Industrial Strength: November 30

30 November 2011

by Christie Eliezer

Virgin excess baggage deal for musos kicks in…

The deal struck in September by the Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN) and Virgin Australia over excess baggage allowance for musicians has now kicked in. According to Virgin, it only applies to Q Music, MusicNSW, Music Victoria, Contemporary Music Services Tasmania, WAM, Music NT, the Association of Artist Managers, AIR, APRA, AMCOS, Live Performance Australia, the Musicians Union of Australia, the Country Music Association of Australia and Folk Alliance members. Some are offering short-term incentives for musicians to join, to take advantage of the baggage allowance.

Virgin’s offer is 32kg (across three pieces of checked baggage) for each artist, with an additional 32kg able to be purchased in advance for $15. Bands can ‘pool’ their baggage allowance across their travelling group. This is available on Virgin Australia-owned and operated domestic services only and to be bought at least 48 hours prior to departure. For full details on which travel agents to book through, see www.virginaustralia.com/baggage.

…but some Qantas staffers are dills

Qantas last year amended its carry-on baggage policy for musical instruments, so that musos could carry their instrument in its hard-shell case provided it does not exceed 130cm linear dimensions or weigh more than 7kg. But the Canberra Times reported that its airline staff in Canberra forced a 19^th century Italian-made Degani violin worth over $200,000 to be flown to Brisbane without its protective cover. Tor Fromyhr, senior lecturer in violin and viola at the ANU School of Music, said he had to put it on the floor between his legs during take-off and landing. It had been OK’d by check-in staff but stopped at the plane. When Fromyhr returned to Canberra there were no objections from airline staff: violin and case fitted into the overhead locker.

Canberra gets music association

Canberra finally has its own music association Music ACT (MusicAct.com.au) to develop its original scene and lobby the ACT government. President is Gil Miller (info@musicACT.com.au) and spokesperson is Peter Bayliss (pete@musicact.com.au), postal address is PO Box 713, Civic Square, ACT 2608. It received $10,800 from the ACT Arts Fund to start music business workshops. It has started a survey of Canberra venues on increasing gigs and tackle issues such as noise complaints.

Changes announced for country music awards

Country music’s Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth will add two new categories from January 2013. Members of the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) voted to introduce the Alternative Country Album of the Year, so that alt-country artists who stylistically outside country mainstream (like Kevin Bennett, Lou Bradley and Karl Broadie) could be recognized. The new Top Selling International Album will be decided by Australian sales and “aims at recognising significant achievements by an international artist in Australia and encouraging interaction with country music communities in other territories.” In other changes, nominees can enter digital-only releases. Album Of The Year will now be judged online by the 40-member judging panel and CMAA members. More changes, see www.country.com.au.

Meantime the launch in Sydney (and streamed to Tamworth) of the 40^th anniversary festival next year also unveiled the awards’ finalists. Adam Harvey led with eight, Shane Nicholson followed with seven. The generational change in Australian country music was most obvious in the Female category. Aside from Beccy Cole, the others were newcomers Kirsty Akers, Jasmine Rae, Katrina Burgoyne and Aleyce Simmonds. Long time fave Kasey Chambers didn’t make the cut but is in other categories. It was a triumph for Toyota Star Makers talent quest, which itself holds its event on Sunday January 22 during the festival: Golden Guitar nominees Lee Kernaghan, James Blundell, Keith Urban, Beccy Cole, Kirsty Akers and Luke Dickens all launched their careers as winners of the quest.

JamSpeak: new music sign language developed

An app has been developed in Australia for bands who spend hours during rehearsals and jam sessions without being able to communicate over the music. Reuben Barkley, a musician and second generation piano tuner from Lismore, NSW, devised the JamSpeak app (http://jamspeak.com/) a musical sign language that he says can be learned in a few hours. It is available as a smart phone app (iPhone, iPad, Android) and textbook (Amazon.com), and been downloaded 5,000 times in 20 countries. One fan is Grinspoon guitarist Pat Davern who says, “JamSpeak has to be the best way to communicate non-verbally in an ensemble or jamming situation. I wish it had been around when I started playing music. It would have saved hours of frustration.”

Tassie government to invest in festivals

The Tasmanian government plans to invest $460,000 in 2012 to support 100 cultural festivals and sporting events. These are estimated to inject $28.8 million into the Tasmanian economy. Ross Honeywill, chairman of Hobart's Festival of Voices estimated festivals as his, Ten Days On The Island and the experimental MONA FOMA brought in a total of $10 million. An economic study of Festival Of Voices found that it brought in $3.47 million, which drew 10,400 over ten days in mid-winter. 36% of these were from outside Tasmania (a rise from 23% the year before) and 90% of these planned to return within the next four years. Some of its workshops for next July are already sold out.

On the commercial side of things, Falls Marion Bay announced that its 10,000 three-day tickets sold out a month earlier than last year. 53% of these tickets went to fans outside the island state — no doubt because its sister festival in Lorne, Victoria, sold out in an hour. According to Falls, 48.7% of Marion Bay’s 14,000 tickets were bought by interstate and overseas fans.

Chisel join Margaret River relief; get cops in trouble

Cold Chisel are auctioning a signed Fender guitar to in support of victims of last week’s Margaret River fires which destroyed. 2000 hectares of bushland. Bids are accepted through this week, with the highest — which may be up to $25,000 — announced on Friday. Monies go to the Lord Mayors Distress Relief Fund. The band played Sandalford Estate last Saturday, at which collection tins were passed around 12,000 fans. Sandalford owners Debra and Peter Prendiville threw in $10,000. The estate is 15 kilometres away from the area affected by the fires which claimed 20 properties. The Leewin estate, which also hosts concerts, was among those which were evacuated.

Meantime, three police officers who gave the band an escort in two marked cars and a marked motorbike from the airport to the gig because they were running late, now face possible disciplinary action. A speeding camera clocked them reach up to speeds of 129 kmh in an 80 kmh zone.

Staple Group sets up in Sydney

The Staple Group has a new office in Sydney at Level 1, 100 - 104 George Street Redfern 2016. New phone # is 02 9310 1503. All its companies — Archery Club, Attractive Promotions, Destroy All Lines, Purple Sneakers, One Meaning Communicated Differently and UNFD — are now under one roof

MUSICAL CHAIRS

2UE’s McDermott heads to DMG

After three years as GM of Fairfax Media Radio’s Sydney talk station 2UE, Tim McDermott takes over in January as GM of DMG Radio’s Sydney stations Nova 96.9 and 95.3FM. He was voted Most Popular Station Manager – Metropolitan, at this year’s ACRAs. Fairfax’s acting executive chairman Michael Anderson will take on 2UE’s GM duties until a replacement is found.

Rachel Moor joins The Sound Campaign

Rachel Moor, former executive producer of Ten Network’s defunct Video Hits, joins Sydney-based entertainment-skewered branded content agency The Sound Campaign. Set up in 2007 by Jason Fielding and Sasha Morello, it created a content division this year under Bree Knight, ex-producer of Australian Idol, The Biggest Loser and MasterChef.

Pottinger joins 96FM Perth

Brad Pottinger is new AMD and night announcer at 96FM Perth. He was previously at Hot FM Bunbury.

Haug, Beaton exiting Triple J

Triple j is losing two of its long serving presenters. Andrew Haug, who presented 612 interviews for metal show The Racket over ten years, plans to spend more time with his other job as drummer for Contrive.

Rosie Beaton, who hosted Super Request show also departs next month to seek new opportunities.

Ceberano brings Bromley aboard for Adelaide Cabaret Festival

In her debut role as artistic director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Kate Ceberano appointed artist David Promley as festival designer. She wants him to enhance its performance spaces, interiors and public areas to evoke a bygone era of cabaret “and amplify the playful inquisitiveness of the performers and the artform provoking associations with vaudeville, circus, performance art and music of a different time.”

McCarthy steps down as Joy’s president

Ill-health led Melbourne gay and lesbian station Joy 94.9 FM’s president David McCarthy to step down from the role after 12 months, and take leave of absence from the station board after two years. His replacement is Breed Lewis. McCarthy will continue to present the current affairs program Saturday Magazine. The changeover was announced at Joy’s board meeting. The new board executive also comprises Alastair McKenzie (vice-president) and Nick Bassett (public officer), Jed Gilbert remains treasurer.

Wilkinson departs Nova 93.7 Perth

Richard Wilkinson who replaced Mike Cass in the program director chair at Nova 93.7 Perth in September has departed the station.

Heath, Stumm, to develop National Touring Framework

Rick Heath and Harley Stumm were appointed by the Australia Council to develop a framework for its National Touring Framework for Australian arts. The Framework aims to get more art to more audiences and to find the right ‘touring fit’ for audiences and artists. It will identify gaps, opportunities and connections to touring. Heath worked for small to medium sized arts companies as production manager, company manager and general manager. He was also a touring consultant to Arts on Tour NSW, executive director of the Australian Performing Arts Centres Association, facilitator for the $1.6 million Future Moves project and drafted the Strategic Framework for the Roadwork touring initiative. Stumm was producer at Performing Lines, where he managed the Mobile States contemporary performance touring initiative for six years. He also produced new works commissioned by Sydney and Perth Festivals, and Sydney Opera House.

Ann Morrison sells out

Melbourne PR doyen Ann Morrison sold her company Ann Morrison PR (AMPR) to her managing director Sarah Gale, and marketing agency Cassette head Charlie Goldsmith.

Changes at Original Matters

Cathy Oates’ Sydney-based Original Matters management brought in

former EMI Music and Universal executive Ben Godding as international marketing manager to oversees the careers of Darren Hayes and Angus & Julia Stone. It also moved Lucy Perrett to head of creative and digital for the world territory.

Management for Aussie rapper

US-based NSW-born songwriter and rapper Iggy Azalea is managed from this month by Interscope Records' George Robertson and Neil Jacobson.

Quincy Jones to chair Asia Academy of Music

The Asia Academy of Music Arts & Sciences appointed Grammy-winning US producer Quincy Jones chairman of its board of governors. Set up in June in Singapore as an Asia-Pacific counterpart to NARAS, the Academy includes Australia as well as China, Hong Kong, India,, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Indonesia South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Grant joins AussieTheatre.com

Former Sydney-based arts/entertainment writer and publicist Freya Grant who moved to New York to work in marketing and events, has joined the team at AussieTheatre.com as columnist reporting on Broadway activities.

Jackson to manage Carey

US producer and songwriter Randy Jackson now a judge at American Idol is in talks to take on management of Mariah Carey, Hollywood Reporter says.

Marquard joins Ten

Former Premier Media Group COO Jon Marquard joined Ten Network as commercial director and general counsel.

Hogan heads west

Paul Hogan of Triple M Melbourne will relocate to Perth to join 92.9 Perth breakfast show with Lisa Fernandez and Basil Zempilas.

TRIPPING

Is Live Nation the promoter behind the Bruce Springsteen 2012 tour of Australia, as revealed in TMN yesterday?

Contrary to rumours circulating, Sony has not signed celebrity Ruby Rose as a recording artist.

Will Big Day Out score Arena Joondalup as its WA venue?

Will Yuself Islam’s Moonshadow musical makes its world premiere in Melbourne in April?

The ad sector sniffs that the companies that have quit the 2DAY breakfast show and/or Austereo over the Kyle Sandiland meltdown will eventually return and that Sandiland’s popularity will rise because its consolidates his “bad boy” image. Nevertheless, consumers are using their spending clout to warn two other corporations, Myer and Video Ezy to also pull out or risk losing their business. Meantime, Sydney’s Girl PR has fired Goldmark Jewellers as a client after four months because it wouldn’t pull its ads off the show. It has since done so but Girl PR won’t have them back.

Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood is in Sydney to visit daughter Leah and her family, while Nick Jonas flew into the city to meet Delta Goodrem’s family.

Which ABC employee resigned after an internal investigation found he leased corporate resources at its Sydney headquarters and pocketed the income?

Which artist was getting glares from a record company’s staffers at its post-ARIA bash after he was overheard bagging the company to journalists?

NEW SIGNINGS

Universal Music Publishing adds Snob Scrilla to roster

Universal Music Publishing Group signed MC Snob Scrilla (aka Sean Ray Mullins) to a worldwide deal. Mullins co-wrote Jessica Mauboy’s 2009 multi-platinum ‘Running Back’ As part of the songwriting and production team MoreMega he co-wrote and produced Havana Brown’s multi-platinum debut ‘We Run The Night’ and Natalie Bassingthwaite’s ‘All We Have’. Calfornia-born Mullins came to Australia to attend university, during which he created the Snob Scrilla character and released his debut album Day One in 2009. His next album is out in 2012, Mullins is currently in Los Angeles working on a number of writing and production projects. “Sean is a truly gifted artist, songwriter, beat-maker and lyricis (and) we are looking forward to opening up a number of domestic and global opportunities for Sean’s song-writing” said Heath Johns, Director of A&R, Universal Music Publishing Group- Australia.

WAM brokers Chinese distribution for WA acts

West Australia’s peak music association WAM has brokered the release of nine albums by WA acts in China. It is through a partnership with German company 88tc88 (www.88tc88.com). Its distribution includes three of China’s three largest mobile phone carriers which together have 800 million customers. “This partnership deal puts WA artists right at the forefront of international music being sold into China, and represents an incredible opportunity to establish a market there,” says WAM.

The acts chosen were Jane Germain, The Panda Band, Simone Keane, Emperors, Sonny Rolfe and Friends, Walkabout Boys, Rachel and Henry Climb A Hill, Ruby Boots, and The Ghost Hotel. Twenty one acts applied; 88tc88 will offer unsuccessful applicants discounted access to a similar service, which includes web-based servicing for promotion with digital and mobile release, translating names, titles and lyrics into Chinese, also arranging the required approval by authorities for release.

Osland takes on Bill Chambers management

Will Osland has taken over management of lap steel and slide guitarist and country music performer and record producer Bill Chambers. The patriarch of the Chambers clan which includes singer songwriter Kasey (in whose band he sometimes plays) and producer Nash, his last album Drifting South explores his music roots and growing up in a tiny fishing village in South Australia. Osland is contacted at management@billchambersmusic.com.

Nine confirms The Voice judges

Nine Network announced Delta Goodrem, Keith Urban, Seal and Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden as judges / mentors of new talent show The Voice.

ABC Music teams with gospel choir

ABC Music teamed with the Melbourne Gospel Choir to release the star-studded Freedom, supported and promoted by World Vision Australia to draw attention to human trafficking and child slavery.

Nekon commits to Tasmanian arts fund

Tasmanian property company Nekon will partner with the Australia Business Arts Foundation (www.abaf.org.au) and the Tasmanian Government to ensure the work of the Tasmanian Premier's Arts Partnership Fund. It now has the potential to deliver $450 000 in new business sponsorship money to the arts sector over the next three years, adding to the $750 000 already provided to 61 new business and art partnerships since the fund's launch in 2008.

LIFELINES

Injured: media personality Fifi Box took a fall on her platform heels at the ARIA awards, grazing her knees and hands.

Arrested: 10 of the 20,000 patrons of Canberra's Foreshore Festival for drug possession, five to appear in court and five referred to drug diversion programs.

Banned: Aussie electronic producer Pogo blogged that due to a visa hassle over his September tour of the US, he was detained for three weeks and has been banned from re-entering the US for ten years.

In Court: Artist manager Glenn Wheatley was fined $585 and banned from driving for 12 months after pleading guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court to failing a roadside breath test in Melbourne in March.

In Court: DVD pirate Tony An was given a suspended 12-month prison sentence and put on a two-year good behavior bond by Melbourne's County Court after pleading guilty to making and selling 1400 and 2100 pirated Asian and western movie DVDs and music CDs in his home in St. Albans.

Died: Neil Collins, finance and membership manager of Live Performance Australia since 2007, passed away aged 67 after a short illness. LPA acknowledged his passion for the Collingwood football team and described him as “a loyal, hard working old school gentleman who brought lots of colour to the LPA office.” Earlier this year Collins was honoured for his 40-year contribution to the Australian Society of CPA's (Certified Practising Accountants).

NUMBER CRUNCHING

$31,000 bid by model Kate Moss at a London charity bid to sing Culture Club’s Do You Really Want To Hurt Me alongside Boy George.

$8 million estimated of lost ad revenue for Southern Cross Austereo after Kyle Sandilands’ on air rant (SCA says the figure is lower).

2250 Elvis Presley fans signed on for three-day The King Tribute Cruise on Rhapsody Of The Seas from Sydney and entertained by 14 Elvis acts.

81,904 votes cast across the eight reader-voted categories at Melbourne EG Awards

$30,000 estimated weekly wage for teen singer Jack Vidgen (he was getting $25 in pocket money this time last year).

2.7 seconds a sale for Reece Mastin’s debut single Good Night throughout the day after his X Factor win (a nice 17^th birthday present).

1.6 million viewers for the finale of ABC-TV music quiz show Spicks and Specks, most watched on the night with a 28% share and ABC’s top rating program of the year.

20% increase in registrations for Adelaide’s Fringe festival next year.

37.9 million shares to be bought back by Southern Cross Media from the market (5.4% of its issued capital) on December 9.

$502,900 cost of a 30-second ad on the 2011-12 season of American Idol, which starts in January, a 17% leap. The X-Factor charges $320,000.

INSIDE TRACK

Why Faker are giving away an album

Sydney band Faker are giving away their third album Get Loved on www.faker.com.au — because it was made a year ago but was delayed so long that they’d rather start work on a new record with their new lineup of Liam O'Brien on bass and Chris Stabback on drums. Singer Nathan Hudson explains that by the time Faker finished touring behind Be The Twilight, “the band didn't make sense by the end of it, and from a band perspective, the (music) industry didn't make sense.” He and guitarist Nicholas Munnings made Get Loved as a duo, producing it themselves in their home studio. Hudon says: “We made it a total labour of love. It's an adventure we're immensely proud of having taken. I guess we're still taking it.”

Muse split a hoax

Online reports this week that Muse split after an argument while recording their next album proved to be a hoax. A faked NME.com page was circulated through Twitter and the band’s official message board Board.Muse.mu. This was dismissed by a Muse rep. Contrary to reported plans for Muse to record their next album in space, the band is in a London studio, and plans to get its sixth studio album out by next October.

Madonna summons MIA, Minaj

Madonna has summoned British rapper MIA and Nicki Minaj to New York to work on a track for her 12^th album. There had been rumours the three were working on a new version of Give Me All Your Love which leaked earlier this year, and shoot a video. MIA tweeted this week: “"summond to NYC by bitchesses > MADONNA and @NICKIMINAJ > cofffffiiiiiiieeeeeeeeee it iz a good day to get me tho trustttt bitches".

Aussie country music goes Bollywood

Australian tourism authorities are enticing Bollywood movie makers to film in Australia — working on the proviso that the 23 million Indians who watch a Bollywood flick per day will want to visit locations in these movies. In the meantime, Aussie country rock band Brewn’ cuts across the cultural divide with new single Bollywood Cowboy. In it, a western cowboy wakes to find himself in a fictional Hindi world, and redefines himself. Says singer Mick Bond, “It celebrates two different cultures and denigrates neither.” The video features dancers from the Canberra School of Bollywood Dancing.