Australian Shorts

Pink, Big Day Out Win At Helpmanns

Pink was a big winner at this year’s Helpmann Awards in Sydney, with her “Funhouse” taking home best international contemporary concert, beating out AC/DC, Beyoncé and George Michael.

Tex Perkins’ Johnny Cash-channeling show “The Man In Black” won Australian contemporary concert and Big Day Out won again for best contemporary music festival.

Produced by Live Performance Australia, the 10th installment of the Helpmanns had 42 categories and was broadcast live on cable channel STVDIO.

Speculation Over Big Day Out

The founders of the Big Day Out festival had to hose down speculation it was leaving Gold Coast Parkland Showground as its Queensland stop.

The site closes June 2013 to make way for a new university hospital.

At a Sept. 6 public meeting to discuss the Showground’s future site, BDO’s Queensland promoter Brian Chladil wanted a decision within 12 months, or they’d move to Byron Bay, taking with them the $30 million to $40 million BDO brings to the local economy.

“A purpose-built venue in Northern NSW [is] dying for us to move there,” Chladil said. But the two festivals with customed sites, Bluesfest and Splendour In The Grass, denied any offer was made.

Moves

Katie Musham, senior sales manager at London’s The O2 arena, has moved to Sydney to join AEG Ogden.

She will work to expand entertainment at Acer Arena, Brisbane Entertainment Centre and the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.
Next year she relocates to Perth to work on the 2012 launch of the Perth Arena.

Allana Lalot, formerly at Canada’s Nettwerk Music and Watchdog / Feldman Management, is now in Brisbane working at PR firm SGC Media.

After 12 years as senior booking agent at Rob Potts Entertainment Edge, Phil Payne left to concentrate on his management company, Paynie Presents.