Musical Chairs: October 27

ONE-TIME EMI AUSTRALIA EXEC PIDAL HEADS TO W/C SPAIN

Santiago Menéndez-Pidal(Pictured) has been named MD of Warner/Chappell in Spain. He is known in Australia from when he was MD of EMI Music Publishing Australia and New Zealand where he signed Jimmy Barnes, Joel Little, Ladyhawke, The Presets and the DNA production team.

Pidal had earlier before MD of EMI publishing operations in Spain and Portugal.

After ANZ he moved to Sony Music Spain, where he served as A&R Director for the last four years.

NEW PD FOR NOVA 96.9

Nova 96.9 promoted Ben Latimer to Program Director. He joined the station in July asas Sarah McGilvray prepared to go on maternity leave in November.

But after McGilvray resigned from the position for an on-airgig with Fitzy & Wippa when she returns, in 2018, “Ben was the right person for the position,” Peter Clay, Head of Programming Nova 96.9 & smoothfm network said.

96FM DROPS CARMEN & FITZI

96FM has dropped Carmen Braidwood and Brad Fitzgerald from the Carmen & Fitzi Breakfast Show after lackluster ratings, clearing the decks for the return of Paul Hogan and Lisa Fernandez in 2018.

The two were part of the Lisa, Paul and Basil Zempilas show on 92.9 six years ago which also suffered a low listenership.

Fernandez will continue to be a presenter on Nine while Hogan returns to Perth with his partner Melissa Ellard who’s about to give birth to their first child.

ARCADE FIRE SPLIT FROM MANAGER

Arcade Fire has parted from their manager of 12 years, Scott Rodger of Maverick Management, whom they describe as. “an amazing shepherd and a true friend.”

The award-winning Rodger in turn said of the Canadian band which had a #1 album in August with Everything Now, “It’s been the greatest pleasure of my professional career working and collaborating with Arcade Fire and everyone on their team.

“They are by far the most important band of their generation and have produced some of the most inspiring music of any time.”

Rodger will continue to manage Paul McCartney and Shania Twain.

PANDORA’S FREEL MOVES TOUNLTD

Chris Freel, who headed the commercial operations of Pandora Australia & New Zealand until it closed in June, is now CEO of media industry foundation UnLtd. $100 million in cash to its charity partners.

MAJOR CHANGES AT WARNER MUSIC GROUP

Warner Music Group has seen changes in its executive team around the world.

Mark Baker joined as VP, Public Policy and Government Affairs based in New York. For the past 15 years, he has worked at beverage company Diageo in the US and Europe, most recently serving as Director, Global Trade and Regulatory Affairs.

Helen McLaughlin is new MD of Warner Music Sweden, from January 1 coming from Sony Music Sweden, where she was Head of A&R for the last six years.

VP of Global Playlists Strategy & Curation, Warner Music Kieron Donoghue, who founded its in-house streaming playlist brand Topsify and its streaming-focused label Artists To Watch, is leaving after three years. Warner bought his UK start up Playlists.net in 2014.

Magnus Ribbeklint, GM of Warner Music Sweden, moves to London in January to take over as GM of Atlantic Records UK.

Alfonso Perez-Soto, tech-savvy SVP of Business Development for Latin America, Spain and emerging markets, is promoted to the new global role of SVP of Global Business Development and Chief Commercial Officer

ADELAIDE FESTIVAL EXTENDS AD ROLES TO 2012

Following the revenue ($4 million) and attendance breaking of their first Adelaide Festival this year, the South Australian Government extended the contracts of Artistic Directors Neil Armfield and Rachel Healy to 2021.

They equal the length of tenure of Anthony Steel, and pass that of David Sefton’s.

KIM NORMAN RETURNS TO SCA

Kim Norman returns to Southern Cross Austereo, on December 12 as Sales Director of its podcast network, PodcastOne Australia.

She worked at the broadcaster in a sales role, before stints at SBS and most recently at Adshel, where she was State Sales Manager for NSW and ACT for near 3 ½ years.

ERIC MACKAY NEW GLOBAL DIGITAL BOSS AT WARNER/ CHAPPELL

Warner/Chappell Music promoted Eric Mackay to Executive Vice President, Global Digital Strategy.

From his base in London, he will lead the publisher’s global digital strategy, as well as overseeing its relationships with major streaming services and app developers.

Starting out in 2015 as Head of Digital, Europe, Mackay was within a year also put in charge of digital initiatives in Middle East & Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

GLENN HARTAS HEADS TO TASNANIA

Glenn Hartas has moved to Tasmania as Music Director and drive announcer at LAFM Launceston from Gladstone, Queensland, where he was GM of 91.9 Fresh FM.

ABC’S MARGARET THORSBY HOSTS LAST SHOW

Margaret Throsby hosts her final ABC Classic FM program Saturday Morning Program tomorrow, interviewing composer Nigel Westlake between 9 am and noon.

The show launched in January, replacing The Midday Interview Program which she hosted for 22 years, and will not return.

According to the ABC, she will remain with the broadcaster, introducing is classical concerts and next year beginning a new role where she will use the skills and experience gained throughout her 50-year media career “to support and mentor the next generation of ABC broadcasters and content-makers.:

COLUMBIA PROMOTES STEPHEN RUSSO

Columbia Records promoted Chief Financial Officer Stephen Russo to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

He will continue to oversee the Sony Music imprint’s finance and operations, marketing financial planning, release planning, touring & events, and digital production functions.

CHANGE A TOP FOR HULU

US movie and TV streaming service Hulu has had a change of CEO. Mike Hopkins is heading to Sony Pictures Television as Chairman from late November, with his role taken over by Randy Freer, President and COO of the Fox Networks Group.

NEW HIRES AT THRIVE PR

Thrive PR announced two changes. Clare Basire comes from Adhesive PR as a Business Director at the Sydney office, and Mark Detre (ex-PPR) has joined the Melbourne team as a Senior Account Director.

NEW CEO FOR FILM VICTORIA

Film Victoria’s new CEO is confirmed to be Caroline Pitcher replacing Jenni Tosi whose last day is December 31.

Pitcher, who is on the FV board, is currently GM Commercial and Public Engagement at Federation Square and was previously CEO of Ausfilm and GM of the Melbourne Film Office.

NEW NAME AT HOTTOMATO AS BARTLETT RETIRES

The Gold Coast’s newsroom will now be headed by Matt McDonald as Tony Bartlett‘ heads for retirement.

McDonald has worked in the news rooms at Sky News Australia, 2UE and 2DayFM/Triple M Sydney, as well as Nova and Vega.

NEW EDITOR FOR GQ

Amidst a number of divisional changes, GQ has announced its new Editor as Michael Christensen, one time Chief Sub-Editor and Managing Editor.

His predecessor Matthew Drummond left in early 2016, during which time Nick Smith, parent company News Corp’s Director of Prestige and Lifestyle, had his hand on the steering wheel.

MASTER P NAMED PRESIDENT OF CINQ MUSIC

‘90s rapper Master P (‘Ice Cream Man’, ‘Make Em Say Uhh’) who went on to set up highly successful hip hop label No Limit Records (sales of 75 million) has joined technology driven record label, distribution, and rights management company Cinq Music as President Of Urban Music.

NEW APAC MD FOR APP ANNIE

App market data and analytics company App Annie announced Cindy Deng as its new Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.