Industry News

Indies Win Over Sony-BMG Merger

After lobbying from Euro indies, a European court overturned the European Commission's decision to approve the Sony and BMG merger in 2004. It said the EC must now "scrutinise" the deal as it had not looked adequately at how concentration of power could affect competition. In a decision of astonishing naivete, the EC had reckoned there could be no monopoly because (a) there were a lot of different products in the market and (b) the major labels argued with each other all the time. It approved the merger with no conditions.

The merger created the world's second-biggest record label in the US$32 billion global music market. SonyBMG, Universal Music, Warner Music and EMI have 80% of the market. No one seriously expects the SonyBMG merger to be unravelled. But the decision has stopped the planned US$4.6 billion Warner-EMI merger stone cold dead. The two companies would jointly have 30% of the market. EMI's and Warner's share prices plunged sharply as a result.

INXS, Managers, Hit Court

The case between INXS and their ex-managers Michael Murchison and Ron Edwards goes to court on July 19 and 20. INXS's lawyers fought to stop Andrew Farriss from having to take the stand, but were unsuccessful. Edwards and Murchison want $7.75 million, claiming they devised the reality TV series 'Rock Star: INXS' in 2004, and were to be credited as executive producers, and entitled to 18% of gross revenue from the TV series and subsequent tours, and 15% from related projects including a book, website and merchandising. Edwards, who was tour manager with INXS from 1992, began managing them in 1999. He was sacked on 24 Sept last year, Murchison on 1 Dec.

Things We Hear

* Which record label is about to replace the head of its music division?

* Which 60s star booked himself into hospital due to "flashbacks"?

* 'Video Hits' is planning a younger 11 to 18 version of the show also to be screened on Saturday morning.

* A former record company executive is writing a book that's going to drop the dirt on quite a few music execs.

* Darren Hayes and Casey Donovan have parted with SonyBMG.

* Will Starbucks Aus continue its plans to set up music download kiosks after managing director Asha Murthi quit to return to NZ?

* Triple J will announce its Unearthed next month.

* The reason SonyBMG publicist Renee Murphy left her post is to start her new life with Il Divo singer Sebastian Izambard in Paris.

Major Business Conference Announces Dates

The Australian Music Business Conference returns for the 8th time on 16-18 August 2007 at Sydney's Superdome. Organiser Phil Tripp of IMMEDIA! estimates 850 people will attend, up 10% from last year's do, to hear 50 speakers. The nine seminars will include exploring new technologies, emerging trends and DIY empowerment for artists and music businesses. Two awards night will be held at the event. They are the return of the Australian Online Music Awards (theONYA!s) and the inaugural Mobile Music Awards to be videocast and mobi-cast (over mobile phones). Sponsorship for this, as well as seminars and a Women In Music lunch, are being sought. Details from Tripp on (02) 9557 7766 or tripp@immedia.com.au

Tour Rumours

Add these three to your Big Day Out rumours. Audioslave are angling to get on, Tom Morello admitted when he was in Sydney last week to play their new album. The Killers are a possibility. Last week, Def Jam's senior VP of marketing Matt Voss visited Sydney and Melbourne to preview their new album to select media and retail. Muse, whose album entered at #1 on the ARIA chart, say they're on. Jay-Z's website says he plans to tour here in October. The Who's world tour will take in Australia next year, the band said.

Adelaide Revenues Rise

Adelaide's commercial radio industry showed a 3.7% rise in ad revenues in the past financial year to $54.4 million, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers Radio Revenue Performance figures out last week. It was the fourth highest jump, after Brisbane (up 8% to $90.4 million), Melbourne (up 6% to $167.6 million) and Perth (up 5% to $62 million) while Sydney was down 1.9% to $221.6 million. Nationally, the sector posted an increase of 3% to $596.1 million, from $578.7 million.

In Fiction Get Signed

Adelaide punk band In Fiction is signed by Melbourne indie Boomtown. An EP 'The Four Letter Failure' is out on 5 Aug.

Hardware, Wetmusik, Pharmacy Merge

Three dance companies Hardware, WetMusik and Pharmacy have merged to join forces in a united touring, event and marketing super company Totem industries. Totem's roster now has 100 DJs and acts, is about to launch two new festivals and expand operations into Asia (it is already in New Zealand). The new contact is at 16/28 Jeffcott St in West Melbourne and (03) 9348 9421. Managing director Richie McNeill (richie@totemi.com.au) will look after Hardware and Two Tribes events. Director Simon Coyle (simon@totemi.com.au) oversees WetMusik, label and Asian bookings. Director Brad Drummond's (brad@totemi.com.au) responsibilities include Pharmacy, Transmission (Mel only), Straight On Black and new hard dance, hip-hop and rock tours.

EMI Inks Moginie

EMI Music Australia has signed Midnight Oil guitarist, keyboard player, songwriter and producer Jim Moginie. His debut solo album 'Alas Folkloric’' is out 16 Sept with guests Rob Hirst and Martin Rotsey of the Oils and a track co-penned with SFK's Paul Dempsey.

Hall Of Fame

As we tipped, Rose Tattoo and Helen Reddy will also be inducted into the Hall Of Fame. It is held on Wed 16 Aug at Melbourne's Regent Theatre and broadcast on VH1 on Sun 20 Aug from 8.30pm. Announced before were Icehouse, Divinyls and Daddy Cool.

Fuller At Shock

Andrew Fuller is announced Business Affairs Manager at Shock Records, effective July 24. With degrees in law, arts and commerce, he has been involved with the music industry through the West Australian Music association and Arts Law Society in WA. He is currently working at Melbourne law firm Allens Arthur Robinson.

Lifelines

Born: daughter Eva Marie to The Misfits' Jerry and wife Joanna.

Dating: Lisa of the Veronicas and 2DAYFM and CDLive's Craig "Lowie' Lowe, just after she split from US singer Ryan Cabrera.

Married: Cheryl Tweedy of Girls Aloud and footballer Ashley Cole in a tacky $2.4 million ceremony which included his and her thrones and a dog in a diamente-monogrammed suit (!).

Hospitalised: Leann Rimes, for surgery on her legs.

In court: Nigel Oliver, 55, for trying to sell 504 stolen tapes of The Beatles' last 'Let It Be' recording sessions in 1969 for £250,000. The 80 hours of tape was found in a house in Denmark.

In Court: Sydney pub owner Mark Alexander-Erber takes action against ex-gal pal, former music executive Amber Petty, to stop her tying his name with the Bandidos motorbike club.

Sued: Nine Inch Nails, by Mark LaVoie who was doing security at a Madison show last year, when he was hit on the head by a cast iron mic stand throw into the crowd by guitarist Aaron North.

Sued: Michael Jackson by his ex-wife Debbie Rowe for immediate payment of $195,000 and a further $50,000 living expenses while she sues him for child custody of their two children.

Died: Milan B. Williams, keyboard player of the Commodores, cancer at 50.

Died: Michael O'Domhnail, founder of Ireland's Bothy Band, 54, sudden heart attack.

Died: UK exec Charles Levison, 64. He was deputy chairman of Chrysalis, VP International of Island, MD of Arista, chairman/CEO of WEA, and headed Europe's first all-music TV network Music Channel.

Visa Of The Week

Sri Lankan born MIA, who proudly talked of her dad being a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, found she couldn't get into America to record her second album - because of dad's links!

Quote Of The Week

"I wouldn't marry someone if I wasn't serious about giving it a go" - B105's Gabby Millgate on the station's halfwit scheme where eligible bachelors apply to marry her. Bride and groom first set eyes on each other at the wedding ceremony, to be broadcast live on air.

Indie Labels Want Copyright Shift

The UK's independent sector want a change in copyright law to see internet service providers (ISPs) playing a greater role. The Association of Independent Music (AIM) - which includes musicians, music managers and record labels - wants the industry to move away from suing illegal file sharers. Rather, its approach is to encourage ISPs to host legal file sharing for a fee (like a collective license similar to that used for UK radio) that would be shared by artists and labels. At the same token ISPs will also become liable for illegal file-sharing by their users. The ISPs whinge that they are not liable for how their networks are used, saying that for them to check every file transmitted is like asking the Post Office to open every letter it delivers.

Wilkins, O'Neill, Join Folk Festival Board

The board of the National Folk Festival has created two new senior staff positions. Jared Wilkins, Production Manager of the festival for the last three years, is appointed Managing Director. Dave O'Neill, formerly Program Manager, is now Artistic Director. O'Neill, a music teacher and member of Eric Bogle's band, has the role for three years.

Butterfly's #6!

Shades of 'The Omen'! We recently announced that the Butterfly Effect's singer Clint Boge and his partner had a son, Atlas. But here are some spooky figures. He was born 6/6/06, at 6.46 and weighed 6 pounds 3 ounces.

AAV Acquires Stageworks

Melbourne based video duplication and events company AAV will buy Qld events and staging business Stageworks for $2.8 million.

Salisbury Clicks On

Nicole Salisbury steps out of radioland to take over the newly created role as Marketing Manager at hard rock website FasterLouder.com.au. Based in Sydney, she will work with labels, promoters, venues and site sponsors to increase the site's success and increase its capacity to support upcoming unsigned artists. She is contacted at (02) 9282-4034 and nicole@team.fasterlouder.com.au

Roadshow's New Distribution Centre

Roadshow Entertainment has started operations from a new Distribution Centre (RDC) at Prestons in southwest Sydney (15-17 Ash Road). Contact is 1300 657 780. Its new innovative logistics management and order processing will allow the centre to move 50 million DVDs a year, says Chris Chard, Roadshow's Managing Director.

Arts Sponsorship Declines

A study released last week showed that corporate sponsorship of the arts is declining compared to those by private enthusiasts. The study, 'Tracking Changes In Corporate Sponsorship And Private Donations 2006', released by the Australian Major Performing Arts Group, showed that private philanthropy has grown by 70% in the past five years and by 44% in the past year, while corporate sponsorship grew only by 20% in the past five years and 2% last year.

Aria Publicists

Sydney based publicity company Ferris Davies PRM are confirmed as the publicists for October's ARIA Awards.

See Guitar, Learn To Play

Going live online from Fri 21 July is www.looknlearn.com.au which is an online module based tuition system to learn to play guitar. From the people at Fat Trax and City Dub studios, it's possible to download the tuition a lesson at a time to your computer and then play along. The camera angle is above and over the shoulder, so you can see fretboard fingerings the right way around, the first time it's been tried this way, apparently.