Industrial Strength: December 7

07 December 2011

by Christie Eliezer

Steve Cropper, Imogen Heap, feature at Song Summit

APRA’s Song Summit returns for its third year May 26 to 28 to the Sydney Convention Centre — and boasts names as US guitarist and songwriter Steve Cropper and Grammy-winning UK singer Imogen Heap in the first round of delegates. Other international guests are Andrew Jenkins of Universal Music Publishing UK; music supervisor Gary Calamar known for his work on TV series True Blood, Dexter and Six Feet Under; US business academic David Touve; Swedish songwriter and producer Arnthor Birgisson; Mark Wood of UK’s Radius Music Management; Myles Keller, membership development director for the UK’s PRS For Music; Prof Pat Pattison of International Music School Berklee Music; Nettwerk publishing director Peter Coquillard, and UK entertainment lawyer Robert Horsfall.

Australian speakers include Guy Sebastian, Bluejuice’s Jake Stone and Stav Yiannoukas, the Oils’ Rob Hirst and Jim Moginie, Kev Carmody, Rob Conley, Jebediah’s Kevin Mitchell, NZ hip hop dj/producer P Money and Evermore’s Dann Hume. Representing artist managers are Bill Cullen, Catherine Haridy, Graham Ashton, Tom Harris and Will Larnach Jones.

APRA|AMCOS’ head of member services, Sally Howland said that this week’s speaker announcement “is just a glimpse of what the conference will have to offer. APRA has a proud history of building communities through our creative and business networks and this continues to be central to the aspirations of Song Summit.” The full program, developed to give local writers access to global heavyweights and sharpen their creative and business skills, is announced in February. Song Summit is held as part of Vivid Sydney and co-partnered with the NSW Government via Destination NSW.

Adele hits 10 x platinum in Australia

Adele’s 21 album was certified ten times platinum in Australia for sales of 750,000, says her local label Remote Control. As reported in TMN this week, it is the biggest album of the year globally with sales of 14 million. 3.4 million of these were in her homeland, making it the UK’s biggest-selling album of the 21st century and dethroning Amy Winehouse's Back To Black’s 3.3 million.

JB Hi Fi opens up on Now streaming service

JB Hi Fi this week revealed more information on its Now music streaming service, which it first announced mid-year. It will launch before Christmas with 6 million tracks. It charges $6.67 a month for unlimited use — compared to iTunes’ A$1.69 and $2.19 per track. Consumers get data on artists, can mix tunes, and suss what others in their age group are listening to. JB Hi Fi marketing director Scott Browning previously stated, “We are confident that it will appeal to Australians who want access to great music on multiple devices.” The chain is hoping Now will offset a 7.55% decline in yearly profits.

Venues update

The City of Swan (WA) turned down an application by Lancaster Winery to spend $2 million to build a concert area to host up to six concerts a year as part of the A Day on the Green series … Sade’s musos christened the new Blue Beat club in Sydney’s Kings Cross set up by Christopher Richards (The Basement) and Nicholas Rice (Bar Broadway, the Marquee) for “discerning audiences” … the new owners of Melbourne’s East Brunswick Club pull the plug on live music in February to convert it to apartments … after 18 years, Melbourne’s Public Bar has stopped showcasing bands … David Heaton, who owns Perth live music venues Metropolis and Amplifer, discussed buying parts of Bay View Terrace but decided against it.

Hobart radio survey scrapped

Media research company Nielsen pulled its survey of Hobart radio stations a day before it was to be released. The company felt the data, based on 1200 listeners, was skewed towards over-55s and under-represented under-30s (who couldn’t be bothered filling in the survey of their listening habits).

Melbourne grabs Moonshadow musical

In the rivalry for big budget productions between Sydney and Melbourne, the southern city snared Yuself Islam’s (nee Cat Stevens) $5 million production of Moonshadow. It makes its world premiere at Princess Theatre in May. Based on characters in Cat Stevens songs, the all-Australian cast will be directed by Sweden’s Anders Albien.

Hino trucks first to include digital radio in Australia

Hino Australia has become the first vehicle manufacturer in Australia to include DAB+ digital radio as standard equipment across its range of vehicles. BMW and Audi already have it as an option-only.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Bronfman steps down as WMG chairman

Edgar Bronfman Jr. is stepping down as chairman of the Warner Music Group board, effective January 31. “My other obligations are beginning to take an inordinate amount of time,” he told staff. No replacement was announced.

Gold FM scraps Grubby and Dee Dee

Australian Radio Network’s Gold 104.3 Melbourne scrapped breakfast team Peter “Grubby” Stubbs and Diane “Dee Dee” Dunleavy after 12 years. ARN explained in a statement about “the need to refresh the brand in preparation for a competitive 2012.” Stubbs was offered the drive shift but refused without Dunleavy. They started working together 25 years ago at FOX. Their 20^th year was marked with a broadcast from Etihad Stadium and were crowned King and Queen of Melbourne radio by Lord Mayor John So.

Tweedie announced for new music TV show

Scott Tweedie is named the male host of Ten Network’s digital channel Eleven’s new still-unnamed Saturday morning music show. He was on ABC3 hosting shows as Prank Patrol, Studio 3, 3on3 and the 2011 Trop Jr Festival. Eleven is searching for a female co-presenter through a campaign on its site.

Burgess back on air

"Baby" John Burgess replaces Johnny Young on Perth 6iX’s Big Breakfast show from next Monday. Young is relocating to Sydney to executive produce the revamped Young Talent Time with Rob Mills as host. Burgess dominated the ratings in the ‘80s after accepting a lucrative deal to join 6PM by Kerry Packer. The stint lasted until 1992. Burgess hosted TV’s Wheel of Fortune.

AEG Ogden taps Irvine for new division

James Irvine will head AEG Ogden’s new Global Partnerships division for the Asia Pacific. It aims at increasing commercial revenue from its venues and increase services to venue owners and hirers. Sydney-born Irvine moved to the UK as corporate sales manager at the Wembley National Stadium before working in conjunction with AEG in the marketing and sales of VIP Club memberships at the 02 Arena in London. Most recently, he was head of sales for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Based in Sydney, Irvine will work closely with the Los Angeles based AEG Global Partnerships team.

Glenn Daniel quits ARN, lands at ABC

After 14 years, the Australian Radio Network parted with Group News Director Glenn Daniel. It is believed he and ARN disputed over terms when he returned after heart surgery in July. He joins ABC NewsRadio in January.

Blake heads to Triple M Adelaide

Jon Blake, of DMG Radio’s Adelaide FiveAA’s five-person breakfast team, has joined Triple M. He was complaining in a magazine that his talents were not getting enough air-time, so Southern Cross Austereo made its move.

Kavalee switches to TV

Ed Kavalee leaves Nova 100 Melbourne after three years to focus on his growing career in TV and film.

Pav consults for Will O’Rourke

Modular founder and Vivid Live curator Steve Pavlovich is a consultant in music and performance for award winning Will O'Rourke, set up in Sydney by film producers Revolver to create “extraordinary ideas” for events and ads.

Saraceni leaving Adelaide

Matt Saraceni, of Nova Adelaide’s breakfast team, leaves December 16 after a year. He is moving to Melbourne to follow his comedy career.

Greally quits 2DAY role

Simon Greally, head producer of 2DAY FM’s Kyle & Jackie O show, left to go traveling with his girlfriend. His replacement is Kim Czosnek.

Play management expands

Brand agency Play Communications announced Imelda Hodson as client services director and John Rash as head of marketing. Rash worked music initiatives Tooheys Uncharted and Bacardi Express at Brand New Sounds.

Fidler drops afternoon shift for mornings

612 ABC’s Richard Fidler leaves the 1-3pm slot after six years to concentrate on his national morning show Conversations. "I've loved doing afternoons ...I've kept doing it because I love it so much,” he said. Last month he needed a skin graft operation for burns to his hand and arm while cooking.

Bruer announced for Nova Sydney

Emma Bruer returns to Sydney to read breakfast news at Nova 969. She was four years in Melbourne and Adelaide with Nova 100, Mix and Sky News.

Virtue exits Nine Network

Heidi Virtue, director of publicity & talent relations at Nine Network. stepped down after five years to spend more time with her daughter.

Kelly helms 2XX

Dawn Kelly is the new station manager at 2 XX Canberra. She is contacted at 02 6230 0100 and manager@2xx.org.au.

NEW SIGNINGS

Warner ramps up its country roster with Williamson, James

Warner Music Australia has ramped up its local country music roster with two signings. The first is John Williamson, who has sold more than 4 million albums in Australia, won three ARIAs, four APRAs, and 24 Golden Guitars. Warner will release his 48^th album, The Big Red, on January 27 to coincide with his appearances at the Tamworth country music festival.

Warner also officially confirmed signing Queensland’s Harmony James, releasing her sophomore Handfuls Of Sky on January 20. Her debut Tailwind yielded eight Top 10 country hits, a publishing deal with Alberts, and a number of award wins.

Live Nation/Hertz deal extends to Australia

A marketing partnership that Live Nation and Hertz announced this week in New York — called Movin' With Music — will extend to Australia as well as New Zealand, Europe and South America. It’s not sure what shape it will take in this territory. But in the US, it includes artist partnerships, VIP parking at select Live Nation venues and a streaming music platform at Hertz offices and on buses. A Hertz online music store opens next year, where members can redeem loyalty points in exchange for exclusive music downloads.

Modular falls for Pond

Modular’s latest signing is WA trio Pond, which includes Nick Allbrook and Jay Watson of Tame Impala. The duo, with Joseph Ryan, made three albums before Tame Impala’s success. The fourth album Beard Wives Denim, recorded in a farmhouse in two weeks, is out in March.

Bluebeard Music teams with producer Magoo…

Brisbane label Bluebeard Music signed multi ARIA-winning producer and engineer Lachlan “Magoo” Goold. Magoo’s worked with the greats, including Midnight Oil and Regurgitator. This year he worked with Art Vs Science, Tex Perkins and Hungry Kids of Hungary, and mixed The Gin Club’s live album. Much of his work is done in his new studio in Applewood, a refurbished church in bushland 45 minutes west of Brisbane. But he continues to explore creating studios in unique spaces. Bluebeard is run by manager Dominic Miller who looks after Ben Salter, Texas Tea and The Gin Club.

…and The Gin Club

Bluebeard Music also signed Brisbane’s The Gin Club. From a collective of eleven, its live lineup now features seven members. The band is about to issue a live album, recorded from five years of shows, released on vinyl, and funded through crowd-sourcing site IndieGoGo.

EMI Music adds The Slips

EMI Music Australia inked production/writing duo The Slips. David Treahearn and Rob Haggett started in 2007 as studio engineers in London, working with Madonna, Bjork, New Order, Oasis and Massive Attack. This year they relocated to Sydney and remixed Faker, Kimbra, Kylie Minogue, Phrase, Flight Facilities, Sneaky Sound System and Bertie Blackman. Their debut single Downtown, with Phrase, is out digitally December 9.

Dew Process invite Electric Guest

Brisbane’s Dew Process has added another overseas act to its roster. Los Angeles’ duo Electric Guest’s mix of electro psychedelic soul-pop brought them to the attention of Grammy winning Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley, Broken Bells, Gorillaz), who is co-producing their debut album Mondo.

Yale join Rare Finds

Brisbane disco dance duo Yale joined the Rare Finds publicity roster. Yale vocalist, Stefan Emslie, describes the act as “an expression of how live music interprets dance.” Their new summery jazz pop single ‘Getaway’ is out through Triple J Unearthed and Sound Cloud, with an album out next year.

AC/DC firm Walmart partnership

AC/DC licensed Back In Black to Walmart for the chain’s new US ad promoting pre-holiday shopping. The song’s use was tied with Black Friday. AC/DC sold its 2008 album Black Ice exclusively through Walmart in the US.

SGC Media to distribute Songpier app

Music marketing company SGC Media will be the Australian distributor for Songpier (www.songpier.com), a new tool for musicians to create their own mobile app for use on smartphones. The deal was struck with Songpier founder Matthias Glatschke, who launched the app in Europe earlier this year. SGC Media’s managing director Stephen Green says the app overcomes problems faced by musicians wanting to market themselves via mobiles — where they have to “pay thousands for apps which only work on one device and often force you to share your revenue for in-app purchases.”

Shock launches Permanent Records, signs Smyth…

Shock Records set up a new imprint Permanent Records under general manager of music, Leigh Gruppetta, to foster and develop local indie talent. First signing, NSW troubadour Steve Smyth, during a stint in London was in Operation Juliet, a roving group with Sean Lennon and Mark Ronson.

…takes in Kate Martin…

Shock signed up Townsville-based singer-songwriter Kate Martin. Her album Hand Me My Bow And Arrow is out early 2012. It took 18 months to record, and features her harp-like finger picking guitar style. Lead-off single ‘Apples’ is on iTunes and can be downloaded for free from Triple J Unearthed.

…and partner with King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard

Melbourne’s triple j unearthed and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, struck a distribution deal with Shock Records.

"The guys have a killer live set and a very distinctive sound that sets them apart from the pack,” says Shock’s David Peacock. Their Willoughby's Beach EP/vinyl is out on December 16.

Crucial does 360

Rae Harvey’s management company Crucial Music added 360 to its roster. He joins Children Collide, Daniel Lee Kendall, Gyroscope, Hunting Grounds and The Living End. His new album Falling & Flying — which mixes hip hop indie, dubstep, pop and reggae — debuted at #4 and he sold out the 15-date album tour.

NUMBER CRUNCHING

24 local acts to be featured in Sydney’s official New Year's Eve festivities.

$100 won by visiting US comedian Kathy Griffin from a bet after Dave Grohl chickened out of singing Kylie Minogue’s Can’t Get You Out of My Head during Foo Fighters’ Melbourne concert

$110,000 expected to be top bid for an amp used by George Harrison during the sessions for The Beatles’ Revolver and Sgt. Peppers.

12 songs on Cody Simpson’s March-due album, each one about girls.

56 days British guitarist Johnny Marr banned from driving for speeding.

15^th single by a female solo artist to sell a million in the UK is Rihanna’s Only Girl (In The World).

$75 million to $77 million APN News & Media downgrades its full year net profit due to slugging ad sales, down from $103.1 million from last year.

LIFELINES

Married: singer turned TV head Natalie Bassingthwaighte and drummer Cameron McClinchey, at a beachside ceremony before 100 guests in Melbourne on the weekend. They met in 2006 as members of Rogue Traders, and have a daughter, Harper.

Engaged: Isaac Koren of US-based Australian rock band The Kin and New York based model and songwriter Sophie ‘sister of Gemma’ Ward.

Charged: three Margaret River (WA) cops for speeding while accompanying Cold Chisel from the airport to their show at Sandalford Estate.

In Court: Stefan Pahia Schmidt, 25, accused of throwing Perth drummer Andy Marshall, 29, to his death through a window of the Ocean Beach Hotel in May this year, was committed to stand trial. He appears in the Supreme Court on December 12 and plans to plead not guilty.

Caught: a 32-year old Darwin nightclubber who was nabbed for drink driving at 4.30 am last Saturday kept drinking at a club, and was then picked up again, at the same checkpoint by the same cops.

Died: Sydney music entrepreneur and jazz promoter Wally Wrightman, 76, after a battle with cancer. He was an agent at Anthem Management in the ‘80s, managed The Flanagans and The Four Kinsmen, was on the committee of the Mo Awards from the mid-70s and became its vice-chair in 1980. He was also a long-time presenter at Eastside Radio, which this week remembered him for his humour and “enormous musical knowledge”.

Died: Sydney radio presenter Paul Hussey, 59, after suffering a heart attack on air. He was on the board of SWR FM 99.9 and hosted three shows a week. He began in the ‘70s on regional radio in Qld and NSW and joined WOW FM in St. Marys.

Died: Annie Smith presenter of Sydney 2REM Albury’s metal show Metalmania following a motorbike accident on November 17.

TRIPPING

Has the Madonna tour, ear-marked for March 2012, been moved to October?

Which record label’s after-ARIAs bash was visited by the cops?

Which international star told his audience he couldn’t remember anything of his last visit to Australia?

Boy George has sorted out his Aussie visa for Culture Club’s NYE show in Sydney. The problem was his jail stint in 2009 for imprisoning a male hooker.

The Vines played at Homebake Sydney as a trio, after singer Craig Nicholls sacked most of the lineup and brought in a new drummer.

Jessica Mauboy has bought a house in Sydney.

When Boy and Bear attended the ARIAs, they brought their families along. After their first win, Jake Tarasenko’s jubiliant mum Gennine decided she could go home — not realizing there were four more wins for her lad.

The Sydney Sun-Herald reckons Britney Spears’s ex, Kevin Federline, who’s here filming for Nine’s reality show Excess Baggage, was rushed to hospital for overheating and exhaustion after a long trek in WA.

 

INSIDE TRACK

Aussies continues Grammy tradition

The nomination of Cut Copy’s Zonoscope for Best Dance/Electronica Album in next year’s Grammys continues a long tradition of Aussies look-ins. The Bee Gees have won nine mostly for Saturday Night Fever, Olivia Newton-John three, Keith Urban one, and AC/DC took best hard rock performance last year, which Wolfmother won in 2007 for Woman. Kylie Minogue won in 2004 for best dance recording (Come Into My World) and Men At Work in 1983 for best new artist. Chris ‘Tek’ O’Ryan got a pointy one in 2009 for engineering Mary J Blige’s Growing Pains, and Tony David Cray in 2008 for engineering Chick Corea & Gary Burton’s The New Crystal Silence.

Two other Aussies are indirectly also in next year’s Grammy nominations. True Blood: Volume 3 which includes Nick Cave’s cover of The Zombies’ She’s Not There with Neko Case is up for Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media. Sneaky Sound System’s Connie Mitchell sings on the track That’s My Bitch on Kanye West and Jay-Z’s Watch The Throne which is up for two gongs including best rap release.

The Herd look back

On their new single A Thousand Lives, hip hop pioneers The Herd weave the stories and context of their 10 year history into each night through a combination of narrative and video. The clip was helmed by Vidad Narayan and Bryce McCoy of Round 3. The band’s Urthboy tells this column, “A Thousand Lives reflects on all the lives we have or could have led in one lifetime - like 'closing doors' but a little less dramatic. Everybody has led a whole lot of mini lives by the time they reach 30 and beyond. The bridge in the song says 'and we all said forever, then we all drift apart'. It sounds sad but everything happens for a reason and it's a good thing to grow and move on.” One of the members doesn’t feature — because he couldn’t fly to Sydney from Melbourne in time. James, the producer in Sietta was their driver and errands boy in the shoot. “We made him work!” The Herd this week announced a nine-date tour with Thundamentals March 30 to April 28.

Green Day musical now finds global success

After playing on Broadway for over a year, Green Day's musical American Idiot is heading across to England next October. It will stage in eight cities, finishing off in London. Its producers are hoping it will do a lengthy run in London’s West End. In America, American Idiot won two Tonys last year (best scenic design, best lighting design) and a Grammy this year for best musical show album. The New York Times called it “thrilling” and The Stage hailed it as "probably the most compelling new musical of the Broadway season.”

Pop gem from Perth’s San Cisco gets international interest

Perth teen band San Cisco’s impossibly catchy song Awkward (Island City/MGM) is about teen passion for a new love turning into mobile phone stalking. It quickly became triple j’s most requested song after its release in October and selling serious units. But its just-recently released video, which premiered on US blog Consequence of Sound, has gained the act label interest in Europe — particularly from Germany and Benelux. Its director Andrew Nowrojee says, “What appealed to me was its melody, simplicity and good humor, a nice social commentary on phone stalking. For me it was the 'call and response' of the lyrics (by singer Jordi Davieson and drummer Scarlett Stevens) that aided the process of the concept. It made sense to match literal imagery to the track and give it a clear sense of style.”

It’s highly likely that neither Nowrojee nor San Cisco will work with animals again. The dog in the clip, a family pet, behaved itself. But not so a horse called Dusty Diamonds which was rented from Party Pets. When drummer Stevens got on it outside the studio, it started to buck. When cast and crew finally got the GG inside, it slid on the gloss concrete floor. No amount of oats would coax it to cooperate, and it was finally decided to drop it from the video.