Musical Chairs: October 7

Columbia President Ashley Newton for Capitol?

Outgoing Columbia Records President Ashley Newton is heading for Capitol Music Group. Sources told Billboard that he is to take over as its President, and also hold the role of EVP of Creative/Special Projects for Universal Music Group. Newton and CMG Chairman Steve Barnett worked together at Sony Music. Newton got his start at Island Records under Chris Blackwell, and at A&R roles at RCA and Virgin Records UK worked with Daft Punk and Pharrell Williams.

UMG promotes Nicola Levy

Universal Music Group promoted Nicola Levy from its London office to the Santa Monica-based role of Global Head of Business Affairs, Digital. In the pas nine years, she worked in the label’s global digital business division.

2DAY FM Hit 104.1 taps Rove, moves Dan & Maz

Southern Cross Austereo yesterday confirmed it has brought in high profile Rove McManus on a three-year contract to helm 2DAY FM Hit 104.1’s struggling breakfast slot. SCA shares rose 10% after rumours spread through Sydney’s radio circles of his appointment this week.

Dan & Maz (Dan Debuf and Maz Compton), whose lacklustre ratings last saw them at 3.1%, are relinquished to weekends breakfast.

As part of his SCA deal, McManus collects 350,000 worth of shares every six months, the first on January 2.

SCA’s Executive Director of Metro Operations, Guy Dobson, bragged, “Sydney needs a big show, with a big name and it doesn’t get much bigger than Rove.” Big plans for the show are to be announced over coming weeks.

2DAY FM Hit 104.1’s breakfast slot has been in trouble since Kyle & Jackie O’s departure in early 2014. The Sophie Monk, Jules Lund and Merrick Watts team was replaced early this year by Debuf and Compton. McManus’ live to air and cable TV forays have struck a chord with mainstream audiences.

Jack Dorsey becomes Twitter CEO again

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has become its CEO again. He was the original CEO when he co-founded the San Francisco based firm in 2006. But he was ousted two years later in a coup led by another co-founder, Evan Williams. Dorsey was asked back on a temporary basis when CEO Dick Costolo stepped down in June. He’s been asked to stay on permanently and with revenue chief Adam Bain as new COO.

[V]’sWalford launches own show

Carissa Walford, a presenter at Channel [V] since February 2013 has ticked off another box on her want-to list. She host her own show [V] Trending from this weekend. “Woooh, pretty pumped!” she posted. The weekly pop culture fix covers music, fashion, gaming and food, and interviews with its celebrities.

Ducrou, Piticco, to curate in the Domain

Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco, whose Secret Sounds runs Splendour In the Grass and three Falls Festivals, will also be curating Fairfax Media’s Spectrum Now 2016’s Big Top program March 3 and 13. They will book the acts for the 2500-capacity venue in Sydney’s Domain, to be announced next month.

ARN’s Emotive announces Partnerships & Audience Manager

Emotive, the content marketing business set up by Australian Radio Network in February, tapped Nicole Thomas for the newly-created role of Partnerships & Audience Manager. Four years at Boom, Thomas will manage critical amplification functions across client campaigns and projects.

Temporary host change at PM

Award winner Tim Palmer takes over as host on ABC Radio’s weekday current affairs show PM during Mark Colvin’s long service leave until end of January.

NZ musicians, exec, tapped for new School of Music

Massey University’s new School of Music tapped members of the NZ music industry for its Bachelor of Commercial Music degree, to be announced tonight (Wednesday Oct 7). Designed for the digital and global thinking creative, tutors include Associate Prof Andre Ktor (one time Warner Music act and a BAFTA winner for interactive enhanced music), Trinity Roots’ Warren Maxwell, Shapeshifter’s Devin Abrams and former Sony Music and BMG Music Marketing & Label Director Nicky Harrop.

The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards is offering a scholarship worth $22,500 over three years to a student.

Vevo, MTV sales head David Kohl joins High Times

One time MTV and Vevo head sales executive David Kohl joined marijuana enthusiasts’ magazine High Times as CEO. High Times has tripled its earnings and its website gets 1.5 million unique visitors a month.

Alice Cooper at Triple M

Alice Cooper’s hard rock celebrity guest studded radio show Nights with Alice Cooper is now heard on Triple M Adelaide and Triple M Classic Rock Digital.

Another Aussie joins BBC Worldwide

BBC Worldwide’s new London-based Chief Marketing Officer is Jaclyn Lee-Joe who began her career at Ansett Airlines and Virgin Mobile Australia. She moved to Europe for executive positions at Skype and Orange.

Bob Hurwitz steps down at Nonesuch Records

Bob Hurwitz steps down from his day-to-day duties of President of the Warner Music Group’s Nonesuch Records, a role he’s had since 1984. He becomes Chairman Emeritus in January 2017 and remains involved as an A&R consultant.

Nonesuch signings include The Black Keys, Fatboy Slim, David Byrne, Devendra Banhart, Laurie Anderson, Bjork, Joshua Redman, Brian Wilson, Brian Eno, Youssou N’Dour, Billy Bragg, T-Bone Burnett and Guy Clark.

Arts Access loses Program Officer

Arts Access Australia (AAA), peak national body for arts and disability, has lost Program Officer, Caitlin Mcmorrow, who found a job outside the industry. AAA blamed the confusion surrounding arts funding under the Abbott government for its decision to postpone its annual Meeting Place conference which was to have been held in Adelaide on October 23 with 200 attendees.

Rod Brice heads for Sunshine Coast role

Rod Brice returns to radio on October 12, as Content Director at Sunshine Coast Broadcasters’ 919 Sea FM and 92.7 MIX FM. The stations are the two top rating stations on the Sunshine Coast, SCB’s GM John Williams pointed out. Brice was at SCA, as Group Content Director and Regional Research and Operations Manager, until he left two years ago. He ran his own programming, research and consulting business, with 919 Sea FM and 92.7 MIX FM among his clients.

7digital promotes Langworthy

UK based digital music and radio services platform 7Digital promoted VP of Operations Paul Langworthy to Chief Operations Officer. Before joining the firm in April 2013, he worked at Universal Music Group’s digital strategies section.

Mandy Coolen exits Star 104.5

Mandy Coolen left Star 104.5 NSW Central Coast after eight years. She hosted drive and breakfast, and was nominated for Best On Air Team at this year’s ACRAs for her work with Craig Annis.

Promotions at ADA

Warner Music Group’s global independent distribution and services arm – it works with Australian labels as Perth’s Spinning Top – promoted Kenny Weagly to President of A&R and Label Services and David Orleans to President of Sales and Label Management.

Burke exits Nova 937 Perth

After five years reading news at breakfast, Maddie Burke left Nova 937 Perth.

Marketing, sales, changes at LG Australia

LG Australia’s new GM of Marketing is Angus Jones, most recently Global Marketing Director at Dell. He replaces Lambro Skropidis who exited some months back. Last week Michael Doyle quit as GM of Sales.

UMP elevates senior A&R staff

Universal Music Publishing announced three promotions for its UK A&R team. Caroline Elleray is VP of A&R, Frank Tope is Senior Director of A&R and Mark Gale is Director of UK A&R and Director of International A&R. The three collectively signed Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Florence + The Machine, Haim, The xx, Chvrches and James Blake.