Indie Focus

Hip-hop success story Seth Sentry was crowded Channel [v] Artist of the Year, beating out Ball Park Music, Delta Goodrem and Reece Mastin for the top spot – completing a huge year for the Melbourne artist.

Energetic 5-piece Cub Scouts have achieved the third most added release in the American college radio market with their EP Told You So, appearing on over 63 stations in its first week of release, as well as venturing to airplay outside of the college circuit.

The highly-anticipated release date for Hungry Kids of Hungary's second record was announced through the week, with You're A Shadow hitting shelves in late-February, including singles Sharp Shooter and Twin Cities.

Despite the international frenzy on this week's first ARIA streaming chart, there are a few Aussie indie acts tucked in there as well, with Tame Impala, Flume, San Cisco, The Rubens and Ball Park Music all making an appearance in the top 50.

Speaking of The Rubens, they secured a massive slot supporting “The Boss” Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band alongside Aussie legend Jimmy Barnes – these guys from Menangle are killing it!

Aussie label Dew Process Publishing signed a massive international publishing deal with Kobalt Music Publishing to handle catalogue admin and creative services, helping the label's opportunities overseas.

Small labels will be rubbing their hands together, with the Australia Council For The Arts announcing a new grant program aimed to benefit the growth of smaller music businesses – applications are now open, check it out!

Our friends at WHOBYFIRE captured some more live music fresh from the Abbortsford Convent's Good Hustle Music Salon, providing awesome recordings of Collarbones' crazily sweet song Hypothermia and the hit tune of Melbourne act World's End Press, Second Day Uptown.

And just for a bit of fun, Thundamentals, Muscles and recent ARIA-winners DZ Deathrays have hilariously covered the songs of Chris Lilley's Summer Heights High, with the latter giving a pretty sick version of the Naughty Girl.

The Big Day Out completed their lineup announcements with the addition of The Medics to the national circuit, as well as Seth Sentry, Urthboy, The Beards and more taking the local legs.

And Peats Ridge also added just a few names to their list, with a gigantic 98 act new bill joining the festival over New Years – check out the sweet indie additions.

UTS announced a bunch of sweet acts on their O'Week event Back To The Future O'Fest bill, including Hermitude, Parachute Youth, New Navy and more – the first event celebrating their 25 year anniversary.

While on the festival announcement tangent, Ball Park Music – who have featured a lot this week - and Jordie Lane are two of the indie acts that were announced on Melbourne's Moomba festival's lineup yesterday – have a look at the full, and free, list.

Melbourne's Clubfeet announced the January release their new record Heirs & Graces, celebrating with a nine-date Australia-wide tour, joined by Collarbones and The Belligerents along the way.

Brisbane's synth-pop duo YesYou will be joining MS MR on their St. Jeromes Laneway Festival sideshows, taking the support slot for the chillwave act from New York.