News:
·Puff 'n' Stuff
Everything that's happening in Adelaide this fortnight.
·Industry
The latest from the music industry.
·Dance
Dance and electronica news.
·Metal
Updates from the wide world of metal.
·7 Things To Do
7 Things To Do In Adelaide This Fortnight
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Industry News
PPCA Board Election
EMI Music Australia's CEO John O'Donnell was re-elected for a fourth year as chairman of the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) board. The PPCA has been providing licenses for public performance and broadcasting for audio and video tracks on behalf of record labels and their artists, since 1969. Also joining the board as licensor representative was Sebastian Chase, indie guru and founder and managing director of Sydney-based MGM Distribution. He replaces David Vodicka, managing director of Melbourne-based Rubber Records. Former Go-Betweens drummer Lindy Morrison was returned as artist representative for 2008 and 2009. Unlike the other board positions, this role is for a two-year term. Morrison has held that seat since it was created 14 years ago. Others on the board are George Ash, managing director, Universal Music Australia; Bill Cullen, co-director of One Louder Entertainment; Paul Christie (artist representative); Denis Handlin, chairman & CEO, SonyBMG Music Entertainment Australia & NZ; and Ed St John, president & CEO, Warner Music Australasia.
Music Threat In Venues....
Nightclubs and dance clubs are looking at their options after the Full Federal Court upheld a 2007 decision by the Copyright Tribunal to allow licensing fees hikes. The record companies' licensing collection agency, the PPCA, asked for fees to be based on $1.05 per patron by 2012 rather than the 7 cents which has been in operation since 1994. Dance party rates rose from 20c to $3.07 a person. The Australian Hotels Association launched an appeal, saying that venues did not have the profit margins to pay the new fees. The AHA's Bill Healey told this column that venue owners were mulling over options. These could approach each record company individually, or drop recorded music and go for live music, or just play American records (which do not have to pay these fees) or get local acts to do covers of club hits and play these. The PPCA originally tried to get $2.32 per person. This whole legal joust has caused each side $1 million each.
...And On TV
Commercial TV stations are darkly muttering about cutting back the amount of Australian music played on TV if they lose a Copyright Tribunal case. The PPCA is trying to squeeze more money out of their association Free TV Australia. Previously, the FTA paid the PPCA $700,000 a year for all music used, as part of a five year agreement which ended in June 2007. The PPCA now wants to be paid the same rates that FTA pays songwriters/ publishers association APRA, which was about $32 million in the 2006/07 financial year. FTA's members make $4 billion in ad revenues a year.
Is Everybody In?
SA Police and the Liquor Licensing Commission are asking licensed premises in the City of Adelaide to trial a 'lock out' for twelve months. This means that punters cannot enter premises after 3am, although unlike the Hotel California, you can leave if you want to. Trials in other precincts (Fortitude Valley, Gold Coast) have indicated that alcohol fuelled incidents are lessened when punters are prevented from venue hopping in the wee hours. A number of licensees are unhappy with the suggestion, and petitions are being distributed for equally unhappy punters to sign.
Pepsi Pisses' Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are suing Virgin Records, saying it illegally used their name and music in promotional deals that hurt the band's credibility with fans. The 'Pumpkins say the only active deal they have with Virgin - which released their music for 17 years - is to sell digital downloads of their songs. But Virgin had no right to use their name with a "Pepsi Stuff" promotion with Amazon.com and it threatens their reputation for "artistic integrity". They want Virgin to pay them the profits from the promotion, and not use the 'Pumpkins' name or music.
Austral For Sale
Are you a regular patron of The Austral on Rundle Street? It's yours to buy for $10 million. There is considerable local and intestate interest. Owner Gosia Schild who's run it for 26 years says she will be carefully looking at prospective buyers and choosing the one most inclined to keep it running as a music venue.
Belvedere At Nova
Olivia Belvedere is the new music director at Nova 91.9 Adelaide. She held that position at SEA FM Gold Coast and Hit Music Stream.
Wanna Play At Bigstar?
Bigstar Records last week launched the first of its regular basement gigs at its flagship store at 197 Rundle Street. Every Wednesdays 5 to 7 pm, they feature 2 or 3 acts. The shows are free so the bands don't get paid. But you can sell your CDs in the counter upstairs under the store's normal consignment conditions. The Masquerade + Double Standard played last week, with Amber Calling w/ Kiss Montana + Capulet this week, and Epitome Of Revenge next week.
Rinaldi Joins Albert Music
Damian Rinaldi joins iconic Aussie indie Albert Music this week as Head of Legal and Business affairs. He recently returned to Oz after a stint in London as VP of legal and business affairs at SonyBMG Music Entertainment. In 2000 he joined Sony Music Australia as GM of L & BA. Rinaldi will report to CEO Tim Prescott.
New Signing #1
Universal Music Australia's A&R manager Jess Beston has inked Melbourne neo-grunge trio Children Collide. They head to LA this month to work with producer Dave Sardy (Wolfmother, Dandy Warhols) on their debut album.
New Signing #2
DestraMusic has tapped on San Diego-based RoyaltyShare Inc. to manage the digital sales processing and royalties for its array of indie labels. These include Central Station Records, Sweat It Out!, Hardwax, Grindin', MRA Entertainment, Compass Bros Records, Eagle Rock Entertainment and Fable Records.
Things We Hear
*Wolfmother's Andrew Stockdale went to see Kiss in concert, and then jammed with them in private afterwards after inevitable backstage bonding.
* Expect Boyz II Men to announce a June visit.
* Richard Branson, here to discuss business for his Virgin Blue airlines, popped his beard in at V Festival in Sydney and the Gold Coast. After playing volley ball with some of the Sydney punters, Branson told reporters that the first two V Fests "lost a bundle" but he expected it to balance out in a few years.
* Henry Rollins says a studio engineer told him that Britney's voice on her recordings is mixed with that of a black R&B singer's to get a soul feel.
* A report by MultiMedia Intelligence says half the 941 million mobile phones shipped in the year 2011 worldwide will play music. That means they will outsell portable music players.
* Fleetwood Mac were surprised at Sheryl Crow's claim she was joining them.
* The LA Times had to apologise to Puff Daddy for saying he and Biggie Small knew in advance that Tupac was to be assaulted. The paper's information came from false FBI data.
* Scott Weiland's comments to a Glasgow audience they were witnessing the "the last tour by Velvet Revolver" are being denied by Slash and Matt Sorum.
* Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said at the pay TV's conference that the Rudd government is committed to turning off analogue TV signals by 2014.
* The HSBC bank, which normally sponsors sports, has locked in a deal with Cirque du Soleil for its mid-year tour.
* Dicko revealed on his Vega radio show that Oz Idol producers told him to shed some blubber before 'Idol' starts or he'd have to wear a jacket on camera.
SonyBMG's Online Service
Sony BMG Music Entertainment's CEO Rolf Schmidt-Holtz posed more questions than answers when he told German newspaper 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung' that Sony is developing an online music subscription service. Users get unlimited access to SonyBMG music for a flat monthly rate of 6 to 8 euros (A$10.20 to $13.60), and it's compatible with a host of digital music players including Apple's iPod. Customers could keep some tracks indefinitely. But there's nothing new or innovative about the service, and it makes no sense unless SonyBMG used other major labels. Fans buy tracks without caring what label it's through.
Radio Asks For Help
SA radio station 5TCB will ask Tatiara Distict Council to throw it a funding lifeline of $22,000 to keep the station running. Their earlier idea was for council to buy their building. Now they want it to fund the station's rent for two years.
More For Song Summit
Song Summit Sydney (www.songsummit.com.au) heats up with more programs and attractions announced. The Live Music Revolution forum will address the health of Australia's live music industry with a panel featuring Bill Healey, Director, National Affairs, AHA; Anthony Ball, Executive Manager-Policy & Government, Clubs NSW; Michael Morrison, Global Marketing Trends Expert; John Hart, Chief Executive, Restaurant & Catering Australia. Music store Allans Music is bringing its Weekend Warriors concept - under Rose Tattoo guitarist Dai Pritchard, fans join one of five ad-hoc bands and play live.
The SSS expo is also open to the public on Sat 5 April from 9.30am to 5.00pm at the Hordern, with sets by Clare Bowditch and Thirsty Merc's Rai Thistlethwayte as part of Gibson Guitar masterclasses.
3D Radio On The Move
Looks like Three D Radio could be on the move from its current address of 48 Nelson Street. The Norwood, Payneham and St Peters Council plans to relocate the users of Dunstan Grove and Linde Reserve, and sell the building. The council says on its website that it has undertaken to find new digs for Three D, probably in the St Peters Precinct.
Lifelines
Dating: Paulini Curuenavulli of Young Divas and NZ Warriors' Wade McKinnon.
Engaged: Britney's pregnant 16-year old sis Jamie-Lynn and boyfriend Casey Aldridge.
Arrested: Poison's drummer Rikki Rockett, 46, nicked at LA airport after the band returned from New Zealand. The warrant was issued in Mississippi.
In Court: Qld rapper wanna-be Lace Italiano aka Jade Michael Lacey, 24, and his brother Dionne Matthew Lacey, 20, have been committed to stand trial over the shooting death of a Gold Coast man Kevin Palmer, 23, at a house party last year. He was shot in the leg, and then the heart after goading them to use their guns.
In Court: P Diddy has reached a settlement with a man who claimed that the rapper "assaulted and battered" him at a post-Oscars party last year after he approached him. Diddy insists Gerard Rechnitzer walked into his open hand.
In Court: US rapper Nate Dogg pleaded guilty in Orange County, Calif. court to aggravated trespassing and battery stemming from a domestic violence complaint in 2006. He must attend a program and can't pack a gun for 10 years.
In Court: US rapper Remy Ma's lawyer has admitted that she did shoot her friend Makeda Barnes-Joseph after an argument over $3,000 missing from her purse - but the gun went off as the pair tussled in a car. Prosecutors claimed the rapper loaded her gun and got into the woman's car. Earlier on the rapper's lawyer painted Barnes-Joseph as a groupie trying to make money out of her. If convicted, Remy Ma could face up to 25 years in prison.
Arrested: Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora for drunk driving in Los Angeles.
Died: The husband of British soul singer Corinne Bailey Rae, sax player Jason Rae, 31, was found dead in an apartment in Leeds. Police then arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs.
Died: Cuban-born jazz musician Israel "Cachao" Lopez, credited with inventing the mambo, in Miami at the age of 89.
Died: Neil Aspinall, Beatles confidante and head of their Apple Corps, 66, cancer.
The Long And Grinding Road
The Beatles' Apple Records is in court to block the release of early recordings from 1962. They say the tapes - with Paul McCartney singing Hank Williams' Lovesick Blues and Paul and John Lennon doing Ask Me Why -were taped without permission. But Miami company Fuego Entertainment says the tapes are legal, and that the album, titled 'Jammin' With The Beatles & Friends, Star Club, Hamburg, 1962' should see the light of day. Apple wants £7.6 million damages.
Everett At Immedia!
Paul Everett has taken over as Managing Editor of IMMEDIA!'s print and online AustralAsian Music Industry Directory (AMID), the music business contacts and resources publication for the past 20 years. He replaces Danielle Hartmann who has edited the AMID for close to 10 years and 20 editions. Everett comes from the world of captioning services for major Australian broadcast networks and video/DVD distributors.
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