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All your Industry news and gossip...
Music
Biz Pays For CD Scam
US$143.1
million - that is what the five major music companies Bertelsmann
Music Group, EMI Music Distribution, Warner-Elektra-Atlantic
Corporation, Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group, along
with three of America's largest music retailers, Musicland, Tower
Records and Trans World Entertainment have agreed to pay. 41 states
and commonwealths charged them with between 1995 to 2000 conspiring to
set minimum prices for CDs, eliminating the possibilities of discounts
and destroying price competition among music retailers. The deal, to
be yet approved by a judge, includes US$67.3 million in cash to pay
back consumers and 5.5 million CDs worth $75.7 million to be given to
music programs and non-profit groups in each state. The eight
companies deny wrong doing, but say they settle to save themselves
expensive legal costs. The New York attorney general called it a
victory for consumer rights.
Scandal
Breaking Over Alleged Rip-Off?
One of
the major labels in Australia could end up embroiled in a scandal
about allegedly under paying some of its artists in the last 20 years.
A former employee of the label blew the whistle to Sydney journalist
Phil Tripp, giving him copies of memos and royalty statements. The
writer went to print in his 'Loose Cannon' column on the TheMusic
website, and has since got emails from managers and artists of how
they've been ripped off by other labels. Professor Alan Fels of the
ACCC initially showed interest in pursuing it but later said it wasn't
part of its brief, but Nine Network's '60 Minutes' is apparently keen.
New
Radio For Port Pirie
A new
permanent community radio licence was launched last week in Port
Pirie, South Australia by Pirie Community Radio Broadcasters Inc (TRAX
FM) on 105.1 MHz on the FM band. TRAX used that frequency for its
temporary licence. It was the only applicant when the ABA asked for
applicants, and will cover a wide range of local issues, news,
information and music that appeals to the many different community
groups across the area. Contact for the station is Graham Johnston,
Technical Officer, on (08) 8633 0212.
Yes
Coming?
Time to
break out the brown rice and pachouli oil. The official Yes website
reveals that the veteran British group plans to make its first trek to
Australia in 30 years. Tentative dates, according to the site, are
Melbourne on February 28, and Sydney on March 1. Alas, no Adelaide
date yet. Will it be a repeat of Bob Geldof and Gene Simmons who blew
out SA appearances to spend more time in other states?
Dundas
Heads Triple J
Kate
Dundas is the new head of Triple J. She takes over as head of the
ABC's national music networks (which also includes Classical FM) on
October 22. She has worked in the higher echelons of the ABC,
overseeing metro stations, rural markets, research and policy. She
left in 1997 for the NSW Premier's department.
Who's
Got The Power?
A poll
of music industry executives put Bono at the top, partly because he
fronts the biggest band in the world at the moment but because he uses
his celebrity to gain the ear of political and religious figures to
push social issues. Second was Doug Morris, head of Universal Music
(the world's largest record company) and third was Eminem.
Adelaide
Bouncer Jailed
A
bouncer who worked at the Tea Tree Gully Hotel was jailed for two and
a half years for hitting a patron, and another bouncer was given a
five month prison term, suspended on a two year good behaviour bond.
The court found that Shane Anthony Kearney, 29, of Murray Bridge was
the crowd control supervisor at the venue on December 24, 2000. He
ejected two 20-year old men from the club, and hit one of them,
knocking him out. A second bouncer, Paul Appleby, 35, of Wellington,
then dragged the unconscious man out of the hotel and dumped him on
the grass outside. The judge found that Kearney made a report in the
security log that was inconsistent with reports by eyewitnesses, and
had swapped his security ID badge, and instructed Appleby to do the
same. Kearney was charged with assault, altering evidence and impeding
police investigation, while Appleby pleaded guilty to to impeding a
police investigation and assault after the incident.
Taking
A "Dump"
The
Sydney 'Daily Telegraph' reports that bands reckon that Seven
Network's 'The Monday Dump' is the coolest. Machine Gun Fellatio,
Taxiride and 28 Days who recently played the show insisted they have
their photos taken with Roy and HG. Taxiride's Jason Singh got the
'Monday Dump' name signs from the dressing room doors for John Farnham
and swimmer Petria Thomas and got the stars to sign them. 28 Days not
only got autographs from Cronulla prop Jason Stevens and Davis Cup
coach Wally Masur but got two sets of autographs each from Roy and HG
- one for them, and one for their dads.
Industry
Heavyweights Set Up Triarc
Four
industry heavyweights - Chris Robinson, director Wah Wah Music and
co-manager of Killing Heidi; Mark Holden and Jack Strom who manage
Vanessa Amorosi; and Michael Matthews who's worked with Festival, EMI,
Roadshow Music & Wah Wah Music, and signed Australian Crawl and
Geisha - have set up a new company called Triarc. It involves
recording, publishing and managing new artists and is allied with
Shock Records. Its first signing is pop duo Akita.
PPCA
Launches Revamped Website
The
Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) launches this
week its revamped website with greater support services for registered
Australian recording artists, including downloading registration
forms, latest copyright news and statistics. The business community
gets a section on their obligations and cost on licensing music for
use; an updated events and links section enables artists and record
labels keep in touch with other industry sectors
Ready
For Top Billing
Top
Billing Music Service is a new company set up to offer advice,
feedback and direction for up'n'coming acts through demo appraisals,
one on one consulting and project work. It is set up by Peter Billing
who played in bands for ten years and spent the last six years as
A&R Manager for Universal Music Australia. He says "During my
time as A&R manager at Universal I was constantly staggered by the
quality of music coming across my desk. Unfortunately most artists
never get the right amount of focus or attention on their music from
an early stage. I plan to address that." Billing is contacted at
Top Billing Enterprises, 805/3 Kings Cross Road, Rushcutters Bay, NSW
2011 and phone 0409 227 551.
Directory
Deadlines
The
deadline for listings in the January 2003 edition of the AustralAsian
Music Industry Directory is October 10 - an additional late listing
fee of $55 applies. Bankcard/Mastercard/Visa details or a cheque must
be sent to Immedia! at 20 Hordern St. Newtown NSW 2042. More info from
(02) 9557 7766.
Australian
Music Week Back
Australian
Music Week (Feb 4 to 9, 2003) sees music industry heavyweights from
Australia and abroad meet in Melbourne for a variety of events.
Conference themes include the global music business and indigenous
music, "radio, marketing and dance music", songwriting &
publishing, and management and A&R of country music. There are
mentor sessions and showcases. Part of AMW is the Melbourne
International & Blues Festival, which will announce its bill later
this week. AMW is run by Definitive Events, contacted at (03) 9596
8744 (ph) and 9596 0936 (fax).
Lifelines
Born:
son, Dominic, for Triple M's Brandan "Jonesy" Jones and wife
Helen.
Dating: impending Melbourne resident Belinda Chapple,
ex-Bardot, and TV head Ed Phillips.
Married: Papa Roach bassist Tobin Esperance in Carmel
California.
Hospitalised: Filter singer Richard Patrick gone into rehab.
Recovering: Roxette singer Marie Redriksson after doctors
removed a tumor on her brain.
Arrested: Tamera Jeanine Andade, 35, for violating a
restraining order by Creed singer Scott Stapp. She was busted outside
a Creed gig with a ticket, a copy of the restraining order and a page
with Stapp's home address.
Arrested: Parley Drew Hardiman of Mississippi, while
negotiating to have his ex-wife's legs broken and for country singer
Travis Tritt to be killed for US$20,000 for being rude to a friend.
In Court: Adam Ant avoided a prison term for brandishing an
imitation pistol at a London pub after his cowboy suit got laughed at.
He got a year's community sentence and a fine of $780 for throwing an
alternator and injuring someone.
Died: US singer/songwriter Micky Newbury, 62, after lengthy
illness. He wrote Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My
Condition Was In) for Kenny Rogers, Sweet Memories for Andy
Williams and She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye for Jerry Lee
Lewis.
Died: Harry Slee, 53, after short illness. Singer with '70s
Sydney bands Soul Generation and Maple Lace (Gimme Dat Ding)
then Stormy Monday, he retired to Cairns where he set up music agency
Tropical Talent and street magazine 'Barfly'.
Died: New Zealand artist Dalvanius Prime, who played in
Australia as Dalvanius & The Fascinations in the '70s, from
cancer, aged 54.
Peppered
Red Hot
Chili Peppers fan Andy Moore wanted to bring a bit of spice to the
band's Melbourne show on December 1 - he wanted to get married onstage
to fiancee Holly, presumably with the Peppers as witnesses. The idea
got as far as tour promoters Michael Chugg Entertainment who shot it
down in flames.
Tougher
Rules On Lyrics
US
politicians are putting the screws on record companies, complaining
that too many kids are being exposed to violent and sexually implicit
lyrics. A House Commerce Subcommittee has demanded that Warner,
Universal, EMI and Sony follow BMG's lead in being more specific about
what was "wrong" with lyrics. The music biz argues that
while film companies can identify explicit scenes, objections to
lyrics is personal. Politicians have praised the film and computer
gaming industries who, in recent months, have cut back marketing
explicit content to minors. But they say the music biz has not done
so.
Love
Versus Universal
They've
officially announced that Courtney Love and Universal Music Group have
settled their differences. UMG will waive any rights to future
recordings from Love but will get some royalties from her future
recordings with UK's Poptones Records. Love will consent to Universal
releasing new Nirvana packages, including a compilation with a
never-before-released track, a box set, and a rarities album. As part
of the settlement, ownership of a group of unreleased Hole recordings
will revert to Love. Love also has the option to release a long-form
Hole video program with UMG under a separate new agreement. Courtney
is presently writing with Linda Perry and preparing for the role of
Lady Macbeth in Luc Besson and Vincent Regan's production of 'Macbeth'.
Austereo's
Big Bikkies
From
the 'Financial Review': Austereo certainly believes in not paying
peanuts to not get monkeys. Group managing director Brad March
received a total of $1.42 million in the 2002 financial year, from a
salary of $894,513, with a $359,513 bonus and other benefits.
Executive chairman Peter Harvie made do with a total of $624,620 from
the network.
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