded involvement in contemporary music, instigated a new national conference, and substantially extended Music Australia’s reach.”

In 2016 he led a partnership of thirteen peak agencies to produce the first ever national contemporary music plan, providing a national blueprint for industry development.

Music Australia’s national school music engagement program Music: Count Us In has grown significantly under his watch with 30% of Australian schools now participating.

“Chris has overseen a significant transformation of Music Australia, and has positioned it as a strategic contributor to the development of the sector” said Chair Michael Smellie.

“An example is the Contemporary Music Roundtable conference he developed, which has represented a high point in Music Australia’s history”.

“The national overview afforded by this position and the connections with so many talented professionals across the artform has been one of the real privileges of this job.” Bowen noted.

“A highlight has been the close cooperation forged across multiple music education and contemporary industry bodies. This has strengthened our voice in Canberra and is delivering solid policy outcomes.”

DANIELS’ ROLE EXPANDS WITH [PIAS]

Inertia CEO Colin Daniels is taking on the expanded role of Regional Managing Director for [PIAS], which acquired the Australian indie company earlier this year.

Daniels, who sits on the board of Merlin and is a veteran of the Mushroom Group and EMI, will now oversee North America, Australia and Asia for the UK-based [PIAS], and will split his time between the US and Australasia as he helps to drive the American expansion of the growing group.

GEN FRICKER TO STEP IN FOR VERONICA MILSOM ON TRIPLE J DRIVE

Gen Fricker will take over co-hosting duties of triple j’s Drive show with Lewis Hobba for the rest of 2017 while Veronica Milsom goes on maternity leave.

Fricker has been presenting triple j Lunch for a year presenting Lunchtime Legend and Friday Mix, as well as stints covering triple j Breakfast with Dylan Alcott, including the release of Gen & Dylan’s ‘Christmas In July’ single.

Stepping in to triple j Lunch is Bridget Hustwaite, who this year has filled in on Home & Hosedand Lunch and presented regular overnight shifts on triple j, all while flexing her Aussie music muscle and giving opportunities to countless up and coming artists.

The broadcaster be announcing the full 2018 presenter program later in the year.

PARLOPHONE CHAIR MILES LEONARD STEPPING DOWN

Highly respected veteran label executive Miles Leonard, who became Chair of Parlophone when Warner acquired the label from EMI in 2013, announced he is leaving next year.

Between 2013 and Aril 2016 Leonard was also co-Chair for Warner Bros Recordings UK but stepped down to concentrate on Parlophone.

Earlier while at Virgin he signed The Verve, while at Parlophone he worked closely with Coldplay, Gorillaz, Kylie Minogue, Lily Allen, Tinie Tempah and Blur.

Speculated contenders for the new Parlophone job, as reported by Music Business Worldwide, include Atlantic Records U.K. GM Mark Mitchell and Virgin EMI’s SVP of A&R Nick Burgess.

ZAN ROWE PART OF SCREEN TIME PANEL

Zan Rowe confirmed that she is a member of the rotating panel that will join host Chris Taylor on new ABC-TV Tuesday night show Screen Time.

Every Tuesday at 8pm, Taylor and the panel will talk about f film, TV, streaming, viral videos and cinema, to cut through the content.

Rowe will be on the first episode, premiering 8 pm October 17.

Others on the revolving panel are Marc Fennell, Sami Shah, Sophie Black, Michael Williams, Benjamin Law, Nakkiah Lui, Judith Lucy and Susie Youssef.

BOY GEORGE, KELLY ROWLAND, DELTA GOODREM BACK AT THE VOICE

Boy George, Kelly Rowland and Delta Goodrem are all back for The Voice in 2018, Nine Network has confirmed.

The announcement was made at the network’s preview of its 2018 slate at FOX Studios in Sydney to advertisers.

The fourth coach for the show, produced by ITV Studios, will be announced shortly.

CEO Hugh Marks said, “We’ve had a great year but we know how important it is that we add more premium entertainment to our schedule to further expand the depth of our content in the demos that are important to you.

“Whether it’s news, sport, entertainment or lifestyle content, brought to life through big event television, long or short form video, podcasts, native, or amplified through social, our audience-first approach in 2018 will inform our content decisions like never before.”

Among the returns are 10 episodes of True Story with Hamish & Andy, and Shaun Micallef in Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation.

BMG UPS HENTZSCHEL TO CTO

BMG promotes Sebastian Hentzschel to Chief Technology Officer from SVP Group Technology.

He will oversee the company’s global infrastructure, application development and data analytics, and additionally responsible for royalty processing for BMG’s recordings

In his previous role, he masterminded BMG’s integrated international technology platform for its global music publishing and recorded music operations

He was also behind the development of the company’s BMG’s MYBMG royalties app and portal.

JAY MUELLER NEW GROUP CD AT PACIFIC STAR

Jay Mueller takes over as Group Content Director of Broadcast and Digital at Pacific Star Network in February.

It includes all 1116 SEN Programming, Classic Rock Radio, Aussie Digital, Koool and their respective digital platforms.

He is currently Executive Producer at Triple M Melbourne’s Hot Breakfast. He’s been eight years at Triple M.

Pacific Star’s radio GM, Cathy Thomas, said that while they underwent an intensive search for the role, as a result of his expertise in traditional radio (especially sports broadcasting and podcasts) and digital, “we kept coming back to Mueller as our number one choice.”

CHANGES ON TOP AT SONY INTERACTIVE

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is undergoing changes at the top.

President and CEO Andrew House has stepped down immediately, staying on as Chairman to ensure a smooth transition.

Moving up is John Kodera, current Deputy President of SIE who says he is focussing on growing “the PlayStation brand and expanding the game and network services business.”

NEW PROGRAMS FOR CAPITAL COUNTRY RADIO

Australian country music online radio station Capital Country Radio, based in Tamworth, has added two new programs, bringing back to the fore two broadcasters missing in action for some time.

TSA Showcase will showcase Australian country music songwriters via the Tamworth Songwriters’ Association (TSA). It plays Saturdays 6 am and repeated Tuesdays at 9.

It will be hosted by the TSA’s Athol Latham, a long time member of the association, and currently its Treasurer and Membership Co-ordinator.

Lorraine Pfitzner, awarded an Order of Australia for her service to Australian country music, will host My Kinda Country every Wednesday morning at 6 then again on Friday evenings at 9.

They join programs as Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson’s Australian Bush Balladeers Show, Connie Kis Andersen’s Showcase Australia highlighting new Australian country music releases, and Pete Mathewman’s My Country Australia.

NEW HIRE AT PRINCESS PICTURES

Princess Pictures is appointing Screen Australia Investment Manager Mike Cowap as a senior producer across its scripted and unscripted departments. He has been with Screen Australia since 2008.

REPORT: OLLY MURS SWITCHING TO THE VOICE UK

A report in the UK suggests that singer Olly Murs is making a switch from being coach at X Factor UK to The Voice UK.

He will replace Gavin Rossdale (who was dropped from the show after a season, apparently due to a charisma bypass) and join Sir Tom Jones, Jennifer Hudson and Will.i.am.

The move is said to have angered X Factor boss Simon Cowell, as the singer got his first break on the show. Murs initially said he was bowing out of the show to concentrate on his music.

BRAND SOCIETY EXPANDS MELBOURNE TEAM

Brand and packaging design agency Brand Society expanded the team for its Melbourne studio with the hire of Saurabh Singh as Client Services Director.

He spent seven years as Holmes & Marchant in Singapore, most recently as Group Account Director for the Asia-Pacific.