Industry

The AMP Returns

The Australian Music Prize (AMP) returns for the third year with its $25,000 prize from the PPCA to reward musical excellence. Australian artists can enter between Mon 1 Oct to Fri 30 Nov. See www.australianmusicprize.com.au. This year to receive entries as early as possible, they've introduced a two tiered entry fee system. Entries received by 5pm Fri 9 Nov will have a discounted fee of $55.00 (includes GST). Entries received between Nov 12 and 30 pays full fee of $95.00 (incl GST).

Satterley Promoted

Roadrunner Records Australia's managing director Jon Satterley is leaving his post in Melbourne to relocate to the company's New York based operations in two weeks. He has become its senior VP of new media and global business development. Satterley reports outside of the United States to company chairman Cees Wessels, and to president Jonas Nachsin in the US.

Tart Me Up

The Rolling Stones made it into the Guinness World Record for the world's most successful music tour - their 'A Bigger Bang' world tour earned them US$437 million since kicking off in 2005. Madonna captured the record for the highest-grossing music tour per concert from Cher, and for most chart topping albums (nine) by a female artist, replacing Kate Bush. Girls Aloud set a new record for most consecutive top 10 hits in the UK by a female group (16) beating Destiny's Child who had 11. A week earlier, Forbes magazine dubbed the Stones biggest music earners between June 2006 to June 2007, earning $88 million. Following were Jay-Z ($83m), Madonna ($72m), Bon Jovi ($67m), Elton John ($53m), Celine Dion ($45m), country star Tim McGraw ($37m), 50 Cent ($33m), U2 ($29m) and Diddy ($23m). Justin Timberlake missed the top 10 making do with $20 million.

Albert Music Acquisition

Albert Music, home to AC/DC, bought two divisions of Sydney publisher ORiGiN - its copyright administration company ORiGiN Network and music publishing catalogue Orient Pacific Music. ORiGiN co-founder Philip Mortlock joins Albert Music as its creative manager but will keep running ORiGiN's recording and theatrical divisions with his business partner Phillip Walker.

Arena T & E Board

Michael Jacobsen's Arena Travel and Entertainment (ATE), provider of logistical services to the entertainment industry, has made new board appointments to assist in driving its growth in America and Asia. These include former Prime Minister Bob Hawke; Ricky Schutte CEO of ATE; long time venue operator Ross Cunningham; Michele Bribosia, a founder of ticketing company Showbiz International; and capital markets expert and corporate financier, Chad Karpes. Ian Robertson, a specialist in film, TV, telecommunication, advertising and publishing law has joined as an Executive Advisor.

Imagine Signs Merilyn

South Australian based publishers Imagine Music Publishing has signed up Sydney based country artist Merilyn Steele. She'll cut her next album with Love Hz Studio producer Matt Fell to follow up to her 2005 debut album 'This Passion'.

Things We Hear

* Is it all over for the Jack Awards? Events company Peer Group which set them up for Jack Daniels whisky, is no longer working with Jack Daniels.

* America's largest broadcaster Clear Channel Communications Inc, has been sold to a number of equity firms for US$19.5 billion (Aus $22.4 billion).

*EMI's new owners have told its staff they have no plans to sell EMI off.

* A new documentary looking at the history of West Australian music, due out in November is titled 'Something In The Water'. It covers the rise of the Farris Bros and Bon Scott, the Triffids right through to Eskimo Joe, Snowman, Little Birdy, The Sleepy Jackson and Birds of Tokyo.

* Like, big shock. Jessica Mauboy is the new member of Young Divas, joining Paulini, Emily Williams and Kate DeAraugo after Ricki-Lee Coulter quit in June.

* Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman who just sold their place in Nashville have bought an acre in rural Tennessee and are about to build a house on it.

* The 'Halo 3' game generated $170 million on its first day of sale in America. That's more than what the latest Spiderman and Harry Potter movies made on their first day, or any CD.

* Two thousand patrons watching "Priscilla Queen Of The Desert" at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne were evacuated when an anonymous caller rang 20 minutes into the show and threatened to blow up the venue.

SA Jazz Finalist

One finalist from South Australia made it to the finals of the National Jazz Awards - Hugh Stuckey, 22, from Adelaide. This year they focus on guitarists under 35 years. It's part of the TAC Wangaratta Festival Of Jazz in early November.

Heir Spray!

Making it into BRW's list of Australia's 100 wealthiest people aged 40 and under, are #22 Kylie Minogue (estimated fortune $66 million), #45 Paul Anderson and Tim Wiegard of Madman DVD ($38m), #60 Darren Hayes ($30m), #67 Daniel Jones ($28m), #75 Keith Urban ($25m) and #92 Pubboy founder Mark Alexander-Erber ($20m).

J Award Date Set

The J Award will be dished out at an event in Sydney on Fri 7 Dec. The nominees so far are Katalyst, Midnight Juggernauts, Josh Pyke, John Butler Trio, Silverchair, The Vasco Era, Architecture In Helsinki and British India.

Young Entrepreneurs Mentorship Program

Applications are open for Y.E.S. (Young Entrepreneurs Success), the newly created group mentoring initiative designed to support innovation in business; particularly focused on Australia's creative sectors. Note that "young" does not apply to any age limit but young in terms of emerging entrepreneurs. They're looking for those whose businesses would benefit from mentoring in marketing, or intellectual property, finance & viability, leadership & management strategy. Applications form at www.yes.creativeeconomy.com.au deadline is Fri 5 Oct. Y.E.S. is an Australian Government funded initiative under the "Building Entrepreneurship & Small Business Program".

Butterfly Effect Signing

Universal Music Publishing Group signed The Butterfly Effect to a long-term, worldwide publishing agreement. The deal is immediate but only covers future works. Bob Aird, Managing Director, UMPG Australia said, "The Butterfly Effect have already scored two gold albums in Australia and we eagerly anticipate the third. We intend to flex our international muscle to assist the band in making inroads into the worldwide market."

Williams At Indie Summit

Ending AIR's Annual Summit on 5 October is a key note address by Chairman of the Shock Group of Companies, David Williams. He'll outline key challenges for indie labels in terms of owning and exploiting music copyrights, and what impact the advent of collective agencies such as Worldwide Independent Network and Merlin. He will then be interviewed by this columnist, Christie Eliezer. The third Summit is presented in partnership with IODA (Independent Online Distribution Alliance). Panelists includes Ken Outch, destra; Ben Grootemaat, Mercury Mobility; Andrew Valder, Rodriguez Music Marketing / Levity Label; Ray Farrell, Royalty Share; Shannon Martin, File Under: Music; Franz Schuller, Indica Records; and, Kevin Arnold, IODA.

Walk Of Fame

The Go-Betweens will be the first act to be featured in the rock and roll Walk of Fame in Brunswick Street Mall, said Brisbane deputy mayor David Hinchcliffe.

Hard Rock Cafes Looking For Home

The Hard Rock Cafes in Melbourne and Sydney will close temporarily while they find their new homes, reports the 'Australian Financial Review'. The owner of the Sydney digs in Darlinghurst, a Malaysian investor has after 20 years decided to sell the building. The Melbourne HRC has been at the Windsor Hotel in the city for 12 years. The new owners want to turn that space into a ballroom. The Gold Coast HRC remains as is.

Lifelines:

Born: son Donovan Rory MacDonald Gallagher to Oasis leader Noel Gallagher and girlfriend Sara MacDonald.

Born: daughter Natalia to Canberra FM's Irena D'Elia and husband Emanuel.

Engaged: supermodel Kate Moss and Kills guitarist Jamie Hince.

Expecting: Ten Network's entertainment reporter Angela Bishop is now on maternity leave.

Hospitalised: Donna Simpson for stitches in her head after she fell down the stairs coming off stage after the Waifs' show in Broome.

Hospitalised: Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora is back in rehab for a drinking problem, after his June stint was not considered enough.

Hospitalised: Mogwai drummer Martin Bulloch had heart surgery to have his pacemaker replaced. He put the old one up for auction to raise $$$ for charity.

Injured: Stereophonics Kelly Jones got thrown out of the club after a live awards in London for entering the ladies' loo: he gashed his right arm on broken glass.

In Court: Mika has been told to change her name by Belgian reggae star of the same name who claims he registered the name in the '80s, or get sued.

In Court: All cocaine charges again Snow Patrol's Tom Simpson dropped by Glasgow prosecutors.

In Court: A Melbourne Magistrates Court case involving Emily Craig, a former barmaid at the Evolution nightclub who served a drunken patron a shot of Pine O'Cleen detergent as a joke, was adjourned to Feb 4.

In Court: prosecutors will retry Phil Spector on his 2003 second degree murder charge of actress Lana Clarkson after a judge declared a mistrial when two sets of juries couldn't agree on a verdict.

In Court: a judge threw out a lawsuit by singer Rachele Chafir that Mariah Carey stole her song Sexy for It's Like That saying the two songs didn't sound identical.

Died: Bassist Dave Fuentes of LA ska band Hepcat.

Died: Legendary Cuban trombonist Generoso Jimnez, who redefined the role of the trombone in Cuban music and Latin jazz, in Miami of renal failure, 90.

Died: a man died at a Smashing Pumpkins show in Vancouver after a crowd surfing or moshing accident.

Died: Hardcore bassist Mikey "Offender" Donaldson, 46, in his sleep. He had left Millions Of Dead Cops but planned to tour Australia and NZ with them in Feb.

Comfortably Dumb

A survey in Europe by digital company Music Change says that Pink Floyd is the band people most want to reunite. They got 26% of the poll. This was followed by Abba (19%), the original Guns N'Roses (15.73), The Jam, Talking Heads, Fugees, Van Halen, Wham!, Spandau Ballet and Boyzone. 22% voted Spice Girls as the act they wanted most to break up.

Rock Chicks Book, CD

Aussie journalist and one time band publicist and door bitch Alison Stieven Taylor has put together a book called 'Rock Chicks'. It traces Aussie and international female rockers from the 1960s to now. Tony Mott provides the photos. 'Rock Chicks' is out on Mon 15 Oct through Rockpool Publishing, and is the first publishing collaboration between Rockpool publisher Lisa Hanrahan and entertainment agent Mark Byrne. A 'Rock Chicks' compilation CD is out through SonyBMG to coincide.

Amazon Takes On iTunes

Amazon.com Inc launched an early version of its long awaited digital music download store with two million tracks. The store, named Amazon MP3, is seen as a potential rival to Apple Inc's iTunes system, which has 70% of digital music sales in America. Amazon MP3 allows users to buy music without copy protection technology, so that the songs can play on a variety of devices including Apple's iPod. The songs are mainly priced between US89 cents and 99 cents. Most companies which start iTunes rivals fall in a heap after getting caught up in negotiations with record companies. But record companies welcome Amazon MP3 because they need alternatives to iTunes to boost their negotiating power against Apple when licensing contracts are renewed. Record companies are fuming because they think the deals are unfair (words like "pot" "kettle" and "black' pop up) especially over pricing. Universal, for instance, gets 0.70 euro (Aust $1.14) out of the 0.99 euro retail price charged by iTunes - which Universal parent Vivendi's CEO Jean-Bernard Levy calls "indecent."