Musical Chairs: Two entertainment lawyers merge; Hamish & Andy expands to NZ; Tatiana Marchant hops on CMC Rocks; Luke Penman leaving Music SA

Ryan Wilson new EDM contact at Sony Music

DJ and producer Ryan Wilson is new Director, Electronic Music, at Sony Music Entertainment Australia. He replaces Jon Hanlon who is concentrating on his business interests. Wilson was most recently National & International, Marketing & Promotions Manager for onelove where he was also heavily involved in A&R across numerous projects.

Wilson started out in Adelaide. From 2005 to 2011, he was Music Director at 24-hour community dance station Fresh 92.7. He also produces and hosts Release, the longest running EDM radio show in Australia (currently at Episode 754). He was also awarded South Australian DJ of The Year for three consecutive years. His most recent remix work is Belgian producer A.N.D.Y.’s Chemicals ft Vanya Taylor (Reelax Remix) for Sony Belgium / Epic Amsterdam.

Paul O’Gorman joins GI & Sanicki Lawyers

Entertainment lawyers Darren Sanicki and Paul O’Gorman merged their firms GI & Sanicki Lawyers and Paul O’Gorman Entertainment Lawyers. The two have extensively represented artists, managers, publishers, authors, producers, labels and festivals. Gorman, whom Sanicki hails as “a great mentor of mine”, says that Sanicki “has a commercial and litigation arm to his practice which I didn’t have, so now being able to offer a range of services to my clients is a real bonus.” O’Gorman works out of GI & Sanicki Lawyers’ Prahran, Melbourne, offices.

Tatiana Marchant hops on CMC Rocks Qld team

Rob Potts Entertainment Edge and Chugg Entertainment appointed Tatiana Marchant from Estellar Publicity + Promotions as National Publicist for the 2016 CMC Rocks Qld festival. Potts cited “her passion for the event and the country genre” for the appointment.

Marchant takes over from Kerry Roberts, who held that role since CMC Rocks began in the Snowys in 2008, and now is refocussing on artist management. The two first worked together on Roberts’ artists when Marchant was at Sony Music, and will jointly collaborate in a transition period with the festival about to announce details of the 2016 event.

Hamish & Andy expands to NZ

ZM in New Zealand will broadcast a one-hour Hamish & Andy show between 5 and 6am each weekday. Chief Content Officer for NZME, Gemma Fordham, pointed out, “Hamish and Andy continue to be one of the top-charted podcasts by Kiwis, so we know there is a massive loyal audience that exists.”

Rupert Myer contract extended at Aus Council

Acting Minister for the Arts Warren Truss announced ​that Rupert Myer will continue as Chair at Australia Council. But no word yet on Vice Chair Robyn Archer, whose three year term also expired on July 1.

Universal MPG expands global income tracking and analytics

Universal Music Publishing Group promoted Randi Olsen to global SVP, Income Tracking and Analytics. She was VP of Income Tracking for North America. Based at UMPG’s headquarters in Santa Monica, California, she will expand the department’s operational scope to provide UMPG writers with key analytic insights related to its global income streams.

Luke Penman leaving Music SA

Luke Penman is leaving Music SA where he developed the Gig Guide and Scene Buzz of the Adelaide-based association’s website. He is temporarily expanding his roles at Radio Adelaide, where he is Music Resources Coordinator and presents the Local Noise show. He is replaced by Tom Gaffney who plays in the band Animal Shadows, promotes EDM showcase Futuresounds and writes reviews for the Music SA site and BSide magazine.

Recent new faces at Music SA include Koral Chandler as Publicist, Gareth Wilkes as Business Manager, BPD Agency’s Ryan Winter who is “spearheading an important project to help navigate legislation concerning the live music at local venues”, and Emma Coyle as Industry Development Manager.

Award winning Garry Dean now CD at Nova 93.7

Award-winning Garry Dean is new Creative Director for Nova 93.7 Perth. Dean’s work has been acknowledged at ACRA, Siren and New York Festivals International Advertising Awards wins. Dean said, “My mission has always been to make the ad break more entertaining than the rest of the station. That’s going to be a real challenge here at Nova, and I’m ready for anything … except wearing that Nova Boy suit.”

Double promotion at Capitol in digital marketing

Capitol Music Group promoted Meredith Gardner and Josh Kahn to VPs of Digital Marketing & Product. They will lead its digital strategy and work within the digital space for CMG labels, including Capitol, Virgin, Blue Note, Motown, Harvest and Astralwerks.

Maureen Wheeler appointed Melbourne Festival President

Maureen Wheeler, co-founder of publisher The Lonely Planet and philanthropist, is new President of the Melbourne Festival board. She succeeds Linda Dessau AM who is now Victoria’s first female Governor. Wheeler is on the board of the Melbourne Theatre Co. and previously on the board of Opera Melbourne.

Kim Williams to chair Copyright Agency

Kim Williams, a Board Director of the Copyright Agency is its Chairman. Sandy Grant who had the role for five years, remains on the board. Williams was CEO at Foxtel, NewsCorp Australia, Fox Studios Australia, The Australian Film Commission, Southern Star Entertainment and Musica Viva Australia.

ACT Fringe extends Chenoeh Miller contract

Chenoeh Miller, who produced this year’s ACT Fringe Festival, was reappointed as the event producer in 2016 and 2017. Minister for the Arts Joy Burch attributed Miller’s reappointment to her “ability to produce a successful festival and … strong connections to the ACT arts community.”

Mike Goldman fills in at 919 SEA

From this week, Big Brother voice Mike Goldman fills in at 919 SEA FM Sunshine Coast from 6am to 9am for three weeks while BarRat is away on parental leave.

First woman Chair for Stadiums Queensland

The new Stadium Queensland board has its first woman Chair, Sophie Devitt, who has served eight years as a Director. Also for the first time, four of the board’s six positions are filled by women. From 260 applications, chosen were Victoria Carthew, Christopher Johnson, Sandra Deane, Samantha Carroll and Michael Cottier. Stadiums Queensland oversees nine stadiums include Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Suncorp Stadium, Metricon Stadium and Townsville’s 1300 Smiles Stadium where concerts are staged.

Rob Doorey exits C91.3

After 14 years at C91.3. Campbelltown’s Rob Doorey took a redundancy package. He was most recently its afternoon presenter, after helming the breakfast, morning and drive shifts.

Ten Days festival loses Marcus Barker

Tasmania’s Ten Days festival is losing Executive Director and producer Marcus Barker, who after eight years, is moving to NSW to join the Sydney International Piano Competition.

New voice for ARN Adelaide news

Jenna Crowther takes over afternoon news for ARN Adelaide on Mix 102.3 and Cruise 1323 while Kerrie Turner is on maternity leave.

Pandora acquisition

Pandora appointed Shamal Ranasinghe as VP of Music Maker Product Management.

BMG loses COO

BMG Group Chief Operating Officer John Dobinson exited the company.

New ASCAP executives

ASCAP elevated Colleen McDonough to Executive Director, replacing Karen Sherry, who retired after 17 years in the role. Lauren Iossa is now EVP, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer.

Kerry Peck retires

Bathurst Broadcasters threw a farewell for Kerry 'Pecky' Peck who retired from the game after 30 years. He hosted the weekday breakfast show until 2011, and returned to helm weekend breakfast after a health issue. He was an enthusiastic fund raiser for community initiatives as Daffodil Cottage and the local S.E.C.