Industry News

5SOS, Tones and I Hit One Billion Streams More and more Australian acts are hitting huge streaming numbers these days, which in turns see expansion of APRA AMCOS’ 1,000,000,000 List. The latest two acts to hit a billion include 5 Seconds of Summer with their track ‘Youngblood’ and Tones and I’s inescapable ‘Dance Monkey’.

‘Youngblood’ was released in April 2018, going on to spend eight weeks on top of the ARIA chart, four in New Zealand, and reached the top ten in eleven countries including #3 in Canada, #4 in the UK and #7 on the Billboard Top 100, becoming the band’s rst top 10 and highest charting single in the US. The band’s catalogue has now reached 10 billion streams globally, ahead of their new album Calm and an extensive world tour.

‘Dance Monkey’ is the fastest Aussie song to reach one billion streams across all platforms, reaching the milestone last November after its May 2019 release. Last month, ‘Dance Monkey’ ticked over one billion streams on Spotify alone, and is well on its way to surpass a staggering two billion streams across all major platforms. It topped the charts in 30 countries and set new chart records in Australia and the UK. Not bad for a song that was written in 30 minutes.

Live Music Professionals Program Returns Music Victoria is bringing back its Live Music Professionals program for 2020. Designed to strengthen Victoria’s live music businesses, the free professional development program is open to venue owners, managers, band bookers and independent promoters. The 16 chosen are matched with music biz pros for one-on-one coaching sessions and masterclasses.

100% of last year’s recipients increased their networks and 89% found new business opportunities. Applications close 5pm Friday March 20 – head online for details.

So Long, Farewell

Sydney street paper The Brag, which launched back in 2003, issues its nal print edition on March 4. You can still check it out online if you want. It’s doubtful The Set will return in 2020 for a third season. ABC TV’s director of entertainment told TV Tonight it’s “struggling to get the budget”.

Perth music gear retailer Kosmic Sound has closed its doors after 50 years and entered liquidation. Staging Rentals and Construction (SRC) close their Sydney operations this month but continue in Melbourne.

Roady4Roadies Expands To 13 Cities

The second Roady4Roadies expands from ve cities (Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth) to 13 this year, with Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Newcastle, Port Lincoln, Sunshine Coast, The Entrance and Townsville jumping aboard. Howard Freeman of CrewCare says “In its rst year, Roady4Roadies raised $71,500.00. The net prot of $62,820.00 went to the Support Act Roadies Fund to assist crew in crisis.”

The day includes begins with a leisurely 4-5kms culminating in family activities and performances from the likes of Jon Stevens, Tim Rogers, John Paul Young, Steve Kilbey and John Jarrett.

Venues Update: Openings & Closings

Melbourne’s latest venue The Leadbeater has been a runaway success. Owner Joe Downey says the 400-capacity room is booked out Fridays and Saturdays for the next couple of months. A new 770-capacity Brisbane venue, The Sound Garden, has opened on Brunswick Street Mall next to Fortitude Music Hall. Under manager Davor Djuric, it has free gigs every night of the week.

Brisbane’s X Cargo Bar, was hit with a windup order in Brisbane Supreme Court. The City of Joondalup in North Perth have turned Whitfords Nodes Park into a live music mecca. EDM festival Castaway moved there after ve years at Rottnest Island.

Just months after going dark, Brisbane’s Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall re-opened under new owners Hallmark Group Australia, which owns a number of high prole clubs and pubs.

Down In The Dumps?

Spotify reckons February is the gloomiest month, because the songs chosen in Australia and Singapore were in the “sad and blues” category. The mood rises by 3% in July, while happiest month is December. All those blasted joyful Christmas carols...

New Signings

6 x Platinum Havana Brown is now represented by Lucky Ent. alongside Will Sparks, MaRLo, Tigerlily, Mashd N Kutcher and Joel Fletcher. Independent publisher Native Tongue’s latest roster addition is NZ singer songwriter Jeremy Redmore of the band Midnight Youth.

Hardcore outt Falcier inked with Greyscale Records, releasing new EP Pain in March. Perth band on the rise, Great Gable, have struck a distribution deal with Warner Musicowned independent services agency ADA Worldwide, as well as with Select Music for bookings. Up for this month’s Billy Thorpe Scholarship are alt-rock Jaguar Jonze, folkie Dan Baker, singer songwriter Harry Phillips pop-rock Hope D.

Wollongong ‘s Aodhan are now managed by Footstomp Music/ Kadence Group. Its 15- year old singer/songwriter Aodhan (Aidan Whitehall) won Triple J’s Unearthed High Indigenous last year. Former Operator Please member Tim Commandeur inked a label deal with Risqué Music with his solo project Commandeur.

Sydney inner-west 16-piece funk collective, The Regime, joined the New World Artist family. Caravana Sun signed an international deal with Berlin’s Embassy of Music outside of Australia and NZ where they remain self-releasing.

Finalists For Queensland Music Awards

The 2020 Queensland Music Awards are held at The Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane on Tuesday March 3 with sets from Cub Sport, Miiesha, Busby Marou, Jaguar Jonze and Order Sixty6. Finalists for album of the year: Cub Sport’s Cub Sport, Hatchie’s Keepsake, Thelma Plum’s Better In Blak and WAAX’s Big Grief.

In the QMA People’s Choice Awards, up for metro venue aere The Fortitude Valley Music Hall and The Trifd while regional venue are Miami Marketta or Solbar. Festival category will be won by Big Pineapple or Caloundra Music.

A Few Other Things…

Queensland singer songwriter Tia Gostelow’s 2018 crossover single ‘Strangers’ has gone Gold after notching up nine million Spotify streams. She was handed the Gold record during her headline slot on Brisbane’s Mountain Goat Valley Crawl. SoundCloud’s new mobile upload feature allows creators to post their tracks. Artwork and new titles via their hone on the go. Ticketmaster Australia predicted ten artists to slam on the live scene in 2020:: western Sydney hip hop R&B act A.Girl, Melbourne hardcore DREGG, ex-Totally Mild singer Elizabeth, producer and multiinstrumentalist Jamo, Pitjantjatjara/Torres Strait Islander gospel and R&B singer Miiesha, Adelaide “sad pop” band Pinkish Blu, Brisbane neo-soul Pink Matter, Freo garage-pop Spacey Jane, Wollongong multiinstrumentalist Stevan and Canberra girl gang Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers. UK full service, creative music licensing agency Big Sync Music has entered the Oz market.

University of the Sunshine Coast hired Dr Lachlan Goold as a music lecturer – you’ll know him as double ARIA winner producer Magoo of Oils, Powdernger and Kate MillerHeidke fame. Joining the Support Act board are Shihad drummer, studio owner and artist manager Tom Larkin, David Albert of the famous family which signed AC/DC and The Easybeats, and First Nations singer songwriter Alethea Beetson.

The second Australian Festival Industry Conference returns to Coffs Harbour, NSW in an extended format due to last year’s success. Aussie DJ/producer What So Not – real name Christopher Emerson – is taking a break from music and shows to “reset”.

Hobart music identity Charles Linley “Lin” Stanton, a radio presenter on Hobart FM and retailer (Aeroplane Records) passed away at 74.