Soundwave’s AJ Maddah Named The Most Powerful Person In The Music Industry
AMID Power 50 top five names revealed!
AJ Maddah
AJ Maddah, the festival and touring powerhouse behind the Soundwave and Harvest event, will be named the most powerful person in the Australian music industry next week.
The Australasian Music Industry Directory's annual Power 50 list of the industry's top powerbrokers will be released next week, but theMusic.com.au has revealed the top 20 positions over the past few days. Maddah managed to cultivate a punk and metal scene that provided a platform for Soundwave to grow into one of the country's biggest festivals, but the impact of that also re-empowered the Australian scene as a whole. He's pioneered a level of interaction with punters (through that infamous Twitter account) that hasn't been seen anywhere in the world before, and certainly not in Australia.
Reacting to the news, today Maddah told theMusic.com.au, “To be perfectly honest I am shocked and a little bit uncomfortable. To paraphrase Groucho Marx, I do not care to be on any list that would have me at number one.
“I'm still learning on the job and taking lessons from masters like Michael Gudinski, Frank Stivalla, Carl Nicholas, John Parker, Denis Handlin and Michael Chugg all of whom are more knowledgeable than me and continue to be very generous to me with their time and advice.”
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He added, “I'll keep the spot warm til Michael Gudinski reclaims his rightful place in the next AMID.”
Last year's number one, Michael Gudinski arrives at number two this year, even though his past 12 months have arguably been stronger than the 12 months that put him at number one. As his Mushroom Group of companies celebrates its 40th anniversary, and his son Matt plays an increasingly important role within the group, there is no doubting Gudinski's ongoing power within the industry.
The third and fourth places stay the same this year, with Michael Chugg at three (if his label arm takes off like its threatening to do with the likes of Sheppard, Lime Cordiale and The Griswolds then look out top two) and regional Universal boss George Ash at four. Ash has overseen one of the most historic label acquisitions in decades and is implementing a number of forward-thinking initiatives and divisions within the world's biggest record label.
Rounding out the top five is Splendour In The Grass/Dew Process/Spin Off boss Paul Piticco, who appears by himself this year (last year he was a joint entry with Jessica Ducrou). His involvement with new single label Nook Nook, artist services imprint Create/Control and Adelaide's Spin Off festival nudged him ever-so-slightly above his long-time business partner this year.
Thanks to Maddah and Piticco there are a number of festival represented in the top five, but Maddah played down the attraction of running festivals.
“It is never a good time to be a festival promoter in Australia! The dollar is wobbly, competition for artists is fierce and the conditions imposed by local and state Governments are by far the most oppressive of any in the civilised world. I am very grateful and humbled by the support and love we get from the fans of Harvest and Soundwave. It is what keeps us going and striving to do better for them each year.”
The full list of 50 – and its analysis and justification – will be available in the Australasian Music Industry Directory, released Monday 5 August.
AMID POWER 50 2013: 1-20
1. AJ MADDAH
Soundwave/Harvest – Director
[up 5]
Twitter
2. MICHAEL GUDINSKI
3. MICHAEL CHUGG
4. GEORGE ASH
5. PAUL PITICCO
6. JESSICA DUCROU
7. RICHIE MCNEILL
8. JANELLE MCCARTHY
iTunes – Music Manager
[new entry]
LinkedIn
9. RICHARD KINGSMILL
10. MILLIE MILLGATE
11. COLIN DANIELS/ASHLEY SELLERS
12. DANNY ROGERS
13. DAN ROSEN
14. DENIS HANDLIN
15. MICHAEL COPPEL
16. Richard Moffat
17. Nick O'Byrne
Australian Independent Record Labels Association – General Manager
[up 2]
Twitter - Facebook - LinkedIn
18. Peter Noble
19. Matt Gudinski
20. Brett Murrihy
Artist Voice – CEO
[up 9]
Website
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