Musical Chairs: Seven figure sum for Mel B; Songl’s Mark Shaw heads to AdMaxim; Higgins departs Triple M; Gary Gersh joins AEG Live

Seven figure sum for Mel B

After impressingSimon Cowellwith her judging onX-Factor UK,Mel Bis also returning toAmerica’s Got Talentfor a rumoured seven-figure sum.

Songl’s Mark Shaw heads to AdMaxim

Mark Shaw, former CEO of defunct Australian music streaming Songl, will head the Sydney offices of mobile advertising agency AdMaxim and spearhead its expansion into Asia. Shaw oversaw Digital Music Distribution, of parent company of Songl which Sony Music, Universal Music and Southern Cross Austereo operated for two years until it closed in September 2014.

Luke Woods joins Rdio

Ex-Communications Manager atARIALuke Woods is joining Rdio Australiaas Marketing Manager on a contract. He will work from the streaming service's Surry Hills office in Sydney.

Dave Higgins departs Triple M

Long time Triple M Melbourne presenter Dave Higgins has left, he confirmed on Twitter. He covered virtually all the time slots on the station, including the nationally syndicated 90's & New Rock At Night.

Emma Freedman scooped up for SCA’s Scoopla

Former Nine Network’s Emma Freedman is co-host of Southern Cross Austereo’s new nightly show Scoopla on the Hit Network, with Jules Lund. The one-hour show covers pop culture and entertainment aimed at females under 40 and aired on 31 stations across the country.

Gary Gersh joins AEG Live

Just a month after closing his management firm The Artist Organisation, Gary Gersh joined the second largest concert promoter world, AEG Live, in the newly created position of President of Global Talent. He’ll work to foster closer relationships between artists, managers and agencies through 15 AEG offices around the world. Gersh is a long time record label exec (heading Geffen and Capitol) producer and manager working with the likes of Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, Everlast, Counting Crows and Guns N’Roses.

New owners for Bateman’s Bay’s Bayview

The Bayview Hotel in Bateman’s Bay, NSW has changed hands. Peter and Sally Ratcliffe took over from Michael O’Brien. They are in the process of trying to reinstate live music on Saturday nights after it was barred last September following complaints. A petition has gathered 1500 signatures.

Dan Hill shifts to SEA FM

After 18 months working digital content for FOX Melbourne, Dan Hill begins on February 16 as Music Director and Mornings host at SEA FM Gold Coast.

New host for HomeBrew

Jenny O’Keefe, who presented PBS FM Melbourne’s Homebrew program is 2015 host for Community Radio Network’s ten-year-old weekly all-Australian music show HomeBrew. It began on Sydney’s Triple H FM Hornsby and is now heard on 45 stations around the country.

Change of publicist at 123

The 123 Agency in Melbourne has had a change of publicist, with Ash Bartlett taking over from Mads O'Gorman

Bryce Ruthven joins Hitz 939 Bundaberg

Bryce Ruthven joins Hitz 939 Bundaberg as breakfast co-host with Tracey Sergiacomi after stints in Rockhampton, Gold Coast and Gippsland, Vic.

Beyond Distribution finds new Head of Acquisitions

Australian/UK company Beyond’s sales division Beyond Distribution has a new London-based Head of Acquisitions in Caitlin Meek-O’Connor. Replacing Yvonne Body who retired, her brief is to build up Beyond’s library of international distribution rights from third-party producers. Beyond’s catalogue includes Mythbusters, Highway Thru Hell and Love It Or List It.

Tasmanian Regional Arts appoints new CEO

Adelaide-born Alison Copley has begun as CEO of Tasmanian Regional Arts (TRA). Her past track record in Far North Queensland (CEO of the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair) and Northern Territory (Marketing Manager Top End Arts Marketing in Darwin) gave her experience “in the promotion and presentation of arts in a regional context,” said President Sue Baker, as well as in “TRA’s key program areas including community arts and cultural development.”

Music video director lands Singapore marketing head role

Jonathan Gerard, who directed music videos in New Zealand for acts as Mint Chicks before moving into marketing, is new Head of Production for Lowe agency in Singapore handling regional, local and global partner brands.

Jazztrack moved to ABC Jazz

In a restructure by ABC Classic FM Mal Stanley’s weekend evenings Jazztrack is moved to the digital channel ABC Jazz while the Jazz Up Late program is axed. In its new home, Jazztrack joins Jazz with Jessica Nicholas, Thursday Night Live, History of Jazz, Talking Jazz and Feature Album.

Changes at RCS NZ

RCS New Zealand announced its new Managing Director is UK-based Max Davies who will relocate to Christchurch, while International Support Manager George Nell has become Operations Manager.

David Born sets up clip licensing agency

David Born, who worked at studios in A/NZ, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, set up Australia’s first clip licensing agency, Born Licensing, in Melbourne. It will focus on clip licensing for advertising purposes, initially for the Australian and NZ markets.

New MD for Bang PR

Sydney-based Bang PR, whose clients include Universal, Sony, Vivid Festival and Luna Park, has brought in Annalise Brown (ex- Porter Novelli) as new Managing Director, replacing founder Narelle Craig who left last month.

Alvaro Marquez at ABC Innovation

Alvaro Marquez fills ABC Innovation’s newly created position of Head of Service Design. Ahead of its move into the ABC Digital Network.