Australasia News: Ducrou Exits Secret Sounds; NSW Allocates $1.66B To Arts; John Fogerty Ruling; NZ: Eden Park Wins

AUSTRALIA

Jessica Ducrou Departs Secret Sounds

Jessica Ducrou, co-CEO of Secret Sounds, has departed the company she set up eight years ago with top-selling rock band Powderfinger’s one-time manager Paul Piticco.

Secret Sounds, best known as promoter of Splendour In The Grass and Falls Festival, sold 51% of its stake to Live Nation in Dec. 2016.

It also includes touring, booking and creative agencies, the North Byron Parklands festival site and the 700-capacity Triffid club in Brisbane.

“I’m well due for an overseas summer holiday so it’s a good time to take a break before I embark on my next chapter,” Ducrou said. She’ll also “attempt to read a book from start to finish.”

In the interim, Ducrou continues as chair of government contemporary music body SoundsNSW, and deputy chair of the Australian Festival Association.

NSW Allocates $1.66B To Arts, Night-Time Economy

The New South Wales government’s commitment to make the state the events capital of the Asia-Pacific, was reflected in the $1.66 billion (US$1.10 billion) allocated to the arts and night-time economy in its 2024-25 budget.

Destination NSW received $324.5 million ($215.3 million) to continue support for lights and tech Vivid Sydney, SXSW Sydney, Great Southern Nights which in 2024 created jobs for 300 musicians and venues, the Mundi Mundi Bash and Parkes Elvis Festival.

Arts and cultural funding totaled A$73 million ($48.4 million), in particular for grassroots and community arts organisations, $26.9 million ($17.8 million) to deliver more 24-hour night-time economy initiatives, and $18.5 million ($12.2 million) for Sound NSW to build the state’s music industry and support artists.

John Fogerty/Qld Festival Stoush Heads To US

Brisbane Supreme Court justice Rebecca Treston ruled June 21 the legal stoush between John Fogerty and Queensland promoter SFP Events Pty Ltd face mediation in California.

SFP took action February against Fogerty’s Little Swamp II Inc and CAA seeking repayment of a US$700,000 deposit paid to CAA’s trust account to secure the singer songwriter’s headliner at the March 30-31 Country Fest Queensland.

A further $700,000 was to be delivered Feb. 20 but not paid, and the headliner slot was revoked Feb. 23. SFP wanted the court to rule that the offer “was validly withdrawn.” Whether the contract was binding is an issue.

NEW ZEALAND

Multi-Wins For Eden Park

Live Nation’s 50,000-seat Auckland stadium Eden Park had multiple award wins in June.
It took out two at the StadiumBusiness awards in Manchester, UK, mid-June, for venue of the year and sharing event of the year with Sydney’s 80,000-seat Accor Stadium for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

Accepting the awards, stadium chief executive Nick Sautner noted “70% of the attendance in 2023 came from events which weren’t part of our business model five years ago. This reflects our strategic commitment to innovation and constantly adapting our offering to meet the changing needs and interests of our community.”

In the meantime, Auckland Council narrowed down plans for a future city stadium to two proposals – by Eden Park 2.1 and Te Tōangaroa/Quay Park waterfront stadium. The Eden Park 2.1 proposal would include a retractable roof and increase seating to 60,000.