News:
·Puff 'n' Stuff
Everything that's happening in Adelaide this fortnight.
·Puffio
All of the latest arts news
·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
How Much Is That Music In The Window?
While Australian music associations are reasserting to consumers that music has "value", events last week proved that the price of music is elastic. Coldplay's free download of their single Violet Hill shifted 2 million units. Nine Inch Nails are giving away their next album 'The Slip' online before its release as a CD in July - a smart ploy to get new fans. NIN is obviously confident of its strong bond with its audience that long time fans will buy the digital and physical product. British newspaper 'Mail On Sunday' will give away Paul McCartney's 2007 album 'Memory Almost Full' with its May 18 edition. It has a circulation of 2.2 million - and sold an extra 600,000 when it gave away Prince's 'Planet Earth' last July. The Prince move pissed off UK retailers so much Sony BMG opted not to release the album in the UK. The McCartney CD sold 100,000 units in the UK when released through Starbucks' Hear Music. It will be interesting to see if Macca gets new fans as a result who'll go to his concerts this year.
US site Digital Audio Insider worked out given the US rate of inflation in the last five years, iTunes charges less than it should for singles but more for albums!
Jet's New Management
Jet and Sydney-based Winterman and Goldstein Management parted ways after six years. Jet are now with veteran US manager Allen Kovac whose 10th Street Entertainment looks after Buckcherry, Meatloaf, Hanson and Papa Roach.
Protest Over Curfew
A group of Melbourne nightclub owners, DJs, hospitality workers, event promoters, security companies and music fans have teamed up under the name Melbourne Locked Out (melbournelockedout.com) to protest against the state government's trial of a 2am curfew. They claim it will ruin Melbourne's vibrant nightlife. A peaceful protest rally is to be held on the steps of Parliament at 5 pm on Fri 30 May with everyone wearing white. Melbourne Locked Out claims it has 100,000 members and its website had 30,000 hits over three days late last week. Meantime, the West Australian government also has a early curfew in its books.
Arts SA Info Sessions
ArtsSA's next workshop is on Tues 27 May on "income generation". It looks at how the Australia Cultural Fund works. It's at AbaF, Level 12, Pirie Street Adelaide 9.30-11.30am. Register at www.abaf.org.au
The next on building international markets is on Tues 10 June. The venue is still to be decided but the (free) session runs 5.30-7.30 pm. Speakers are Chris Rees of Austrade and Sue Arlidge of Fruit Music. The grant program will also be discussed. On Thurs 10 July Alistair Cranney of Fuse Festival & What Management will discuss "the North American experience"' at conferences and showcasing opportunities. Register through Becc Bates at Arts SA Tel: 8463 5414, email is bates.becc@dpc.sa.gov.au
Sales Records Shattered
First week US sales for the videogame 'Grand Theft Auto IV' did better than expected, moving 6 million copies and raking in $500 million in sales. That first week performance blows away the previous record held by 'Halo 3' which sold about 2.6 million units and earned $300 million. First day sales for 'Grand Theft Auto IV', including all pre-orders, totaled 3.6 million copies.
Things We Hear
* One of Australia's top bands is planning to put out its next single through a new label, and not the one it found mega-success with.
* Two Aussie authors are working on two different books on the Australian pub scene.
* While 50 Cent was performing in South Africa, one fan jumped onto the stage, and nicked his necklace. His parents made him return it.
* While Melbourne protests the 2 am lockout, Perth plans to introduce it.
* Madonna's next world tour looks like missing out Australia again. But expect German producer Malente in August, Johannes Heil here in September and Mr C brings his Superfreq club the month after.
* Eskimo Joe's label chief Michael Parisi of Warner, publisher Linda Bosidis of Mushroom Music and manager Cath Haridy flew to Perth last week to listen to some of the new tracks - and came back jubilant at what they heard.
* Amy Winehouse's 'Back To Black' has replaced Coldplay as Amazon's biggest selling album of all time.
* JB Hi Fi expects its net profit this year to be between $57m to $60m.
NAB Songwriting Comp
As part of its 150th anniversary, NAB (formerly the National Australia Bank) has launched the NAB Songwriting Competition to unearth new songwriters -with the chance to have their song produced and performed at a major live music event to conclude the 150 year commemorations in late 2008. The songs must incorporate the theme "ideas, dreams and aspirations". The judging panel is Bill Page (Mushroom Music Publishing); Ian James Deputy Chairman of APRA, Chairman of AMCOS and Managing Director - Mushroom Music Publishing; Paul Anthony of Rumblefish (US); Sally Howland (APRA) and Andrew Hagger (NAB).
As part of its 150th, NAB sponsored APRA's inaugural S3 Summit 'Play The Music" showcase, and the NAB songwriting workshops being conducted at secondary schools throughout regional Australia featuring Magic Dirt, Monique Brumby and Nicky Bomba.
Dawkins' Memoirs
Record producer/ record label chief Peter Dawkins' memoirs 'The Icecream Boy' is as much a glimpse into the corporate music world as his struggle against Parkinson's. Among some of the anecdotes:
* Queen's John Deacon and Roger Taylor arrived for a promo tour, and Deacon disappeared for two days in Sydney, rattled after taking mushrooms in Bali and convinced that Rupert Murdoch was spying on him through the hotel TV set. Queen's management and EMI America kept ringing EMI Oz with threats they'd better find their boy.
* Mi Sex's Computer Games looked like it was going to be a hit in America. But on its week of release, CBS in America decided it would stop paying independent pluggers to get their stuff on air. As a result, airplay for CBS plummeted, and the Mi-Sex record lost its chance.
* A top production team refused to work with him when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's.
The book also explains what Parkinson's is and how it affects the body. It is out now and published by Parkinson's NSW Inc at www.parkinsonnsw.org.au
SAE Open Day Correction
Last column we mentioned Sound Audio Engineering's open day, but gave incorrect details. The open day is Sun 25 May from 11am to 3pm at SAE Institute (Level 2, 282 Gouger Street), where you can check career options and find specific information for training in sound engineering.
Dwyer Joins Furst Media
Furst Media, publishers of Beat Magazine, have appointed Rohan Dwyer as new General Manager to assist their ongoing expansion as an integrated marketing, publishing and communications agency. Dwyer was Sales Director for Nova and Vega radio's Melbourne sales operation.
Greek Is The Word
Victoria police raided a store in Northcote, which sells Greek music - and say they found the retailer actually burning music when they arrived! They seized 3,500 discs priced from $10-$25 each. A 58-year old is helping with inquiries. The Music Industry Piracy Investigations unit helped with the investigation. This the fourth strike in as many weeks since Rein In The Rip Offs campaign was launched. Police seized 10,000 allegedly pirated discs after raids on Melbourne stores selling Greek and Arabic CDs, and a week later in a Sydney market.
AMA Convention Heads South
As we tipped some weeks back, the Australian Music Association has moved its annual convention from the Gold Coast to Melbourne. It is to be held at the Convention Centre from 9 - 11 August. Among the issues to be discussed are the economic state of the market, creating a dynamic retail space, managing an effective team, marketing success stories, using the internet, smart financial management, a showcase of top new acts put together by 'Australian Musician', and the gala awards dinner before 600 guests. More info, www.australianmusic.asn.au/amac.
Hoy Launches One Proud Monkey
One Proud Monkey is a new digital distribution company that works to get indie bands on iTunes. Chief Monkey is Clinton Hoy who worked at Festival Music Publishing and in Digital Operations for Warner Music UK as well as lecturing in Music Business at Hunter TAFE in NSW. One Proud Monkey is looking for artists, band managers and indie record labels to get involved. For more info check out www.oneproudmonkey.com or contact oneproudmonkey@gmail.com
Austrade Seminar Works
Austrade was pleased with the response to the first of its interactive seminars where US executives advise Aussies on a phone link up. The first, on getting music on TV, films and games, drew 100 attendees and went on for an hour over deadline. Seminars on publishing and touring are on the cards. We hear among Austrade's initiatives are a trade mission to Shanghai, an Australian music festival in Japan and releases of indigenous records in Germany.
BDO Fined
Creative Festival Entertainment, promoters of Big Day Out, were fined $5500 for breaching noise regulations at the Melbourne show in January. The noise went over during sets by Bjork and Rage Against The Machine. The promoters got 25 complaints during the event at Flemington Racecourse, the EPA got four.
Lifelines
Split: actress Liv Tyler and Spacehog bassist Royston Langdon after five years of marriage. They have a three year old son.
Marrying: ABC Western Plains (Dubbo) news reader Carolyn Garniers when Scott Simmonds rang her on air and proposed.
Marrying: Paris Hilton announced on Letterman she was getting hitched to Benji Madden of Good Charlotte. He was engaged to Australian singer Sophie Monks.
Ill: Kylie Minogue almost cancelled her Paris show last week due to a bad throat infection.
Arrested: Amy Winehouse over a video sent to police by England's 'The Sun' in which she looks like inhaling crack from a glass pipe.
In Court: R Kelly's kiddie porn case took a tumble for the worse when a new witness popped up saying she'd had a threesome with the R&B singer and the allegedly underage girl in the video. She's claiming both girls were underage.
In Court: Rapper Lil Wayne pleaded not guilty before an Arizona Superior Court judge to six drug- and weapons-related charges. In January, his tour bus was stopped by border patrol looking for drug traffickers and illegal aliens. They say they found drugs, more than $22,000 in cash and three firearms.
Ticked Off: Peter Andre pulled over by a London cop and given a 20-minute lecture for driving while listening to music with headphones.
Arrested: 23-year old Colin Leahy, who auditioned for 'American Idol', for sending an erotic text to a 12 year old and propositioning a 10-year old while volunteering at a Brooklyn elementary school.
Died: US blues guitarist Etta Baker, 93, heart problems.
Died: US country singer Eddy Arnold.
Warner Losses Widen
Billboard magazine reports that Warner Music Group's revenues increased in the second quarter of 2008 but its losses widened. Revenues grew 2% to US$800 million, with digital revenues up 48% to $164 million, compared to the same quarter last year. Digital now represents 21% of WMG's total revenues. But this growth was not enough to offset the drop in physical CD sales. Its loss in the quarter was $37 million, compared to $27 million a year ago. 65% of Warner's digital sales are from the US and 35% internationally. Mobile revenues, which make up 30% of all digital revenues are flattening as ringtones sales fall.
APRA Membership Deadline
If you're not an APRA member, you have until June 30 to join to be eligible to claim your Live Performance Returns for the 07/08 year. See www.apra.com.au
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