The Music Network's Top 30 Under 30

07 June 2010

by Christie Eliezer

The music industry has always been a young business. Ever since that upstart Mozart began crafting symphonies at an alarmingly early age, the music industry has been propelled forward by youthful entrepreneurs, free thinkers and ambitious workers, who, through a mixture of work hard, luck and sheer ballsiness, continue to transform our ever changing industry.

What is most evident from this list is how vast the talents of those in the industry are, with most of our entrants bouncing from one field to another, proving that flexibility and forethought are key when wading your way through the sometimes murky waters of the music business. Here is our tip of the cap to those who are shaping the industry while in their twenties.

Jaddan Comerford, 26
Director, Staple Group
Coming under the spell of The Offspring’s Smash album led Jaddan Comerford to discover more punk music. Boomtown Records, set up in his basement when he was 17, was to “show people of my age what I liked and what good music they should listen to.” The Staple Group includes the Destroy All Lines tour promoter, Staple Management (The Amity Affliction, Miami Horror, Young Heretics) and street marketer, Attractive Promotions.

Nina Agzarian, 25
Producer/Presenter, Triple J’s 'House Party'
After talking herself into work experience at triple j, Nina quickly moved up the ranks. She broke rules as part of all-female DJ posse Hoops and performs as Nina Las Vegas. Heaps Decent, a project she founded in 2007 with DJs Andrew Levins and Diplo, has helped hundreds of underprivileged and Indigenous young people and emerging artists with their creativity.

Matt Gudinski, 25
Illusive label founder
At 14, Matt Gudinski ran under-18 dance parties. He began Illusive in 2003 including touring, management, merch and an urban label which signed Bliss N Eso, Lowrider and Mary Wells. Will probably get involved in father Michael’s empire. Lists among those he admires: “Irving Azoff — ruthless ‘cos he had to be, built an empire around himself, and did what he wanted to do."

Chad Gillard, 26
Head Of Touring, Future Classic
When Nathan McLay set up Future Classic in 2004, he chose Chad Gillard to run the tours. Gillard’s understanding of electro music (he runs an electro show on Sydney’s FBi) saw underground acts like Jacques Renault, Aeroplane and Holy Ghost! break into mainstream festivals and gain the support of brands such as Becks Beer.

Evan Davis, 25
Booker, Village Sounds
At 18, Evan Davis joined Harbour Agency in Sydney in the contracts department. Two years ago, Village Sounds hired him as an agent. He saw The Grates go from the Hopetoun to selling out The Enmore Theatre and worked on big events such as Splendour In The Grass and the Powderfinger and Missy Higgins tours.

Julia Wilson, 28
Owner, Rice Is Nice Records
Julia Wilson always wanted to run her own record label. After testing the market as to what worked and didn’t whilst working at Mushroom, “I realized I could do this myself”. She and her bestie, designer Ben, set up Rice Is Nice. Her acts like Richard In Your Mind, Talons, Traps and Miniature Submarines “are the types that make me think, ‘how the hell did you think of that’.”

Nick Findlay, 26
Assistant Music Director, Triple J
Nick Findlay’s elder brother was making a doco on radio stations applying for FBi’s radio licence and suggested that the 16-year old volunteer for one of these. After a day on air at Radio Dex, he was hooked. Stints at 2RRR and FBi followed, and he graduated from AFTRS. A work experience stint at triple j led to roles as researcher and producer, and he became one of the youngest to be offered his current role. He one day wants to work at the BBC.

Chris Johnson, 30
Manager, AMRAP
Chris Johnson manages the Federal government-funded AMRAP which promotes indie records to community radio. In his teens he was mixing for bands in his native Tasmania before doing degrees in audio-technology and media. He ran Hobart’s Edge Radio for five years. During that time, Edge won community station of the year, and Johnson a Tasmanian Young Achiever Award in 2006.

Woody McDonald, 25
Music Director, Meredith, Golden Plain
By 14, Woody McDonald was running punk gigs in Ballarat. A year later, he dropped out of school and headed for Melbourne. There he booked bands, was a Triple R volunteer and managed Ground Components. In 2007 he became head of programming for the Golden Plains festival. He still tours four or five overseas bands a year.

Daniel Boud, 30
Photographer
Sydney-based Daniel Boud took photos of live acts and posted them on his site boudist.com. Clients started calling. His photo of Bluejuice in their undies was on the cover of their first CD, while he also clicked his heroes Henry Rollins, Nick Cave and Iggy Pop. “It’s never just about the music,” he says, “It’s about the look and the image and the whole aesthetic.”

Nick Byrne, 26
General Manager, AIR
Nick Byrne studied classical music at college, before the Australian Independent Record Labels (AIR) hired him to help on their awards. He became Program Manager, and then GM. He’s also involved in the new association Music Victoria and the Refugee Music Project.

Susan Heymann, 30
Marketing & Promotions Manager, Chugg Entertainment
After doing work experience at promoter Chugg Entertainment, they asked her to return in 2003 for three months to help with a Robbie Williams tour; and never left. Heymann uses out-of-thebox ideas to break new acts; also last year’s Pearl Jam TV concept was highly successful. Heymann’s greatest moment, however, was Wave Aid for tsunami victims. “We worked around the clock, and by the time Silverchair came on we were exhausted. But the camaraderie was amazing.”

Briese Abbott, 25
Artist Manager, One Louder
Straight out of uni at 20, Briese Abbott co-hosted a live night before realising she preferred “the preparation, problem-solving and working with the artists.” She joined One Louder after seeing an ad, going on to work with Paul Kelly, Sarah Blasko, End Of Fashion, The Drones, Kate Miller-Heidke PVT (Pivot) and co-managing Clare Bowditch.

Kate Edwards, 29
Managing Director, Peer Group Media
Before joining entertainment marketer/ publisher Peer Group Media in January, Kate Edwards did everything from client marketing to events at Sydney Nova 96.9 for eight years. She was a house DJ, ran the Soho Lounge bar, before embarking on a marketing career with Macquarie Radio Network, and ultimately XYZ Networks. The one-time design student is doing her MBA from Charles Stuart University.

Craig Hawker, 30
VP, A&R Labels Australasia, EMI
Media-shy Craig Hawker signed Empire of the Sun and The Cat Empire who sold half a million records each, as well as Operator Please, Bob Evans, Faker and Paul Dempsey. Growing up in sleepy Cairns, the arrival of triple j opened his eyes at 14. He set up a fansite for Grinspoon and avidly dug live bands. After a move to Sydney he did work experience at Murmur Records and at 18 joined as a talent scout, his sharp ears pulling him up the ranks to the top.

Emily York, 29
Director, Penny Drop
Emily York studied film production. But music provided greater immediacy, so she did tours, first for Slingshot and then her own Penny Drop, touring locally untested acts such as Gossip, Girl Talk and Animal Collective. “It was always about working with acts that excited you,” she says. “It was never about the money or being swept up into the industry’s latest hype.”

Eliza Sarlos, 27
Creative Director, Music NSW

When not attending a NRL rugby match, Eliza Sarlos deals with the Government and the music biz, overlooking Music NSW projects including all-ages entertainment and Indigenous artist development. She plays bass, was a music writer, has hosted radio, run events, manages acts and has programmed festivals.

Andrew Levins, 25
DJ, Manager
At 16, he and some friends had their own show at a community radio station in Hornsby, Sydney. A year later he was presenting on FBi, promoting parties and working for Elefant Traks, Spunk and Popfrenzy. He also managed PVT and Muscles for a time, and now looks after Perth-based Shazam. His greatest passion is Heaps Decent, which he helped co-found, encouraging underprivileged youth to work in music and in creative fields.

Jaime Gough, 27
International Manager, Native Tongue
Jaime Gough started as intern at Melbourne management company Mayday, booking tours for the likes of Mia Dyson while doing a double degree in marketing and management. He did sync work for Mana Music, under his father Chris Gough. He signed The Getaway Plan and Oh Mercy. Currently based in London expanding the company’s international catalogues, he one day wants to return to college to study business and legal studies.

Sarah Norton, 28
Manager, WAMi festival

Sarah Norton’s work with WA’s Perth-based peak body WAM’s various initiatives led to the rise of Birds of Tokyo, Little Birdy and Karnivool. She’s manager of the WAMi conference and showcases, while in her previous role as GM of the all-ages RAMMPAAGE initative, she helped fans set up all-ages music events. 

Jamie Huber, 30
Manager, Entrepreneur
By 18, Jamie Hubert was running Perth urban magazine Hype before co-founding dance station Groove FM. After managing writer-producer Audius, Hubert moved East to expand his empire Sound Academy studios, Blind Faith Publishing and indie digital consultancy Hype 33. Audius’ involvement in hits by Delta Goodrem and Jessica Mauboy put them in the mainstream.

Chris Chow, 30
Entertainment Lawyer
Chris Chow began as an opera singer. A switch to law was driven by an interest in copyright and the entertainment industry. Work experience at Sydney’s Simpsons Solicitor led to full time work there by the age of 24. Chow hosts entertainment and legal networking breakfasts and still persues his singing career. Lawyers? He’s a good one!

Jolie Hertzberg, 25
Music Coordinator, Surfers Paradise Festival
After graduating in law and psychology, Jolie Hertzberg showcases Gold Coast talent as music coordinator for the Surfers Paradise and Wonderland Festivals. She is a board member of the Gold Coast Music Industry Association, runs Lovebeat which hosts gigs and events and heads the Crossing Divides, which helps 16-25 year olds with disabilities express themselves through music.

Jai Al-Attas, 26
Founder, One
At 16, Jai Al-Attas and some friends set up Below Par Records, inspired by ‘90s indie labels Epitaph and Sub Pop. Their success stories included Kisschasy (“I always wanted a gold record by the time I was 21”) and Something With Numbers. In 2009 he sold Below Par to EMI Records. After a stint in LA making a documentary about ‘90s punk, he started One, in which he consults with indie acts about creatively marketing themselves.

Dom Alessio, 26
Presenter, Home & Hosed, triple j
While studying psychology at the University of Wollongong, Dom Alessio did CD reviews for the student paper, before scoring a role at Sydney’s Hotpress. By 20, he became deputy editor of The Brag,and later hosted the Bridge show on FBi, and set up the Who the Bloody Hell Are They blog . These days he concentrates on his triple j duties.

Chris Wirasinha, 27
Co-Founder, Pedestrian TV
UK-born Chris Wirasinha set up plasterzine Pedestrian TV with Oscar Martin five years ago; first as a ad-paid giveaway DVD magazine then a website covering music, fashion, art and design. It took creatives to a wider audience (150,000 viewers a month) in a pre-YouTube world. It has 10 full time staff and consults with brands such as Absolut Vodka, Sportsgirl, Smirnoff, Telstra, Optus and Nokia.

Dane Hunnerup, 30
Musician, Manager, Arts Worker
In Tasmania, Dane Hunnerup co-ordinates the Amplified awards and conference, is Project Officer for the peak body Contemporary Music Services Tasmania, writes for the local street paper while editing his own mag Pimps, and runs his own entertainment company. He started out in theatre and musicals, promoting shows while studying at the Conservatorium.

Marc Mancini, 29
Director, AAA Entertainment
Marc Mancini’s Brisbane-based AAA Entertainment covers artist management, marketing and publicity, and managing websites such as AccessAllAreas.net.au. In 2005 he set up AAA, promoting Avalon Drive, Finbah, The Bloodpoets and Repeat Offender. He bought publicity company Australian Music Biz two years later. He works closely with promoter QLive and wants to branch into television.

Jonathan Zawada, 29
Graphic Designer and Illustrator
Sydney designer Jonathan Zawada quit a design degree for a job at a website company. The Presets asked him to design their website. This led to CD covers and posters for other Modular artists (including the “M is for Modular” magazine in 2006) as well as Ministry of Sound, designer Tina Kalivas, Coca Cola, BMW, Ksubi, and General Pants.

Stephen Green, 29
Director, Stephen Green Consulting
At 13 Stephen Green was writing CD reviews for local papers, two years later working in a record store taught him “people buy the same CD for many different reasons.” His promo company Australian Music Biz was behind the rise of The Butterfly Effect and Epicure.