In This Issue:
While Melbourne music venues are up for sale, a new venue is launching in Sydney that combines free live music and ten pin bowling. Amaaaaazing.
Chugg launches US label
Australian powerhouse industry figure Michael Chugg has announced that his label Chugg Music is set to expand into the US market, launching the label in North America on 25 February. The label will be distributed through Super D/Alliance in the US, and through MGM locally.
The first release from the label will be Lime Cordiale’s EP Falling Up The Stairs, who will also be performing at the Chugg Entertainment 50th anniversary party at SXSW.
Shazam and Warner join forces
Warner Music Group and innovative music app Shazam have revealed a new alliance that aims to discover new acts and sign them to a Shazam branded imprint under WMG.
The new global partnership will source unsigned artists and provide them with support and professional development by combining WMG’s global A&R expertise with Shazam’s proprietary fan activity data. Shazam’s exclusive promotional channels will give artists the chance to directly engage with the fans who Shazamed them.
ONELOVE launches weekly radio program
Late night / early morning radio just got a whole lot better, following the news that Australia’s super successful electronic dance label ONELOVE will launch a new weekly radio show, ONELOVE Radio.
Kicking off on 22 February, the new program will be broadcasted across the country every weekend via the Today Network, on Saturday’s from 1am-3am.
Melbourne music venues for sale
Want to get your hands on an iconic Melbourne music landmark? Well, the Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda, affectionately known as The Espy, is up for sale.
Although no price has been listed, expressions of interest for the purchase of the venue will close on Thursday 20 March… unless of course, the venue is sold before that. Let’s just hope that a music lover buys it… Meanwhile, the less iconic but still worthwhile Melbourne music venue Yah Yah’s is also up for sale, with a five year lease offered to the highest bidder.
Brisbane Government oppose lockout laws
Brisbane City Council has risen up the ranks to legendary status after opposing any moves by the Queensland State Government to follow Sydney and restrict trading hours of licensed venues.
Councillor Vicki Howard, who manages the Fortitude Valley precinct, said the livelihood of venue operators would be affected if lockout laws were implemented, claiming, “we’re not spending $4 million to revitalise Brunswick Street mall to send people to bed early.” Classic move.
The Standard to launch Standard Bowl
Sydney music venue The Standard is undergoing a pretty cool transformation. They’ll be shutting shop in a couple of weeks for renovations, before reopening as The Standard Bowl– a free live music venue and ten-pin bowling bar.
According to owners Paddy Coughlan and former Annandale Hotel owner Matt Rule, they stumbled across the iconic Brooklyn Bowl bar on a recent trip to NYC, and decided to bring the idea back home.
Coughlan says about the new venue experience, “We have an unwavering commitment to live music and unique spaces, and preferably live music in unique spaces. It seems only natural to create a grungy, industrial-looking bowling alley with a cool bar that offers free live music”.
AIR Chart news
SINGLES
1 ‘Swing’- Joel Fletcher
2 ‘Riptide’- Vance Joy
3 ‘My Life’- Bliss N Eso feat Ceekay Jones
4 ‘Drop the Game’- Flume & Chet Faker
5 ‘Tear it Down’- The Aston Shuffle
6 ‘Talk is Cheap’- Chet Faker
7 ‘Only One’- John Butler Trio
8 ‘Stand Still’- Flight Facilities Feat. Micky Green
9 ‘Take Me’- Rufus
10 ‘Bring it Back’- Will Sparks Feat. Joel Fletcher
ALBUMS
1. Flesh and Blood- The John Butler Trio
2. Live at Wembley Stadium- INXS
3. The Brink- The Jezabels
4. Flume- Flume
5. Overcomer- Prepared Like A Bride
6. Triple J Like A Version 9- Various
7. Circus In The Sky- Bliss N Eso
8. The Dead Daisies-The Dead Daisies
9. Atlas-Rufus
10. Apples And Bananas-The Wiggles
Pharrell Williams’ Vivienne Westwood “Mountain” Hat on Ebay
Pharrell Williams’ now famous Mountain hat, designed by Vivienne Westwood, is up for auction. 100% of the cash rasied from the sale of the hat will got to charity organisation, From One Hand To Another, whose mission is to help change the world one kid at a time by giving them the tools and resources to meet their unique potential and empower them to nurture curiosity by learning through new technologies, arts, media and motivation.
Check it here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pharrell-Williams-Vivienne-Westwood-Mountain-Hat...
