Australia News: Partial Return, Village Sounds NZ, ARIAs & More

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 – Perth Skyline

Live Sector Get Wheels In Motion In Three States

Australia’s success at curbing coronavirus infection rates means live sectors in some states enter the summer season with hope of a post-pandemic economic turnaround.
Queensland’s indoor music venues and open air stadiums can operate at 100% capacity from 4 p.m. onward for Nov. 17. Outdoor event capacity rises to 1,500 patrons from 1,000. Dancing outdoors is being tested, with the plan to introduce it later in indoor clubs. 
Western Australia’s health minister Greg Cooke confirmed that its re-opening of its border will activate the staging of music festivals. Since new guidelines came into effect Sept. 25 about ‘high-risk’ events – that is, those lasting over four hours, have alcohol as a primary or secondary focus, feature a dance floor or mosh pit and a stage or performance area as focal point leading to very crowded spaces – 157 of 161 music event applications were approved. 
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 – Brisbane’s Valley Fiesta

The other four were told to supply further documents to ensure compliance with COVID protocols. “It’s important we continue to work with the promoters to understand what they’re proposing but also making sure they understand their obligations,” Cooke said.

In a move to ignite Sydney’s 24-hour economy, the NSW legislative council passed a raft of laws Nov. 12. To take effect Dec. 1 they reward ‘clean’ venues with lower licensing rates, reduce red tape by aligning liquor licensing and planning processes, and get rid of 600 antiquated live regulations that governed the style of acts, instruments and even what direction they faced from the stage.
Music venues in the City of Sydney got an extra hour of trade while councils received powers to set up new special entertainment zones for live music.
“The economy doesn’t go to sleep after dark and we need laws that cater for a 21st century economy,” said minister for customer service Victor Dominello.
Added Dean Ormston, CEO of music rights group APRA AMCOS which also houses the Live Music Office, “All these changes will help support small businesses and drive an economic recovery across the state, and importantly, getting musicians back to work.”

Village Sounds Sets Up In New Zealand
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 – Village Sounds

A new booking agency, Village Sounds NZ, launched Nov. 12 in Auckland. 

It is a joint venture by Australia’s 21-year old Village Sounds which is owned by Secret Sounds, and CRS Music Management, run by Big Day Out NZ and Auckland City Limits promoter and artist manager Campbell Smith. 
Smith runs the new enterprise with Laneway NZ director Julian Carswell as lead agent. The 22-strong roster includes Benee, Leisure, Teeks, Aldous Harding and Brooke Fraser.
Secret Sounds co-CEO Paul Piticco said, “Campbell and I go way back to when we shared an office in NYC and I think Julian’s ear for Kiwi talent is second to none.”
SoundMerch Naming Rights Sponsor Of Australian Music Prize
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 – SoundMerch

Melbourne-based music merchandise producer SoundMerch, set up 2009, stepped in as new naming rights sponsor for the Australian Music Prize (AMP). 

The prize, inspired by the UK’s Mercury Prize, is in its 16th year to find the most creative album released in a 12-month period.
SoundMerch gives a A$20,000 ($14,541.69) cash prize, as well as donating 70% of AMP themed merch towards marketing of their albums. “We’ve had a great year and would like to give something back to Australian artists given most of them haven’t had a great year,” said SoundMerch CEO Tim Everist. 
Among 53 albums nominated so far are by Tame Impala, 5 Seconds Of Summer, DMAs, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, L-Fresh The Lion, RVG and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever.
Billie Eilish, SIA To Perform At ARIAs
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 – Sia

Billie Eilish and SIA are the latest additions to the performers’ list for the the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) awards, held Nov. 25 at the Star Event Centre in Sydney.

Both will be performing from Los Angeles.
Eilish will perform her new single ‘Therefore I Am.’ Adelaide-born SIA is up for two awards on the night, in addition to the 10 ARIAs already accumulated.
The ARIAs are broadcast on YouTube Music and free-to-air Nine Network. Also performing are Tame Impala, pop duo Lime Cordiale who played 34 sold out shows this year, African-born soul singer Sampa The Great and Gold Coast singer songwriter Amy Shark.
Inducted into the ARIA hall of fame is First Nations singer songwriter Archie Roach. The voice behind the Stolen Generation, this year marks his lauded Victoria’s Australian of the year, and the 30th anniversary of the release of his gold-certified debut Charcoal Lane which won two ARIAs.
Multi-platinum singer songwriter and The Voice Australia coach, and 12 x ARIA winner Delta Goodrem will host. Presenters include Keith Urban, INXS, Tones & I and A$AP Ferg.

Preliminary Hearing For Katie Perry Vs Katy Perry Trial 
At a Nov. 12 preliminary hearing of the Federal Court trademark infringement battle between Australian fashion designer Katie Perry and US singer Katy Perry, the court was told the singer would not be giving evidence. According to the Sydney Morning Herald (https://www.smh.com.au/national/katie-v-katy-katy-perry-s-merchandise-in-spotlight-in-trademark-fight-20201112-p56dyu.html), the principal witness will be her manager Steven Jensen, partner at Direct Management Group (DMG).
The case is scheduled for November 2021. The Australian launched action in October 2019 against the singer (born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson) claiming trademark infringement for selling clothing in Australia under her name. The Sydney-based designer said she registered the Katie Perry name in Australia in 2008.
In a written defense, lawyers for the singer stated she used her name in good faith, a defense in the Trade Marks Act, and had already achieved success in Australia by 2008.
Benee, Beths, Six60 Win At NZ Awards
Pop singer Benee, an international pop crossover last year with the TikTok hit ‘Superlonely’ won four awards at the Nov. 15 Aotearoa Music Awards at Auckland’s Sparks Arena. She took best single, solo artist, pop artist and international achievement.
Indie-pop band The Beths went home with trophies for album, group and alternative artist. 
Drawcard was the highest selling artist for a third year and South Auckland teen Jawsh 685 landed breakthrough artist after his ‘Laxed – Siren Beat’ went to No. 1 in 17 countries after Jason Derulo sampled it for ‘Savage Love’.