JANUARY 2014 | THEMUSICNETWORK.COM INSIGHTS FROM: CHUGG GUDINSKI DANIELS HANDLIN SCADDAN COPPEL ASH PROUDLY INTRODUCING THE QUINTESSENTIAL INTELLIGENT DESIGN Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 1 THE HOTTEST TRACKS OF SUMMER MKTO God Only Knows NATHANIEL You’re Beautiful MKTO’s 3rd hit single вЂ�God Only Knows’ is featured on their debut self titled album in stores January 31 that also features their two smash hits вЂ�Thank You’ and вЂ�Classic’. After taking Australia by storm with his debut double platinum selling single YOU, 2014 brings his highly anticipated new single YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL. AT RADIO 20/2 FOSTER THE PEOPLE Coming Of Age Multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning global pop singer/songwriter Shakira is back with a brand new uptempo pop smash hit single вЂ�Can’t Remember To Forget You’ featuring global pop star Rihanna. HIGH HOPES KARMIN I Want It All Karmin return with the follow up to their triple platinum monster hit вЂ�Acapella’ MTV Buzzworthy calls вЂ�I Want It All’ “The Epic Disco-Tinged Karmin Jam You Never Saw Coming”. Foster The People are back with their highly anticipated new track вЂ�Coming Of Age’. Produced by Grammy winner, Paul Epworth (Adele, Bruno Mars, Bloc Party), their 2nd album вЂ�Supermodel’ will be released on March 14th. SHAKIRA Can’t Remember To Forget You feat. Rihanna BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN THE NEW #1ALBUM FEATURING HIGH HOPES, THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD & JUST LIKE FIRE WOULD WITH SPECIAL GUEST TOM MORELLO AVAILABLE NOW! THE NEIGHBOURHOOD Sweater Weather TOURING AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 2014 The boys from California have clocked up over 18 million video views on this super catchy tune which hit Top 15 on the US CHzR radio and Billboard charts and is currently platinum and climbing. FEB 5TH FEB 7TH FEB 8TH FEB 11TH FEB 12TH FEB 15TH FEB 16TH FEB 19TH FEB 22ND FEB 23RD FEB 26TH WATCH OUT FOR SCORCHIN’ HOT NEW TRACKS FROM : Jessica Mauboy, Bonnie Anderson, The Collective, Justice Crew, Jezzabell Doran, Taylor Henderson, Dami Im, Samantha Jade, Reece Mastin, Jackie Onassis brucespringsteen.net PERTH ARENA PERTH ARENA PERTH ARENA ADELAIDE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE ADELAIDE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE AAMI PARK AAMI PARK ALLPHONES ARENA HOPE ESTATE WINERY HOPE ESTATE WINERY BRISBANE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE facebook.com/brucespringsteen PERTH PERTH PERTH ADELAIDE ADELAIDE MELBOURNE MELBOURNE SYDNEY HUNTER VALLEY HUNTER VALLEY BRISBANE twitter.com/springsteen | MUSHROOMGROUP.COM Berklee College of Music officially welcomes JMC Academy. Berklee College of Music is proud to announce JMC Academy as the Australasian Partner of its unique international network of Contemporary Music schools. We are excited by the association and look forward to the mutual opportunities this will bring music students globally in the future. For more information visit berklee.edu.au/international, jmcacademy.edu.au/about/partnerships.cfm or call 1300 410 311. Sydney. Melbourne. Brisbane. RELIVE THE 2014 BIG DAY OUT WITH EXCLUSIVE LIVE PERFORMANCE AUDIO AND BACKSTAGE INTERVIEWS DOWNLOAD THE RDIO APP FOR FREE OR GO TO ONRDIO.COM CONTENTS 31 THE INDUSTRY 2013: 10 NEWS IN REVIEW 14FRONTLINE 19FESTIVALS 20 THE PROMOTERS 24DIGITAL 26RADIO 50 28 INDUSTRY BODIES 31 CHARTS: TMN HOT 200 THE LABELS: 38UMA 40 SONY SME 42WMA 44MUSHROOM 46EMI 47SHOCK 60 48INERTIA 54 49MGM THE FEATURES: 50 MIGUEL Your expectations have multiplied. So have we. MCN has brought together and strengthened its integration, production and activation departments. We call it Multiply. With data-driven insights, a focus on multi-screen solutions and an innovative creative team, we can now multiply every aspect of your campaign to deliver you an even better advertising experience. To multiply your next music campaign, talk to your MCN representative today. www.multiply.com.au 53 BANDING TOGETHER 54FLUME x INTEL 56 RECORDING THE BOSS 58 THE FINN DYNASTY 60 McALISTER KEMP 62 MAGIC! 19 64 14 TO WATCH IN вЂ�14 THE TEAM: CEO/PUBLISHER: Mark Dalgleish GENERAL MANAGER: Matthew Cowley EDITOR: Nathan Jolly ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Poppy Reid CHART & MUSIC MANAGER: Daniel Mulherin DESIGN: Jim Parry, Mine Design CONTRIBUTORS: Christie Eliezer, Benn Laidlow, Danielle Long, Nastassia Baroni, Victoria Lucas Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 9 NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF 2013 7th KICKSTARTER TO LAUNCH IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND UK #1 single in seven 17 September 2013 28 August 2013 consecutive years for The confusing lawsuit stemmed from Jade’s involvement Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter is moving into the Rihanna when Monster with The X-Factor television show, which she won while Australia and New Zealand markets “soon”. Rather than Like A Version Nine. Many still being under contract to Camp West. a one-hit launch, it made its announcement via a series of ABC compilations topped came in at top spot. This puts the Barbadian singer alongside The Beatles and Elvis Presley. BEYONCE SCORED FASTEST-SELLING ITUNES ALBUM EVER December 17 2013 physical sales, Red sold 1.2m copies total during the week. Beyonce’s surprise self-titled album had been setting In addition, the record was the first to top the iTunes sales records since its release, and in December iTunes Albums charts of more than 100 countries – 104 was the and Columbia Records reported it had officially become last count, a figure that is likely to have shifted by the time the fastest-selling album ever worldwide through the you read this. iTunes Store. According to Billboard, the album had sold 828,773 All in all, it was an impressive first week, and with physical copies of the album available the following copies in its first three days, ensuring the record a #1 Friday, the album has sold 3 million units worldwide as of debut. this month. BeyoncГ© also broke the US iTunes record for the Beyonce has had all five of her records top the Billboard largest sales-week, with 617,000 sales – despite only chart while in Australia the singer has enjoyed four being available for three days of that week. It beat Taylor records in the top 3 and all five in the top 8. Her past Swift’s previous record: Red which sold 465,000 copies three records were certified 2x Platinum and Platinum in last October during its first week, although coupled with Australia, respectively. 1st SAMANTHA JADE, SME, FREMANTLE AND GUY SEBASTIAN SUED The label claimed to have spent eight years, and $2 million on her career, and asked for 20% of her earnings. #1 ARIA Top 100 album for teasers. ABC Music with triple j’s the compilation charts One of its biggest Australian success stories was The case was filed at California’s Central District Court entrepreneur Tan Le who was funded $1 million for a and dismissed one month later. headset provided an analysis of a patient’s health. but, until now, not the Top 100 chart. Like A Version Six got to #2 in November 2010. $130m share loss for Southern $500,000 Cross Austereo after the minimum guaranteed to announcement of the Miley Cyrus by Live Nation departure of Kyle and for each of her US dates. Jackie O. 29th COLD CHISEL FORM OWN LABEL, SWITCH DISTRIBUTION TO WARNER TOM BALLARD LEAVES RADIO, TRIPLE J UNVEILS REPLACEMENT 135g of Vegemite devoured 21 August 2013 December 3 2013 After 25 years with WEA (now Warner Music), save for Following the news that Tom Ballard was to leave radio Phillips of Power 94.9 FM Dami Im, whose Alive came a quick dash over to Mushroom for 1998’s Last Wave Of after four years to focus on stand-up comedy, Matt Okine as part of Jock’s Journal’s in at #1. Dami was also the Summer, Cold Chisel announced they had formed their was announced as the new triple j co-host alongside Alex Vegemite 90th birthday 19th Australian female solo own label Cold Chisel Music and switched distribution to Dyson. Ballard and Dyson won the ARIA Award for Best competition. His prize: 5x Universal Music Group. Comedy Release, capping their partnership nicely. reality TV show winner to top the ARIA chart was artist to hit the top since Olivia Newton-John first “We’re keen for people to keep discovering Cold Chisel’s music”, said singer Jimmy Barnes. in 60 seconds by Cal 400g jars of Vegemite. Okine won Best of the Fest at Sydney Comedy Festival and began in the role on January 13. Australian act to make it $459,000 to the top (The Gavin Ryan (US) grossed by Roger did it in 1971, and the 98th Report). Waters’ three year Wall Live tour. It beats the solo record of $407 million ВЈ480,000 previously set by Madonna winning bid for John with her Sticky & Sweet Lennon’s modest childhood tour in 2008-09. Waters’ is home (9 Newcastle Road the third highest-grossing in Wavertree, Liverpool, tour of all time after U2’s JOHN WILLIAMSON QUIT CMAA PRESIDENT OVER AWARDS ROW KIIS-FM LAUNCHES IN AUSTRALIAN MARKET, WITH KYLE AND JACKIE O Lane) despite going on the ARN LAUNCHED iHEARTRADIO AFTER LONG-WINDED LEAD UP ROADSHOW MUSIC FOLDS AFTER 19 YEARS December 10 2013 December 2 2013 The anonymous American 05 August 2013 13 MAY 2013 After ten years of presidency, John Williamson quit US radio conglomerate Clear Channel launched its the Country Music Association of Australia, citing the popular brand KIIS-FM in Sydney, after rumours abound fan of The Beatles put the The Australian Radio Network (ARN) finally launched An insider revealed to us in May that Roadshow Music, iHeartRadio in beta in Australia. The Clear Channel’s free a division of Village Roadshow, were closing their doors. “Americanisation” of the industry. that the ARN-owned MIX station would rebrand as digital music service, which offers more programming The label focused on the licensing of recording artists and station choices, had been in the works since last since its inception in 1994. Among their roster over the October. Although it was only available online and in beta years was the work of Savage Garden, Axle Whitehead, upon launch, the full service launched in September when Killing Heidi, Jae McRae, The Butterfly Effect and it was also available on mobile. Hamish and Andy. not too far from Penny market for just ВЈ150,000. “If we are not respected as a legitimate organisation to KIIS, with the newly-acquired Kyle and Jackie O team promote original Australian country music, I cannot be spearheading the channel. The press release announcing associated with it any longer,” he said, citing Troy Cassar- Kyle and Jackie O’s defection to ARN mentioned the Daley and Adam Harvey’s The Great Country Songbook. launch of a new station on 106.5. 8 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY bid in over the phone. 5mil Australian members on LinkedIn. 360В° which grossed $736 million (and ran from 2009-2011) and The Rolling Stones’ A Bigger Bang which grossed $558 million from 2005-2007. ВЈ2mil paid to Katy Perry for her autobiography. Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 9 NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF 2013 DATA ERROR SAW YEEZUS KNOCK COUNTRY SONGBOOK OFF CHART TAMWORTH AND NASHVILLE ARE NOW SISTERS 24 June 2013 05 June 2013 of Amazon music people tried iTunes Radio downloads are cheaper less than a week after its than iTunes, according to a launch, Apple reported. After announcing that The Great Country Songbook by The music capitals of Australia and the United States Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey was #1 on their signed a deal on June 7 to become sister cities. Tamworth albums charts, ARIA recalculated and adjusted the chart, became the seventh city in the world to team up with claiming a “data error” meant Kanye West’s Yeezus Nashville in this way. Producer Mark Moffatt told ABC should have, in fact, taken #1. The change came moments Radio, “This place has become the centre of the universe after вЂ�80s Christian glam metal band Stryper challenged for all genres, not just country. And I think a lot of raised by ABC Radio Kanye to prove God actually appears on the record. Australians are starting to realise that.” around Australia for 2013 report. $500,000+ refugees in the violent Syrian civil war. 6th MTV AUSTRALIA LAUNCHED TWO NEW MUSIC CHANNELS October 29 2013 Australia’s MTV Music resembles its UK namesake and countdowns hosted by international artists. MTV around the world. MTV Music, an Australian version of PUSH, the channel’s worldwide promotional vehicle for $5,000 $160,000 the UK’s number one music channel, and MTV Dance, breaking artists, global versions of MTV News and other ransom demanded by dog- the iconic youth broadcaster’s first 24 hour channel to music-based MTV programming features on the channel. nappers for rap executive (US) paid for by a Kiss fan exclusively feature electronic, hip hop and R n’ B, both for a piece of gum chewed launched on Foxtel on December 3. $247,710.28. 84% Kerry Taylor, Senior Vice President and General Australian and Kiwi artists that are breaking internationally are featured in MTV Music programming, with MTV’s Sydney-based team working in partnership Manager of MTV for Viacom International Media with MTV’s centralised programming team in the UK Networks UK, has creative oversight for all MTV channels to add local relevance for Australian audiences. For in the UK, Ireland, Russia, Hungary, Israel, Australia example, New Zealand artist Lorde was the MTV PUSH and New Zealand. Ms Taylor told The Music Network, artist pre-launch and was promoted on 63 channels in 152 “MTV has a long and successful history in Australia and it territories worldwide, 40 MTV websites and 80 localised remains a very important market for us internationally. “ social network channels. really connected with Ella and vice versa, and it’s really a The deal, which included Lorde (real name Ella Yellich O’Connor)’s debut EP The Love Club, worldwide hit full length Pure Heroine, and any future recordings, put an tremendous opportunity for us [...] We think she’s a oncein-a-generation type artist.” Songs Music Publishing executives haven’t commented end to a month-long bidding-war, where the majority of on the exact terms of the deal, but The Wall Street the global publishing giants were vying to work with the Journal reported other publishers said some bids had 17-year-old songwriter. reached $4 million. But it was the boutique outfit, Songs Music Publishing Lorde’s team said they chose a company that promised Inc. that came out on top. Founder/CEO Matt Pincus to seek new digital revenue channels and nurture her credited the deal to the company’s head of A&R Ron Perry creative career. for his persistence, having followed Lorde on nearly all of her US tour dates. “She could have signed anywhere she wanted to sign, and I don’t know what other people were offering, but as 10 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY “Even before signing her they were bringing her options for collaborations and introducing her to other songwriters,” said Lorde’s manager Tim Youngson. “The decision wasn’t made on money.” Medicine and Public Health. Russell Simmons and his girlfriend, Hana Nitsche, for their pooch Ivy. 3,500 entries for Stereosonic festival’s inaugural design of Australia’s classical competition with graphic musicians suffer from design marketplace performance-related 99designs. physical pain, anxiety and depression, according to a Publishing worth up to $2.5 million. of Newcastle’s School of programming, global music video premieres, chart shows TV. The asking price was and it’s about people,” Pincus said of the deal. “Ron and less alcohol time), according to the University Australia and affiliate them further with MTV channels by Gene Simmons on live Lorde signed a publishing deal with Songs Music to Newcastle’s last drinks rule (reduced trading hours music channels in a move to refresh their offering in (Fill Me Up). we often say — music publishing is about relationships reduction of violence due and features pop, rock, urban and alternative music Mauboy with Pop A Bottle November 13 2013 33% MTV Australia announced the launch of two new pure Top 10 hit for Jessica 17-YEAR-OLD LORDE SIGNED $2.5MILLION PUBLISHING DEAL 11m 78% $3-4m study by the University of Sydney. 2% what Alan Jones’ comments about former PM Julia Gillard reportedly EMI SHUT UP SHOP; 20 EMPLOYEES RETRENCHED RUSSELL MORRIS’ FIRST TOP TEN IN 44 YEARS GOES GOLD copyright infringements, 29 JANUARY 2013 29 MAY 2013 says research by Kantar Almost half the company’s employees, slightly over Russell Morris’ Sharkmouth went Gold in May, for sales twenty staffers, were let go in January. New roles were of 35,000, his label Ambition Music Group said. of UK’s Internet users cost Macquarie Radio Network. account for 74% of all Media. But it also discovered that those who then finalised for the remaining employees by the week’s The album, the singer songwriter’s first Top 10 album infringe tend to spend end on February 1. after a 44-year solo career, won the Blues & Roots more money on legal It followed the 2011 sale of the music giant to Universal, category of last year’s ARIA Awards. Morris is best with UMA moving some of their staff into the Surry known for his Molly Meldrum-produced 1969 hit The Hills office. Real Thing. digital sales than those who don’t infringe. 5.9mil takedown requests from copyright-holders to Google over the month of September, 2013, a record high. Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 11 FRONTLINE PICTURE CAPTIONS: BEHIND THE SCENES: PARTIES, PLAQUES AND PROUD MOMENTS IN 2013 01 Mushroom’s Executive Producer Matt Gudinski with fellow long-haired Aussies Stonefield 02 triple j’s Lindsay McDougall, with New 01 04 07 Zealand’s wunderkind Lorde 03 The Seekers with their much-deserved Ted Albert Award, at the APRAs. Photo: Tony Mott 04 Denis Handlin AM (Chairman & CEO, Australia & New Zealand and President, Asia, Sony Music Entertainment) and Jennifer Lee (Marketing 05 Manager) celebrating 08 Platinum sales for Classic with MKTO 02 05 Former Channel [V] host Billy Russel gets carried away with Steel Panther 09 06 06 Naomi Campbell walks the red carpet at Foxtel’s Music Channels relaunch in Sydney - she’s a natural! 10 07 NOVA’s Smallzy plays the geek to Bruno Mars’ chic during the pop artist’s promo visit 08 Music guru Kathy McCabe cheek-to-cheek with EMI Music AU’s Managing Director (and Cold Chisel’s manager) John O’Donnell 09 Alicia Keys looking electric at the launch of Foxtel’s Music Channels 10 Denis Handlin AM and John Parker (General Manager Marketing and Promotions Aus & NZ) give Beyonce yet 03 14 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY another award - for sales of over 4 million units in Australia Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 15 FRONTLINE PICTURE CAPTIONS: 1 1 Channel [V]’s Danny 11 12 Clayton stands up to Moby Photo: Oliver Minnet 13 12 Winners! 360 and Gotye at the APRAs. Photo: Tony Mott 13 Robert DeLong with two new friends at NOVA’s Red Room 14 Macklemore LLC present Macklemore & Ryan 14 Lewis with plaques for 7x Platinum sales of Thrift Shop, 3x Platinum sales of Same Love and Platinum sales of The Heist 17 15 Jason Derulo freestyling at NOVA’s Red Room 16 George Ash (President, Universal Music Asia 15 Pacific), John O’Donnell (MD, EMI AU), Katy Perry (global superstar), Steve Barnett (Chairman & CEO, Capitol), Robbie McIntosh (EVP, International Marketing, Capitol) and Andrew Kronfeld (President, Global Marketing) celebrate Perry’s 7x Platinum single Roar 17 Three was the magic 16 number for Taylor Swift and George Ash (President, UMA) as Red is certified 3x Platinum 18 Pink and daughter Willow celebrate after the singer broke her own attenance record at Rod 18 20 Laver Arena, where she played 18 sold-out shows. 19 Tim Kelly (GM Marketing, UMG), Robin Thicke and George Ash. 20 Harry Connick Jr., J. Lo, Ryan Seacrest and Keith Urban celebrate Urban’s Fuse hitting #1 like stars do - with cake. 16 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY 19 Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 17 FESTIVALS MUSIC FESTIVALS: A TOUGH 12 MONTHS D epending on who you listen to, the Big Day Out, with the details of this deal still festival market is either about to granted. We’ve got lots of years of experience, undisclosed. Big Day Out struggled slightly this collapse due to an unsustainably but I guess everyone else does as well. One year as well, with the rescinding of a second crowded marketplace and rising thing we can say with confidence is that we Sydney show for 2014, and headliner Blur artist costs, or it’s a vibrant, are not going to collapse any time soon. But unceremoniously pulling out. Oddly enough, healthy industry – with one of the major beyond that, you just have to take it like sports Homebake suffered more than Maddah from Australian players being bought recently for a people say they do: a match at a time.” the cancellation of Harvest Festival, with its reported $75m. Stereosonic’s main rival Future Music was scheduling at the Domain a mere two weeks also bought out this year, although ownership before the proposed Homebake date forcing truth lies somewhere in the middle. It was remained closer to home, with the Mushroom Homebake organisers to shift to a three-day obviously a tumultuous year in the world of Group acquiring the festival, plus other event at the Opera House. Punters weren’t sold, music festivals: Homebake, Harvest and the Future Entertainment entities Goodlife and neither were tickets, and a surprisingly honest second Sydney Big Day Out all fell victim to Summadayze. press release was shot out, stating “traditional As with most market predictions, the actual poor ticket sales, while Future Entertainment “Future were leaders,” Michael Gudinski went into liquidation, before being rescued by tells TMN. “I think it was critical for us to get the Mushroom Group. involved, I think the festival could have easily Adding further insult to injury, Harvest not gone ahead, because it’s obviously a tough had cancelled mere days before Homebake the Totem OneLove group were acquired by time for festivals. We’re confident that the announced their venue change – a situation SFX, regional festival Groovin’ The Moo’s event should continue on. We got involved which organisers rued as “achingly ironic” – strong ticket sales prove music taste doesn’t quite late, so we’re learning. We haven’t however the ocean-liner analogy unfortunately remain within city limits, St. Jerome’s Laneway changed that much – we’ve added a bit, and rings true: trying to change course this late in Festival added a Detroit leg, and a number obviously we’ll see how we are going.” the journey is a futile task, as poor ticket sales Yet, there remains hope. Stereosonic and of boutique festivals have enjoyed increasing Homebake fans have rejected this change in Mushroom Group also bought boutique format […] and venue.” demonstrated. success – or launched impressive inaugural festival Sugar Mountain, which Gudinski events – suggesting that the marketplace sees as a long-term project. “The thing with there are winners and there are losers - and isn’t dying, it’s merely shifting to a number of festivals is you’ve got to build them up,” he changes will have to be made in order to keep smaller, tightly-curated efforts. explains. “You can’t go in there, and just throw the industry afloat. The very way in which advertising, throw money at it.” people consume music and enjoy culture is Totem OneLove Group, promoters of Stereosonic, Creamfields, Solar Music and VISIT US In-STORE OR SHOP ONLINE GENERALPANTS.com.au “We certainly don’t take anything for As with every year in such a turbulent sector, Promoter AJ Maddah had a mixed year: he rapidly shifting, and will continue to do so as Outrage, were the big winners in 2013, selling launched the Vans Warped Tour in Australia, long as technology continues to hurtle along. the company in October to dance music but was forced to cancel November’s Harvest The most hopeful note to sound from 2013’s juggernaut SFX for a reported $75m. Although Festival after only 18% of Brisbane’s 17,500 festival market is that, undeniably, hundreds- this would seem to ensure continued success, tickets, and “30-40 per cent” of Sydney’s of-thousands of Australians still want to stand co-Director of Totem OneLove, Dror Erez, told 20,000 had sold by mid-September. in a field and watch live music – in whatever TMN at the time of the sale, that they weren’t Suspiciously close to this cancellation was form this happens to take in the future. taking anything as read in this industry. the news that Maddah had bought into the by NATHAN JOLLY Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 19 TOURING R E T O OM THE PR GAME LOOKING AT THE STATE OF PLAY WITH THE NATION’S BIGGEST. W orth some $1.2 billion for big name acts. One promoter who flatly Since leaving The Frontier Touring Company annually, the Australian refused to indulge in any one-upmanship, was (which he started with Michael Gudinski and music market helps sustain Michael Chugg, Executive Chairman of Chugg Phil Jacobsen in 1979) 13 years ago to forge his almost 15,000 jobs, houses Entertainment. own legacy, Chugg has released a tell-all tome, almost 4,000 live venues “We’re just not going to get involved in these started Chugg Music - his own management and sees fans spend more on music than they stupid bidding wars that are going on,” he company and record label - and won the do on domestic holiday airfares, buying over says down the phone from his Sydney office. lifetime achievement award at the 2008 Arthur 16.2 million concert tickets in 2012, the year in “Basically all the international promoters based Awards in London. Billboard magazine also which we were ranked the sixth largest music out of Melbourne are in these crazy bidding named him the fifth biggest concert promoter market in the world. in the world right now. While 2013 saw festival after festival fall onto the chopping block’s growing pile, the Chugg looks upon his fellow promoter TOP 10 TOURS WORLDWIDE magnates to fix the issue. “[Michael] Coppel Australian concert industry flourished. The GFC recovery took leaps and bounds in the and Gudinski have a lot to answer for because 1. Bon Jovi $259.5 Million last financial year as punters happily coughed up an average of $85 to see acts like Taylor they’re paying some of these bands is just 2. BeyoncГ© $188.6 Million Swift, City and Colour and Beyonce. Although promoters and fans alike were flustered when 3. P!nk $170.6 Million 4. Justin Bieber $169 Million 5. Bruce Springsteen & reprised New Kids On The Block couldn’t bank The E Street Band $145.4 Million “I’ve been a promoter for thirty odd years and 6. Rihanna $141.9 Million 2013 was the year of the global concert tour, 7. Cirque du Soleil’s Michael out shows to over 600,000 fans Down Under, Jackson: The Immortal $133.4 Million The great climb in a single territory was disappearing, so I think what we’re seeing is Justin Bieber, whose eight national dates these global major players tying up as many of 8. Taylor Swift $131 Million Rihanna, who grossed over $10.1 million in either the artists, or the venues, or the festivals, as they can so we may lead the trend.” 9. Depeche Mode $119.6 Million national dates while making finishing touches As President/CEO of Live Nation Australasia, Coppel may seem like the Michael with the 10. One Direction $114 Million who sold out all 90 shows on their Because We Can world tour - grossing over $205.1 it just struck me that the world’s becoming a lot smaller and you need to specialise. with artists like Pink, who performed 46 sold on her surprise visual album, and Bon Jovi, Presents, his decision to join Live Nation was an easy one. on Australia was a mere drop in an already Australia alone, Beyonce, who finished 14 biggest live events company approached him in early 2012 in order to acquire Michael Coppel international heavyweights that news the contributed to his $69.9 million gross earnings, to Chugg’s at one point (with his self-titled promotion company) but when the world’s our concert business brought out so many glittered ocean. ridiculous.” Coppel’s trajectory may have been similar acts like Pitbull, Kesha and The Darkness were forced to cancel tours due to low ticket sales, the bidding wars are crazy and the money biggest budget, but he assures us he’s never booked a tour on a whim. “Two promoters can Source: Pollstar Top 200 Year’s End 2013 look at an artist and have a different view of million in the process. how successful that tour is likely to be,” he says wars. They’re just paying far too much for these down the phone from Melbourne. “If you’ve got THE YEAR OF THE BIDDING WAR bands and they need 95% houses (almost sold any doubts you shouldn’t be doing it because With every worldwide tour stopping out venues) to break even. you’re just doing it for the wrong reasons.” at Australia’s world class venues and “We’re being careful. Every promoter knows Michael Gudinski AM, Founder of Mushroom subsequently escaping the financial mire that one of the hardest words to say – but one Group and its flagship Frontier Touring, has infringing other markets, it’s no wonder of the most necessary words right now – is вЂ�no’, had a banner year. From Bruce Springsteen, 2013 sparked a few bidding wars between and we’re getting pretty good at it.” Leonard Cohen and Neil Young, to Taylor Swift the country’s big four promoters. Increased Statistically, Chugg can comfortably avoid and Muse, it may seem like a hard roster to risks and pressures due to the high demand such battles. Chugg Entertainment made top, but with another Springsteen tour kicking from international acts wanting a piece of more than $85 million in the last financial year off next month and the Australian leg of The the pie lead to unnecessary inflating of fees and sold over 900,000 tickets in 2012 alone. Rolling Stones’ 50th anniversary tour in March, Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 21 “We try to be more original, and I think it’s made a big impact internationally, because we also do a lot of smaller acts, we don’t just sit back.” for Springsteen 30-odd years ago, his like eBay and Viagogo while tickets to Bruce young band we look after, Sheppard, being the management turned him down. Springsteen’s Springsteen’s Adelaide concert are up on number four most played Australian band, and manager Jon Laudau brought it up with him secondary markets for up to $450. #31 in the Top 100. last year, saying ”We always wanted to work Chugg believes the legislation is a move “It’s great to see four Australian acts in the Top with you but you seemed too wild at the time.” forward and is doing everything in his power 31 amongst all the heavy international acts, and Gudinski of course, took this as a compliment. to personally nix scalpers, with eyes constantly to see that all those acts are real bands, not “So Springsteen was something I’d been scouring sites like Gumtree and eBay for from reality shows.” working out for a long, long time, so to see it offenders. With ticketing presale partnerships come to fruition, and then to get on so well “Some idiot was trying to sell Eddie Vedder underutilised in Australia, Chugg’s desires with John Landau – he walks into our building, tickets for $280 when they’re $125, so we’re to see brand sponsorship and activation and said вЂ�I love the feel of it, it reminds me chasing him down at the moment - he won’t contribute to touring revenue is mirrored of the original Atlantic Records’ […] I never have those tickets for long. industry-wide. Live music venues like Allphones dreamt of it, it’s surreal, but my first band – I “[In 2012] when we did Radiohead and we sold Arena and Etihad Stadium lead the charge went to school with a couple of them – called 60,000 tickets, we noted and found 600 that but the Telstras and Optuses were almost Madder Lake, were the support band for were being bandied around with high prices untouched territory in 2013. the Stones in 1973, which was just after we and we managed to get all but 60 of those “There’s still not a lot of action in that area,” started. The Stones did two shows in one day back, and on resale for real fans.” says Chugg. “I’d like to see more of it. It’s an at Kooyong, which is the old Australian Open Coppel however, believes the proposed model area that we need to expand in more and more. tennis venue, and to get the Stones finalised is flawed. “What they’re actually doing is I think it’s about getting the brand’s trust that [for Australia in 2014] – we couldn’t have forcing responsibility onto promoters and we’re we can actually deliver what they want, but it is finished the year off on a higher note.” not staffed. We shouldn’t be in the position of early days in that area.” While Live Nation is very much focused on enforcing public legislation […] I don’t know if Live Nation and Ticketmaster have an annual touring international talent - we were treated they’re as inclined to listen to what will work arrangement with Amex to help the bottom to Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Pink from LN last as much as they are to be seen to be doing line of tours, thus offsetting launch costs. “It year - Coppel admits he had successes, failures something. helps with the artist walk out,” Coppel says. and near misses, but with a partial focus now on buying out overseas festivals like Voodoo Music & Arts Experience, the juggernaut looks to further its prosperity. “There’s two ways to make your money at the light at the end of the tunnel: one way is to represent or have the venues in which [artists] play and the other is buying festivals and taking that approach. I think we combine, internationally, both of those. “AEG [Live, the world’s second largest presenter of live events] tend to specialise more in owning the venues. They do tours that “The tours that we have had, have been bigger, smarter and more aggressive in relation to the competitors.” Michael Coppel help fill their venues, but are not as focused on “Our feeling very much is that it’s the wrong decision to a real problem and I just don’t think they’re willing to listen to what the industry is putting forward. […] We would prefer legislation that caps the percentage to be added to the face value of the ticket. I think it’s easier to police that way. For fans who are buying tickets to shows, whether legitimately or via a warp in the system, and then selling them with a 200% mark up to fans who are desperate to go and have missed out - I think “Coppel and Gudinski have a lot to answer for because the bidding wars are crazy.” Michael Chugg “It makes it more affordable to tour here. It’s really important, it’s definitely a factor that’s become a front-of-mind priority in the last two or three years. There are major brands in each market that can benefit the talent we bring through both in terms of promotion and ticket access and focus on their brand. The margins are shrinking everywhere else in terms of what you’re allowed to make. You need to find different ways to stretch the envelope.” Coppel joins Chugg in his high hopes for local that’s really wrong.” acts. While he deals predominantly in arena Live Nation and Ticketmaster – who have been did last year [with too many acts]. I think and stadium tours for internationals, he looks in bed with one-another since 2010 - have promoters have got to be careful with how to 2014 as the year our artists join the club doing as much touring as Live Nation is. And appealing offer. developed a ticket exchange system called TM+ quickly they bring some of these acts back.” currently reserved for rock and pop chart then there’s the approach of buying festivals: “I think we’ll always have competition,” where fans can resell tickets with a realistic Springsteen must be the anomaly here: his toppers. the real estate that artists play in. I think that’s continues Coppel, “because some of the acts mark-up using Ticketmaster as the middleman ten Australian dates in February and March “We’ve got a lot of acts who do well at theatre where Live Nation will come out on top.” need it, unless an agent’s got three strong while guaranteeing validity. Most notably, if the generated over $25 million in ticket sales, and and club level but haven’t broken in to arenas. As for Coppel’s views on his local competitors, buyers, they don’t see a tour as viable. […] show is cancelled, the most recent buyer gets with his Australian and New Zealand dates I’m hoping some of them will build up to the he suggests bidding wars send a healthy The tours that we have had, have been bigger, the refund, not the original buyer - as is the almost completely sold out, Gudinski’s Frontier 5,000-6,000 capacity venues. the first quarter of 2014 easily eclipses his message to big name acts and their agents. smarter and more aggressive in relation to the case with secondary market sales. Ticketmaster Touring were anything but preemptive. “I believe the record industry will either competitors in terms of international appeal. “Frontier Touring have been doing well in the competitors.” collects 10% of buyer and seller fees upon each “No-one around the world can believe that maintain or contract, I can’t see it expanding. I “Look, success breeds success,” the 61-year- past twelve months. I think they’ve seen us as a transaction and shares the revenue with artists he’s coming back,” says Gudinski, “because also see a lot of the outside companies, such as old says over the phone from Los Angeles, challenge and they’ve taken on that challenge NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT WANT - depending on their contracts of course. he’d never played Adelaide or Perth ever, and the telcos, who want to enjoy their brand being “I believe that. Live Nation are a very, very and had a lot of strong tours. I think Paul FAIR TRADING I made a big deal about it, and he didn’t play aligned with live music. It will probably be as important worldwide organisation and I think Dainty is rebuilding his business with the idea Last year saw the New South Wales KEEPING THE FIRE BURNING New Zealand this trip. The first time Frontier big or bigger than the sporting industry.” it’s important that some independents stand up of becoming a global player himself and finding government announce ticketing resale The touring industry greatly depends toured him when we played New Zealand, According to a forecast by and fight, and I think we’re revolutionising and it’s not as easy or not as successful a ploy as he legislation which could hit online markets with on a healthy Dainty, Frontier and Chugg eleven years ago, he had 25,000 people and PriceWaterhouseCooper’s annual changing – change is very important. thought it might be.” fines should they refuse to remove scalped Entertainment. Each are increasing their this time we’ve sold 72,000 out of 74,000, so entertainment report, the Australian live “Things move very quickly these days, so Unfortunately, Paul Dainty was unable to tickets being sold for inflated prices. The new presence as global king-hitters, standing it’ll sell out.” industry will turn over $830 million annually by we’re trying to look at not having a formula – comment due to overseas commitments. His legislation also requires resellers to include tall against the Live Nation giant whilst Chugg’s attention is predominantly on home 2016, with a 5.5% increase each year before. press button A then button B – with how we Dainty Group made global headlines last year details like ticket and seat numbers and gives having patience for our homegrown soil; he lists the radio success of Perth band And while the industry consensus is that we’ll promote, and how we market. We try to be when his deal to promote the Rolling Stones’ promoters the right to refuse entry to those in talent’s development process. Still, despite Birds Of Tokyo and Brisbane’s Sheppard among experience an вЂ�international act drought’ in more original, and I think it’s made a big impact Australian leg fell through. Billboard reported breach of their terms. the unanimous acknowledgement of the his 2013 highlights. “It was very satisfying for 2014’s first quarter due to a lull overseas, these internationally, because we also do a lot of Dainty tried to pull together other promoters Currently, tickets to see the Rolling Stones’ international market’s mass appeal, Chugg me to see that Birds Of Tokyo were the number artists are the key to attracting and maintaining smaller acts, we don’t just sit back.” to offset “a guarantee believed to be in the $80 upcoming Adelaide show are being scalped heeds concern to promoters looking to ape one played record on Australian radio, beating revenue from high-end ticket prices. Interestingly, when Gudinski first pitched million range,” but was unable to deliver an for as much as $3,000 on digital platforms 2013: “I hope that it won’t get messy like it out all the internationals. And also to see the by POPPY REID Michael Gudinski 22 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 23 DIGITAL THE WORLD OF DIGITAL MUSIC It’s predictive data that goes beyond simple radio airplay. Our goal is to put Spotify royalty payments into perspective and context. The more brands that are out there to educate the market, the better. There’s no ceiling on what you can earn from that one song. RICH RILEY, CEO THOMAS HEYMANN SOPHIE PATERSON SCOTT BAGBY CEO Head of Australia and New Zealand PR MANAGER HEAD OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS Shazam Deezer Spotify Rdio What were some of the highlights for Shazam in 2013? Deezer had an impressive 2013, as did streaming in general. What were 2013 saw Spotify under a lot of fire from artists unhappy with the You expanded into a number of new territories last year. Do you Last year was an amazing year for Shazam on a number of levels. We some of the company’s high points? format or royalties payments. Does Spotify take this criticism seriously, approach the roll-out for each territory differently, or is there a received $40m in funding from one of the biggest names in mobile, 2013 was a massive year for Deezer in terms of growth but also new and what is your response to it? blueprint in place now? Carlos Slim and his company, America Movil. On the product side, the product developments and partnerships. Some of the highlights were Creating new revenue streams post-piracy was one of the main reasons There’s a blueprint with the labels. It’s taken us a while but we have most important development was the addition of the new Auto Shazam our new Hear This feature across all platforms, which is second to Spotify was created, so we’re committed to exploring new, creative ways global rights for the labels, so that is more-or-so a blueprint. Every feature, making it even easier for people to identify the media playing none. A music recommendation half-man, half-machine recommending to empower artists. In early December we launched Spotify Artists – a publishing society is different, and so that’s a unique experience every around them. albums, tracks and playlists by our worldwide army of 70 editors and by new artist-facing site offering guidelines for artists and managers on how time we roll it out [laughs]. Then it’s just a matter of looking at the The Shazam chart is very interesting, and works well as a predictive algorithm. Other highlights were our partnerships with music festivals to get the most out of Spotify, detailing average вЂ�per stream’ rates as market itself; we’re still a start-up. We have just over 100 employees, so device. Could you explain a little about how it works? like Laneway, Bluesfest, Splendour in the Grass, Soundwave and Fat As well as detailed information on how artists are paid through Spotify. Our it’s impossible to be absolutely everywhere, but every market is very With more than 420 million people who use the app around the world, Butter: I think we picked the best festivals in Australia! Our global artist goal is to put Spotify royalty payments in perspective and context for the important to us, so we make sure we have the local repertoire, that’s Shazam is in a unique position to spot trends and see the songs that are exclusives with Spender, Reguritator and our guest editor Gossling were artist community. done from a central base, one guy running around doing that, and some tracking well. When people “Shazam” a song, they’re doing more than a huge success as well, as it really showed how we can take Australian In addition to helping artists understand their audience, we are also saying, “Who is that artist? what is the name of that song?” They’re also music to the world and huge emerging markets like Brazil, Mexico and now providing artists with new features that will enhance the business partnerships. indicating that they are interested in it - it’s caught their attention. We Russia. value of their audience on our service: ticketing and merchandise There was a lot of negativity surrounding streaming and royalties last took that moment of inspiration and use it to create the Shazam Charts With Beats Music entering the marketplace, have you had to adjust your listings right inside of Spotify, for free. And last, but not least, we’ve now year. Does Rdio tend to stay out of these public conversations, or steer to show what artists and songs are resonating in markets around the marketing plans at all? officially paid out US $1 billion dollars in royalties to date, with US $500 them to a more positive place? world, as well as by genre. Beats is launching its music streaming service by talking up music million being paid out in 2013 alone. These are sizeable numbers, and the I think when people take different stances on it, they’re not comparing curation and a bundled telco deal. At Deezer, we’ve always had editors year-on-year growth is huge. apples with apples. They’re trying to force a new world product into old- people tell you what they like, what they want to hear, they’re helping on the ground in countries all over the world recommending the best What does 2014 hold for Spotify? Are there plans to move into any world monetisation, which is what they are comfortable with and what us predict future hits. In fact, 85% of the songs that get to number one new music, and we have over 25 telco partners worldwide. It’s also other markets? they know. There are a lot of advantages to streaming music: if it’s a very in Shazam’s Charts go on to break nationally, making it one of the most good to see that, like us, Beats is committed to ensuring revenue gets First and foremost we’ll be working on further evolving and improving popular song, you only get a certain amount of money, once from iTunes, accurate predictive measures of success in the industry. to artists. We will be watching with interest to see if they follow in the service. On a global and local level we’ll also look to expand our but if it plays over and over, there’s no ceiling on what you can earn Shazam seems to be less aggressive in regards to branding and the footsteps of вЂ�Deezer for Artists’, which gives musicians the ability network of partners to offer more ways to get Spotify in your living room, from that one song from that one consumer. Now, if it’s not a popular marketing – is that in itself a strategy, or do you feel the product stands to directly connect with their fans car and beyond. In December, we launched into 20 new markets, taking song, and it doesn’t get streamed all that often, well, that’s not our fault alone? How do you feel about the streaming market .В Do you feel it is too us up to 56 markets in total. That expansion into Asia, Latin America and [laughs]. But we do understand that a lot of artists have their contracts While we have never done a Shazam ad campaign, we have been crowded? beyond will continue. set up in the old world, so they need that upfront money to go and included in ad campaigns from companies like Apple, Amazon and Dell. It is getting hot in here. I like it crowded: the more brands that are out What does Spotify look for in its brand and musician partnerships? play gigs, and invest in their next album. So the long-term isn’t always However, the majority of our growth has come from word of mouth, there to educate to market, the better. I believe with Deezer we have a There’s no hard and fast rule, however we try to look for brands and necessity sufficient for some artists, which is why we do things like our which, we think, is the best kind of advertising there is! strong global brand and we are well positioned to prevail. artists that are going to resonate with our users, and capture new ones. Artists’ Program, to help and support the artists to get money upfront. It’s predictive data that goes beyond simple radio airplay - when 24 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY of the major markets – like Australia – we’ll build up a team and look for Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 25 RADIO ON THE DIAL: THE WORLD OF RADIO ON THE DIAL: THE WORLD OF RADIO Nothing can compete with the connection that radio makes. triple j played 47% Australian music in 2013. We wanted them to join us, and they were keen for a change. Every good breakfast show is filled with big personalities. The CBAA was delighted and relieved by the restoration of Federal Government funding. CRAIG BRUCE MIKE CASS DUNCAN CAMPBELL HEAD OF CONTENT ASSISTANT GROUP PROGRAM DIRECTOR NATIONAL CONTENT DIRECTOR Southern Cross Austereo DMG Australian Radio Network 2013 was an interesting year for SCA. What How, aside from the obvious ratings aspect, Obviously scoring Kyle and Jackie O was a were some of the company’s high points? do you gauge whether or not an on-air team is major coup. When did it become apparent Interesting is one way to describe it… The working? that luring them over might be a possibility? return of Mix Perth to number one in book 8 It sounds incredibly old-fashioned, but you use To be honest, it was obvious that the move CHRIS SCADDAN JON BISSET was very satisfying. The continued success of your ears. They’re the best tool you’ve got; you was a real possibility after the first meeting. MANAGER GENERAL MANAGER Eddie, Luke and Mick on the Hot Breakfast was can hear instantly whether a team has the right It wasn’t about convincing them to move. We triple j Community Broadcasting Association of Australia also a highlight. We spent a lot of time towards chemistry, whether they’ve got the room to wanted them to join us and they were keen 2013 saw triple j record some of our best ever audience figures. Our five- In 2013, the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) the back end of 2013 preparing for a slightly grow, what’s lacking, what’s working well and for a change. The discussions were all about city reach was 1.83 million in survey 5 2013 [Nielsen] which is the biggest flexed sector muscle to show the power of co-ordinated action. As a different approach for the Today Network given then you just ask yourself a simple question, what that change would look like. The actual reach figure ever achieved by triple j. We surprised everyone by hitting peak advisory and advocacy body, the CBAA is a leader in promoting our suite of new shows in Sydney, Melbourne “Did I enjoy listening?” Add to that the instant negotiation was the easiest part of the whole #1 in Perth that survey – a reminder that triple j has a growing young and protecting the interests of Australian community broadcasting. and Perth along with the new national drive reaction you’re able to get with social media process. Most of the time was spent talking show, hopefully we’ll see the fruits of that work (Smallzy is ranked as one of Australian media’s about what type of station we would wrap the CBAA’s flagship initiative, the Australian music radio airplay project across the course of this year. most powerful social media influencers, around the show, what people we would need (Amrap). The Federal Government had suspended Amrap’s funding in A four-person breakfast team is a bold starting 25 of Australia’s top 250 hash-tags in and the marketing. Splendour In The Grass, to our One Night Stand concert in Dubbo NSW 2012, with an eleventh-hour reprieve of $250,000, until June 2013. By move. Was there any concern that four big 2013) and you’ve got a relatively good gauge. What was the thinking behind the rebranding where Flume debuted his Infinity Prism show live on ABC TV. On top March 2013, further action secured $2.7 million for Amrap over four years personalities might clash, or not work on air? Do you consider streaming services as of Mix to Kiis? of the annual Australia Day Hottest 100, we held a second countdown (2013-2016). Every good breakfast show is filled with big competition or complementary to radio? We knew that the Mix 1065 brand had a strong personalities, I think we have a good mix of Absolutely complementary, so much listening heritage, which no longer reflected the more audience, interested in new and Australian music - triple j played 47% Australian music in 2013. We had a lot of fun this year, from broadcasting for three days at celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Hottest 100 in June. This includes a commitment to distribute new Australian music through The CBAA was delighted and relieved by the restoration of Federal The triple j Unearthed community has continued to grow online and Government funding; Amrap is a vital service for community stations and personality types on the new show. It will take is now done via different mobile devices to contemporary music position it began to on digital radio and is the starting point for much of the Australian music broadcasters to promote Australia music, both on air and online through a while for them to find their feet and build different services but nothing can compete occupy, making it difficult to grow audience. that goes on to greatness. Acts that got their start on Unearthed such as the “AirIt” music distribution service and, recently, Amrap pages. rapport but everyone working on the project is with the connection that radio makes. Online Kyle has always been a fan of KIIS in LA and aware of the process we need to go through to streaming is still secondary in a number of we talked around that as a name - it’s also catalogue used by more than 3,500 Australian musicians and 2,000 build the sound of the show and we’re excited ways but if you look at things like Rdio and the the name of many of our sister Clear Channel community broadcasters. The 200,000th AirIt file was ordered just by the challenge of taking something new and various different radio branded streams, it’ll stations in the US and research identified it first Australian birthday, Spotify proclaimed the triple j hitlist as the most before Christmas. More than 800 radio programs also used Amrap pages moulding it into something interesting. become a much greater extension of what we as one of the most popular station names popular playlist on their platform. triple j’s YouTube channel gets millions to promote Australian music on station sites, social media and mobile Do you consider streaming services as do. The last Nielsen study in the US showed [there are hundreds all over the world]. With of views for Like A Version performances each week, and we maintained devices. competition or complementary to radio? that the vast majority of people still discover KIIS 1065, we’re building a station specifically Complementary to our overall business their new music through radio rather than for Sydney that’s energetic, cheeky, fun, and Flume, Boy & Bear and The Rubens all had a huge 2013, and our current Unearthed J Award winner Remi is set to have a big 2014. In the digital space, triple j has enjoyed another positive year. On their our position as one of Australia’s biggest media brands in the social Last year saw the highest annual usage of AirIt, a subscriber’s music Another CBAA success was the national social media campaign space, with close to 680,000 fans on Facebook. Significantly, triple j took asking MPs to “Commit to Community Radio” through policy support strategy. anywhere else, 48% of people in the survey got reflects the best that Sydney has to offer. At over the reins of ABC Dig Music in 2013, to refresh and reinvigorate the and funding, which garnered 43,363 signatories - among them Wally de You have a number of new teams on air in their introduction to new music from radio as the end of the day it’s a name for a station, but digital radio station as a space to play even more new music for a more Backer (Gotye), H.G Nelson, Paul Kelly, John Safran and Andrew Denton . 2014. What other changes or innovations are opposed to 8% from YouTube. how the station sounds and who it’s targeted mature music loving audience. We made the announcement in October And through CBAA’s collaborative Community Radio Network (CRN), occurring behind the scenes? Personality speaking, what do you feel makes to is the key. and have been taking feedback and developing plans ever since. We’ll audiences around Australia heard a diverse variety of festivals and Our internal mantra this year is to take a spirit for good radio? What has the feedback been like so far? be relaunching Dig in April and giving Australians another good reason events, such as the Tamworth and Mildura country music festivals, the of originality to everything we do and we now The ability to engage with the audience, It’s been incredibly positive, though I have to to invest in a digital radio. Importantly, Dig will continue to have a large Jimmy Little Tribute Concert, a live gig at Port Phillip Prison for Father’s have a bunch of really exciting new concepts to connect and entertain; be that in many say that the only feedback that really matters presence online and is available as audio on digital TV, giving the network Day, Woodford Folk Festival, the Deadlys, and panel discussions on art and ideas about to launch, hopefully they will different guises, but if you cannot connect with to me are the 10+ numbers and we won’t have an even wider audience. and culture. resonate with our fans and clients. the listener then you’ll never win the battle. those for a few weeks. 26 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 27 INDUSTRY BODIES LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK We had a record number of Australian #1 Albums in 2013. We’re in an incredible position to be worldleaders. “The issue of copyright protection will be front and centre in 2014.” 2014 may be a big year for copyright. IAN WALLACE: CHARTS MANAGER, ARIA DAN ROSEN: CEO, ARIA BRETT COTTLE, CEO, APRA | AMCOS NICK O’BYRNE, GENERAL MANAGER - AIR ARIA’S CHARTS MANAGER TRACKS THE SALES YEAR JUST PAST ARIA’S CEO DISCUSSES THE AWARDS AND THE YEAR AHEAD THE YEAR AHEAD: APRA AMCOS 2014: THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR IS NO LONGER THE UNDERDOG You’ve obviously studied the charts for many years, what trends did you The ARIA Awards were widely viewed as a success in 2013 – what would As always we have a great array of challenges and plans in both the The recorded music industry can be divided into two main games – The notice in 2013? you put that down to? Any specific changes, or realignments? commercial and service sides of the business. Distribution Business and the Control Of Copyright Business. We had a record number of Australian #1 Albums in 2013 with 14, as no At its core the ARIA Awards need to be about the celebration of our local album was able to establish total dominance of the charts as Adele was artists in a respectful and dignified way and we worked extremely hard in changes for Apple and YouTube will make 2014 a watershed year for increasingly and inevitably dominated by major labels. Majors are able to do a year or so ago. There were also a record 34 different #1 2013 to achieve that. both APRA and AMCOS. investing huge amounts of money in a race for market share and albums during the calendar year. The expansion of ARIA Week in 2013 also played a huge role in Digital is a rapidly changing landscape; the rise of streaming, and big In public performance, we will analyse the impact of our joint The Distribution Business [both physical and digital] is now influence and the independent sector just can’t keep up. This is bad for How long has the idea of the streaming chart been around? How hard bringing our industry together, showcasing new talent and discussing the licensing partnership with the record industry in NZ and assess, with all AIR, its members and all aspiring musicians. There are very few options was it to pull together? path forward for our industry. All of this adds to a feeling of camaraderie stakeholders, the possible Australian application of the model. In addition for artists or indie labels wishing to find a completely independent way to ARIA began planning a Streaming Chart as soon as the first streaming amongst the artist community, the local music industry and Australian we have important and far-reaching changes in our licensing and dispute deliver music to a wide audience services emerged a couple of years ago. Once they began entering music fans and gives us a very unique lead-in to the ARIAs. resolution practices to implement following our authorisation application the Australian market, we ramped up these conversations and began We worked with a number of new and traditional media partners, who process with the ACCC. Meanwhile, the Control Of Copyright Business is more and more dominated by the only companies willing to base their business on the collecting and testing their data. We were able to launch the first showed tremendous support for the Awards as we continue to expand Digital is also a springboard for APRA AMCOS into Asia. Clients want development of great music and great musicians – the indies. This is Streaming Chart in late 2012, initially with three services on board. That the footprint of the ARIAs, through a number of new mediums, especially fast, streamlined, efficient licensing solutions and our Pan Asian Licensing great for AIR and its members. If we talk about copyright ownership, number is now six and includes Deezer, JB Hi-Fi Now, Rdio, Samsung, online and across social media. It was also exciting to have the ARIAs initiative will hopefully provide just that in 2014. AIR’s members have at times, in the past few years, comprised more than Songl and Spotify. broadcast for the first time throughout the Asia-Pacific region, helping to I know you can’t talk specific sales amounts, but what was the closest expose our artists to new markets and fans. the year, continue our work as a founding partner and contributor to the to-be-published analysis by AIR leads us to believe that the independent week in regards to #1 and #2 on either the Albums and Singles chart? What issue do you feel the Australian music industry needs to tackle Global Repertoire Database – which moves into the вЂ�build’ phase over recording sector in Australia is worth more than $80m, with a GDP There were several occasions on both of the Singles and Albums Charts foremost in 2014? the coming months - and implement music recognition and metadata impact of close to $90m. This will increase. where the difference between the top two titles was within a few The issue of copyright protection will be front and centre in 2014 and matching solutions to performance logging problems wherever possible. percentage points, but the closest result came on the Singles chart of 29 will be critical for our industry. This year, the Federal Government April when Passenger’s Let Her Go prevailed over Daft Punk’s Get Lucky will respond to the recommendations of the Australian Law Reform and federal. The National Live Music Office will support policy reform retailers and music press stop treating the indie sector as an unexpected by just 0.3%. Commission’s inquiry into copyright in the digital age, as well as consider and sector development and Sounds Australia will be front and centre over-achiever. It’s also time for the independent sector itself to stop Conversely, the biggest margin of 2013 occurred on the Albums Chart of ways to combat online piracy. As an industry we need to make sure that at 19 international market events. Our вЂ�Musos in Residence’ program acting with that underdog mentality. 27 May, when Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories outsold its nearest our artists and labels can continue to earn a return from their recordings, will launch in 50 schools across the country and SongHubs will see competitors by a ratio of more than 7:1. Honorable mention should also and the protection of intellectual property online is a fundamental part of international songwriting collaborations here and in the UK, Asia and the international success. AIR partnered with Sounds Australia and the PPCA to go to Katy Perry whose album Prism outsold competitors by 6:1 in the achieving this aim. USA. take 10 of our members to New York for A2IM’s Indie Week. What became first week of November. 2013 didn’t throw up any real surprising spikes outside of the fourth ARIA will continue to work closely with local music bodies, record On the service side, we roll out our new website and mobile app during 2014 will see our continued partnerships with government – state 2014 may be a big year for copyright. The Government will respond 35% of Australian music sales, surpassing both Warner and Sony. Soon- While it’s worth celebrating the success of the independent sector in 2013, it’s time now that policy-makers, major labels, digital platforms, 2013 saw the Australian music industry reach new heights in export and clear was that our best labels are equal to any label in the world in terms labels, publishers, managers and artists will work hard to ensure that to the Law Reform Commission’s recommendations on copyright in of best business practice. Combine this with the Australian domination quarter, but the best weeks occurred in May around the time of the Daft the Government understands this and reflects this reality in its decision the ditigal environment and will – we hope – work towards facilitating a of showcases like CMJ and you’ll see we’re in an incredible position to be Punk release. making. solution to the continuing problem of illegal content online. world-leaders in both the art and commerce of the music industry. 28 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 29 CHARTS CHART WRAP: THE YEAR AT RADIO 2 013 was a varied, surprising year at commercial radio. We’ve seen some huge songs come and go, some important acts return to the airwaves, and huge international tours driving artists like John Legend to chart and find commercial radio success. What’s more, an Australian act scored the most-heard song at radio: Perth lads Birds Of Tokyo, who took out the top spot with Lanterns, followed very closely (there were only three points in it) by Bruno Mars’ Police-esque Locked Out Of Heaven. The two tracks had a great start to the year, with lengthy runs; both were commercial radio mainstays for most of 2013, with both entries remarkably still in the Hot 100 at #71 and 73, respectively. Labrinth’s sweeping Beneath Your Beautiful came in at #3, while The Lumineers’ stomping hit Ho Hey and Pink’s Just Give Me A Reason made up the rest of the Top 5. Daft Punk’s killer robot disco track Get Punk’s Get Lucky came in at #7. 100, reaching #41. This can be attributed to her Back to our chart, Bastille’s Pompeii was relatively short time on the chart. Luckily for next down the list at #9 after a long run in the Perry, the track was the highest selling single in Lucky triumphed over Robin Thicke’s Blurred top quarter of our chart this year, and busker- Australia during 2013 – with Prism the second Lines in the end (the two tracks will forever be turned-pop-maestro Passenger was #10 with highest selling album. linked due to Pharrell’s appearance on both, Let Her Go. their breezy disco sound, and their interesting Lorde had a massive year in 2013, soaring The next Aussies down the list are the good to superstardom at a tremendous speed, but tussle for the top of the charts) as they took ol’ Stafford Brothers with Hello featuring Lil out #7 and #8. It was quite a battle, not that Wayne & Christina Milian at #13 – they’re big deal out of it; her global smash hit Royals Pharrell Williams minded too much of course. also the highest placed dance act to appear in was only the #35 most heard track. She did, On the sales side of things though it was a bit the Hot 100 – which, in this EDM-saturated however, reign supreme on the year-end ARIA of a whitewash: Blurred Lines was the second market, is quite a feat. Streaming chart, beating out Avicii’s Wake Me highest-selling single of the year, while Daft it seems Australian radio didn’t make such a The only other Aussie dance act to make the Up, which placed 21st in our Hot 100, making cut was Flume with Holdin’ On at #59 - a solid it Avicii’s most-heard song of the year, and effort considering the track came out in the last there were a few: I Could Be The One at #28 quarter of 2012. The single also placed 9th on and Hey Brother at #89 were his other 2013 the year-end ARIA streaming chart. success stories. The first of three tracks from Pink’s ARIA With acts like Calvin Harris contributing #1 album The Truth About Love to make the three tracks to the Hot 100, Armin Van Buuren top half of our Hot 100 is Try at #16, Blow Me sitting in the top 20, Daft Punk in the top 10, (One Last Kiss) at #29 and True Love featuring and breakthrough acts like Zedd, Swedish Lily Rose at #33. She makes a fourth chart House Mafia, Flume, Bingo Players and appearance with a feature on T.I’s Guns & Rudimental all making a huge impact, it seems Roses at #55. fair to call it: 2013 will be looked back on as the Despite being the longest serving #1 in our year dance music took over commercial radio. charts all year, Katy Perry’s Roar failed to Watch out for the drop. make a huge impact on the end of year Hot by DANIEL MULHERIN Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 31 CHARTS ARTIST LABEL 41 #PTS TRACK 1678 STILL INTO YOU PARAMORE ATL/WMA 42 1660 ROAR KATY PERRY CAP/EMI Katy Perry had a pretty stellar year. She had tracks going to radio and making our weekly Hot 100 and Most Added charts before they’d even been serviced to radio. Roar, being the most successful of these, spent a total of eight weeks in pole position. 43 1645 RESOLUTION MATT CORBY MERCAU/UMA 44 1637 I NEED YOUR LOVE CALVIN HARRIS FT. ELLIE GOULDING SME 45 1624 BURN ELLIE GOULDING POL/UMA 46 1595 ON TOP OF THE WORLD IMAGINE DRAGONS IGA/UMA 47 1590 HALL OF FAME THE SCRIPT FT. WILL.I.AM SME 48 1584 FEEL THIS MOMENT PITBULL FT. CHRISTINA AGUILERA SME 49 1565 SMALL BUMP ED SHEERAN ATL/WMA 50 1561 SUMMERTIME SADNESS LANA DEL REY VS CEDRIC GERVAIS MOS/UMA 51 1538 SWEET NOTHING CALVIN HARRIS FT. FLORENCE WELCH SME 52 1531 TALK DIRTY JASON DERULO WB/WMA 53 1518 SCREAM & SHOUT WILL.I.AM FT. BRITNEY SPEARS IGA/UMA 54 1468 RADIOACTIVE IMAGINE DRAGONS IGA/UMA 1 2954 LANTERNS BIRDS OF TOKYO CAP/EMI 55 1465 GUNS & ROSES T.I. FT. PINK ATL/WMA 2 2951 LOCKED OUT OF HEAVEN BRUNO MARS ATL/WMA 56 1457 SAME LOVE MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS FT. MARY LAMBERT MACKLEMORE LLC BENEATH YOUR BEAUTIFUL LABRINTH FT. EMELI SANDE SME 4 2860 HO HEY THE LUMINEERS INERTIA DAYLIGHT MAROON 5 A&M/UMA LA LA LA NAUGHTY BOY FT. SAM SMITH EMI This track really came out of nowhere this year. Naughty Boy burst onto the scene with this groovin’ little dancefloor killer and quickly rose through the ranks, thanks to the familiar voice of Sam Smith. 2013 was the year UK dance music took Australian radio. Need any other examples? See Disclosure, John Newman, Rudimental – or just go out at night… 5 2779 JUST GIVE ME A REASON PINK FT. NATE RUESS SME 59 1433 HOLDIN ON FLUME FC/WMA 6 2710 WHEN I WAS YOUR MAN BRUNO MARS ATL/WMA 60 1430 SOME NIGHTS FUN. ATL/WMA 7 2621 GET LUCKY DAFT PUNK FT. NILE ROGERS, PHARRELL SME 61 1417 WE ARE NEVER EVER GETTING BACK TOGETHER TAYLOR SWIFT BIG/UMA ROBIN THICKE FT. T.I & PHARRELL IGA/UMA 621414 PARACHUTE TIMOMATIC SME BASTILLE VIR/EMI 63 ED SHEERAN ATL/WMA 8 2569 BLURRED LINES 9 2511POMPEII 1386 GIVE ME LOVE 10 2506 LET HER GO PASSENGER INERTIA 641383 DIAMONDS RIHANNA IDJ/UMA 11 2490 STAY RIHANNA FT. MIKKY EKKO IDJ/UMA 65 RUDIMENTAL FT. ELLA EYRE WMUK/WMA 1362 WAITING ALL NIGHT 12 2457 TROUBLEMAKER OLLY MURS FT. FLO RIDA SME 66 1356 ARMY OF TWO OLLY MURS SME 13 2412 HELLO STAFFORD BROTHERS FT. LIL WAYNE & CHRISTINA MILIAN UNI/UMA 67 1348 SOMETHING I NEED ONE REPUBLIC IGA/UMA 14 2362 LITTLE TALKS OF MONSTERS AND MEN UNI/UMA 68 1345 MOUNTAIN SOUND OF MONSTERS AND MEN UNI/UMA 15 2301 EVERYBODY TALKS NEON TREES MERCUK/UMA 69 1330 LOVE ME AGAIN JOHN NEWMAN ISLUK/UMA 16 2189TRY PINK SME 70 1307 EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED TAYLOR SWIFT FT. ED SHEERAN BIG/UMA 17 2176 I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE TAYLOR SWIFT BIG/UMA 71 1302 HOLD ON, WE’RE GOING HOME DRAKE UNI/UMA 18 2169 LOVE IS EASY MCFLY MERCUK/UMA 19 2160 IMPOSSIBLE JAMES ARTHUR SME 20 2154 THIS IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE ARMIN VAN BUUREN FT TREVOR GUTHRIE XXX We featured Drake pretty heavily this year in our coverage, and rightfully so, the breakout success of this single couldn’t have been more overdue. He has been telling us how great he is for years (and we’ve tended to agree), but only now can he truly count Kanye and Jay Z as peers. 72 1272 DEAR DARLING OLLY MURS SME 21 2150 WAKE ME UP AVICII UNI/UMA 73 1268 WILD JESSIE J FT. BIG SEAN UMA 22 2136 THANK YOU MKTO SME 74 1241 WRECKING BALL MILEY CYRUS SME 23 2114 RIPTIDE VANCE JOY LIB/UMA 75 1214 RELOAD SEBASTIAN INGROSSO & TOMMY TRASH FT. JOHN MARTIN UNI/UMA 24 2105 CAN’T HOLD US MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS FT. RAY DALTON MACKLEMORE LLC 76 1202 WE CAN’T STOP MILEY CYRUS SME It’s easy to see that Macklemore & Ryan Lewis killed it in 2013. They burst onto the scene with Thrift Shop (#40) in late 2012 and paved the way for Can’t Hold Us to steal the show in 2013. It was easily the most-infectiously empowering jam of the year. 77 1198 GOOD TIME OWL CITY & CARLY RAE JEPSEN UNI/UMA 78 1198 DON’T YOU WORRY CHILD SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA CAP/EMI 1191 NEXT TO ME 25 2060 I LOVE IT ICONA POP NEON/WMA 79 26 2017 COUNTING STARS ONEREPUBLIC UMA 801118 ACAPELLA EMELI SANDE VIR/EMI KARMIN SME 27 1969 TREASURE BRUNO MARS ATL/WMA 81 1117 BEAUTIFUL MARIAH CAREY IDJ/UMA 28 1964 I COULD BE THE ONE AVICII FT. NICKY ROMERO UNI/UMA 82 1103 FIRESTARTER SAMANTHA JADE SME 29 1929 BLOW ME (ONE LAST KISS) PINK SME 83 1092 POP A BOTTLE JESSICA MAUBOY SME 30 1927 MIRRORS JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE SME 31 1901 I WILL WAIT MUMFORD & SONS DEW/UMA Our girl Jess Mauboy rose to new heights last year, with almost every single she released making our Hot 100’s top 10. Unfortunately she was unable to reach the coveted #1 spot, with Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball battling Katy Perry’s Roar for first place around the time this tune hit radio. 32 1867 ONE MORE NIGHT MAROON 5 A&M/UMA 84 1089 BATTLE SCARS GUY SEBASTIAN FT. LUPE FIASCO SME 33 1862 TRUE LOVE PINK FT. LILY ROSE SME 85 1079 WHAT NOW RIHANNA IDJ/UMA 34 1827 CLARITY 351773 ROYALS 36 1735 LET ME DOWN EASY 371707CLASSIC ZEDD FT. FOXES IGA/UMA 86 1077 STAY THE NIGHT ZEDD FT. HAYLEY WILLIAMS IGA/UMA LORDE UMA 87 1071 DRINKING FROM THE BOTTLE CALVIN HARRIS FT. TINIE TEMPAH SME SHEPPARD CHUGG/MGM 88 1067 SHE’S SO MEAN MATCHBOX TWENTY ATL/WMA MKTO SME 89 1051 HEY BROTHER AVICII UNI/UMA 38 1696 WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO ME SAMANTHA JADE SME 901044TEAM LORDE UMA 39 1694 THE OTHER SIDE JASON DERULO WB/WMA 91 1041 CAN’T BELIEVE IT FLO RIDA FT. PITBULL ATL/WMA 40 1680 THRIFT SHOP MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS FT. WANZ MACKLEMORE LLC 92 1039 HEY PORSCHE NELLY UNI/UMA 32 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY LIBERATION 0.89% 2903 1441 1435 INERTIA 2.12% 3 57 58 EMI 7.56% The first of four Bruno Mars tracks in our Hot 200 from last year. Locked Out Of Heaven missed out on being #1 by just three points; not that he’s complaining though - he is the only artist to have two tracks in our top 10. HOT 200 WMA 19.40% LABEL SME 29.12% ARTIST UMA 38.98% #PTS TRACK Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 33 Exclusive 2013 Aus Tour Partners: James Blake Rudimental Passion Pit Sampology Horrorshow Exclusive Media Partnerships: Nova FM Smooth FM Pedestrian.TV PagesDigital Sound Alliance Life Without Andy The Music Network Famous Exclusive Content Partnership: It has been a busy and exciting few months for Rdio! Thanks to all our partners and supporters. Team Rdio Australia MGMT Empire of the Sun/Goldfields Remix Volcano Choir City and Colour Dead Letter Circus Snoop Dogg & DaM-FunK Celine Dion Commentary Album Flume/Thrupence Remix Exclusive Music Festival Streaming Partners: Stereosonic St Jerome’s Laneway Festival Future Music Festival Big Day Out Exclusive Music Streaming Partner: 27th ARIA Awards 2013 rdio.com CHARTS LABEL ARTIST LABEL 1036 YOU NATHANIEL WILLEMSE SME 147 599 LET IT ROLL FLO RIDA ATL/WMA 94 1031 BONFIRE HEART JAMES BLUNT ATUK/WMA 148 589 BOOM BOOM JUSTICE CREW SME 95 1026 DARK HORSE KATY PERRY CAP/EMI 149 588 WHITE WALLS MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS FT. SCHOOLBOY Q MACKLEMORE LLC 96 1020 BEAUTY & A BEAT JUSTIN BIEBER FT. NICKI MINAJ IDJ/UMA 150585 WINGS BIRDY ATL/WMA 97 1005 GET UP (RATTLE) BINGO PLAYERS FT. FAR EAST MOVEMENT ONELOVE 151 LUPE FIASCO FT. ED SHEERAN ATL/WMA 999 FALL DOWN WILL.I.AM FT. MILEY CYRUS IGA/UMA 152 578 HOW YA DOIN? LITTLE MIX SME 996 CHANGE YOUR LIFE LITTLE MIX SME 153 577 APPLAUSE LADY GAGA IGA/UMA 100 994 IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY MICHAEL BUBLE WB/WMA 154 576 OF THE NIGHT BASTILLE VIR/EMI 101 983 ALIVE EMPIRE OF THE SUN CAP/EMI 155 572 NEED U 100% DUKE DUMONT FT. AME MOS/UMA 102 961 IT’S TIME IMAGINE DRAGONS IGA/UMA 156 566 HAPPENING CHIDDY BANG CAP/EMI 103 950 EVERYBODY JUSTICE CREW SME 157 563 YOU’RE NOBODY TILL SOMEBODY LOVES YOU JAMES ARTHUR SME 104 944 THATPOWER WILL.I.AM FT. JUSTIN BIEBER IGA/UMA 158 560 TENNIS COURT LORDE UMA 105 942 THINKING ABOUT YOU CALVIN HARRIS FT. AYAH MARAR SME 159 545 BORROW MY HEART TAYLOR HENDERSON SME 106 929 MARRY ME JASON DERULO WB/WMA SME IDJ/UMA 109 906 SUIT & TIE JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE FT. JAY Z SME 903 161 532 STORY OF MY LIFE The 20/20 Experience was one of the most successful albums of 2013; it spawned numerous hits and saw Justin Timberlake take back radio after a bit of time in the comedy and acting world. Suit & Tie with Jay Z slinked its way into our ear-holes and we’re all very happy it did – even with Jay-Z’s jarring cameo. 163 NOT GIVING IN 164504 RUDE RUDIMENTAL FT. JOHN NEWMAN & ALEX CLARE WMUK/WMA 162523 HOLES 520 WE’LL BE COMING BACK TIMOMATIC SME ONE DIRECTION SME PASSENGER INERTIA CALVIN HARRIS FT. EXAMPLE SME MAGIC! SME 111 889 TIMBER PITBULL FT. KE$HA SME 165 503 TURN UP THE LOVE FAR EAST MOVEMENT FT. COVER DRIVE IGA/UMA 112 883 WING$ MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS MACKLEMORE LLC 166 499 DRUNK ED SHEERAN ATL/WMA 113 873 RADIOACTIVE RITA ORA SME 167 479 DON’T WAKE ME UP PRINNIE MERCAU/UMA 114 871 GIRL ON FIRE ALICIA KEYS SME 168 479 ALIVE DAMI IM SME 115 862 PUT YOUR HANDS UP MATCHBOX TWENTY ATL/WMA 169 473 CAN WE DANCE THE VAMPS VIR/EMI 468 SAVED IN A BOTTLE THE POTBELLEEZ MOS/UMA 467 ARENA B.O.B FT. CHRIS BROWN & T.I. ATL/WMA 116 858 22 TAYLOR SWIFT BIG/UMA 170 117 843 BEST NIGHT JUSTICE CREW SME 171 118 837 BRING IT BACK WILL SPARKS & JOEL FLETCHER MOS/UMA 828 REST OF MY LIFE LUDACRIS FT. USHER & DAVID GUETTA 172 460 WARRIOR HAVANA BROWN ISLAU/UMA 173 460 THE SPARK AFROJACK FT. SPREE WILSON MOS/UMA 174 456 MY SONGS KNOW WHAT YOU DID IN THE DARK (LIGHT EM UP) FALL OUT BOY 120 823 GLOBAL CONCEPTS ROBERT DELONG LBR/UMA 804 YOUNG & BEAUTIFUL LANA DEL REY VS CEDRIC GERVAIS IGA/UMA IDJ/UMA The welcome return of punk pop favourites Fall Out Boy; My Songs Know... had an impressive 2013 run at commercial radio - the electro flourishes helped to keep this band’s sound cutting edge. IDJ/UMA 121 175 454 LIVE IT UP JENNIFER LOPEZ FT. PITBULL CAP/EMI 122 791 UNDER CONTROL CALVIN HARRIS SME 176 444 TRYING NOT TO LOVE YOU NICKELBACK RR/WMA 123 787 THE WIRE HAIM POL/UMA 177 440 SAFE AND SOUND CAPITAL CITIES EMI 124 785 FEEL THE LOVE RUDIMENTAL WMUK/WMA 178 436 THIS’LL BE MY YEAR TRAIN SME 125 781 SHE WOLF (FALLING TO PIECES) DAVID GUETTA FT. SIA VIR/EMI 179 435 YOU’LL BE MINE HAVANA BROWN ISLAU/UMA 126 780 TO THE END OF THE EARTH JESSICA MAUBOY SME 180 433 HOW I FEEL FLO RIDA ATL/WMA JESSIE J UMA 181 431 HARLEM NEW POLITICS SME NE-YO IDJ/UMA 182 422 MY LIFE 50 CENT FT. EMINEM & ADAM LEVINE IGA/UMA REDFOO UMA 127 761 IT’S MY PARTY 128 738 LET ME LOVE YOU 129 736 130 LIBERATION 1.54% 160536 INCREDIBLE 736 (UNTIL YOU LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF) 183 421 RAISE THE BAR BONNIE ANDERSON SME In a year filled with ridiculousness, Redfoo – one half of LMFAO – certainly took it to a new level: the jackets, the sunglasses, the hair, the love affair with Australia, the talent show judging duties, and this infectious single driving it all along. 184 418 MILLION VOICES OTTO KNOWS UNI/UMA 185 414 PUMPING BLOOD NO NO NO WMA LIKE A DRUM SME 186409 BERZERK EMINEM IGA/UMA 187 THE WANTED ISLUK/UMA LET’S GET RIDICULOUS GUY SEBASTIAN 131 725 AIN’T IT FUN PARAMORE ATL/WMA 132 725 UNCONDITIONALLY KATY PERRY CAP/EMI 406 WALKS LIKE RIHANNA It took this name-dropping track to finally break The Wanted at commercial radio in Australia, and although it has the obvious whiff of a novelty single, their core fanbase can’t have minded too much. 133 718 DEMONS IMAGINE DRAGONS IGA/UMA 134 718 WALK OF SHAME PINK SME 188 391 SWEET SPOT 2.0 FLO RIDA FT. JENNIFER LOPEZ ATL/WMA 135 712 HERE’S TO NEVER GROWING UP AVRIL LAVIGNE SME 189 391 LOVE DON’T DIE THE FRAY SME 136 692 SUPERSOAKER KINGS OF LEON SME 190 388 SWEETER THAN FICTION TAYLOR SWIFT BIG/UMA 137 681 BED OF CLOUDS SWIFT K.I.D. FT. GUY SEBASTIAN NEON/WMA 191 383 DIE YOUNG KE$HA SME 138 676 YOU MAKE ME AVICII UNI/UMA 192 380 SOLDIER SAMANTHA JADE SME 139 666 SPECTRUM FLORENCE & THE MACHINE ISLUK/UMA 193 379 SKINNY LOVE BIRDY ATL/WMA 140 664 THE MONSTER EMINEM FT. RIHANNA IGA/UMA 194 375 CRAZY KIDS KE$HA FT. WILL.I.AM SME 141 646 GORILLA BRUNO MARS ATL/WMA 195 369 YOUR BODY IS A WEAPON THE WOMBATS WB/WMA 142 643 LANGUAGE 143629 WATERFALLS PORTER ROBINSON HUS/UMA 196 358 BATTLESHIPS BERNARD FANNING UMA TIMOMATIC SME 197 356 ALL OF ME JOHN LEGEND COL/SME 144624 C’MON KE$HA SME 198 354 WORK BITCH BRITNEY SPEARS SME 145 622 WE COME RUNNING YOUNGBLOOD HAWKE UNI/UMA 199 343 ACT YOUR AGE BLISS N ESO ILL/UMA 146 615 LAURA PALMER BASTILLE VIR/EMI 200 343 ADDICTED TO YOU AVICII UNI/UMA 36 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY LIBERATION 2.2% GUY SEBASTIAN RIHANNA FT. DAVID GUETTA INERTIA 8.29% GET ALONG RIGHT NOW EMI 8.78% 926 921 X-Factor spawned another set of ready-made pop stars in 2013; we all know Dami Im won, but it’s the runner-up Taylor Henderson who enjoyed the most success. Commercial radio was all over his single Borrow My Heart. HOT 40 WMA 15.12% 107 108 119 INERTIA 3.72% OLD SCHOOL LOVE 98 2013 will always be remembered as the year that the Melbourne sound broke Australian radio. Thanks to NOVA, Ministry of Sound and Will Sparks & Joel Fletcher, kids in bedrooms in around Australia are trying to create the next EDM anthem. These guys are killing dance floors all over the world now - and it’s no surprise. EMI 6.83% 580 99 110 WMA 19.49% #PTS TRACK SME 29.39% SME 28.30% ARTIST 93 UMA 33.05% #PTS TRACK UMA 37.15% HOT 100 Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 37 THE LABELS UNIVERSAL George Ash – President, Universal Music Asia Pacific, talks about the label’s big year. A s with many of the labels featured within In your opinion, did anything from UMA in 2013 fly these pages, Universal Music Australia had under the radar that should have been a bigger hit? an interesting year, filled with upheaval, Yes, of course but we also know that success is not a shifting playing field, and tremendous always immediate and that it takes careful planning success. The introduction of EMI into and time to grow, develop and break new artists. We the fold furthered their market dominance, as well are committed to creating careers for our artists and as bolstering their already-impressive local roster, we never give up on them. HOT 200 38.98% and hefty back catalogue. George Ash – President of Universal Music Asia Pacific – chats to TMN about the What changes do you foresee for the Australian music year that was. industry in 2014? I am convinced we will have more global action for acts This year saw a lot of changes in the Australian from our part of the world, there will be more diversity industry, most notably EMI coming under the UMA in the way fans interact with music, I can see challenges umbrella. How has that transition been, and how in certain genres as the platforms evolve and catch up independently does EMI operate nowadays? with consumers, but overall I see a huge opportunity for The transition has gone very smoothly and I’m really Australian artists to break on a global scale. pleased with how the company is operating. There has been considerable re-investment in EMI as a standalone Universal houses and distributes a number of local and international labels. With schedules, are there attempts “WE ARE COMMITTED TO CREATING CAREERS FOR OUR ARTISTS AND WE NEVER GIVE UP ON THEM.” to avoid major release clashes, or is it more вЂ�every man for themselves’ in that regard? As labels they all have the best of all worlds: on the one hand all labels compete but on the other they have the benefit of all being in a family of highly successful individuals who help each other. It is a very competitive artist-focused and creative environment. Each label makes its own decisions on how and when to release and those decisions are made with the artists. How important do you consider radio play in regards label and the focus is 100% on artists and creativity. to breaking artists/singles? John O’Donnell is heading the label and his brilliant Everything is important, radio is one of the platforms leadership is creating real momentum for EMI’s acts. of choice by music fans and it reaches a large part of the population which in turn can amplify an artist’s Which events and achievements within UMA during audience. It is a key part of many acts’ success. 2013 are you most proud of? Did the success of any release in particular take you by surprise? What are some of the big releases on the cards for UMA It was a very exciting year, we helped build new in 2014? platforms for music to find an audience, we invested 2014 is shaping up nicely, we have some very exciting heavily in Australian and New Zealand labels and artists, releases, particularly from our Australian roster: Megan and focused our efforts firmly on helping our acts to Washington, Angus & Julia Stone, Matt Corby, 360, The break globally. I think if the industry can be proud of Preatures, Papa vs Pretty, Harrison Craig, Andy Bull, The anything it is that it is competing and having global McClymonts, Emma Birdsall, The Aston Shuffle, Broods, success on every level of the music business, this is Hilltop Hoods, Daniel Johns and Dustin Tebutt. exciting and critical for the local creative community to Internationally, we have Aloe Blacc, Beck, American Blurred Lines was the eighth most-heard single at commercial radio in 2013, a grow, we have to support our acts around the world. That Authors, The Vamps, Banks, Elbow, Sky Ferreira, is probably the thing that is making me the most proud, Florence + The Machine, Kendrick Lamar, Mariah Carey, the airwaves for both the fact that all the labels in our world are succeeding on Sam Smith, SOL3 MIO, Schiller, Rihanna, Kayne West... Thicke and Pharrell this level. and that’s just to name a few! 38 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY surprising return to Williams. Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 39 THE LABELS SONY Denis Handlin, CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, talks about the state of play, and what’s next for SME. H andlin and SME have had an impressive What do you foresee for SME in 2014? Will there be any year, as the statistics show. On top of major changes or just business as usual? their commercial radio success, both Daft The industry is in a transformative revolution, with Punk’s Random Access Memories and One the market changing sales and consumption patterns Direction’s Midnight Memories set iTunes constantly. The industry has had to face the fact that pre-order records in Australia. there has been more radical change in the last two This October will see the 30th anniversary of Handlin years than in the last 20 years. Customers are more heading up Sony Music Australia – we caught up with demanding and they have never had as much power as him to discuss SME’s 2013, and to look forward. they have today. The industry has revolutionised and HOT 200 29.75% very much leads the way amongst content industries in Sony had an impressive year at commercial radio in new business models with over 500 digital retail services 2013, especially in regards to your local roster. Was there licensed worldwide featuring 30 million tracks for a change in tact, or just a number of great releases? consumers to enjoy. Both locally and internationally, Sony Music had a very strong year with new and established artists. Here in format consumers buy their music – it will always Australia, we continued to have a very strong year and be about creating the hits, the stars and the stories we are delighted with the strong presence of our local artists on both the airplay and sales charts - including Jessica Mauboy, Guy Sebastian, Timomatic, Justice Crew, Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey, Samantha Jade, Tonight Alive, Karnivool, Rufus, Dami Im, Taylor Henderson, Nathaniel Willemse and Human Nature. We have also broken a number of exciting “OUR CORE FOCUS STILL NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPING HITS” international artists including John Legend, MKTO, supported by creative marketing. In my 44 years in the Magic!, Miley Cyrus, Karmin, Olly Murs and charted business, I cannot recall a more exciting and better time multiple tracks from Pink, Calvin Harris and Miley Cyrus to be creating opportunities and developing artists and to name a few. new music. The success of our local artists is also reflected in the During your time working with majors, what have been number 1 chart positions. Since August 2012, the only the biggest changes in how A&R teams operate within Australian artists to achieve a number 1 single were from the industry? Sony Music - Justice Crew, Guy Sebastian, Samantha As the global head of Sony Music, Doug Morris, said - Jade, Dami Im and Taylor Henderson. our core focus still needs to be developing hits, that’s the Also, it was great to see a number of these artists being only constant amidst all the change. That is the primary recognised with ARIA awards in 2013, especially Jessica role of A&R and in my view it is the toughest job in the Mauboy and Guy Sebastian who were long overdue for industry. The artists they find and the tracks created this recognition. must be relevant and compelling and world class. Speaking of Aussie artists, your local roster seems Where things have changed is in the use of online to rather skewed towards pop – is this intentional? find talent and the use of online and social media to seed Whilst we are very prominent at radio with our pop talent to the public to build the initial awareness. artists, our roster covers a broad range of artists and What local SME artists do you suggest TMN readers repertoire. We were delighted to have debuted Rufus and keep an ear out for? Karnivool albums at number 1 and Tonight AliveвЂ�s album Readers should definitely keep an ear out for Gang Of debut in the Top 5 on the ARIA chart as well as each of Youths. Their self released single Evangelists has earned these groups securing releases in the UK and US in 2013. them critical praise everywhere from triple j, to the NME We are also incredibly excited about the new artists we are launching in 2014 – Jackie Onassis, Miracle, Way Of The Eagle and Gang Of Youths, as well as the acts we are 40 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY At the base of the triangle however - despite what and Radio One in the UK and alternative radio stations This arresting track was the third most-heard song on commercial radio, narrowly beating Pink’s Just Give Me A in the US. Also, keep an eye on Miracle and Jackie Onassis, two of releasing through our partnership with the Wonderlick the most exciting new hip hop acts to emerge in the last label – The Paper Kites and Jackson McLaren. twelve months. Reason as SME’s most successful song at radio in 2013. Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 41 THE LABELS WARNER Warner Music had an impressive twelve months, and with an exciting new appointment, it looks like their 2014 will be even stronger. W hen looking back on the disparate both Gorillaz and Blur records), David Guetta, Kimbra, musical trends that were forced Foals, Green Day, and The Black Keys – all of which upon us in 2013 – EDM blasting its bodes well for the company’s not-so-distant future. way on commercial radio playlists Poston is also more-than-aware of the weight of and primetime advertisements his new role, which also bodes well for the company’s alike; a pair of slinky disco throwbacks both featuring future. “These are two of the most important labels in a pop star who hadn’t been on the radio for seven the history of popular music,” he tells TMN. “There’s an years; the world’s biggest female pop stars all releasing honour and a responsibility and a gravitas that comes indulgent-yet-thrilling concept albums – it would be with that, both in terms of working for the labels and unfairly easy to overlook the phenomenal success that in signing new talent to those labels. I couldn’t be more Bruno Mars enjoyed this year, both at commercial radio, ready for all of that. and on the sales charts. The 28-year-old Hawaiian artist both Parlophone and Warner Bros., and with the including the undeniable Locked Out Of Heaven, which offering we have to artists – in terms of a top-notch “WITHOUT ARTISTS WE ARE NOTHING. ARTISTS MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.” missed out on being the most-heard song at Australian team with intellect, intuition and sheer passion for radio by the narrowest of margins, sitting at #2, and music – is that we’re a very attractive proposition to the selling over 350,000 copies in the process. When I Was artist community. We want to take new and different Your Man was the sixth most-heard track at commercial approaches in how we develop artists and how we build radio, (selling 4xPlatinum), while the album that houses fanbases. I like to change things up and there’s no better these hits – the aptly-titled Unorthodox Jukebox – sold time to test and try new things. This is something I’ve over 270,000 copies in Australia – no mean feat in said a lot in my past life and I guess it’s a mantra of sorts, today’s marketplace. but it’s all about art vs. commerce. With that, I mean it’s about finding the right point on the dial. Without artists we are nothing. Artists make the world a better place. hitters at radio this year were Swedish synth-pop duo “We have to accept that making money is not a dirty Icona Pop – whose I Love It hit commercial radio last word, both for the artists and for the music companies year, almost twelve months after its initial release, due who invest in that process. The artists should be paid its appearance during an episode of Girls – and Jason for their art, and the companies need to make a return Derulo, who had a pair of radio hits with The Other Side, on that investment so we can keep investing, employing, and Talk Dirty. taking educated risks so that we can find the next Prince, Warner started 2014 off with the news that they had secured Mark Poston as Managing Director of The man who announces his own arrival on most of his tracks had another banner year at radio, slotting two hit singles into the Hot 100 - The Other Side at #39, and Talk Dirty, which narrowly missed the 50, coming in as the 52nd most-heard track. the next Chris Martin or the next Kate Bush. “And while we’re talking about it, perhaps the next both Parlophone Australia and Warner Bros. Records David Geffen or Richard Russell. That’s the real Holy Australia – the local branches of two of the most Grail stuff right there.” significant labels in recorded musical history – the 19.40% “What I hope is that with the musical history of landed three songs in the top thirty of the TMN Hot 200, Aside from Mars, Warner Music Australia’s other big- HOT 200 Poston is right to value the behind-the-scenes teams former of which Warner Music picked up globally in that make or break artists. His time at WMA will see him 2013 for ВЈ487 million ($765 million in February, when again teamed up with MD Tony Harlow, as well as with this track was first the deal was struck) after the sale and divestment of Mardi Caught, MD of Atlantic Records, for the first time. released, a sync on EMI. “It’s a dream to work with two of the best in the business; Poston announced his appointment exclusively Almost a year after the zeitgeist-y Girls it makes Warner a really exciting destination for artists. shot it to international through TMN, divulging that 2014 will bring new We’re putting together one of the best teams in the prominence; it was the releases from Kylie Minogue, Coldplay, Chromeo, Lily business that will work across both labels and we’ll also Allen, Bat For Lashes, Damon Albarn (plus rumours of be supported by the local Warner company.” 42 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY 25th most-heard at Australian radio in 2013. Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 43 THE LABELS MUSHROOM During its 40th year of operations, Mushroom Group certainly didn’t rest on their laurels. 2 013 marked the 40th year of operations for “I feel like I’ve got a new lease on life. Look, a lot of the mighty Mushroom Group, but the music people can do things for a long time, but you go through company’s year-long celebrations were not periods where you are a bit… I feel rejuvenated.” purely an exercise in looking back, but also in pointing the way forward, with the group’s As for 2014, Mushroom Group certainly won’t be resting on their laurels, with a number of key releases expansion into new areas, a number of fresh acquisitions, due – Temper Trap’s third, DZ Deathrays’ second album, a new logo, and a seemingly renewed sense of spirit – Vance Joy’s debut, and Dan Sultan’s first new album for plus a slew of successful records. three years are among the releases – plus a continued “2013, being the 40th year of the group’s existence was going to be a time that we look back at some of the “We are definitely doing a lot more in a number of Asian regions then we have in the past,” says Matt, “but Matt Gudinski explains. “It was also a time where we there are further plans for Mushroom to have a much started to set the company up to move forward in a greater presence across major markets like the US and different way and to evolve and come out of its shell a the UK. the industry, and more importantly the public, what 0.89% push into overseas markets. great successes in the development of the company,” little bit more. The key plan was to highlight to a lot of HOT 200 “Where the music industry, and particularly the recorded industry sits at the moment, the ability to “YOU’LL FIND A LOT MORE AUSTRALIAN LABELS FINDING SUCCESS ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.” Mushroom’s involved in, and I think we achieved that do that is there. There’s a chance for a local label to fairly well throughout 2013.” succeed with artists on an international level – certainly Over the past couple of years, the younger Gudinski you didn’t have digital or streaming channels – such group, “dealing with all the different management issues as Future Classic, and what they did with Flume, quite and the growth of all the businesses we are involved independently. I think you’ll find a lot more Australian in,” he explains. “That’s obviously been a big change labels finding success on an international level.” from three or four years ago, when I was very focused Not surprisingly, Michael Gudinski echoes his son’s on a number of my own businesses, which are now still sentiments – or vice versa: Michael has often spoken of running within the group.” his wish to achieve a US number one record. Ironically, Although 2013 was a busy year for the Mushroom as his chances of that elusive #1 seem to be increasing, Group in regards to the live industry – Frontier toured his attitude to US success has taken on a more Springsteen, before announcing a second run of dates philosophical slant. for 2014, as well as locking in the Rolling Stones tour “Look, it’s something that will come when we’ve got (“we couldn’t have finished the year off on a higher the right record at the right time. A bit of good luck and note”), while the group took over the Future Music timing. It’s something that I was perhaps over-obsessed Festival, as well as boutique festival Sugar Mountain – with, now I’m not thinking about it as much. There are a the group’s various labels continued to release a run of number of great Australian artists; between Gotye, and successful records. Lorde, and Tame Impala, and a bunch of others. “In the last 12-18 months, we’ve probably been the There’s a much bigger focus on and interest in most proactive we’ve been for a number of years, so it’s Australian artists, and now New Zealand - the most just cracked the top definitely not only an exciting time, but a very manic and there’s ever been. There have been a couple of times twenty in the UK; the busy time around the Mushroom Group, and it doesn’t we’ve been close [to a US #1] but if one or two of our acts perfect start to his seem to be letting up anytime soon,” says Matt. are going to be likely to help and see that Aussie Invasion musical career. The actually happen - I’d be there to help anyone, whether it’s song was also the 23rd “Vance [Joy] has just hit Top 40 in England [with his 44 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY a lot more of a chance than five or six years ago, when has slid into overseeing the day-to-day operations of the single Riptide, which has since entered the UK top 20], an act I was involved in or not.” adds Michael. “Most of the group has had a great year. by NATHAN JOLLY Vance’s Riptide has most-heard track at Australian radio. Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 45 THE LABELS EMI SHOCK 2013 was a year of change for EMI Music, both locally and internationally. Stone Magazine Australia and EMI, was announced as The legendary independent turned 25 last year; we take a look at their milestone year. when he took over from Gruppetta. May HOT 200 Managing Director. UMA President George Ash made the was more than experienced after stints with announcement. Create/Control, Dew Process and EMI. At the “In his new position, O’Donnell, one of Australia’s most highly regarded music executives, will be responsible for 7.56% time Gruppetta told press, “I’ve enjoyed eight amazing years at Shock and I am happy to be the EMI, Capitol and Virgin labels, as well as overseeing leaving with the role in safe hands.” the creative direction for their stellar roster of Australian May said in a statement the label, “is part of artists.” Australia’s musical heritage, it’s a great label “It was impossible to resist the opportunity to return with an impressive history and an exciting to EMI and oversee a full-service music company with a future.” vision for the future,” O’Donnell said in the statement. The restructure then saw Remote Control “EMI is a label with brilliant international and local Records’ Maya Janeska and Wunderkind’s artists and the great staff at the heart of the Australian Jacqui Wilson join as Label Managers. company have defined themselves as creative, innovative Mushroom’s Belinda Fitzsimmons was music professionals.” brought on as Head Of Promotions while EMI is still the home of lauded acts like Katy Perry, Helise Andreoli was promoted to Promotions David Guetta, Birds of Tokyo, Iron Maiden and Coldplay Manager. and still takes the cake for the major with the richest 2 history. Not only did the company pioneer the now standardised вЂ�360 deal’, the Electric & Musical Industries The following months saw Shock sign US Bastille’s Pompeii was one of a number of 013 was an historic year for EMI Music. has been home to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, David alternative-leaning The overseas collapse saw them fold into Bowie, Pink Floyd and Queen. What’s more, in 1979 the songs to crossover and another multi-national, the monolithic label and their employee, researcher Godfrey Hounsfield, gain serious traction Universal Music Group. Some blamed their shared the Nobel Prize for medicine after he invented on commercial radio cumbersome uptake of the digital age – the CT Scan with funding from the Beatles’ success in the – becoming the ninth they were the last of the four majors to license tracks to MySpace but later the first company to partner with a вЂ�60s. most-heard track in 2013 – while also S bands The Almost, August Burns Red and Real Friends as well as Australian acts The hock Records celebrated its 25th band broke an ARIA Chart record when their Seabellies, Mind Over Matter, Caulfield, Young year in 2013, and while indies sophomore LP Hate debuted at #35 in 2012 Lions and Bloods. May’s tenure saw the label were having a banner year with and was nominated for an ARIA last year. align itself with overseas label services and acts like Flume highlighting the work of Future Classic and Russell While 2013 didn’t offer much chart record companies. In June, Shock partnered success for Shock, an independent’s market with UK label Quarter 4 to make use of Shock’s Morris’ Sharkmouth outselling Robin Thicke share and chart successes are sometimes in-house manufacturing, distribution, licensing and giving recognition to Fanfare Records, underreported. According to the American and sync abilities while nurturing their focus streaming service and the first to offer DRM-free music to the local industry after audible whispers in 2011, but reaching #4 on the its quarter-century as Australia’s largest Association of Independent Music, Nielsen on compilations. Shock’s love for the physical – some say it was the ongoing monetary and roster it’s far from shocking. EMI the music label was formed ARIA Singles chart. independent label was a dichotomous one. SoundScan reports don’t consider direct deals format and preemptive nature in keeping up losses after a troublesome stint under Guy Hands and his in 1931 when Britain’s Columbia Graphophone Company that independent labels have outside of their with digital breakthroughs has co-existed as private-equity group Terra Firma. and the Gramophone Company (HMV) merged. In the City & Colour, Parkway Drive and Interpol in distributor. harmoniously as it does in the current market. вЂ�80s Polygram acquired independents Island and A&M the past – and playing integral roles in getting watched the bulk of the twenty staffers who were before a merge with MCA in the вЂ�90s formed Universal. The Offspring and Bring Me The Horizon to with iTunes and Amazon (and other partners) retrenched in January find new homes within the music In fact, rumours of the EMI merger had been circling as #1 – the Melbourne-based label grew out of but have a distributor for physical or parts of industry and those who stayed on were delegated new far back as 2006 when EMI planned to buy out Warner a love for the underdog. Shock was also the their digital business, still have their entire and the signing of UK music management and roles either as part of Universal Music or under the Music Group. Warner countered the stratagem with a front runner in digital progression, as the first market share attributed by Nielsen to the label services company Kartel in September, independently run EMI at UMA’s Millers Point office. buyout offer and later, Terra Firma’s acquisition in 2007 record company to market music online in ’94, label’s distributor.” taking on To Kill A King and Filthy Boy. EMI Australasia Chairman Mark Poston stood down in and Guy Hands’ loss of EMI in 2011 added fuel to the fire. offering free MP3 single downloads three years Ends were well and truly tied by mid-year; Australia EMI Australia’s $1.9 million merger was disconcerting Helping to grow artists like Crystal Castles, “Independent labels that have direct deals Another partnership saw the teaming with Australia’s Rabble Records in August for a further focus on fostering local talent, Granted, Shock’s territory is Australia, 2014 will see more structural changes but its current major partners like Cooking for the Shock Entertainment staple: May Vinyl, Vagrant, Sumerian and Rough Trade departed in December to live in the UK with after the launch of Permanent Records in are based in the UK or US. But it wasn’t these his wife, Andreoli ended her two-year stint December 2011 for local indie artists and heavy long-sighted concerns that were making press the same month, and the label are yet to name music imprint Halfcut in June 2012, the label on the home front. When Harvey and General replacements. However with upcoming releases watched Stu Harvey’s brainchild rub shoulders Manager Leigh Gruppetta resigned in early from Jersey rockers The Gaslight Anthem, other act or song this with chart heavyweights. As Shock’s former 2013, Shock underwent a major reshuffle. London band/filmmaking collective Breton With a strong roster, a strong heritage catalogue, plus year. It’s great to see an Senior International Label Manager, Harvey Gruppetta ended his eight-year tenure to and UK producer Davidge just this month, it’s Director Tony Harlow, who ran EMI from 1997-2002. a вЂ�two heads are better than one’ advantage at HQ, EMI’s Australian claim pole signed on releases from Gallows, Heroes For expand the UK’s Cooking Vinyl label in clear Shock Records are as uncompromisingly One month after Poston quit EMI, record exec John story remains compelling. Hire, While She Sleeps and Australia’s own Melbourne with Harvey also at the helm. independent and forward-thinking as ever. January to undertake a Gap Year of sorts. Earlier this month he told TMN he “visited about 15 countries. I got married. I learned how to meditate. I did Perry took the top spot on ARIA’s End Of Year Top a lot of exercise and did a bunch of gigs.” 100 Singles Chart with her 7x Platinum single Roar, Poston unveiled his new position as Managing Director of Parlophone Australia and as Managing Director of Warner Bros. Records Australia. The move sees him reunite with Warner Music Australasia Managing O’Donnell, who has had past stints at Sony, Rolling 46 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY later. Any day-to-day upset caused by EMI’s fold into 2013 was no less progressive for Shock; Universal didn’t show up on the charts last year. Katy Birds Of Tokyo enjoyed while Perth’s Birds Of Tokyo were the most played on more airplay for their Australian radio in 2013 with their 3x Platinum single track Lanterns then any Lanterns. by POPPY REID position at commercial radio. Thy Art Is Murder. The Sydney deathcore Craig May kicked off the reshuffle last March by POPPY REID Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 47 THE LABELS INERTIA MGM Managing Director Colin Daniels chats about Inertia’s big year, and rejoices that the dark days of the early 2000s are over. There has never been a better time for independent companies in the Australian landscape, as MGM’s year showcases nicely. HOT 200 2.12% Surprisingly, it was a sync placement during a pivotal scene on I nertia released a number of great – and wildly American show Hart Of Dixie that first brought The dark ages of the early 2000s seem to be over. this stomping track to the attention of the successful – records this year. What have been Hooray! It was a horrible time with mass layoffs at some of your 2013 highlights at the label? Inertia the majors and many indies closing down. There is a wider public. American had its best year ever. Working with Kobalt to renewed energy in the industry - especially the indies radio picked up on the deliver Nick Cave’s first number 1 album was a huge – as we learn to deal with the rapidly changing market. buzz, Australia followed highlight! We also had a number 1 album with Queens Young people want to work in the industry again. And suit, and here we are. Of The Stone Age, with Remote Control, as well as top they have a fresh approach. I am learning more now than 10 albums from Passenger, The Lumineers, Atoms For I ever have. Peace, The Cat Empire, The National, Vampire Weekend, Adele’s success over the past few years must have been a Horrorshow and Seth Sentry. There were a number of boon. How was it watching that develop? Was there any weeks where we had 11 albums in the Top 100. point where demand outstripped supply? distribution records hit the high reaches of of a dent in the wider world of The Jezabels (The Man Is Dead) ticked over to the charts in 2014. It’s certainly an interesting music, and the channels through sales of 70,000+ as well this year, while on the and intelligent new model, and it wouldn’t be which music is purchased albums front Karnivool scored a Gold record surprising if similar crowd-funding platforms and enjoyed continue to shift, with Themata. adopt a similar system in the near future. The Drones’ I Sea Seeweed has been from the limited distribution option that universally acclaimed – as is the way with commented, “I am really pleased that Pozible now sold 25,000,000 albums worldwide. No-one thought they once did (as least in comparison to Drones records – and will likely notch up and MGM, two independent Australian that was still possible! the majors, whose stock often dominated Gold sales this year, while Emma Louise enterprises, have teamed up to create a new the chain retailers). As a result, it is not followed up her Gold-certified EP Full Hearts initiative that can provide a funding and uncommon to find the likes of MGM, Shock & Empty Rooms, with her debut album Vs. distribution solution which enhances the and Inertia releasing a steady stream of Heart Vs. Head. options available to Australian artists and After all the TV pop we’ve all had to endure, Adele was a breath of fresh air for the fans and the industry. She has Traks celebrated its 15th year as a label by delivering some of the best albums they have ever released - and A career highlight for me was signing Passenger for Past releases from San Cisco (Awkward) and independent distributors no longer suffer I am very proud of our team and very thankful to the incredible labels we work with around the world. Elefant threw a few great parties as well! A s major labels start to make less We never ran out of stock of Adele, even when we were shipping 35,000 a week. At one stage we had to fill the the world. We had a number 1 single in 15 countries and lunch room and hallways with stock! have sold over 1 million albums so far. Let Her Go is # 5 You’re also on the Merlin board. What does this entail? A number one record in fifteen countries, hugely commercially-successful records. 2013 MGM’s Founder and CEO Sebastian Chase MGM started 2014 off with a bang, with an supports their efforts to build sustainable this week in the Billboard chart. Passenger is the hardest I have been on the Merlin board for over four years was a great year for MGM, with The Drones, interesting distribution deal – funnelled via working artist I have ever worked with. Even after all the now. I am very passionate about our charter. No digital with over one million Karnivool, Emma Louise and Sheppard among their legendary imprint Waterfront Records – worldwide success, he still busks daily when on tour. service has successfully launched without the indies on sales - not bad for a their local big-hitters this year. in which they will release any records funded popular Australians, John Butler and The You’ve worked across a number of labels around the board from the beginning. It surprises me that some new songwriter who was Sheppard were the big surprise this year, through Pozible, making these albums eligible Jezabels, should see the company notch up two busking the streets for with their single Let Me Go becoming a huge for the ARIA and AIR charts. As many of more Platinum records very shortly – if not by change a few years commercial radio success, propelling sales of these records are basically funded by what are the time you read this. their EP to Platinum sales. pre-sales, this should see a number of MGM- by VICTORIA LUCAS world. How has the internal label landscape changed services still treat indies as second class citizens. We since the early вЂ�90s – aside from the obvious shift online must ensure a level playing field. and away from physical? 48 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY by VICTORIA LUCAS ago. careers.” On top of this, early 2014 releases from Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 49 MIGUEL I M W G E U L Words by Poppy Reid Photo by Ken Leanfore hen Miguel walks into a hotel room at The Star and vulnerable place. I cut straight to the chase, even when it’s about casino he looks fresh (partly due to the hint of picking up on a girl [...] I say exactly what I’m feeling and I think that’s shimmery makeup catching the light on his temples) at the very least respectable. Even if you don’t like it, or even if a woman and placid. Perhaps it was the LA native’s brimming didn’t like that, I think she can respect that.” industry showcase at the casino’s Marquee nightclub In reality, Miguel’s honest resolve is inspired by the past. He lists the night prior, where the skirts and the button-ups show immeasurable вЂ�60s R’n’B acts like Marvin Gaye, lyricists like Prince and of course, skin and a table reservation will set you back $10,000; however it’s Michael Jackson, as his influences. Unsurprisingly, all these of the more likely he’s humbled by his Mariah Carey collaboration #Beautiful. aforementioned leave women feeling mesmerised not objectified. The single shipped one million copies as of August, charted at #6 on the “My favourite R’n’B bands and R’n’B musicians had this transparency ARIA Chart and most impressively, marked his third single to do so. that allowed them to do exactly what they thought,” he says, his gold The song succeeded 2012’s Sure Thing – a track he wrote when selling chain swaying. “I think we’ve lost familiarity with that kind of music so maybe that’s why it may feel like вЂ�wait, how is it that he can he tell me “MARKETING MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THIS GAME, IT IS THE VISUAL AGE” that pussy’s mine and women can listen to it and enjoy it and it feels romantic?’ Because I’m not saying it in a brash way. I don’t know how to explain it, but there’s a transparency. It’s not said completely out of bravado because it’s rooted in vulnerability. “IвЂ�m not going to pretend like I’m trying to be cool with you when I’m really trying to get your pants off, and then when you don’t take them off I get all offended - I’m not going to do that. extended car warranties in LA - and 2013’s seductive siren song, Adorn. “Art and culture are supposed to reflect the time period and what’s “I’ve never been the clever dude to game my way in, I’ve just never been that dude. I’m not a slick dude. I’ve just found that honesty is what supposed to be going on.” Miguel props himself against two couch works best for me. I think really I’m a good guy - it’s a nice balance.” cushions as he takes on the awkward task of explaining his place in It hasn’t been an easy ride for this almond-eyed straight talker. music’s current landscape. “In this day and age, information is the new His debut album All I Want Is You remained dormant for two years hot commodity and attention is the new hot commodity. The way I and struggled to reach ears when it did see the light of day, due to reflect the times, is that my music isn’t one thing, in that it incorporates legal hassles with his former production company. Not to mention all of my influences.” the record-company expenditures from Jive Records offsetting his His moniker Miguel is obviously a mononym; born to a Mexican father and African American mother, Miguel Jontel Pimentel is a moderate sales. Jive’s sub-label Bystorm Entertainment endeavoured to market him as an R’n’B act, which Miguel believes contributed to his reaction to the classic rock, blues and hip hop he continues to grow against. His neo-soul amalgam gently requests women drop to their knees whilst instilling chivalry - no mean feat for an artist boxed into a genre pregnant with objectification and unintelligent sexual innuendo. At 27, Miguel has already been scorned by the music industry, released two full-lengths and five EPs (including a soon-to-be four volume EP series), injured a woman at the Billboard Awards, and “FREE MUSIC IS THE STANDARD NOW. AN ARTIST ALMOST HAS TO PUT OUT FREE MUSIC” made headlines on celebrity gossip websites for a drunk-driving arrest the same month #Beautiful hit the million mark. Yet it seems a man scorned is a man determined; Miguel has a lot to prove and with the “I think at the time people had this perception of me as being a fly- genius of Sam Cooke’s impromptu trill and a resolve to wear his heart by-night artist and that’s why I think my first album was overlooked so on his sleeve, his new wave of R’n’B is in direct rebuttal to the current much,” he muses. “Marketing makes a big difference in this game, it is grasp of the genre that he refers to as “washed out and repetitive”. the visual age.” “You can see it coming from a mile away. It’s not interesting; that’s our perception of R’n’B and that’s why it’s become a lost thing.” Miguel may not be the only R’n’B anomaly to tinker with the formula, 50 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY stunted green years. Today, he’s assertive and cautious of his projection. After the interview, TMN asked Miguel if he wouldn’t mind conducting the photo-shoot in the bedroom of the hotel suite - he declined and said he but if his female fans can listen to his music and still call themselves wanted to avoid any R’n’B clichГ©s. Miguel has been exercising heavy feminists, then he’s at the very least found a balance. “When I am control over his public image for over a year now; before the release discussing love or romance or sex it’s normally from a very honest of Kaleidoscope Dream in September 2012, he self-released his three Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 51 MIGUEL CONTINUED BANDING TOGETHER micro EP series Art Dealer Chic. The three volumes two realities, and that neither one is the actual MULTI-SCREEN MARKETING WITH MCN comprise nine songs and just about 30 minutes of music, which he created over a period of three months. The project saw Miguel producing, shooting music reality, has served me very well: being a point of translation between those conversations is really important. videos and even painting the dreams that inspired What common mistakes do you see in music/ it. “Logically it was like, вЂ�How do I remain relevant Tori Benzie, MCN’s Group brand team-ups? and how do I tread water? Or at least stay afloat in Manager – Multiply The biggest mistake is that people think these tides as people are releasing loads and loads Integration, talks about someone will care. Just because you gave away of music, without sacrificing my convictions that my the intersection between a song or whatever, why would anyone care music is valuable?’” Released through his label of music TV, advertising, and about that? I think it’s more important from the same name, Art Dealer Chic forced the industry multiple platforms. the brand side – all we need to do is hang and fans alike to stand up and take notice. Its genre- around this piece of music or this artist and crossing eclecticism faded the R’n’B epithet and built Popular music and we’ll become cool or relevant, and I think just anticipation for Kaleidoscope Dream, which debuted at marketing seems to be at sitting on the sidelines doesn’t work – which #3 on the Billboard 200 and sold more than 322,000 its strongest intersection makes perfect sense when you articulate it. copies in the US, as of February (Neilsen SoundScan). point to date – what do “Free music is the standard now. An artist almost Another mistake is just one-off you put this down to? conversations. The best bits of work, the best has to put out free music and I’m all about that. An increasingly cluttered partnerships that have been built, have been But at the same time an artist has to value music market is resulting long-term, they leverage a common truth for for what it’s supposed to be and that’s art,” he says in brands and bands both the artist and the brand, and it’s a genuine with articulate poise. “It’s supposed to be an artistic And while the new interest in publicising his artistic collaborating now more one plus one equals three. The mistakes that expression. You can’t give away your feelings for expression in more tangible ways may be new to us, the than ever before. Both are made are when they think it’s kinda easy your entire life. We start to devalue the creative essence behind the product hasn’t changed. need ways to cut through, and вЂ�we’ll just get in there and do it’, and it and the huge technology doesn’t do anything for either party. “AN ARTIST HAS TO VALUE MUSIC FOR WHAT IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE.” turn at every point, it’s always a paint brush in my changes in the media The idea of musicians вЂ�selling-out’ has far less fucking hand and I’m choosing the colours. So I choose landscape are helping to of a stigma these days. What do you attribute whether or not I’m living a beautiful life, an abundant enable this. These days this shift in thinking to? life, or if I’m living in chaos.” audiences are able to I think the most interesting thing is now consume a broader range there are very few acts that won’t want to “I’m always painting my reality, at every single Miguel’s career beginnings as an underdog act – too green to speak up to label execs – should only be of music across multiple viewed as half of the backdrop that lead to his ascent; platforms, which in-turn process and your entire creativity if you continue a cursory look at his past twelve months proves his means more opportunities just giving yourself for free.” hunger to transcend pigeon-holing was coursing for brands to add real through his veins long before he began rewriting pop value to an audience’s culture patterns. music experience. Earlier this year Miguel set to work on the EP series’ follow-up. The release will be presented in the same fashion: self-funded and dripfed over three months. When asked to reflect on his past year Miguel smiles Hitting stores through July, August and September, it and sits forward. “I hope that they’re ready to strap How has the competing will come with clothing he’s designed, conceivably his in,” he says, “because we’re about to make it a lot more new media changed balanced the mediums as to not undervalue his work. progressive.” music-based TV BANDING TOGETHER relationship – not always for the most amount of money. They understand that if you want to get involved in interesting things then you need to do interesting things yourself. I think THE MARRIAGE OF MUSIC AND MARKETING S a lot of it comes from the fact that the record labels have not been – the evidence suggests udeep Gohil is the CEO of Droga5 in what they should do, and it was always вЂ�put a – very good at marketing stuff themselves, Australia, one of the world’s leading crappy poster here’ and do all these other lame and the artists ask, вЂ�Well, who are the best advertising agencies. Over the things, and whilst we took the money at first, people at marketing?’ I was at a conference years, the company has worked on we thought it didn’t really have anything to do the other week, and Pharrell [Williams] said, campaigns combining the might of Microsoft with the events we were doing. So my business вЂ�the average budget for a music video from the complementary to music- and Jay-Z, publishing house Hachette and partner and I started to give our advice on what label is $15,000 now - that’s ridiculous. Proctor based TV advertising as Qantas, and even tapped Sarah Silverman for it provides different ways an innovative Obama 2008 campaign. Last for audiences to interact. year, the world’s largest talent agency, William Mobile means we can Morris Endeavor, bought a 49% stake in the build stronger personal company, furthering their scope. We talked relationships and digital to Gohil about the increasingly-important adds another dimension marriage between music and marketing – and to do. After ten years of doing events, we had a help them make better marketing decisions. to a campaign, allowing how selling out is no longer a dirty word. lot of brands coming to us – whether or not we Working with brands makes those activities had an event or not – paying us to give them happen more organically, and in a smarter way. advertising/campaigns? New media is actually for a far stronger two-way and Gamble would never try to do anything “THE BIGGEST MISTAKE IS THAT PEOPLE THINK SOMEONE WILL CARE.” for $15,000. Why does a label believe that’s enough money to make a great film, and a brand knows it’s not?’ What’s changed now is the artists see the labels as the financiers, and the smart ones have people around them that conversation. Audiences Before you worked in this field you worked advice in that space. There is a big difference in want to consume their both as a DJ and a promoter. How has this the worlds of brand and music: brand people favourite content, informed the way you pair brands and music? are very analytical, plan things well in advance, immediately, so it’s It was the underpinning of everything I’ve and are fairly used to getting their own way. important that campaigns done, really. After I left university, I started Music people on the other hand, are quite adapt to reflect this. in the mailroom at an advertising agency, and organic, fairly creative, don’t plan particularly This means creating a at the same time I was DJing, putting on gigs well, and they seem to believe that brands have campaign that sits across and stuff like that. Over the years, when we buckets of money, and all they need to do is multiple media channels were doing events, I was being approached find the right person and they’ll unload this and multiple screens. by brands to sponsor our events, and they treasure trove of finances. were being advised by agencies in terms of 52 AUSTRALIAN THE MUSIC NETWORK MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY get involved with a brand, for the right Understanding the dichotomy between those Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 53 F L U M T E L Words by Danielle Long W hen rock legend, the late Lou Reed, took to the stage needed someone who could create something cool, that was also quite at the advertising industry’s biggest international technical.” festival in 2013, it signalled a major turning point in While initially the agency thought about using a generative artist, the relationship between the music industry and the the agency reached out to Future Classic and quickly set their sights on advertising business. musician/producer Flume. “Things have changed,” said Reed as he addressed the international Key to the project’s success was creating authentic content and marketing and advertising community. “The advertising people an original composition that could reach out to and connect with actually pay musicians for what they do. It’s a startling turn of events. a millennial audience, while providing something for Intel’s techie It used to be thought of as selling out but now it’s the opposite, people audience to “salivate over” - and engaging Flume’s existing fan base and like the ads now.” social media following. Marketers searching for new ways to connect with hard-to-reach audiences have embraced the music industry, leading to an explosion To ensure the target audience were suitably captivated, Intel also created a вЂ�making of’ film, providing a behind the scenes look at the project. To date, the two videos have attracted a combined audience of “OBVIOUSLY, THE TIMING FOR THIS CAMPAIGN WAS EXCELLENT.” more than 1.3 million people on YouTube. While collaborating with an emerging artist wasn’t a mandate, it was an important element to the project’s success, says Gelardi. “We lucked out really. We started talking to Flume in mid-May and suddenly things just seemed to really take off for him, and obviously, the timing for this campaign was excellent.” When Flume performed at last year’s ARIA’s, he opted to perform of creative collaborations: Beyonce and Pepsi, Skrillex and G-Star and The Greatest View accompanied by The Preatures’ Isabella Manfredi Swedish House Mafia and Volvo. Most recently Australian audiences and members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Intel was also there, reaped the benefit of electronic artist Flume’s collaboration with Intel. having supplied tablets for the musicians to read their sheet music The collaboration, called вЂ�Intelligent Sounds’, comprises a unique sound and light installation, a specially-composed Flume track (The Greatest View), a robot conductor and a вЂ�band’ powered by Intel tablets. The three-minute film sees a robot conductor “play” a series of tablets, which are programmed with synthesised notes and linked to custom-made instruments, which recreate the sounds within the track. The robot is programmed to hit the right note in time with the track. The 12-week production included 2,000 developer hours, more than from. “THESE PROJECTS HELP YOU CREATE A MORE EMOTIONAL CONNECTION.” 60 Intel powered tablets, and created a piece of content that captured the attention of geeks and music lovers alike. “We wanted to create something fun and engaging that could create an emotional connection with people,” says Intel National Marketing Flume also decided to include The Greatest View on the deluxe edition of his latest album, Flume. For Intel, the kudos of having its brand associated with an artist that Manager Anna Torres. “We wanted something that would surprise and is not only a rising star, but is also recognised for being at the cutting delight audiences; something they can enjoy and engage with, so that edge of music innovation is the cream on top of this collaborative later when they are in the shop, they think about our brand.” partnership. Intel, the brand behind the processing chips which power devices “What stood out about Flume, was that he was not only making music such as laptops, tablets and mobile phones, needed an entertaining way but he was also using new technology in really interesting ways. He is a to showcase how its products enhances people’s lives. really innovative and cutting edge artist,” says Torres. Enter Intel’s advertising agency The Monkeys. “We knew we wanted to create something in the branded content “The beauty of working with an artist like Flume is that you can get people to engage with your brand in a more authentic way, and these space,” says Jay Gelardi, Digital Creative Director at The Monkeys. projects help you create a more emotional connection with consumers “We knew we needed an artist to really collaborate with and we by tapping into something they already love,” says Torres. 54 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 55 RECORDING S S O B E H T L Words by Nathan Jolly ast March when Bruce Springsteen was in Some of the instruments were from their live rigs, Sydney, he stopped into Studio 301 to cut two although we rented a drum kit for Max [Weinberg]. I tracks: High Hopes, a song from LA-based brought a few snares with me, along with a couple amps Havalinas, and a cover of The Saints’ jangly and guitars. Garry [Tallent] used an Ampeg B15 - Nils’ Just Like Fire Would В– evidently, being in the [Lofgren] was a Strat through a 65 London - Tom had middle of a massive world tour isn’t enough work for his Hippo guitar and his Marshall rig - and Bruce used The Boss. Nick DiDia helmed the sessions, and High a Martin D35 on one track and his Takamine or Gibson Hopes was recently released as the lead single and title track from Springsteen’s latest record. Naturally we were curious as to what went down at 301, and figured you might be too, so we asked DiDia a few questions about the sessions. “THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO TRY TO ELIMINATE THE STUDIO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.” Firstly, how did The Boss come to record the lead single from his new record at 301? on the other. Roy [Bittan] played the studio piano (a I had been in contact with Ron Aniello (one of the C7), and they brought in Charlie’s [Giordano] B3 rig. producers) about coming to LA to do some recording, but it didn’t work out schedule-wise. So when they were and a few other mic’s I always use - Neumann Km86s here on tour, Tom Morello came down to 301 Byron and and KM184s,and a Shure SM7. Also an old pair of did some overdubs on tracks they had already recorded. Neve 1073 modules. We were in Studio 1 which has After that they decided to track some songs with the a Neve 88R - and the usual assortment of outboard entire band, so we went into 301 Sydney. compressors LA2As, 1176s, and Pultec EQs. When working with someone with such an established How about vocally? sound, is there a temptation to either sonically It was an SM7 through a Pultec and an LA2A for the replicate his вЂ�sound’ - or conversely, to kick against it? vocal, and a KM86 through an 1176 on the acoustic, and From the engineering side it’s usually about capturing it was tracked together. what happens in the room. I think with any great live The E Street Band are obviously a well-oiled machine. band, the best thing to do in a studio situation is to try How much tracking was done live? to eliminate the studio as much as you can, and not let 56 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY I have an old AKG D30 that I used on the kik drum, The band tracked live as a nine-piece: Bruce, Max, the technology get in the way of the performance. Roy, Garry, Nils, Tom, Soozie [Tyrell], Charlie and What’s the in-studio dynamic like with Springsteen and Everett [Bradley]. Seven of them were set up in a semi- the band? circle in the main room, with Max and Bruce in separate It’s usually pretty quick - the idea is to try to have isolation booths. One of the best things about the main everything ready so the band can walk in and start room at 301 Sydney is that it has great line of sight for playing. That doesn’t always happen, but it’s the goal. the musicians, and the iso booths are pretty large - so it And I was taught to always be recording - it’s easy to doesn’t feel too separated. We borrowed iso booths from erase something you don’t want - but sometimes really the SSL studio for guitar cabs, then we did the horns difficult to replicate a performance or an idea. For me and additional BGs as overdubs in the main room. personally, it’s inspiring to work for Bruce and the band Tom Morello is also a player with a very singular sonic because they are all great at what they do, and they still palette. Was there anything unusual in his setup? continue to work really hard at it. Tom has a pretty straight-forward setup - although How set in stone were the arrangements and ideas the cut switch on the guitar is unique - and he uses before the band entered? the Whammy pedal quite a bit. I think when he came I believe these particular tunes had been rehearsed for to Byron we used his Marshall head with my Marshall the live show, so the arrangements were very together. cabinet that has 30s in it - but in Sydney we used his Can you talk us through the gear you used? live rig. Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 57 THE FINN TY S A N Y D N Words by Benn Laidlow eil Finn started 2013 with an impressive, ARIA- Do you ever get overwhelmed by choices when songwriting, and not nominated run of shows with fellow-troubadour Paul know where you’re supposed to take them? Kelly. Behind-the-scenes, however, Finn was readying Yeah, of course. Sometimes you get lost days where a song isn’t working Dizzy Heights, his first major release since signing a and you can’t nut it out. But I’m a big believer in endurance: you just publishing deal with Kobalt in 2011. TMN chatted to Finn keep at it and eventually a little crack in the wall appears, or a little flash about the new record, his back catalogue, songwriting, family, and of inspiration happens, but I don’t rely on that happening every day. everything inbetween. Some days you just have to get some work done and hope that it’s all gonna come together the next day. This record, moreso than previous ones, seems to take repeated listens Do your three solo albums feel like a trilogy, like parts of the one to begin to make sense. whole? Yeah, it’s not a particularly modern concept, in terms of expecting I can’t quite get my head around looking at it that way, but I know that people to listen to something more than once, but hopefully it will people probably will see it like that. For me, I put an equal amount of reveal itself over time. I mean, expecting people to do that is quite hard care and attention into each record, the names that they come out under these days, and I know I’m the same. But I do think a slow reveal is and the collaborators I work with – collaborators are a very important always a good sign for a record. I know myself, if I’m on the third or part of it - I know it means something and there is branding and all that, fourth listen with a record and things are starting to find their way in, but it just feels like part of a continuum to me.” then I know it’s something that will have a little bit of longevity. It seems like a project you’ve been keen to get back to for a while. Even Do you remember how the album began to take shape? Was there any though you’ve been quite busy, I’d imagine the delay between solo kind of game-plan? albums would have been frustrating given that you finally have your I’m always just writing and doing demos. Occasionally you get little... studio up and running quite well. they’re not usually complete songs, and they’re often just hoisted It doesn’t really matter how long it’s been. Having said that, I’m quite together quite quickly often with room for improvement. You get an eager to keep going. I’ve got a whole bunch of new ones and I really atmosphere come through with each recording, so I just gathered would like to do a record quite quickly. I’ve got a little bit of touring to together a little collection of things that seemed related in some way, do, but then come the end of the year I think I’ll be starting work on a but in other ways they’re just individual collections of songs until you new record. get them into a studio with a band and a producer and you find there’s The physical version of the album has got a couple of bonus tracks that “COME THE END OF THE YEAR, I THINK I’LL BE STARTING WORK ON A NEW RECORD.” 58 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY aren’t on the iTunes edition. Your Next Move is a great song. Is Liam drumming on that one? No. Elroy’s drumming on that one. It’s an explosive drum track. Liam plays bass and guitars on that one, but I can imagine why you’d ask. He does have a really good frenetic ear. Is that [Finn’s wife] Sharon doing all the background vocals throughout? connecting threads. You know, it’s an exploration from that point on, “She does some stuff on background vocals. It’s not just her, there’s trying to keep performance to the forefront, rather than having some another singer from New Zealand. But Sharon sings and plays bass plan that you feel you have to stick to. through the whole record.” Do you find that you sometimes have to trick yourself into discovering Cool. That’s puts a new twist on it. new structures or chord patterns? “Yeah, I kind of had the whole family turn up for the sessions, which I’ll employ pretty much any device known to writers, from pure was really nice. And we had a Christmas concert recently which was inspiration to complete skullduggery, so I don’t mind the individual way really exciting, we had Tim’s whole family as well for that. His two kids they unfold. They’re mysterious little beasts, songs, and I don’t mind are really talented and his young daughter Eliot is an amazing singer; leaving some of it mysterious either. his son Harper is becoming a brilliant piano player, too. It was really Did some songs take longer to pull together than others? enjoyable and we made a pretty rockin’ good band, I have to say. A few of them went through several incarnations. Funnily enough, So do you think a Finn Family album could be in the works? With all Strangest Friends was the one with the most evolved demo, and that those voices genetically sort of... one was the hardest to get a new track of. White Lies and Alibis started ...programmed together? [laughs]. Well, I’d be in favour. I wouldn’t life sounding like an Olympic Games’ anthem, and has now ended up want it to be a daggy, hokey kind of thing for anybody. It shouldn’t be, it quite a tense, albeit beautiful arrangement. would sound bloody good. That would be the main thing. Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 59 E H T G N I S A CH STARS AND STRIPES D Words by Poppy Reid rew McAlister and Troy Kemp may have been hesitant to jump in and cause any waves but I just believe each to their own. If we join forces at first, but with three albums, a slew of country want to do a rock solid country album we should be allowed to do it accolades decorating their respective poolrooms (we’re and if John Williamson wants to sing about chandeliers and stars and guessing), and a Top 20 record on ARIA’s mainstream gallahs then let him do it. chart, the past five years have been measuredly progressive Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey were the target of it and they for the six-foot country rockers. We chat to Kemp - a TMN alumni who pulled out […] That shouldn’t be the way it goes. It was a very brave stapled and delivered the mag in its embryonic days - on the release day thing to do […] But you know John Williamson and Adam Harvey got of the duo’s latest offering Harder To Tame. nominated in the Golden Guitars for a song called King of the Road, which is written by an American named Roger Miller. How did you both come to ditching solo dreams to working as a duo? We’ll keep doing our rowdy, rocking country style and of course if I was recording with Australian producer Mark Moffat who lives in people like it, they like it you know? I think people who liked Cold Nashville. Drew was involved in the Johnny Cash show called Aussies Chisel and bands like the Screaming Jets would like McAlister Kemp if Walk The Line and one of the guys pulled out. I’d just come back from we could get ourselves crossed over into the mainstream genre, because Nashville with my album and the right person heard it and said вЂ�do you there’s enough songs on the new album that could be played on Triple wanna play in this Johnny Cash Show’. I thought, вЂ�Oh I’m trying to get M. Unfortunately Australian commercial radio doesn’t really give my own career going but I guess I’ll do this as well.’ country a look in because they think it’s all John Williamson and Slim It was me, Drew McAlister, Michael Carr and Nick Kingswell, so the Dusty singing about how the tractor broke down. I think there needs to four of us are doing this Johnny Cash show and we’re out on tour for a be a rise in stations that play the more rocking country. I mean you’re year. There was a lot of downtime on the road where we had nothing to never going to get played on Triple J, but otherwise you get stuck in do, so when we were hanging out in hotel rooms we just started writing community radio land where your song gets played on regional Taree songs together. And Michael Carr came into the room one morning and radio or Goulburn radio and who listens to that? Five people? said, вЂ�What’s that song you guys are singing?’ we said, вЂ�It’s just a song Harder To Tame is the first record where you used other songwriters. we’re writing’, he said вЂ�You guys should start a duo, like a Brooks & We always prided ourselves on writing our own songs for our own Dunn type thing, there’s no two guys that have gotten together and do record. But we wanted to make sure this was a killer record and we it the way you guys do it.’ We looked at each other and said, вЂ�Na that’s a thought if there’s great songs in the publishing houses we may as well stupid idea.’ check them out. […] We ended up with five songs from Nashville and Michael kept ringing me and he kept ringing Drew and finally we five songs that we wrote ourselves. We haven’t done that before but I caved and decided to give it a go. Our first show was at an awards show think it gives the album an American country sort of flavour. in Newcastle with Adam Brand, he said, вЂ�Who are you guys? I wanna It will be interesting to see if any of the songs you discarded make their way onto radio. “[AUSTRALIAN COMMERCIAL RADIO] THINK IT’S ALL JOHN WILLIAMSON AND SLIM DUSTY SINGING ABOUT HOW THE TRACTOR BROKE DOWN.” get involved, I wanna take you on tour, you can be my opening act.’ We Years ago when I was Troy Kemp solo artist, I was given a couple of songs by a guy named Jamie from Peer Music. He said вЂ�I think you should record these songs’, at the time I was too bigheaded and too proud, I said, вЂ�Oh no I don’t need those songs mate, I can write my own.’ “GOLDEN GUITARS, CMC AWARDS [...] HOW DID THIS EVEN HAPPEN?” got to open to a thousand people every show. He helped us get a record deal with ABC Music, now it’s Golden Guitars, CMC Awards, six #1s five Needless to say those two songs both appeared on the Golden Road years later. How did this even happen? We’re still pinching ourselves. album that Keith Urban recorded and they both went #1 in America. Speaking of the Golden Guitars, what’s your take on John Williamson’s That was like a punch in the face. I’ve still got the original demos. decision to bow out as President of the CMAA? Drew and I have chosen to stay out of that because we don’t want to 60 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY Harder To Tame is out now through ABC Music Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 61 DO YOU BELIEVE IN coming from there, but it’s not a sound-alike. band, but are you worried some of the more pop connections might be What’s ahead for 2014? Is there an album to speak of yet? detrimental? The album is finished. It’s going to be like a traditional band rollout. I think nobody knew who I was as a songwriter when this single came The difference between us and other acts is, because we came from out – they just liked the song. In my experience, as a music-maker, it a songwriting background, we wrote songs first, and then we started just matters about the music. It doesn’t matter if I was a big songwriter, playing shows. Probably by March, the album will be out globally, or a teacher the day before [it came out]. There are so many big and then we will start doing all the festivals and just touring, touring, songwriters that then try to be recording artists, and it doesn’t work – touring – вЂ�til we’re 90. either because they don’t write the right song, or they’re just not artists. Is it obvious when a song belongs with Magic!, as opposed to with We found an artistic place together as four people, and people seem to another artist. Is that how you write? be able to separate this. They might not like a Justin Bieber song, but As a songwriter, I am able to separate myself personally when writing people get it, they’re smart. We weren’t even sure whether we would mention those songs, but you can’t shy away from your achievements. Words by Victoria Lucas Photo by Ken Leanfore W e are a band. We live and eat together. Songwriting How did you arrive at this sound? It sits rather apart from everything is definitely a big part of my life, but it was only to else on radio at the moment. get me to a point where I could get on stage.” Nasri It’s very influenced by the Police and The Wailers. We try to cultivate Atweh, frontman of Canadian reggae-tinged pop group Magic! – who shot to prominence when their summery single Rude lit up Australian airwaves before an official US release – is keen to establish the four-piece as a bona fide band, and not merely a songwriting vehicle. It seems like a needless differentiate for a group with just over three minutes of released music to their name to make, but considering the vocalist has penned tracks for the likes of “THERE ARE SO MANY BIG SONGWRITERS THAT THEN TRY TO BE RECORDING ARTISTS.” Justin Bieber, David Guetta, Jason Derulo, Akon and Cheryl Cole, it’s “WE KNEW RUDE WAS A HIT [...] IT HAD THAT FEELING: вЂ�THIS COULD BE A HIT SONG.’ ARE WE SURPRISED IT HAPPENED SO FAST? YES.” It’s only been positive. People, deep down, love Justin Bieber. Were the songs for the album written over a number of years? One of them is about four years old, which was a hook idea, but all the rest were written in the past year. We’ve only heard Rude so far. Does the album swing far from that track, stylistically speaking? I’d say it’s a forest of about four trees [laughs]. There’s a cohesive element that brings it all together, not every song sounds like Rude obviously, but I think people who fall in love with the first song will hear that same thing in the other songs, too. Were you expecting the single to hit so quickly? for people. With some songs I wrote them from a place, and later sold Yes. We were hoping and projecting, but actually having that success… them, and others I would be with an artist and help complement what We’re confident, we knew Rude was a hit, because the people we worked they wanted – just be there to help with their idea. But with the band, with were really great, and we worked really hard on it, and it had that not surprising that some have viewed this latest venture as yet another our sound organically. I mean, all music is somewhat derivative, and well, we are like a proper band – we sit there in our underwear writing feeling: вЂ�This could be a hit song.” Are we surprised it happened so fast? vehicle to affix his songwriting smarts. We sat down with the frontman those are our main influences, but we also wanted to set it apart from songs, we live and eat together. We just created a band. Yes. I mean, four days and it’s everywhere – that’s nuts. But are we in Sony’s Sydney offices to discuss songwriting and quick-fire success. anything. We want it to sound fresh, so hopefully it sounds like it’s Obviously your experience will be a great help in establishing the surprised it’s working? No. We made it to work. 62 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 63 HEATSEEKER 14 TO WATCH IN ’14 01 Jam. Ostensibly signed to producer No I.D’s excellent Because The Internet and Drake’s imprint Artium, Aiko released the EP Sail Out unstoppable Nothing Was The Same, plus last month: a blithe, crystalline effort, which a debut album slated for release this year features Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) and through Def Jam, Aiko should become a main Kendrick Lamar. player in the next six months. 04 03 First single Bed Peace – with its Disney-lite production and excellent, stoned bed-in video 03 AMERICAN AUTHORS featuring Glover and Aiko in John and Yoko This summer’s cricket coverage has been mode – didn’t break at Australian radio, but punctuated by BWS advertisements featuring a has scored over 1.2 million YouTube views. The stomping rhythm with a breezy ukulele line and hypnotic Stay Ready, which features Lamar, is a sing-along chorus. The song is Best Day Of 01 CHILDISH GAMBINO too much of a slow-jam to make much of an My Life by American Authors, a Brooklyn indie 04 KINGSWOOD hip hop record. Towards the end of 2013, easy familiarity and jaunty feel has dominated Donald Glover is a polymath who gets bored impact at Australian radio either, but it acts as a band who have seen their lead single reach An Unearthing from Triple J which saw them Brown released his follow-up Old, which commercial radio and charts here, all months easily. Because of this, his musical career up great showcase of Aiko’s laconic vocal qualities the top ten on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs join the 2012 Splendour lineup, a show-stopping was both a more-mature, nuanced effort, before a US release. until the release of last month’s challenging, – a style which flows effortlessly throughout the Chart off the back of a number of commercial performance at last year’s Big Sound industry and a step forward in regards to song-craft conceptually-dense record Because The entire EP. syncs, placement in trailers for The Secret Life conference, and the management smarts of and production. Assuming his forthcoming or accidently. Frontman Nasri Atweh is an Of Walter Mitty and Delivery Man, and a prime- Dave Powell (who helmed the early career of appearance at the Laneway Festival doesn’t accomplished songwriter, having worked with Internet had been impressive but unfocused. Aiko has been bubbling in the musical 06 Of course, none of this happened organically His success in comedy – Glover wrote for underground for years. After a number of false time cover version - courtesy of the US version fellow rock revivalist Jet); all this momentum cement him too firmly as an alternative artist, the likes of Justin Bieber, Christina Aguilera, 30 Rock for three seasons, starred in cult starts with former label Epic, she left the label of The Voice. and support should see Melbourne meat-and- Danny Brown seems set to make the leap to Pitbull, Chris Brown and Iggy Azalea, and series Community for five, and has released and self-released a mixtape Sailing Soul(s), potatoes-rockers Kingswood finally breach commercial radio in Australia. Whether this his past success has honed him into a pop stand-up specials – saw his musical career which featured contributions from Kanye West, in Australia a few weeks ago, and should see commercial radio in 2014. Their widescreen occurs successfully hinges on a number of powerhouse. Talking to TMN towards the end erroneously considered an extension of this, Miguel and Drake. The success of this release the group’s current US success translate nicely sound and arena-ready live show should prove ever-shifting factors; despite the seeming of last year, Atweh assured us that the track’s rather than a separate pursuit. This perception led to her signing with Artium. on this side of the globe - if the early radio too tempting for the likes of Triple M not ubiquity of hip hop music, it still only makes up success in Australia was not a surprise to him additions are any sign, at least. to jump upon – the group are already road a small portion of Australian commercial radio – and a cursory listen justifies his confidence. veterans, one hooky single on the desk of the playlists - even massive artists like Drake and An album’s worth of songs has been recorded, right radio programmer is all it will take from Frank Ocean are overlooked for the most part. and with an early Australian hit, plus a massive here on in. A number of singles on the accomplished Old US rollout still ahead, it seems Magic! will be could find favour at radio, but honestly, Brown’s sticking around throughout 2014. was exacerbated by a limited promotional run for 2011’s Camp, negative reviews from respectable media outlets focused on the sense that Glover was just smugly mucking around in the rap universe, despite a slew of previous With her appearance on Childish Gambino’s 02 Best Day Of My Life went to commercial radio independent albums, mix-tapes and recordings 05 DANNY BROWN cartoonish, blunt-toking persona and high- suggesting otherwise. Detroit’s Danny Brown has been bubbling pitched delivery could work either way for him. 07 OLIVER TANK Earlier this year, Glover quit Community, in the underground for a number of years holed up in a rented mansion with a handful now. Brown’s 2011 debut album XXX was 06 MAGIC! Sydney’s FBi Radio saw Oliver Tank step into of co-conspirators and crafted Because The self-released and saw him quickly become As far as a test-market goes, the current the spotlight with the beautifully fractured Internet, a dystopian concept record which the darling of influential publications such Australian summer has seemed almost unfairly Last Night I Heard Everything in Slow Motion. uses the displacement and shifting moral code as Complex, Pitchfork and Spin - the latter suited to Canadian pop act Magic! and their The victory saw Tank enjoy an elevated brought about by our online activities as a of whom named XXX as the year’s top debut single Rude: the track’s island vibes, profile, quickly releasing his debut EP Dreams launching point from which to study his own deep-seated fears. Production-wise it sits in a similar universe to 2013 records from Drake and The Weeknd, while adding the futuristic soul of In late 2011, a radio competition held by 05 to critical acclaim. Last November, Tank released follow-up Slow Motion Music, which has received strong community and Triple J radio support. Although the tracks on this fellow-Atlanta-alumni Outkast, and the slinky latest EP are possibly too fragile to crossover paisley of Prince. All this would suggest Glover to commercial radio, don’t be surprised if a has moved in a less commercial direction, future remix sees Tank sneak onto previously however an abundance of strong tracks – 3005, unconquered playlists. which has already received an impressive amount of Triple J support, the perfectlyexecution Telegraph Ave, and the breezy, twisting The Worst Guys are the most obvious 07 radio singles – should see Childish Gambino find favour at Australian radio in 2014. 02 JHENГ‰ AIKO We have a sneaking suspicion JhenГ© Aiko is about to become a main priority for Def 64 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 65 HEATSEEKER 08 KILTER Kilter is fast building a reputation for himself, both here and internationally, as a producer and as one of the poster boys for the 08 If You is any introduction of what’s to come, 10 expect revivalist rhythm-and-blues with breezy choruses, and smooth, come-hither vocal play. Nathaniel will undoubtedly play all the right вЂ�Australian Sound’, think Flume, Ta-Ku, L D R U, cards; he’s been playing the game since 2008, Chet Faker, Touch Sensitive and many more. and is only just beginning to warm up. 13 13 JOEL FLETCHER The вЂ�Melbourne sound’ is all the buzz in EDM circles, and Joel Fletcher is undoubtedly one of the young stars currently enjoying a very swift rise to fame. Along with the scene’s poster boy, Will Over the last year, Kilter has exploded onto Sparks, Joel is taking his sound to the masses, the club scene, with regular gigs at some of 10 CAULFIELD whether it be with his latest single Swing – the biggest venues and parties in NSW and Crashing onto the scene in the wake of releases which samples Savage’s 2005 hit by the same interstate, as well as scoring support slots for from Australian hardcore heavyweights name and is already Platinum-certified – or on the Klaxons, Shapeshifter, MГ�, and local hero Northlane and Dream On, Dreamer, Caulfield’s the festival and touring circuit. Early 2014 sees Sampology. In 2013 he played the Fat As Butter debut album Vanity was met by an audience him join Avicii’s massive True tour - the perfect festival in Newcastle, and Stereosonic, the undergoing collective metalcore nostalgia. start to the year. country’s biggest music festival. However unlike their predecessors, preaching It wasn’t until recently though that his self-belief and inner revolution is only a small 14 BROODS production got some big time attention. He because he didn’t possess ample talent, he part of the package. Their infamous live Prepare yourselves for the New Zealand was signed to young label and management did, because history has taught us that if you shows - a corrosive riot with frontman Mahan invasion. After Lorde’s singular success in the company EtcEtc, who are distributed through didn’t hit the top three, you were in for a long, Shishineh’s demonic charisma growling through US, it was only a matter of time before the rest Ministry Of Sound, who in turn linked him independent road ahead sans the spotlight vocalist/guitarist Andrew Gill’s ribboned charm of the world begun excavating the North Island up with his first major remixes. Earlier this of a major label lighting your journey – the - seep deep into Vanity. The record is as much K-Pop chart climber. And while a slew of for hit-makers, and one of the most pleasing year, Kilter remixed UK deep house legend mention of his short stint on the fourth season a nod to their now defunct heroes as it is an one-gender groups and their self-extradited acts to have been dug up is brother/sister duo Ben Pearce’s smash track of late last year: of Australian Idol didn’t help either. allergic reaction to the band’s revolving door solo artists are garnering western acclaim on Broods, whose glassy, glistening single Bridges lineup prior to and during recording. Billboard’s K-Pop Hot 100, we’re yet to see the (produced by Joel Little, who co-wrote and same support nationally. produced Lorde’s Pure Heroine album) has What I Might Do. The track immediately However bad luck turned to good when rose to popularity in the underground dance his inclusion in last year’s X Factor Live Tour community, racking up a quarter of a million lead to a recording contract with Sony Music Halfcut imprint last September and with The Sydney band signed to Shock Records’ plays, time at #1 on the Hype Machine, and Australia, as the first artist to sign to the label’s Vanity fully-formed and mastered, a whirlwind females put together by artist agency Chrome eventually some play on BBC’s Radio 1. in-house songwriting and production duo DNA marketing campaign ensued before the record Entertainment in 2012. Railing against the Enter Crayon Pop, five twenty-something 12 seen them quickly sign to Capitol, with a debut record due out in August. Obviously, Broods will both suffer and Songs. His first single You was released last hit shelves two months later, sitting inside the fantasy-feeding provocateurs and the cutesy this guy is about to break, and given the September, peaked at #4 on the ARIA Chart, Top 5 of iTunes’ Heavy Metal Chart for just bubblegum chewers that dominate K-Pop, tremendous rise to fame we saw with Flume #16 in New Zealand, and has been certified 2x under a month. Gum-mi, Ellin, Way, Cho-a and Soyul are more by fellow Aussie young gun Wave Racer hit upon an entry that doesn’t mention the – whose name is routinely trotted out when Platinum. peculiar than provocative. With their pant- destroying dance floors around the country. 17-year-old – and how they choose to follow All of the above gives us the impression Written with DNA Songs (Anthony Egizii With international tours pencilled in and a benefit from being swept along in Lorde’s success – Google their name and you’ll rarely following that grows with each national show, skirt combos, bike helmets, Crayola-coloured They’ve recently been added to the Yes Please up Bridges is key to their continued success. it’ll happen quickly. Keep an ear out – hopefully and David Musumeci), who are responsible for the stage is set for further triumphs this year tracksuits and the fact they’ve released two records family and join the ranks of Guerre, “We have to build our own identity outside commercial radio aren’t too late to the party. a slew of hits recorded by talent show alumni as the simmering vexations on Vanity begin to EPs and three albums in the space of eighteen Oliver Tank and Fishing. Their Facebook page of Lorde and the rest of New Zealand music,” (Timomatic’s Set It Off, Samantha Jade’s boil. months, it’s no wonder Crayon Pop are selling has almost 14,000 likes, and their originals vocalist Georgia Nott told Billboard, and she is discussing Kilter – when he does break through, 09 NATHANIEL Soldier, Reece Mastin’s Shout It Out), You out shows in Tokyo in under an hour and and remixes routinely crack 100,000 plays. correct - taping a popular sound may ensure When Nathaniel Willemse finished up sixth on is eccentricity wrapped in velvet; Nathaniel 11 CRAYON POP topping Billboard’s K-Pop chart with a song Their newest release Goodnight ft. Polographia quick initial success, but it’s with the expansion the 2012 season of X Factor Australia, most erupts into Prince territory during the chorus Since the viral takeover of Gangnam Style in centred around a dance routine called the and Moshi have already see them start 2014 of this template that they will find their actual expected to never hear from him again; not whilst tipping his hat to bedroom R’n’B. 2012 Australia has been anticipating another вЂ�Straight-Five-Engine Dance’ (Bar Bar Bar). with a bang. sound. Chrome Entertainment signed a partnership 09 11 contract with Sony Music last August and in November the group flew to Australia for a one-week promo stint. Their crowded guerrilla 14 performance on the Sydney Opera House steps proved two things: their routines are as ridiculous as Psy’s, and the nation are morethan-ready to remain on the K-Pop train. 12 COSMO’S MIDNIGHT Last year was definitely the year for Australian dance music, with acts like Flume, WhatSoNot, Flight Facilities, Hermitude and many, many more breaking the international scene, and the вЂ�Australian Sound’ being recognised worldwide. The next wave will benefit from this extra exposure, with Cosmo’s Midnight – brothers Cosmo and Patrick of Sydney’s Inner West – already making serious waves. Their track The Dofflin has been played to death by alternative radio, with the remix 66 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY QUARTERLY Connect to the business of music | TheMusicNetwork.com 67
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