Musical Chairs: ABC Head of Arts departs; Coopers appoints new marketing manager; Music names behind new Sydney bar

ABC Head of Arts Katrina Sedgwick departs for CEO role

ABC Head of Arts Katrina Sedgwick departs in February to be Director/CEO at the Centre for Moving Image in Melbourne. After joining the broadcaster in April 2012, she spearheaded an ambitious slate of programs including The Art of Australia, I Want to Dance Better At Parties and Art & Soul 2. The broadcaster pointed out, “Katrina has also driven a new strategy for Arts across the ABC, chairing the ABC Arts Council and establishing an ABC Arts brand that engages with and leverages arts content across the ABC platforms – TV, Radio, News and Online – particularly through ABC Arts Online.”

BIGSOUND position for Denise Foley

Denise Foley, who recently stepped down as Executive Officer at Queensland’s QMusic after nine years, will stay on in the organisation. She takes over the newly created post of BIGSOUND Producer, helping new QMusic CEO Joel Edmondson and BIGSOUND Programmer Nick O’Byrne to grow the event. In 2014, it showcased 140 acts and brought together 1200 delegates. “QMusic’s goal is to grow BIGSOUND meaningfully each year,” said QMusic President Michael Crutcher. “To do that, we have to properly resource it and the new role of Producer is critical to that aim.”

Nova 100’s Cameron moves shifts

Nova 100 Melbourne’s Sarah Maree Cameron moves to Afternoons in 2015. After a start on radio in Canada, she worked at Nova 100, Star FM, K-Rock, Hot 100 Darwin and Sea FM NSW Central Coast. She returned to Nova 100 last year as a weekend announcer after Kelli Paun relocated to Sweden.

Paul Bartlett quits Tasmania

Paul Bartlett, GM of Grant Broadcasters’ LAFM and Chilli Launceston resigned after four months and returned to hometown Adelaide. Phil McCulloch, manager at Burnie's 7BU and Sea FM, takes over his role.

Coopers appoints new marketing manager

Adelaide brewery Coopers, whose support of music events includes the Coopers Australian Music Prize, appointed Ian Bradshaw as Marketing and SA/NT Sales Manager. He started on his family’s hop farm in Tasmania and had sales/marketing roles with various alcohol brands.

Jamie Dunn at Triple M Brisbane?

98.9 FM breakfast host Jamie Dunn has reportedly agreed to provide Triple M with new episodes of his "skitcom" The Bennetts, which he did with Ian Cable at 4BC from 2009 to 2010, the Brisbane Times said.

James O’Loghlin exits ABC

James O’Loghlin won’t return as host of ABC Local Radio’s Sundays night program. He told listeners his contract had not been renewed.

Music names behind new Sydney bar

Skunkhouse frontman Aya Larkin and DJ Marcus King are among names behind new Sydney bar La de Da. They are joined by designers Rick Vaughan and Paul Brabenec. Housed in a historic building in Mona Vale’s Pittwater Rd, the venue includes a performance space for live music, and a piano bar. Larkin ran the Canteen Bar in Bondi.

John Sankey joins Collision Course PR team

Australian heavy metal drummer John Sankey of Devolved and Devil You Know fame is now a full time publicist and networker at Collision Course PR. Owner Tim Price and Sankey apparently bonded over being drummers and Seinfeld freaks. Sankey will also join Price on his Aussie heavy metal show A Heavy Price To Pay on The Au Radio. During Sankey’s ten year stay in Los Angeles, he also played with Fear Factory and Divine Heresy.

RTRFM announces Peter Barr replacement

Perth community radio station RTRFM tapped a familiar face for its Breakfast Show left vacant after Peter Barr stepped down after 20 years. Caitlin Nienaber begins January 12. In 2009, she began producing and presenting breakfast, news and current affairs at the station, before moving to Sydney to study at the Australian Film, TV and Radio School, after which she worked at Wave FM. Barr remains at the station, as Talks Producer.

Peter Huxley joins Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority

Peter Huxley of Huxley Hotel Group will have a hand in the running of the sports and music at Adelaide Oval. He joins the eight-member Stadium Management Authority as an “independent voice”. The Huxley Group runs ten hotels, including live music venues the Arkaba, Alma Tavern, Hackney Hotel, Marion Hotel, Hotel Royal, Torrens Arms and the Pretoria in Mannum. He is State President of Australian Hotels Association SA and sat on boards of Adelaide Football Club, ABC and Australian Tourism Commission.

Sean Craig Murphy gets the MMMs

Mix102.3 Adelaide drive presenter Sean Craig Murphy has moved over to Classic Triple M, in addition to running the Australian Radio School. 

Two new directors for Biennale of Sydney

Kate Mills and James Roth joined the board of the Biennale of Sydney as Directors. Mills runs a private corporate and regulatory consultancy business and Roth worked in banking and finance in Australia, London and Hong Kong.

Robinson returns to Vision Radio

Andrew 'Robbo' Robinson returns to the breakfast program on Vision Radio Network to co-host with Rochelle, after her previous on-air partner Matt Prater moves to the afternoon shift from February.

Paul Murphy to head MEAA

Paul Murphy takes on the newly created role of CEO of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), which represents journalists, actors and musicians. He was its Director of Media, after joining its executive team in 2012 (and being a member for 20 years) and being at the forefront of its many campaigns. After MEAA Federal Secretary Chris Warren decided to step down after 20 years, the union opted for a CEO-structured leadership model.