Velvet Rope
Posted: 11:50AM, Friday 3rd September, 2010.
WHO's the Door Bitch? It's a team of writers at IMMEDIA! each week.
WHAT's the content? We get it from a variety of sources (see HOW To Get In below)
* Artist signings, catalogue and business acquisitions, mergers & partnerships
* Events, Festivals. Conferences, Awards, Trade Fairs & Exhibitions
* Industry alerts, music business issues, controversy & back room buzzes
* Stage whispers, under the table tips, trainspotting & digital scams
* Music technology innovations, bright sparks and limited fluff
* Staff movements, promotions, arrivals, departures and positions vacant
* NO Music Reviews, NO Gig Guide, NO Concert Reviews, NO Fluff...
WHEN's it out? We endeavour to have it in the industry in boxes Friday at noon.
WHERE's it located? http://www.themusic.com.au/velvetrope.php?s=velvetrope
HOW do we get our news into it? We accept releases and hot tips. We advise:
* Send your info to DoorBitch@themusic.com.au by email
* Releases -- dated with contact name. We prefer text over attachments.
* Calls -- Call us with a tip but not to follow up your release.
* Images & pics -- We don't need them, this is simply text.
* NO MP3s, NO large files, Powerpoint or other crap. NO Images.
Deadline to get your news items in for Friday is Wednesday at 5pm.
New NSW Licensing Of Managers, Agents & Venue Consultants
It's been a long battle and one that looked to fall over a few times but due to the actions of a few determined music industry professionals, the NSW Government has renewed the Entertainment Industry Licensing program aimed to keep agents, managers and booking agents' integrity intact.
There had been a lot of opposition to this but the principals behind it soldiered through and it's now a reality. Here's an outline.
Performers such as actors, singers, dancers, acrobats, models and musicians should be aware that in New South Wales anyone who obtains or organises work on their behalf must hold an appropriate entertainment industry representative licence.
The licences are administered by the Office of Industrial Relations (OIR). Entertainment industry representative licences.
As a performer you should be aware that it is illegal for a person to carry on, or advertise that they carry on, the business of an entertainment industry agent, manager or venue consultant unless the person holds the licence which authorises the activity.
Licences are granted on an annual basis to fit and proper persons.
The Entertainment Industry Act 1989 (the Act) imposes restrictions on the fees that may be charged by licensed agents and managers and requires the creation of proper accounting arrangements - including trust accounts in certain circumstances.
There are three different licence categories for entertainment industry representatives.
A person may require more than one type of licence according to the range of activities they conduct.
So what types of licences are there? There are three different types of entertainment industry representatives licences which are defined as:
"entertainment industry agent" means a person who, for financial benefit, carries out any one or more of the following entertainment industry activities on behalf of a performer:
- seeking or finding work opportunities for the performer
- negotiating the terms of an agreement for, and the conditions of, a performance
- finalising arrangements concerning the payment of the performer
- negotiating arrangements relating to the attendance of the performer at a performance
- administering the contract of the performer with an entertainment industry employer, but does not include a person who carries out those activities solely as an employee of any such agent.
"manager" means a person (whether called a personal representative or a personal manager, or otherwise) who, for financial benefit, represents a performer and who agrees, pursuant to a written agreement, to carry out or arrange to be carried out any or all of the activities of an entertainment industry agent and other additional activities or duties specified in the agreement on behalf of the performer, but does not include a person who carries out those activities or duties solely as an employee of any such manager.
"venue consultant" means a person who acts on behalf of an entertainment industry employer, for a fee or remuneration paid by any such employer, and who arranges for a performance by a performer at a particular venue, but does not include a person who arranges for a performance solely as an employee of a venue consultant or an employer.
The definition of "performer" for the purposes of the Act includes any actor, singer, dancer, acrobat, model, musician or other performer of any kind.
It is an offence for a person to carry on (or advertise that the person carries on) the business of an entertainment industry agent, a manager or a venue consultant unless the person holds the particular type of licence which authorises the activity. A person may require more than one type of licence according to the range of activities they conduct.
A list of the current license holders are at http://www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/pdfs/EIA_licence_holders_August2010.pdf
ARIA Faces Lawsuit
The Age has reported that organisers of the ARIA Awards are facing a $1.1 million lawsuit, filed by Melbourne-based marketing and sponsorship company, Three Degrees Marketing. The company claim that the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) hasn't paid them for their work on the past two events.
According to court documents, Three Degrees Marketing also allege that ARIA has not paid commissions for arranging sponsorship deals with Foster's and the Victorian Government.
ARIA has yet to file a defence however, Chief Executive Stephen Peach has said that they will fight the claim. ''We're very confident about our position and very disappointed that it's come to this,'' he told The Age.
Sanicki Scores X-Factor
Darren Sanicki Lawyers will be representing the final 12 contestants of the upcoming, network 7, TV show The X-Factor. The Melbourne-based firm currently represents a large number of Australia's finest including Stan Walker, Wes Carr, Dash & Will, Matt Corby and Hayley Warner.
World's Biggest Sale Markets For 2009
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the United States has once again topped a list of the world's leading music sales markets. Recording retail sales in the US last year hit almost $8 billion, while the runners up, Japan and the UK, earned close to $5.5b and $2.2b respectively.
The combined sum of the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Australia, Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria and Denmark's recording retail sales were still less than that of the US alone.
Source: http://digitalmusicnews.com/stories/082710spotify
Universal Spent $840,000 Lobbying In Second Quarter Of 2010
Universal Music Group have spent approximately $840,000 in the second quater of 2010 to United States federal government on a number of issues, most notably a proposal to pay recording artists and labels royalties for song play on radio.
According to Bloomberg Businessweek, this is up from $700,000 spent by Universal this time last year, with a slight increase from the $810,000 it spent in the first quarter of 2010.
BMG Rights Management Receiving US$500m From Shareholders
Billboard.biz has reported that over the next three years, BMG Rights Management will be receiving 'equity injections' of US$254 million from both of its shareholders (investment group KKR and media group Bertelsmann).
KKR has 51% of BMG Rights Management, while Bertelsmann has 49%. The company has also recently acquired Cross Town Songs, Cherry Lane and British music publisher Stage Three Music.
Music Is Still The Top Product For iTunes
Despite the tremendous popularity of apps, e-books and movies on iTunes (thanks mostly to the rise of the iPhone and more recently the iPad) music is still the online retailers most popular product.
'The iTunes User Report', conducted by the NPD Group has indicated that more than half of all purchases through iTunes are music. The retailer has reported more than 10 billion song sales since its inception in 2003.
RIP Paste Magazine
The AV Club have reported that US publication, Paste Magazine will discontinue printing. The eight-year-old chronicler of "Signs of Life in Music, Film, and Culture" (according to its tagline) has struggled in recent years to complete with the flood of online media sites.
Many campaigns were launched to save the mag, including a move to adopt a Radiohead-inspired model of the pay-what-you-will subscription in 2007. Paste then turned to its readership for support by asking for donations, with the last effort seeing a 'Save Paste Magazine Campaign' launched by some of the musicians and celebrities that have appeared in the publication over the years.
In an official statement released to press this week, Paste say that they will now focus on their digital assets which includes the Paste Magazine website.
Australian Success
Australian songwriters Bec Caruana, Ashley Cadell and John Collins are currently surrounded by a great deal of success thanks to a song they wrote for Japanese boy band Arashi, entitled "Only Love".
The song was recently placed on the band's greatest hits album, which to date has now sold over 1.7 million copies.
One Movement For Music Perth Announces Final Round Of Speakers
One Movement For Music Perth has announced its final round of speakers and panellists for its MUSEXPO Asia Pacific Conference.
Amongst the ranks of international speakers this time are German talent agent Henning Ahrens, partner of SAS Management Simon Renshaw, founder of Lazy Bones Records Scott Schorr and many others. They will also be joined by Molly Meldrum, Michael Chugg, Ian James and Michael Harrison, amongst others.
The MUSEXPO Asia Pacific Conference and its surrounding events begin on Wednesday 6 October, 2010 in Perth and conclude Sunday 10 October, 2010.
For more information, visit www.onemovementmusic.com
Company Offering Royalty - Free Music To Businesses
Australian company, Messages On Hold have launched a new service, The Groove Gallery. This new service aims at providing businesses, such as restaurants as cafes, quality music that can be performed in public, without any expensive royalty fees.
The music is produced in The Groove Gallery's personal studios by a staff of full time recording artists and producers, and is completely owned and copyrighted by the company.
Red Bull's Call For Entries
Red Bull is offering teen bands the opportunity to stream a live performance from their bedroom to the world, play a Backyard Jam with a massive Australian band and record at the Red Bull studios in LA.
To enter, head to www.redbullbedroomjam.com.au and upload your tracks. Each month, winners will be decided by the site's "Buzz Chart" which determines who the 'crowd' digs the most.
Applications Open For CONTROL 2010
CONTROL, a new program aimed at further education and guidance for music managers is now encouraging Australian 'mid career music managers' to apply.
The program, presented by the Australian Music Industry network, will be held in five stages around the country. The first workshop will be held in Terrigal from 14-17 November.
Music industry advocate and lawyer, Shane Simpson, will moderate the first workshop, with Keith Harris (Manager, Stevie Wonder), Michael McMartin (Hoodoo Gurus) and Keith Welsh (Boom Crash Opera, rooArt, Rough Cut, The Music Network).
There is no cost to apply or participate in the program, which includes all meals and accommodation, though travel will be at each participant's own expense.
CONTROL guidelines and application forms are available now from www.amin.org.au, and the closing date for applications is Friday, 24 September 2010.
Managing Music Export Forum
Music NSW will be presenting the Managing Music Export forum as part their Small Business Month at Sydney's APRA Office, September 13. NSW based managers, artists, publishers and labels are invited to attend the forum, which will explore how to successfully export music into international markets.
The panel will feature Domino Records and Publishing A&R Manager Morgan Lebus (Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, Animal Collective) as well as Australia's leading music managers. The event is free of charge but spaces are limited. For more information and to RSVP head to: http://www.smallbusinessmonth.nsw.gov.au/Events.aspx?eventid=2802
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