Industrial Strength Music News 19/9
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Industrial Strength Music News 19/9

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VIRGIN EASES BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE FOR MUSOS

 

Virgin Australia has loosened up its baggage allowance for the music industry. Individuals can get 32kg (across three pieces of checked baggage) while an additional 32kg can be bought in advance for $15. Bands can ‘pool’ their baggage allowance across their entourage. But the performers have to be members of certain music associations, the list of which will be announced in the next few weeks. See amin.org.au.

 

The move was initiated after discussions led by The Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN), consisting of peak music associations QMusic, Contemporary Music Services Tasmania, Music NSW; Music NT, Music Victoria and Western Australia’s WAM).  Also involved were the Association of Artist Managers (AAM), Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR),  The Australasian Performing Right Association, The Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (APRA:AMCOS ), Live Performance Australia (LPA),  Music Council of Australia (MCA); and Symphony Australia. The move certainly will help Virgin’s sales, suggests Clint Boge of The Butterfly Effect who’ve often had to fork out $1500 in excess baggage on a trip — big bucks for a band on the road. Qantas certainly has a bad rap from the music community over baggage. Last year, Perth saxophonist Jamie Oehlers set up the Stop Qantas’ “No musical instruments onboard” petition, claiming his tenor saxophone was damaged to the tune of $1200 after Qantas it fly in the cargo hold.

 

TOP MANAGERS AT FACE THE MUSIC

The Association of Artist Managers (AAM) has partnered with Face The Music (November 18, 19 at the Arts Centre) to present sessions for young managers. On hand to provide tips will be Bill Cullen (Paul Kelly, Sarah Blasko, Seeker Lover Keeper, Clare Bowditch), Catherine Haridy (Eskimo Joe, Jebediah, Bob Evans), Correne Wilkie (The Cat Empire), Mark Richardson (Bertie Blackman, Kimbra) and Nicole B-Z.  Wilkie recalls how ten years ago she walked out of a high paying job, without a black book of music industry contacts or a leather jacket, and was told she and her band were going nowhere. “Mine is a story about how passion, talent, determination and a shared vision can combine to create a whole lot of what some people might call luck,” she says. See facethemusic.org.au.

VALE PATRICK O’DRISCOLL

Patrick O’Driscoll, one of the most ardent supporters of Ballarat’s live music scene, passed away at his home aged 38. A one time member of the Mocking Birds, Paddy O (as he was better known) went on to manage the Karova Lounge, co-owned Grainery Lane and booked bands at the Bridge Mall Inn. Friends remembered him as a scrupulously honest man with an encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture who constantly put his hand out to young talent.

BAILIEU GOVT HELPS THREE FESTIVALS

Victoria’s state government will give three festivals an extra $127,500 through the Tourism Victoria Events Program. The Melbourne Festival gets $75,000 in addition to the $6.3 million it gets annually from Arts Victoria. The Australasian World Music Expo (AWME) gets $30,000 for to help with tourism marketing activities to help build its international profile. Melbourne Fringe Festival receives $22,500 to promote itself intestate and internationally, especially New Zealand. “More visitors to these festivals means more economic activity and jobs in our state,” said premier and arts minister Ted Baillieu. We hear the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz also got 42,500 through Tourism Victoria, in addition to the $109,522 of assistance provided by Arts Victoria.

 

PJ HARVEY WINS MERCURY FOR SECOND TIME

PJ Harvey became the first to win Britain’s Mercury Prize, for most creative album, for a second time. Her war-themed Let England Shake beat Adele, Tinie Tempah, Elbow, Ghostpoet, Everything Everything, Anna Calvi, Gwilym Simcock, James Blake, Katy B, King Creosote & Jon Hopkins and Metronomy. Her first win was Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea in 2001. When Harvey collected her £20,000 prize, she recalled that the first time was on Sept 11 ten years ago. She’d watched the attacks on TV in her room before the awards “and as a result, felt detached from (that win).”

MOSHTIX’S FESTIVAL REPORT

83.7% of punters believe that attendances at festivals are declining because of rising ticket prices. 41.6% think that the “experience” had worsened. 52.7% reckon there are enough festivals in Australia, 27.2% believe there are too many. All these were revealed in online ticketing agency Moshtix’s inaugural State of Festival Market Report. Conducted with CoreData, it polled 2,949 respondents. In other findings, 56.3% preferred to watch a favourite act in a pub, 23.4% opted for festivals. The bill is the most important in deciding whether to attend a festival, and most are happy to pay more for food and beverages if it helps the environment. Many are annoyed by behaviour of other patrons.

Adam McArthur, CEO of News Ticketing said that the report showed that there is potential for growth for festivals, but that promoters needed to stay connected to their audiences. He said, “The research uncovered three key findings. Firstly, what consumers are and aren’t willing to pay when it comes to attending festivals; Secondly, opportunities for promoters to evolve their festivals and maintain a relationship with their key audience; and finally, how the festival experience has changed for consumers over the last five years.”

MORE ADELE MILESTONES

Adele’s 21 is now at #1 for a seventeenth week, and gone 7x platinum (that’s sales of almost half-a-million units in Australia). The only albums to have racked up this many weeks were Herb Alpert’s Going Places (1967), and The Seekers’ Greatest Hits (1968). In the UK, Adele has become the first artist ever to score 3 million album sales in the same calendar year. 21 is third best seller by a British female artist, following Leona Lewis’ Spirit from 2007 (3.03m) and Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black (3.29m).

THINGS WE HEAR

* With Gotye and Kimbra holding for a fifth week at #1, Somebody That I Used to Know is now the longest running No.1 by a local act this decade. The last local to spend this long at the top was Gabriella Cilmi with Sweet About Me which accumulated five weeks at the top in April, May and June of 2008

* My Chemical Romance sacked drummer Michael Pedicone after he was caught stealing from the band and confessed to police.

* AC/DC’s Phil Rudd opened his own restaurant in NZ, Phil’s Place.

* The Australian leg of Raggamuffin 2012 has been scrapped but returning in 2013, while Darwin’s first Vibes Music Festival on Sept 10 is also axed.

* ‘70s US blandos The Bellamy Brothers have apologized for claiming that Britney Spears’ producer Dr. Luke copied the title of their 1979 hit If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me? for Spears’ single Hold It Against Me. Dr. Luke sued them for defamation.

* Eric Levin, one of those who launched Record Store Day to spark sales at indie retailers, might have to close his store in Atlanta, Georgia. Meantime two iconic Aussie retailers, Missing Link in Melbourne changed management and The Muses in Adelaide has become on-line only.

* Reggae artist Jah Cure was dropped from his black music awards Mobo nomination for best reggae act after organizers discovered he served a jail sentence in 1999 in Jamaica for armed rape.

* A book on the family of Austrian classical music genius Gustav Mahler claims he is distantly related to Beyonce Knowles.

FUSE TO DISTRIBUTE LOST & LONESOME

Fuse Group has secured Australian distribution of Melbourne’s The Lost And Lonesome Recording Co, set up in the late ‘90s by Mark Monnone and Jane McCracken. It has released 70 recordings from the likes of The Lucksmiths, The Bank Holidays, The Smallgoods, Kirsty Stegwazi and The Mosquitoes.

IRELAND EXITS PALAIS HEBURN

After helping to relaunch the Palais Hepburn Springs six months ago, band and events booker Emma Ireland is moving on to focus on festivals and events. She’ll be available to help out with the bookings she’s made until December ([email protected]) while the venue’s contact # is (03) 5348 4849.

GLOBAL DEAL FOR CAVE OF THE SWALLOWS

Melbourne alt-metal rock band Cave Of The Swallows signed a global deal with Florida-based Bieler Bros. Records,  home to acts like Will Haven and Deathstars. It will release COTS’ debut single I Hate You in America on Sept 27 with later releases in Canada and Europe. Singer guitarist Michael Sheppard tells us that the plan is to relocate to Florida within six to 12 months and start touring there. The worldwide deal excludes Australia where the act is still a free agent. Manager Rob Cole is at [email protected].

KUBIK ROLLS INTO MELBOURNE

European art installation and temporary outdoor live music venue Kubik makes its Australasian debut in Melbourne as part of Melbourne Music Week (Nov 18 to 25). The 700-capacity venue, built in Berlin and staged in 22 cities, is constructedfrom a series of interconnected and illuminated water tanks. Stunning lighting effects are programmed to change colour in synch with live music. Kubik is brought to Melbourne by digital, electronic music and new media art firm Marksthespot, with sound design by Forward Sound.

 

ILLUSIVE, TOTEM ONELOVE TEAM FOR BREAKOUT

Illusive and Totem Onelove team up to present new under-18s dance and urban festival Breakout. It plays Melbourne at Sidney Myer Music Bowl (Fri 25 Nov) and Sydney at Hordern Pavilion and Byron Kennedy Hall (Fri 2 Dec). First acts announced are LA’s LMFAO and local hip-hopper 360. More announced at 4 pm daily at letmebreakout.com.

‘ON THE ROAD AGAIN’ SEMINAR

Cover Your Artz presents a one-day seminar called ‘On The Road Again’ on Oct 15 at NMIT Fairfield from 10am. It covers the best times to tour, how to make touring boost your career, booking tour logistics and the best way to market and promote the tour without destroying the bank balance. Throwing in anecdotes are speakers Paul Gildea of Paul Gildea Artist Management (Stonefield, Michael Paynter), John Sinclair of Fleming Artists (Ani DiFranco, Colin Hay, Paul Dempsey), Karen Conrad of KC Publicity (Ross Wilson, Mental As Anything, Gary Numan) and Tommy Spender (Spender, Offcuts), with more to be announced. See coveryourartz.com/workshops.

MISSING LINK LEAVING CBD

After 30 years in the Melbourne CBD, Missing Link Records will cease trading on Friday October 7 at its Bourke Street store. It will continue under the management of Collectors Corner in a new lsite to be announced shortly.

LUWOW LAUNCHES IN FITZROY

Djs and party bands will be a key element in new Polynesian-theme bar The LuWOW, at 62-70 Johnston Street, Fitzroy. The likes of Bombay Royale, DJ Richie 1250, Johnny Nandez Hammond Explosion, DJ Mohair Slim, The Exotics, DJ Chris Gill, Saskwatch and DJ Sye Saxton will add to an ambience of cocktails, vinyl rarities and pagan idols. See theluwow.com, contact is [email protected].

DIAMOND DOZEN EXPANDS TO MUSIC

Diamond Dozen, Melbourne-based street fashion, lifestyle, arts and action sports PR agency headed by Edwina Hanneysee, has expanded its services to music publicity. Under Jade Pham (Shiny, EMI, Pyramid Rock) it offers national PR strategy including tour publicity, album release campaigns and special projects and events. See diamondozen.com.

AMRAP LAUNCHES AIRNET

Amrap has launched AirNet which allows community radio broadcasters and listeners to interact with musicians online.  AirNet pages are embedded into station websites and social media pages including Facebook. When a track is being played, AirNet searches the net and shows up the act’s photos, Wikipedia entries and videos to stream. See amrap.org/airnet.

AMP ANNOUNCES FIVE AMBASSADORS

The Australian Music Prize (The Amp) announced five Ambassadors: Goyte, Heidi Lenffer of Cloud Control, Kram of Spiderbait, Catherine Britt and Phrase.

LIFELINES

 

Married: Music producer Mark Ronson and underwear model Josephine De La Baume in a star-studded ceremony in Aix-en-Provence in France.

Injured: Iggy Pop broke two bones in his left foot during a festival in Romania, forcing the Stooge to postpone a US tour.

Injured: The Bled guitarist Robbie Burbidge broke an elbow in motorbike crash.

Arrested: Daniel Bedard, 36, after he broke into Celine Dion’s home in Montreal, eating her food and was about to have a bath when caught.

Died: Laurie McAllister, the last bassist in the Runways, 53, complications brought on from asthma.

Died: Tamworth bassist Jeff Dallas from motor neurone disease.

Died: New Orleans arranger and composer Wardell Quezergue, 81, of congestive heart failure. He wrote It Ain’t My Fault which was sampled by Mariah Carey, and arranged classics as Dixie Cups’ ‘Chapel Of Love’, Prof Longhair’s ‘Big Chief’ and for King Floyd, The Meters and Stevie Wonder.

GOVT HELPING RURAL BROADCASTERS

The Ballieu government is consulting with Victoria’s rural and regional community radio sector on getting more 12 – 25 year olds involved in producing and broadcasting local radio programs. It will provide funding of $400,000 over four years to stations which foster this. Of this, $200,000 is available to community stations in rural and regional Victoria to apply for grants to run training workshops, and to provide mentoring for young people to produce live-to-air shows. Contact Jon King, Grants Administrator, Community Broadcasting Foundation on (03) 9419 8055 or [email protected]. More info dpcd.vic.gov.au/youth/community-radio

CIRCUS OZ RAISES $21K FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS

During Circus Oz’s Melbourne run of Steampowered, a red bucket collection raised $21,484 to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC). Circus Oz has contributed over $174, 000 to the ASRC over the last ten years.

NEW VENUE FOR BENDIGO

The Federal government promised funding of $12.3 million for a $25 million theatre development in the old Bendigo jail. Work begins next year on the 1,000-seater Sandhurst Performing Arts Centre to be co-managed by the City of Greater Bendigo and Bendigo Senior Secondary College. It will be used for concerts, theatre productions and local events.

STREET ART SLURPEE

As part of 7-Eleven Australia’s relaunch of its Slurpee Tee this summer, it’s chosen street artists Monkey (Vic), Deb (NSW) and Lucks (Qld) to compete to have their designs voted for at facebook.com/slurpeeaustralia. Deadline is Sept 18, one voter wins a street art workshop with wining designer.

HOUSE OF MARLEY LAUNCHES IN OZ

Rohan “son of Bob” Marley was in the country last week to launch the family’s new music lifestyle brand The House Of Marley and its charity, the 1Love Foundation. Two functions showcased its new range of personal audio products, designed by musicians and using ecologically sustainable materials in the manufacturing wherever possible.