Industrial Strength: February 8

08 February 2012

by Christie Eliezer

Aussies Abroad #1: Gotye breaks into the US Top 40

Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know has broken into the US Top 40, jumping from #50 to #31 helped by live dates and TV appearances there. It also went from #36 to #18 on the Hot Digital Songs chart, and #7 to #5 on Rock Songs. The video has now racked 57 million views on YouTube. Meantime, a second cover version of the song has appeared. This one by Right The Stars Featuring Karmina — the brainchild of Los Angeles producer Rich Jacque — incorporates a portion of The Police's King of Pain and had the thumbs-up from Gotye who called it “super slick”. The Canadian cover by Walk Off The Earth has over 40 million YouTube views.

Aussies Abroad #2: She Can DJ going global

EMI Music Australia announced that its She Can DJ competition is returning in April — and also will roll out globally. Later this week, She Can DJ winners Minx and Alison Wonderland head overseas to play EMI’s after-parties at the Grammys and Brits. “I thought this was a wind-up for about a week… until I realised I’d been booked an around the world ticket!” said Alison Wonderland. She’s putting the final touches to her compilation, while Minx’s She Can DJ Presents Minx is set for a March 2 release.

Aussies Abroad #3: Tonight Alive join Vans Warped

Sony Music signings Tonight Alive continue their assault on the U.S. After their tour there with Go Radio (March 20 to May 2) and showcases at South By Southwest, they spend June, July and August on the Vans Warped tour.

Good start for radio revenue

It’s been a good start for the commercial radio sector. Metropolitan advertising revenue during January came to $45.372 million — a 1.38% increase on the same month in 2011. According to industry body Commercial Radio Australia, ad revenue grew in Adelaide and Melbourne but fell in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. Adelaide grew 6.1% to a total of $4.415 million and Melbourne was up 6.07% to $13.729 million. Sydney fell 0.15% to $13.689 million; Brisbane fell 1.4% to $7.304 million and Perth down 4.4% to $6.235 million.

Butler meets High Flying Bird

Former Australian Idol finalist Jacob Butler was pestering his radio plugger Michael Matthews to set up a meeting with his hero Noel Gallagher at his show at the Melbourne Palais. In the meantime, he picked up early copies of his new CD. Driving home through South Yarra he stopped at the lights — and noticed Gallagher in the passenger seat in the van in the next lane. Butler waved, Gallagher nodded back, Butler realised he had a copy of his CD in the car, wound down the window and handed it over. “It was all over in 15 seconds,” he recalled. “But it’s nice to know he has the CD.”

Launching Pad #1: Deezer coming

Australia gets another music streaming service, Deezer, later this month. It’s just gone to Canada and Latin America, and launches here with Africa.

Launching Pad #2: Cheung launches On The Map

Former Sony Music exec Emily Cheung launched a new communications firm, On The Map PR, focusing on music, restaurant and corporate public relations. Following on with her love of food and cooking, Cheung will represent Victoria in Channel 7’s new season of My Kitchen Rules with her sister Carly. Cheung’s eight years’ experience in PR includes WA Promo Manager and Vic Promo Manager with Sony. She is at emily@onthemappr.com.

APRA announces Tropscore winner

Alice Springs-based singer-songwriter Ben Allen won this year’s APRA Tropscore 2012 competition. He receives $5,000 cash from APRA and will perform at The Domain in Sydney on February 19 as part of Tropscore 2012. The comp received a record near-900 submissions from 23 countries. Entrants had to compose a score to emerging Australian filmmaker Amelia Olsen-Boyd’s three minute short film Returning. Allen, who plays in Yellow Streetlight, an electronic act incorporating homemade samples of household objects, and guitar band Broadwing, said, “As a songwriter, I entered Tropscore to see whether I was able to write a score. Now I have the funds to buy studio equipment and the chance to speak to people in the film industry.”

Festivals #1: Big Day Out announces numbers

Big Day Out announced its attendance numbers for 2012. It drew 20,000 in Auckland (40,000 last year), 40,000 on the Gold Coast (sell-out 50,000 last year), 47,000 in Sydney (first show 55,000 and second show 19,000), 42,000 for Melbourne (52,000 sell out), 12,000 for Adelaide (30,000 last year) and 12,000 for Perth (35,000). Charlie Walker and Charlie Jones of BDO’s new US partners, C3 Presents flew out from Texas to catch BDO’s Sydney and Melbourne shows — and to reassure media that there were exciting plans for it in coming years and that Adelaide and Perth would not be axed.

Festivals #2: Fiery debate over Splendour’s return

The issue of whether to allow the permanent site at North Byron Parklands in Yelgun should go ahead with three events a year — including Splendour In The Grass — is causing angst among some residents and environmentalists. The NSW Planning Assessment Commission, which will make the final decision, called two public meetings last week. Result: 120 people signed on to speak at the events (which ran from 9 am to 6 pm), there were screaming accusations, people bursting into tears that their quiet lifestyle would be ruined, greenies insisting that the site was prone to floods, and community and tourism figures who asked for the economic benefit of the events to the area. One source told us, “It wasn’t a rabble. These were highly educated people who felt that the decision was being rushed.”

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Sony replacing CEO Howard Stringer

Sony announced that chief executive Howard Stringer will step down on April 1, to be replaced by vice president Kazuo Hirai. Stringer, who took over in 2005 as the first non-Japanese to head the corporation, stays on as chairman. He increased Sony’s music and film revenue. But Sony’s woes include loss of revenue (7.1 trillion yen last year from 8.8 trillion in 2007), PlayStation’s share drop to Nintendo, and HDTVs’ share being half of what its Japanese companies have the U.S. market, and the fall-out from the Playstation security fiasco that left 100 million customers' accounts compromised. Hirai, 51, made his mark in Sony’s software business, playing a key role in developing the Playstation in the ‘90s. He plans to focus more on Sony’s camera, game and smartphone businesses and look for more collaborations in weaker divisions.

Rhoda Roberts heads indigenous arts programming at Opera House

NSW indigenous arts identity Rhoda Roberts is appointed to the newly-created post of head of indigenous programming at the Sydney Opera House. Among her duties will be to run the Message Sticks arts and culture festival in March and April. Roberts said bringing someone in at the executive level “speaks volumes” about the Opera House’s commitment to reconciliation. Roberts was the founder of the Dreaming festival, a producer for Vibe Australia which produces the Deadlys and a presenter of SBS’s Vox Populi,

James Morrison appointed QMF artistic director

The Queensland Music Festival board appointed jazz musician James Morrison as artistic director of the 2013 and 2015 festivals. The biennial state-wide celebration of music last year drew a record 178,000 to 202 events in Brisbane and 34 regional and remote centres throughout Queensland. QMF chair Kate Farrar said, “Not only is James an international star performer, he is also an inspiring and highly experienced music educator who will champion the community development aspects so important to the festival.”

Busteed heads to 2UE

Josh Busteed takes over as sales director of Sydney talkback station 2UE on March 29. He was Sydney direct sales director at DMG.

Wilkins named Ticketek ambassador

Nine Entertainment Co. has appointed Richard Wilkins, entertainment editor of the Nine Network, as the events and entertainment ambassador for its sports and entertainment ticketing agency Ticketek. The two will work on a variety of product and brand activations across Ticketek’s digital media assets, including entertainment news and video podcasts streamed twice weekly on Ticketek.com.au, and guest editing the weekly Ticketek newsletter.

Frederic Luvisutto to run Sydney’s Star

Echo Entertainment Group moved Frederic Luvisutto from managing director of Jupiters Gold Coast to GM of Star casino in Sydney. This is in the wake of the removal of Star GM Sid Vaikunta, allegedly for sexual harassment in the workplace. Luvisutto, who like Vaikunta, came from America’s casino sector. He arrived at the Gold Coast a year ago. Craig Peachey, GM of finance at Jupiters, will be acting managing director.

Music SA announces trainers for music biz course

South Australia’s peak association Music SA announced that its trainers for its new Certificate IV Music Business Training course. The Audreys’ Taasha Coates, manager and DVD producer and director PJ Murton and Alice Fraser of Jam Room agency will join musician/lecturer Rob Pippan, audio engineer David Grice and songwriter engineer/producer Matt Williams.

Percy takes over from Cornelius at Nielsen Media

Nielsen Media’s Australian managing director Peter Cornelius left last week, reported radioinfo. Nielsen is integrating its Watch (media) and Buy divisions to be more effective for clients. His replacement Chris Percy was NZ MD of Buy. Nielsen provides ratings data for Commercial Radio Australia.

Aiston joins the mix

Channel 10 sports presenter Mark Aiston next week joins the Mix 102.3 breakfast team alongside Jason "Snowy" Carter and Jodie Oddy. He replaces John Riddell who left to focus on his news reading duties at Seven.

Kuhn at the pr shop

Amanda Kuhn, one time national marketing and communications manager at World Wrestling Entertainment and who worked with Riot Entertainment, has joined the pr shop agency as head of PR.

Lam reins in the Chariot

The Adelaide music has a new enterprise called Chariot Entertainment Management, set up by its CEO Monica Lam.

Mel Brown lands another TV gig

Seven Network expanded Mel Brown’s duties in a deal rumoured to be $1 million. Aside from being judge on The X-Factor, she will also host Dancing With The Stars.

NEW SIGNING

Sony Music offer DNA production & label deal

Sony Music pacted a production and label deal with songwriting and producton team DNA. David Musumeci and Anthony Egizii will provide their production services exclusively to Sony Music artists. They will also develop and A&R their own acts under an exclusive label deal with Sony Music.

Denis Handlin AM, chairman & CEO, Australia & NZ and president, Asia, Sony Music Entertainment said, “We are very excited to have struck this creative partnership with David and Anthony. This extends our relationship with this brilliant production and songwriting team following their work with us last year which included tracks by Reece Mastin, Guy Sebastian and Timomatic. Our partnership with DNA further strengthens Sony Music’s leading commitment to developing Australian artists and they will be adding their considerable creative talents to a whole range of Sony Music releases. Additionally, we look forward to the artists that they will develop with Sony Music under their new label deal.” DNA added, “We have always had a dream to have our own label as well and we are absolutely delighted that this has been created with Denis and his Sony Music team.”

DNA had two Top 5 hits during the Christmas period with Sony Music artists: X-Factor winner Reece Mastin’s single Good Night which went triple platinum, and Guy Sebastian’s Don’t Worry Be Happy which they co-produced. Early in 2012, they co-wrote and produced Timomatic’s #2 platinum single Set It Off, which is about to be released in the UK, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Nordic markets and NZ. Aside from working on Timomatic’s second single, DNA are in the studio with Jessica Mauboy and will work in coming months with Justice Crew and Johnny Ruffo.

Universal pact Sietta

Universal Music Publishing Group pacted Darwin-based electro/soul duo Sietta to a world deal. “Sietta are a unique proposition and they are not easily filed under any particular genre,” points out UMPG director of A&R Heath Johns. “Caiti is not only a fantastic vocalist but also a gifted lyricist and James is one of Australia’s most inventive young producers, together they are making some very special music.” Last year, Sietta released their debut album The Seventh Passenger album through Elefant Traks. Both singles What Am I Supposed To Do? and No Longer Hurt got airplay on triple j, which included them in its 2012 Next Crop. Sietta have an EP Stripped Back out next month.

Fanfare blows trumpet for Mary Kiani

Sydney based adult contemporary label Fanfare pacted Sydney-based Scottish singer Mary Kiani. Her new album Little Things Mean A Lot is a mix of torch songs, jazz and classic standards — which she recreates at her launch at the Basement Sydney on Feb 22. Kiani emerged in the UK with Scottish dance outfit The Time Frequency and later worked with Eddie Reader, Donny Osmond, Paul Young and dj/producers Fergie, Paul Oakenfold, One World and Simon Clime.

Twins find their Ministry

Gold Coast-based The Twins (DJs) joined Ministry of Sound. Brooke and Ellie Kelaart emerged on reality TV show Beauty and the Geek. A debut single featuring them singing is out in March with a compilation CD following.

Mizone teams with music acts

Mizone formulated sports water teamed with four Australian acts in its Mizone Zone Lab experiment to see which music gets sports folk most energised quickest. Dj and producer Hook N Sling will create a lyric based dance track to be used by mountain bike enthusiast Will Levy, Sydney’s New Navy will put together a melodic indie/rock track for use by kayaker Hayley Shaw-McGuiness. Jona Ma’s African tribal-inspired percussive piece will be tested on urban runner Alex Hutchinson, and film composer Nick Wales will produce a cinematic orchestral piece for distance runner Millie Walker. The campaign includes a track being downloaded for free with every Mizone sold.

WAM teams with RAC to pilot touring scheme

The West Australian Music Association (WAM) teamed with the Royal Automobile Club (WA) to pilot a regional contemporary music touring circuit in the Wheatbelt region. Third weekend of each month from February to July will see WA acts play the region with Wheatbelt bands. All shows are free entry and this project forms part of WAM's audience development strategy. The circuit takes in The Commercial Hotel in Merredin on Friday nights, Grass Valley Tavern (8km East of Northam) on Saturday nights and the Ye Olde Quindanning Inne, on Sunday afternoons. The first tour, to kick off next week, features Split Seconds, Sam Carmody and a regional act. The Wheatbelt Touring Music Circuit will be used to promote road safety in the region, with safety messages focused on drink driving, fatigue and seatbelts. The Wheatbelt is one of the worst regions in WA for road crashes.

UNFD dig up Buried In Verona

UNFD signed Sydney metal-core merchants Buried In Verona and release their third album Notorious in June. The band are living temporarily in Sweden to tour, write and record until mid-year. They’re working with producer Fredrick Nordstrom who produced their breakthrough Saturday Night Sever in 2010 and also worked with In Flames, Soilwork, Opeth and Bring Me The Horizon.

Sydney producer Lancelot lands U.S. label

Lancelot, the new project from 21 year‐old Sydney producer Lance Gurisik will digital release the We Can Dance EP on Feb 20 through LA’s Binary (Fabian, Keenhouse, Nightwaves). The EP, launched Feb 19 at the Ivy Pool in Sydney, fuses house music with classical. For the past 3 years Gurisik studied at the Conservatorium of Music and composed orchestral music.

Slingshot lands Universal Sony Pictures account

Slingshot Media Ventures landed the $5 million to $10 million media account for Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia. USPHEA was formed late last year through the amalgamation of DVD businesses Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Slingshot was already incumbent with Sony, and won a pitch against MediaCom, which continues to represent other Universal businesses.

TRIPPING

Which nightclub owner is getting a book ghost-written about the “underbelly” side of the industry?

Which music festivals will AirAsia X be targeting as part of its sponsorship program to announce its expansion of its Australian flight schedules?

Whose ex-wife turned up in a moving truck and cleared the house out when hubbie was on tour abroad?

Will Kylie’s involvement in the March 3 Sydney Mardi Gras – she’ll be on a float with dancers depicting her various personas through the year — bring back a broadcast partner for the event, after Foxtel dropped out?

Are the songs of a highly successful ‘70s Australian band being turned into a musical?

Australian Music Group denied the National Australia Bank is about to close down Allans Music, Billy Hyde and MusicLink Australia. Director John Helme told CX TV that they expect to refinance soon.

Canberra’s Multicultural Festival unsuccessfully asked if smoking of kava could be allowed for traditional ceremonies. Police waned they’d be there to bust anyone smoking or supplying and that a five year jail term could ensure.

NUMBER CRUNCHING

2: Foster the People’s Torches is the second Australian #1 to have the word “torches” in its title, following The Whitlams’ Torch The Moon in July 2002. Torches is the 639^th chart topper in Australia (1965 to 2012) and the 30^th top spotter for the Columbia label in this country, says historian Gavin Ryan.

314,000 viewers only for Nine Network’s screening of the inaugural AACTAA (Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts Awards).

3 days for Lana Del Rey’s Born To Die to clock up 70,000 sales in America.

79%: rise in beef sausages and by 25% jump in beef steaks for Coles after its campaign using Normie Rowe to redo his Shakin’ All Over hit from the ‘60s — an ad which had been pilloried for the past 12 months.

$10 billion: possible figure raised by Facebook’s IPO.

$154.6 million: pledged by the Cairns council, the Queensland government and Federal government for the Cairns entertainment precinct now locked in.

$150 million: in revenue last year for Vevo, $1 billion projected “soon”.

LIFELINES

Dating (according to the Sydney Sunday Telegraph): Noiseworks’ Jon Stevens and former Mrs James Packer, Jodhi Meares.

Arrested: 42-year old Lane Cove (Sydney) man, after a raid on QMC Mart in Ashfield. Police say the store was part of a China-based $70 million global operation which sold subscriptions to 150,000 customers of illegal films and TV shows from 1,000 channels. The 100,000 Aussie subscribers can expect to be charged with receiving stolen goods.

In Court: one of X-Factor winner Altiyan Childs’ fans, Kerrie Hadfield, 35, pleaded guilty a Queanbeyan court in NSW to harassing him with threatening phone calls. The week before, the court session at Sutherland Local Court over weapon charges for his former manager Steven Yankuloff/Gold heard that Childs bought a taser after being attacked in Hobart.

Died: Dale Alexander, 34, breakfast show host and chairman of the board for Bendigo (Victoria) community radio station 101.5 Fresh FM, passed away in his sleep. He was remembered for his love for all kinds of sports, and was lead caller at Bendigo Spirit WNBL games.

INSIDE TRACK

Madonna makes spectacular comeback

Just when you’d written Madonna off, she came back on the weekend to claim her throne in the U.S. A tie-up with media company Clear Channel saw her new single Give Me All Your Luvin' and video get a strong push on its Radio, Outdoor, Online and Mobile divisions. The single was played every hour in the network’s pop stations from last Friday morning to the kick-off of the Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis on Sunday.

In three days, it entered the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart at #24 after getting 2,766 spins, one of its highest ever opening entries. It is her seventh Top 25 debut. Luvin' simultaneously entered at #33 on the Rhythmic airplay chart, #35 on Adult Top 40 and #20 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay. It’s already #1 on the iTune charts in 51 countries, and expected to have a strong debut on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 chart which combines airplay, sales and streaming. Her record company Live Nation/Interscope this week used the worldwide juice to remind fans to download the single and pre-order her MDNA album, due on March 26. Also highlight the frenzy was the announcement of her world tour which sees her here in 2013.

Her comeback was marked with her performing the single during a 12-minute spectacular appearance during half time at the Super Bowl. The football/gladiator themed show included a drummer ensemble, gladiators, gospel choir, highwire dancers, cartwheels from the 53-year old and guests LMFAO, Cee Lo Green and, for the single, fabulously-punky M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj.

The Super Bowl drew an average of 111.3 million viewers, the most watched TV event in American history. Madonna’s performance drew 114 million viewers (16% more) than the game, according to NBC. It produced 10,245 tweets per second, one of the highest in Twitter history, 59% of them were complimentary about the performance, 11% neutral and the rest negative. In comparison, last year’s MTV Music Awards got 8,868 tweets per second, Steve Jobs’ resignation had 7,064 and his death 6,049.

The high energy album too promises to be more erotic than anything Rihanna and Lady Gaga have come up with. Song titles include Gang Bang, Girls Gone Wild, I'm Addicted, I Don't Give A, I Fucked Up and I'm A Sinner.

Claymation video for Set Sail

Sydney roots act Set Sail have decided to make a video for their summery pop song The Boat Song, which has slowly built up a following for them since its release nine months ago. Using claymation techniques, it was made by Melbourne creative agency Oh Yeah Wow and directed by animators Mike Greaney and Sam Lewis. The video is about their chase of a sea monster who steals their radio, complete with shots of mermaids and booze. Set Sail are still waiting to hear of the fate of their singer, who was deported for contravening his tourist visa by performing here. 17,000 signed a petition .

Trizo’s side project

Thousand Needles In Red guitarist / songwriter Tristan 'Trizo' Bouillaut has a rap/rock side project Dead In A Second. The band members will remain a mystery even at shows. A EP is out in early June to coincide with his birthday.

No Bon Iver album for five years?

Bon Iver fans awaiting the follow up to their debut album have a long wait. “I'm guessing three years. But it could be five,” said frontman Justin Vernon explaining that he has to wait for the songs to “reveal themselves” — and none have. In the meantime, he’s working on music for his other groups Shouting Matches and Volcano Choir. He told USA Today, "I have a big idea to do an American songbook of the greatest women singers. There are so many: Casey (Dienel) from White Hinterland, Bonnie Raitt, Alicia (Keys)."

Blackchords in studio with Grammy-nominated producer

After their adventures abroad, Melbourne’s Blackchords are busy in a huge country shed transformed into a recording studio in regional Victoria. They raised funds through fan funding website Pozible and sync deals. To make an international sounding record, they’re working for ten days with Mercury Prize and Grammy nominated producer/mixer, David Odlum. The former guitarist with Ireland’s Frames has produced The Frames, Gemma Hayes, Luka Bloom and Josh Ritter among others. Word is that the music has the moodiness of their first album but with more up-tempo moments. After recording, Odlum will take it back to his studio in France to mix it with Grammy Award winning mixer Steven Fitzmaurice (Ian Brown, Depeche Mode, Kylie Minogue, U2, Seal, Cage The Elephant). The result is out in May.