Latest Music News From Australia: Cher, DJs, Eminem

Cher To Perform At Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras?

Andy Argyrakis / ConcertLivewire.com – Cher
BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisc.

Rumours of Cher appearing at the 40th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras March 3 intensified after the singer cryptically tweeted to her 3.5 million followers, “Ok… you boys know where I’ll be in March.”

It was accompanied by a rainbow emoticon and a “Put Some Shrimp on the Barbie” hashtag. She had earlier indicated plans to tour Australia and New Zealand this year, her first visit since 2005.

The event’s three-hour street parade, with 12,000 participants and watched by 200,000 spectators, culminates with the sold-out party. Among those who have performed there are Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, Kylie Minogue, Olivia Newton-John, Tina Arena and Dannii Minogue.

Two DJs Die

Australia’s electronic dance music sector is mourning the death of two DJs over the holidays. Sydney-born Chris Bradley, 28, aka DJ Dad Bod, was killed at a Christmas Day party after an unprovoked attack by 24-year old martial arts practitioner Javen O’Neill who had a “short fuse” and a history of drug and alcohol binges, according to an NSW Supreme Court judge. Javen was bailed after being charged with murder.

Adelaide-based Antony Van Der Meer, aka DJ Trance, 35, was struck by lightning while hitch hiking with five family members through the Northern Territory.

Eminem’s New Zealand Copyright Stoush Continues

The legal stoush in New Zealand over the National Party’s use of a soundalike of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” for its 2014 election campaign ad is not over.

It now centres on the NZ$600,000 ($429,930) damages calculated by the NZ High Court last October when it found that the soundalike “Eminem Esque” substantially copied the Detroit rapper’s award-winning song.

Justice Helen Cull revealed in a 134-page ruling that the figure was based on the “hypothetical licence fee” that would have reasonably been charged to use the track by Eminem’s publishers Eight Mile Style and Martin Affiliated. No additional damages were awarded as the judge felt that the National Party had not been reckless in using the track because it had earlier asked for advice from legal and music industry circles. The ad aired 186 times during the campaign.

A month later, the National Party appealed the sum, saying it was too high. It also stated it would attempt to pass damages liability to Australian company Beatbox, to whom it paid NZ$4,802 for use of “Eminem Esque”, which it reportedly had bought the licence from California-based music library Labrador.

New Zealand media site Stuff reports that Eight Mile Style and Martin Affiliated have counter-appealed, asking that the figure be increased. Their arguments, in part, are that the judge relied on the evidence of one expert in calculating damages when three others gave conflicting testimonies, and that extra damages were justified because the political party had been reckless and indifferent to whether “Eminem Esque” would infringe copyright

A hearing date has not been set for the appeals.