Musical Chairs: March 2

SOUTHERN CROSS AUSTEREO LOSING DIGITAL CHIEF

Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) announced that its head of digital strategy, Chris Derrick, will be leaving after three years.

He was instrumental in SCA’s management of the Vevo relationship, which has now been terminated by the American company as part of its strategy to drop all international sales partnerships.

Derrick ensured that SCA was the first commercial radio network in Australia to be on smart speakers following negotiations with Google and Amazon.

COO John Kelly said Derrick has made an “enormous contribution” to the future strategy of SCA’s digital business.

DOUBLE PROMOTION AT UNIVERSAL

Rob Fleming and Nickie Owen were promoted to co-presidents of international marketing at Universal Music UK.

They will help expand, create and execute strategic campaigns to increase its reach to over 60 countries overseas, including Australia.

Fleming worked with Universal’s international team for over 12 years, spearheading global campaigns for the likes of U2, Elton John, Amy Winehouse, 5 Seconds of Summer and Ellie Goulding.

Owen was previously director of international marketing and helmed campaigns for Florence + The Machine, Mumford & Sons, Take That and Liam Payne.

NEW DRIVE AT DARWIN’S HOT100

Darwin’s top rating music format Hot100 announced Tiffany ‘Tiff’ Rouge as its new Drive announcer. The slot was previously filled by Hamish and Andy’s nationally syndicated show.

WIN TAPS MARTIN MILLS FOR GUIDANCE

Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) will have greater guidance in its representing the global independent scene by enlisting Beggars Group chairman and founder Martin Mills as its non-executive chair.

WIN CEO Alison Wenham said, “Martin Mills has been a hugely respected and influential champion of the independent music community for decades and WIN is delighted to announce his chair.

“He will be a powerful advocate and will play a vital role in ensuring that we speak with one clear, collective voice while safeguarding the interests of members as we move forward in an ever more competitive commercial market.”

Mills was running a mobile disco and record store, as well as being a promoter, when he formed Beggars Banquet during the punk era.

In fact Mills made the basement of the Fulham store into a rehearsal space which was used by the likes of the Billy Idol-led Generation X.

The label had its first international success with Gary Numan’s ‘Are Friends Electric?’

London-based Beggars Group is one of the biggest independent record companies in the world, representing labels such as XL Recordings, Rough Trade, Matador, 4AD and Young Turks.

Mills recently stepped down from the Merlin board but remains on those of indie associations IMPALA, AIM and A2IM.

NEW EP FOR JOAN SUTHERLAND CENTRE

The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in western Sydney has appointed Cath Dadd as executive producer.

Dadd has a wide ranging experience in performing arts, from

directing and providing technical services for large scale productions to programs and staging gala performances, to day to day management of a venue to advising local community organisations presenting their performances.

CASEY DONOVAN FOR TEN SHOW

Singer Casey Donovan is joining the cast in her first television acting role, in multi cultural comedy Street Smart, currently being filmed in Sydney for screening on Ten.

Donovan plays a probationary parking officer who’s involved in bringing down an inept criminal gang working out of one of their parents’ garages.

FORMER RADIO EXEC JOINS TRIBE

Nick Randall, former executive at Fairfax Radio Network and SCA, joined influencer platform as chief revenue officer.

New sales director Sammy Lewis was commercial director at Huffington Post.

UNIVERSAL SETS UP NEW LABEL

Universal Music Group is setting up a new label 10:22pm  to sign and develop recording artists, social media influencers and digital media creators with a focus on creating multimedia content.

It will be lead by former Epic/Sony exec Celine Joshua who arrives at UMG in May as new general manager, commercial, content and artist strategy, based at its Santa Monica, California, headquarters.

NEW CFO FOR APN OUTDOORS

APN Outdoor gets a new chief financial officer, Philip Knox, beginning on Monday.

APN CEO James Warburton said Knox would be a part of his strategy to transform the company through increased innovation, data-led insights and revamping the go-to-market approach to fully harness the potential of its market-leading portfolio and digital assets.

MOORE, KIDD AT 2GB

Macquarie Media 2UE morning hosts George Moore and Paul B Kidd will now be heard from 9am on Saturdays and Sundays on Sydney’s top rating 2GB, also part of the stable.

DREW COHEN TO LEAD MUSIC THEATRE I’NATIONAL

Drew Cohen, who led Cameron Mackintosh and Freddie Gershon’s theatrical licensing agency Music Theatre International recent expansion into Australia, New Zealand and Europe, has filled its newly created role of global chief executive officer.

ARN’S GRANGER HEADS TO TV

Matt Granger, former head of sales at Australian Radio Network, is now Director of Sales for its sport portfolio.

FROM FESTIVALS TO PERFORMING LINES

Megan Roberts is new GM for Performing Lines, moving to Sydney from Perth where she was associate producer for Perth Festival.

She previously held marketing roles at Darwin Festival, Artrage / Fringe World, and Country Arts WA.

TWO EXITS AT GRANT BROADCASTERS

Grant Broadcasters is losing two execs. Allan Cameron, state content director at Hot 91.1 and Zinc FM Tasmania, leaves on March 14 for an overseas opportunity.

Ross Turner, state content director for its Queensland stations, is also moving on.

JENNA ANDREWS TO CONSULT ON A&R

Drake, Jessie J and Jennifer Lopez collaborating songwriter and record producer Jenna Andrews will join Barry Weiss’ RECORDS label – now a joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment – as an A&R consultant and mentor working in LA and NY.

NME EDITOR DEPARTS

Mike Williams, editor of UK magazine NME for 5½ years is leaving the publication after guiding it through troubled waters, which resulted in it becoming a free weekly.

The magazine’s publisher Time Inc UK was recently sold to private equity company Epiris for a reported £130 million.