More Turn To Community Radio

Community radio's national audience climbed 7% in the past two years to 4 million a week. Nearly half of Australians (aged 15+) listen to it, says a new survey by McNair Ingenuity. Conducted between March and May 2006, it found that the number of listeners in an average month rose from 7,054,000 people (45%) in 2004 to 7,515,000 people (47%) in 2006. Half the respondents said they listened to community radio for "local information/ local news". Almost half said "they play Australian music/ support local artists", 46% for "specialist music or information programs". Full results of the Community Radio National Listener Survey at www.cbonline.org.au

SonyBMG Reshuffles PR Division

SonyBMG announced new responsibilities for its promotions and publicity division. Frank Varrasso becomes Senior Director, Promotions and Publicity. Danielle McEwan is Director, Publicity and Artist Development. Alicia Reynolds is Director, National Promotions. Analese Mills is Manager, National Online Promotions. Jade Pettigrew is Senior Manager, Promotions. Mariam Dib is Publicity Rep. Vanessa Millyard is National Promotions Coordinator & PA to Varrasso and Reynolds.

Tour Rumours

Eagles Of Death Metal (featuring Josh Hommes of Queens Of The Stone Age) are looking at coming in January, singer Jesse Hughes told this column. Orange County's Fu Manchu will embark on a world tour next year, says Century Media Records who have just signed them up.

Murray Joins MIPI

The Music Industry Piracy Investigation unit (MIPI) appointed Steve Murray as Investigations Manager. He has 17 years investigations experience specialising in Major Fraud. Murray was with the NSW Police for ten years and six years corporate experience at Deloitte Forensic and RISQ Group, Fraud Risk Management.

Apple's $100m Lawsuits

Apple Computer Inc. will pay US$100 million to rival Creative Technology Ltd. to settle patent lawsuits over technology on the iPod. Apple claimed no wrong-doing but the iPod apparently infringed on the Singapore based Creative's patent for a navigation system used to organise and access music on its Zen media players.

Things We Hear

* The family of a popular Sydney club DJ who died of a heroin overdose was rung a few days later by someone claiming to be a "friend" and asking for the keys of his car.

* After Westlife delayed their September tour to next year, are they returning in October on a promo tour to whip up more interest?

* Is Jay-Z being wooed to take part in the ARIA music awards?

* A major US funky, dub, punk and reggae label is looking to open doors in Australia within six weeks. It aims to give local acts support nationally and a pathway to the elusive So Cal market.

* No, Kasey Chambers didn't blow out her US tour in Sept because she's pregnant. It's for "business reasons" her manager says.

Perth's New Concert Arena

Perth is getting a new 14,000-capacity concert venue to be called Perth Arena. The $250 million project is to be finished by 2009.

Sutton Heads Abroad

Kate Sutton, Artists Relations Manager at Universal Music Australia, will relocate to Los Angeles to take over as international publicist at Interscope/Geffen/A&M from 1 Sept.

Alexis Wins An Award

SA-FM's afternoon announcer and operations manager Alexis Savaidis had a beaut 23rd birthday present the other day. She won the Austereo Adelaide Award for best on-air talent - her third Austereo award - for having the highest rating FM shift in Adelaide.

Mushroom Publ Inks SA's Amaya

South Australia born singer/songwriter Amaya Laucirica has been signed by Mushroom Music publishing. After a spell in Sydney, she is now based in Melbourne. A self titled EP earlier this year showed her music to have undertones of Mazzy Star, Neko Case and Neil Young. She's currently writing her first album for In-Fidelity Records.

SAYAB Grants Deadline

The SA Government, through the Minister for the Arts, invites applications from SA artists aged 26 and under for Project & Development Grants. It encourages youth arts activity in music, dance, drama, film/video, new writing, theatre and visual arts. Grants are open to artists developing their own projects or engaging in training or mentoring programs; individuals, small groups or non-profit organisations who are encouraging the participation of young people in arts activities; and youth groups and organisations developing training programs/mentoring schemes for young artists. Applications are due on Friday 15th September. For more info, guidelines and application forms, contact: SAYAB: 11 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide SA 5006, or phone (08) 8361 9777 or email sayab@sayab.org.au. See http://www.sayab.org.au/sayab/pd_grants.htm

Keegan To Head SA's ABC

Rick Keegan replaces Tom O'Byrne as the ABC's state editor of radio, TV and current affairs. He has been in Adelaide media for 30 years, and a senior member of the ABC newsroom for five years.

Rock Press Shuffle

Following on from the demise of 'Sain Magazine' and the possible closure of 'Hot Press Australia' (it's being offered to another publisher) comes the news that Cairns has a new street magazine called 'The Gate'. Sydney's 'Drum Media' launches a Perth version in late September with Mark Nielsen as editor.

Peppermint Blue Moves

Peppermint Blue, which manages Rogue Traders, Andy Van and Anthony Callea, has moved. New contacts are (02) 9328 9911 (phone), (02) 9328 9055 (fax) and PO Box 1668, Double Bay NSW 1360.

Music Stores For Sale?

Rumours - and we stress they are just rumours - have been floating about that Brazin may spin off its Sanity, HMV and Virgin stores. These intensified when Brazin revealed that profits slid 37% to $16.2 million in the 2006 financial year. Sales were up to $525.7 million from $464.9 million but affected by heavy discounting by rivals. Brazin CEO Geoff Milne told the 'Australian Financial Review' he has received "inquiries" from various private equity firms expressing interest from buying parts of the business. He didn't say which parts.

Roadrunner Goes Crimson

Roadrunner Records Australia has signed Melbourne 's Behind Crimson Eyes. BCE has set up a large fan base through live shows.

Dumb And Dumber

Ozzy Osbourne is Britain's silliest celebrity according to a poll of 2,000 conducted by ITV.com. #3 is boxer Chris Eubank, #4 is Rolf Harris, #6 is Simon Cowell and #12 the Duke Of Edinburgh.

Wednesday Night Gig

Anyone looking for a Wednesday night gig half way between Sydney and Melbourne should contact Wayne Mutton at Romano's Hotel in Wagga Wagga, NSW on 02 6921 2013 or wayne@romanoshotel.com.au

Lifelines:

Born: daughter, Eve, to Sydney musician/actor Peter Fenton and wife, publicist Samantha Hately.

Born: twins Lucas and Nathaniel to Universal Music Australia director of legal and business affairs Karen Don and partner Andrew.

Born: son Elwood to Take That's Mark Owen and actress Emma Ferguson.

Expecting: Sean "Diddy" Combs and model Kim Porter, their second.

Expecting: ABC Music's marketing manager of contemporary music, Karen Power, is on maternity leave.

Expecting: 4CA FM Cairns morning presenter Juanita Kelly is on maternity leave.

Engaged: SonyBMG promotions coordinator Vanessa Millyard and former EMI Music exec Phil Morello.

Split: Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, after 15 years and three kids. He's been seeing a September 11 widow.

In Court: a man who threatened to go on 'Oprah' and claim to be the son of Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds unless he got $20 million, will spend three months in a work release program.

Hospitalised: Keane singer Tom Chaplin checked himself into rehab for drink and drug addiction.

Hospitalised: Disturbed frontman David Draiman had surgery to repaired a deviated septum that had made breathing difficult.

Hospitalised: Aerosmith's Tom Hamilton is on a seven week radiation treatment for throat cancer.

Died: Joseph Hill, founder and singer with long time reggae band Culture, suddenly in Berlin during an European tour.

Died: US jazz trumpeter and big band leader Walter "Maynard" Ferguson, 78. He was known for blistering solos and high notes.

Died: Knack drummer Bruce Gary, 55, from cancer. His primal drumming helped My Sharona sell six million worldwide. He moved to sessions after, working with the likes of Dylan and George Harrison.

Airport Rules Hassling Musicians

The British Musicians Union is holding talks with the government about allowing travelling musicians to take their fragile and expensive instruments onto the aircraft as hand luggage. Many musicians are turning down lucrative jobs abroad because new strict security measures at UK airports means their instruments have to be stored in the hold. The sole and expensive alternative is to charter flights.

"Light Up The Halls"

Australian Rock Company (ARC) wants to see gigs played at town halls, civic centres, schools and other community venues around the country. If you want to play gigs, they have 496 local promoters they can put you in touch with. If you're putting an event together, they are willing to help. See www.arc.au.com or contact Peta Wilcox on info@arc.au.com or phone (02) 9360 1700.

Luhrmann at Shock

Kirsteene Luhrmann is appointed to the newly created position of Product Manager, DVD in Shock's DVD & Film Department, reporting to Scott Harding.

Sound Of The Week

Sydney's MIX 106.5 FM is scrambling around trying to right a wrong before lawyers get involved. They've been running a "what does it sound like?" competitions. Last Friday, a mother of three was told she won $50,000 for guessing it was a sugar sachet opening. Alas, two others had guessed correctly earlier but told they were wrong. Now management is trying to hunt the others down too.

APRA Deadlines

APRA members who have been playing must complete their 05/06 Live Performance Returns if they want to be paid in November. They have until Thurs 31 Aug to complete electronic LPRs for the period 1 July 2005 - 30th June 2006. See www.apra.com.au.

Studios 301 Mastering Back In Biz

Studios 301 Mastering has finished moving from Sydney's Castlereagh St to Alexandria, and ready to work with artists. See www.studios301.com

Roocast Of SXSW

Austrade has produced a 20 minute video podcast online in six segments of this year's Australian invasion of South By Southwest. 200 execs and 25 bands went from these shores. It is to help those who want to go to the event in Texas in March 2007, and includes the 90 minute Melbourne roadshow held recently on preparing for it. It is put together by Melbourne-based podcasters Roocast and on http://www.roocast.com/sxsw2006 for download.