On The Dial: Nova’s Fresh Discovery winner; Triple M launches Motley Crue support band search; Madonna addresses lack of airplay on BBC Radio 1
Ed Sheeran serenades KIIS Sydney listeners
It would be quicker to tell you which Australian radio stations Ed Sheeran hasn't done promotional activity for, than those he has, on his current Australian tour. He's pretty much been doing promo, gigs and comps all around the country.
And last week in a promotion with Kyle & Jackie and KIIS 1065, Ed was the surprise wedding singer for a Sydney couple.
In the Breakfast segment "Kyle & Jack give back" a young Sydney couple won an $80,000 wedding, which was held today. However, there was more; the couple had selected Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud as their first dance, and the twist was that Ed was there to sing it live for them as a surprise.
See the video below at the link below, and a collection of photos from the wedding.
Ed plays the hits for 2Day
And less than 24 hours after serenading two KIIS listeners, Ed Sheeran was serenading 200 or so 2Day FM listeners on the rooftop at World Square.
2Day have been giving away tickets all week to the exclusive gig, see a few pics HERE.
Nova crown winner for Nova's Fresh Discovery
Adelaide pop/rock band At Sunset have been announced as the winner of Nova's Fresh Discovery competition with Warner Music. The band has won a mentoring session with Ed Sheeran, and a record deal with Warners.
There were over 1500 artists who entered the competition, with At Sunset being declared the overall winner. It isn't the first time At Sunset have attracted commercial radio attention, they have previously received airplay on Nova, and on the Today/Hit network, although largely confined to evenings.
in 2014 they caught the ear of KIIS FM Los Angelesafter playing the Cinco Festival in LA, being interviewed by Ryan Seacrest, and subsequently daytime jock JJ on Z100 New York. In late 2014 they were selected by KIIS Sydney to support Miley Cyrus on the iHeart Music Festival (prior to it's cancellation), and in 2013 co-headlined the Teen Rush concert tour with Titanium.
Now, with the undoubted airplay support from Nova, the band should move to the next level in Australia.
Triple M launches Motley Crue support band search
Triple M will search nationally to find a support band to join the bill at their local concert; in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth. From Wednesday, bands will be able to register online and upload a song at triplem.com.au, with Triple M listeners then voting for their favourite bands.
In each market, Triple M will promo 5 bands who will compete at a local level to win the support slot for Motley Crue. There will be grand final gigs in each state at which time the winners will be announced. Motley Crue, with Alice Cooper, will be touring Australia and New Zealand from 9 May.
Madonna addresseslack of airplay on BBC Radio 1
The debate over Madonna's track Living for Loveon the high-rating CHR station BBC Radio 1has degenerated into a war of words over the last couple of weeks, with both Madonna and Radio 1 trading verbal blows.
For her part, Madonna has branded Radio 1 'discriminatory and unfair' following its refusal to play the song, saying that the decision is based on her age, rather than the quality of the song.
Radio 1's Head of Music, George Ergatoudis,has previously stated that he does not believe Madonna fits the audience requirements of Radio 1
"The BBC Trust have asked us to go after a young audience. We've got to concentrate on people aged 15-30. We have to bring our average age down. The vast majority of people who like Madonna are over 30, and frankly we've moved on from Madonna'
However, Madonna believes the lack of airplay is due to her age, rather than the song itself, saying:
'I was like 'wait a second shouldn't it be to do with whether you wrote a good, catchy pop song?' My manager said to me, 'if you're not in your twenties, it's hard. You might get your record played in your thirties. There's a handful of people who do – Pharrell got lucky. But if you're in your fifties, you can forget it'.
"Really? Is that how it's broken down? I'm so stupid. I didn't know it was anything to do with my age. I just do my work."
Rob 'Bear' Kidd, formerly of Triple M and 91.5 Melbourne, will pack his bags next week at 4CC Gladstone
Rob, who has close family in Mackay and has previously worked in the market, has hosted Breakfast on 4CC for five years.
Given the extent of networking on 4CC, and under it's previous 'Zinc' branding, he has been the 'face' of the radio station.
Meantime one half of Zinc FM Mackay's "Scotty and Beth" Breakfast Show, Beth Rep, is moving north to Cairns to Zinc FM in that market.
Beth is no doubt looking forward to a sleep-in as she takes over Afternoons.
Sia like you’ve never seen her before!
The Bended Elbow pub in Albury was recently voted as having the best rooftop beer garden in regional NSW, and as a reward was gifted a chandelier made from beer bottles.
The chandelier is apparently somewhat famous, having been used at the ARIA's for the last couple of years. So how did Star FM’s ‘Tom and Olly’ reflect and celebrate such a momentous award in the local community?
With a tribute video. A warning though, some things cannot be unseen.