Page 108 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Observer Showbiz ● Grant Broadcasters stopped all live streaming of their stations from Thursday following on a High Court decision that provides that stations must pay additional live music licensing fees.
Country Crossroads info@country crossroads.com.au Big Breakfast Show. Southern FM 88.3. Tues. 6am-9am.
Rob Foenander
Keith hits top spot
■ Aussie country music star Keith Urban has hit No 1 on the American Billboard charts. His latest release, Fuse, sold 98,000 copies in its first week, after being released early September according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan. Keith also went to No. 1 on the ARIA charts.
New EP for Kate
■ Kate Cook has just released her debut EP, Come A Long Way. A top six finalist in Australian Idol back in 2009, Kate has now tapped into her grass roots and humble beginnings to deliver an inspirational and heartfelt collection of songs, as described by CRS publicity. The first single, Give The Girl A Spanner, is currently getting significant airplay on country music playlists around the country. The song is a joint writing venture between Kate and master songwriter Allan Caswell.
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Radio Confidential News from stations from around Victoria
CHANGES TO 3AW OVERNIGHT?
■ Is a change of presenter being considered for the 3AW Australia Overnight program, currently hosted by Andrew McLaren, assisted by Mark Petkovic. Radio Confidential knows of a significant radio industry figure who has been approached in recent weeks to sound out if they would be interested in being the front man for the 3AW midnight-dawn program. Andrew McLaren took over from Keith McGowan two years ago. McGowan had presented the Overnighters program for more than 20 years. McLaren is currently heard on a number of relay stations including 2UE Sydney and 4Bc Brisbane. His own career includes stints at 7HT Hobart, 3GL Geelong, 3AW, 3DB, 3MP, Magic693 and 3AK. The overnight program was once top of the ratings for 3AW midnight-dawn. It currently rates second to the ABC programs hosted by Tony Delroy, Trevor Chappell, Michael Pavlich and Rod Quinn.
Tribute to Slim
■ The 2014 Tamworth Country Music Festival will pay tribute to Australia's king of country, Slim Dusty, through a number of official functions. Slim left behind an incredible legacy through his music, his numerous awards and the artists that he mentored and supported," said a spokesman for the event. Tamworth Country Music Festival will be run from Friday, January 17, to Sunday, January 26.
Casey Country Radio
■ Local community radio station 3 SER 97.7FM offers listeners a variety of country music styles. Thursday evening 7pm features Rebels. Rednecks and Rock n Roll with hosts Roger Lloyd and Bill McMartin. On Saturday morning from 11 am is The Other Side Of Country show which enables listeners to phone in with their requests and messages with Adrian, Pam and Ron. Phone 5996 6977. - Rob Foenander
r Observbei z Show
Wednesday, October 2
■ Groucho Marx was born in New York in 1890. He died aged 86 in 1977. William ‘Bud’ Abbott was born in 1895. He died aged 78 in 1974. American singer Don McLean was born in 1945 (68). English singer Sting (Gordon Sumner) is 62 (1951).
● Rod Quinn
Time spent in secret service
■ ABC Overnight host Rod Quinn spent time in the United States Secret Service, with a stint as the driver for President John F. Kennedy, he says.
IS NETWORK LOOKING TO REPLACE McLAREN?
SEN agency ads drop
● Andrew McLaren, 3AW Australia Overnight host During a working holiday in America, two of Rod’s biggest passions were ignited - during a stint as a cleaner at Sun Studios in Memphis, he says ■ Melbourne’s original comhe was lucky enough to be munity radio station 3CR is working the day Elvis Presley holding a fundraiser next week, walked in and recorded his first with a screening of a film about Pussy Riot. session. Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer "We became friends and recalls five women wearing Elvis even invited me to sing brightly coloured balaclavas back up vocals and play the rushing the altar of a Moscow tamborine in his 1973 Aloha Russian Orthodox Cathefrom Hawaii concert," Rod re- dral with microphones, speakports, "You can see me at the ers and a guitar, launching into back of the stage wearing a a ‘punk prayer’in protest against purple lei." Vladimir Putin's "excessive He claims to have worked for nationalism". a range of media organisations Tickets are $22 full and $18 in 36 different countries. concession, The film starts at "On a sad note, I was bitterly approximately 6.30pm on Thursdissappointed when Prince Ed- day, October 10, at Cinema ward snatched Sophie Rhys Nova, Lygon St, Carlton. Jones from my romantic More details are available at clutches - we were on the verge the 3CR.org.au website. of announcing our engagement before the lure of the Royal family pulled Sophie away," Rod says on the ABC Local Radio website.
Pussy riot fundraiser
■ Sports station 1116 SEN recorded an 11 per cent drop in advertising agency-sold commercials in the 2012-13 financial year due to “issues” with Sydney agency representation, says the owner Pacific Star Network in its annual report. Direct sales were up 6.5 per cent. The company recorded a profit of $1.06 million, down 8.1 per cent on the previous year, said Chairman Andrew Moffat. The company operates SEN, MyMP and Inside Football newspaper. The paper’s trading result was “below budget”. “A range of measures” is to be implemented later this calendar year. These include increased digital subscriptions, more print sales and cost cuts. MyMP continues to operate with a trading loss, Mr Moffat said. The company wants MyMP to be at a break-even status in this financial year. Other Pacific Star Network directors are Ron Hall, 72; Gary Pert and Michelle Guthrie. Company secretary is Stephen Sweeney. CEO Barrie Quick was paid $483,899.
‘Less talk’
■ Smooth 91.5 uses the words “less talk” about four times an hour in its “position statements”. That’s about 1344 words of talk it could easily eliminate in a broadcasting week.
● 3CR is holding a ‘Pussy Riot’ fundraiser Melbourne
Observer
On This Day Thursday, October 3 ■ Tennis player Neale Fraser is 80 (1933). Gore Vidal, American author, was born in 1925. He died aged 80 in 2012. Australian actress Noeline Brown was born in Sydney in 1938 (75). American singer Chubby Checker is 72 (1941).
Friday, October 4
■ Radio-TV personality Terry Dear was born in 1913. He died aged 81 in 1995. American actor Charlton Heston was born in 1922. He died aged 84 in 2008. English writer Jackie Collins is 76 (1937). Actress Susan Sarandon was born in 1946 (67).
Saturday, October 5 ■ Australian actress Anne Haddy was born in 1930. She died aged 68 in 1999. Actress Diane Cilento was born in 1933. She died aged 78 in 2011. Irish singer song-writer Bob Geldof was born in 1951 (62). Wilbur Wilde (Nick Aitken) is 58 (1955).
Sunday, October 6
■ American actress Carole Lombard was born in 1980. She died aged 34 in 1942. Cricketer Richie Benaud is 89 (1924). Swedish actress Britt Ekland was born in Sweden in 1942 (71). Cricketer Tony Greig was born in Queenstown, South Africa, in 1946. He died last year.
Monday, October 7
■ US singer Al Martino was born in 1927. He died aged 82 in 2009. TV presenter and author Clive James is 74. He recenetly recorded an interview with ABC-TV’s Kerry O’Brien. American singer John Mellenkamp is 62 (1951). Skating champion Jayne Torvill was born in 1957 (56).
Tuesday, October 8
■ Australian actor Paul Hogan was born in Lightning Ridge in 1939 (74). Actor David Caradine was born in 1940. He died aged 68 in 2009. Actor Chevy Chase was born as Cornelius Chase in 1943 (69). Actress Sigourney Weaver (Susan Weaver) was born in New York in 1949 (64).
Thanks to GREG NEWMAN of Jocks Journal for assistance with birthday and anniversary dates. Jocks Journal is Australia’s longest running radio industry publication. Find out more at www.jocksjournal.com