Australian News 9/7

One Movement Announces More Initiatives

The inaugural One Movement For Music Perth (OMFM) announced a number of initiatives for its Oct. 16-18 meet.

These included a fringe festival for 100 performances on stages set up in city streets, artist showcases by private companies, and plans to put Australian and Asian talents together to see what transpires cross-culturally.

Short Notes

Britney Spears’ Aussie promoter Dainty Consolidated Entertainment announced a fourth concert for Melbourne at Rod Laver Arena (Nov. 27) and a third Brisbane show at the Entertainment Centre (Nov. 22).

Ja Rule is being investigated by NSW police for some allegedly crazy driving he did in Sydney. He’s said to have borrowed a car and taken it for a drive. But he forgot he had no permit to drive downunder, and that Australians drive on the left side of the road.

The economic climate saw the Earthdance festival scrap the Sydney date for this year and hold it only in Melbourne.

In the same week, going into voluntary administration were digital media firm Swish Group (the local representative of New York-based The Orchard), and Divacom, which for 18 years ran the Drag Industry Variety Awards.

Gold Coast band Cardboard Castle, which scored a date with pop twins The Veronicas by posting a video on YouTube, is negotiating with a Canadian TV network for a reality series about an unknown Aussie act trying to break the North American market.

Country singer Adam Brand signed a deal with Nashville-based Sony Music Entertainment and will relocate to the U.S. at the end of the year.

Three people are assisting police with inquiries into an Aug. 30 raid in Melbourne that netted more than 15,000 allegedly pirated music and movie CDs and DVDs.

Empire of the Sun’s ambitious live show for October’s Parklife festival had to drop the animals because they were too expensive. The tigers cost $12,000 for two hours and an elephant was $14,000 for an hour.

Germany’s My Music trade fair, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 in Dresden, has made Australia its international partner this year. This will include showcases by Aussie acts and interaction between Australian and German media.

Sony Music Australia’s new online portal Bandit.fm is offering a new function allowing unsigned acts to sell their music recorded at clubs 24 hours after the show.

The Potbelleez play Global Gathering in Korea, which kicks off on Sept 18, alongside Prodigy, Underworld, Pendulum, Royksopp and MSTRKRFT. They got the slot after a recommendation to the festival organizers from British dj and producer Mark Ronson, who became a fan after seeing them last year.