Musical Chairs: October 26
SONY/ATV PROMOTES BRIAN MONACO
Sony/ATV Music Publishing promoted Brian Monaco to the expanded role of President, Global Chief Marketing Officer. Based in New York, under his guidance, the company enjoyed a double-digit growth with syncs. Monaco’s expanded role sees him develop business opportunities in growing music regions around the globe, including China.
These included Sony/ATV securing the most spots for a publisher during the Super Bowl 50, licensing Beatles songs to Netflix’s children’s animated series Beat Bugs, the first-ever placement of a Beatles song (Hey Jude) in a Chinese movie (Yesterday Once More) and 19 songs in upcoming Universal Pictures animated comedy Sing.
TWITTER SACKS NEW EXEC AFTER 48 HOURS
Twitter sacked its new Head of VR Greg Gopman, 48 hours after announcing his appointment. Seems TechCrunch did a background look at Gopman, founder of AngelHack, and unearthed a Facebook rant from 2013 where he dissed San Francisco’s “crazy, homeless, drug dealers, dropouts, and trash.”
PANDORA HIRES GROUP MARKETING DIRECTOR
EX-Presto managing Director Sally Kiernan has been appointed Pandora Australia’s group marketing director.Kiernan replaces Nicole McInnes, who left the business in May to take up a role at eHarmony.
The appointment comes as Pandora ramps up its prodoct offering. The internet radio giant will soon have three tiers: its$5 per month Pandora Plus, a $10 per month subscription service to rival Spotify, and the free ad-supported version.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR FOR UMPG
Universal Music Publishing Group (UPMG) appointed Jake Simon as Director of Creative. He held that position at Atlas Music Publishing (working with acts as Toby Gad, Makeba Riddick, Best Kept Secret, Major Myja and Mike & Keys) and before that was Associate Director of Writer/Publisher Relations at Broadcast Music International (BMI).
BRAD McNALLY LEAVES HOT TOMATO
Hot Tomato’s Content Director Brad McNally has resigned, leaving the Gold Coast to return to Perth to focus on his health after major brain surgery in July.
He said, “My wife and I have long dreamed to travel to Italy and France and live like locals. It will have to be in short bursts, though, as I prepare to become a first-time grandfather. And of course, I have my next marathon to train for!”
ARIA’S ROSEN ON NEW COMMITTEE TO DRIVE NSW ARTS
The Australian Recording Industry Association’s (ARIA) Chief Executive Dan Rosen is one of 15 arts/music industry execs, business heads and philanthropists who’re in a new committee set up by the NSW Government to drive the state’s cultural policy. Tired of arts bureaucrats being “reactive rather than proactive,” it wants to make the state-funded arts sector more entrepreneurial. The Government has merged Arts NSW and Screen NSW into one agency, the Office of Culture, Arts and Screen.
Other names on the committee include Sydney Festival Artistic Director Wesley Enoch, Carriageworks chairwoman Sam Mostyn, former arts minister and current State Library chairman George Souris, Campbelltown Arts Centre Director Michael Dagostino, Northern Rivers Screenworks GM Ken Crouch as well as high profiles as Gretel Packer, David Gonski, John Kaldor, investment banker and chairman of the Museum of Contemporary Art Simon Mordant, Macquarie Bank CEO Nicholas Moore (Sydney Opera House chairman), Telstra chairwoman Catherine Livingstone (Sydney Museum) and Western Sydney University vice chancellor Barney Glover (Powerhouse Museum).
666 ABC MOVES TCHILINGUIRAN TO BREKKIE
666 ABC Canberra has temporarily brought in Laura Tchilinguirian to replace Philip Clark on the host seat of the top rating breakfast slot from November 1 to early December. A permanent replacement for Clark will be announced then. Tchilinguirian currently presents ABC NewsRadio Evenings and been a producer and presenter at NewsRadio since 2009.
Finishing up at 666 on Friday, Clark begins his new gig in Sydney presenting Nightlife on October 31, going from “an early bird to a night owl” he quips.
KOBALT GETS NEW CHIEF FOR B2B DIVISION
Kobalt hired former BMG US President of Marketing & Creative Laurent Hubert to run the new B2B platform division of the rights management and music service company. In this new role as Los Angeles-based President, Platform and Investments, Hubert will “oversee the roll-out of Kobalt’s unique services and powerful technology advantages to other content owners,” according to a company statement.
BEAUMONT REPLACES BELL AT 6PR
After a five year break from radio, Simon Beaumont returns to the airwaves, permanently replacing Peter Bell as host of 6PR Perth’s afternoon show. Bell drove the show for three years until August, when he quit to do breakfast at ABC R720. Beaumont was previously at 6PR for five years to 2011, before taking up a senior management role at the Department of Sport and Recreation.
FEAST GM LEAVES
Cassandra Liebeknecht, who was suspended on full pay on September 16 as GM of the 20-year old queer Feast Festival, has left. In a brief statement, Feast’s board revealed: “Ms Liebeknecht resigned from Feast on October 11 to seek alternative employment.”
Liebeknecht took over the role 12 months before. She claimed she was targeted because she was straight, while other reports say the board suspended her over alleged financial “mismanagement.”
After the highly profile dust-up, the Adelaide Advertiser reported that four of the board resigned in protest. Two staffers quit. The Australian Liquor Hospitality Group withdrew sponsorship worth $40,000. Former GM of arts group Vitalstatistix, Helen Sheldon, is serving as interim GM.
QUICKFLIX FOUNDER STEPS DOWN
Quickflix founder Stephen Langsford has stepped down from the once-cash strapped company following its $1.3 million acquisition by US-based technology company Karma Media Holdings. Also exiting the building are Chief Financial Officer Simon Hodge and board Director Dave Smith.
REPUBLIC RECORDS PROMOTES GOLDSTEIN
Wendy Goldstein, Executive Vice President and Head of Urban A&R at Republic Records has been promoted to Executive Vice President of the Universal Music imprint. Goldstein was successful with album releases by Ariana Grande and The Weeknd and singles by DNCE and Hailee Steinfeld. She signed Bloodhound Gang in 1996.
GUY WILLIAMS EXITS THE EDGE
After three years, Guy Williams is leaving The Guy, Sharyn and Clint Show on The Edge in NZ, to focus on TV and some new projects. The Edge will, in the interim, fill in his vacancy by inviting listeners to register to try their hand.
SENIOR APPOINTMENTS AT PULSE
Marketing and communications agency Pulse Collective promoted veteran strategist Kirsty Angus to General Manager while multi-awards winner Ben Pearce arrives as Head of Creative and Innovation.
WOLFE AT 88.9 DOOR
Jon Wolfe heads Radio 88.9fm Tamworth’s news room, after stints at the ABC in Sydney and Perth, and Editor of Tamworth City News and the Northern Daily Leader Tamworth. He will also be producer/co-host of the 9-12 morning show The Pulse with Jodie Crosby.
Jobs
