Page 104 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Observer Showbiz Community stations grow
■ The latest Community Broadcasting Association of Australia national listener survey shows audience share for Australian community radio is expanding. Greg Newman of Jocks Journal reports that an average 29 per cent of all radio listeners tune in each week. That’s 5.2 million of 18.1 million Australians aged 15 or older.
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Radio Confidential News from stations from around Victoria
MAGIC 1278 BOSS RESIGNS GARY HOFFMAN QUITS AS MANAGER AFTER 16 YEARS
Survivors to meet soon
Country Crossroads info@country crossroads.com.au Big Breakfast Show. Southern FM 88.3. Tues. 6am-9am.
Rob Foenander
New CD for Marcia
■ Melbourne entertainer Marcia Rae has released her new CD titled One Day At A Time. The album is dedicated to her late partner, Norman James, who passed away earlier this year. The music is a tribute to Patsy Cline. Marcia is a well known performer on the Morning Melodies and club circuit throughout Melbourne and is also a welltravelled floor show performer.
Daniel, Mary back in Melb. ■ Ireland’s country music royalty, Daniel O'Donnell and long-time music partner Mary Duff are returning to Melbourne in 2014. Concert dates are March 17-18 at Hamer Hall.
Harder to tame
■ Country rockers McAlister Kemp will officially release their new album Harder To Tame in January. The title track has already reached no 1 on country music charts around the country while the video has also gone to number 1 on Foxtel’s Country Music Channel.
● Gary Hoffman ■ After 16 years as Manager of Magic 1278, Gary Hoffman is resigning next month. Gary has developed the callsign as a ‘complete service’ radio station, but it has been under intense commercial pressure over past years, especially with the introduction of Smooth 91.5 over the past year. Magic 1278 rated 3.8 per cent in the seventh ratings survey results, announced last week. Audience numbers for the Magic breakfast program, hosted by Kevin John and Jane Holmes, shrunk to 3.0 per cent.
● Pictured at Stakes Day at Flemington was Shane McInnes, Weekend Break co-hosts Peter ‘Grubby’ Stubbs and Diane ‘Dee Dee’ Dunleavy, with Damian Tardio.
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Melbourne Radio Briefs
Fifi Box and Dave Thornton are to replace Matt Tilley and Jo Stanley on the Fox FM breakfast program. Chrissie Swan and Jane Hall may lose their Mix 101.1 breakfast program ... if Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O sign with the Australian Radio Network to broadcast a Sydney-Melbourne daily show. Melbourne radio advertising rose 1 per cent to $19.009 million in October. Figures for the first four months of the 2013-14 financial year are up in all markets with Melbourne leading the way, up 6.75 per cent.
Cohen tickets giveaway
■ ABC 774 morning host Jon Faine is this week giving away two premium tickets to the Leonard Cohen concert to be held at the Palais Theatre, St Kilda, on Monday, December 9. Faine is a fan of Cohen.
■ The Survivors group of radio, TV and recording industry veterans will meet at South Melbourne for a twice-yearly lunch on Saturday, Nov. 23. Convened by Bruce McKay, formerly of 3AW, 3DB and the Pacific Star Network, the Survivors was established some years ago by Bert Newton, Ron Tudor and John Proper, with past members including Doug Elliot, Joff Ellen, Norm Spencer, Frank Rich and Bob Horsfall. Current day members include Pete Smith, Philip Brady, Ray Lawrence, Peter Philip, Keith McGowan, John Vertigan, Denis Scanlan, Paul Nicholson, Paul Jennings, Dan Webb, Don Kinsey, John Allan, Bob Taylor, Nigel Dick, Gary Day, Keith Livingston, Bob Duff, Neville Sherburn, Bill Armstrong, Dean Reynolds, Bill Passick, John Worthy, Ted Ryan, Ray Benson, Garry Stewart, Ian Stewart, Denis O’Kane, Mike Menner, Chris Bahen, Mal Walden, Peter Booth, Peter Van, Roy Hampson, Hugh Hill, Marcus Herman and Doug Morgan.
Music Oz Award to Kate
■ Kate Cook has won the 2013 country single of the year at the Music Oz awards. The event was held in Sydney on Friday (Nov. 8) and recognises Australian independent music releases. Kate's winning song Give The Girl A Spanner has become an anthem across Australia for the working woman doing what is traditionally a man's job", said a spokesman for the artist. It was co written with master songwriter Allan Caswell. - Rob Foenander
r Observbei z Show
Wednesday, November 13
■ TV star Don Lane was born in 1933. He died aged 75 in 2009. US director and producer Gary Marshall is 79 (1934). Comedienne Whoopi Goldberg was born in New York City in 1955 (58). TV-radio presenter Richard Fidler was born in 1964 (49).
● Leonard Cohen
● Racing driver Craig Lowndes met this week with Rod Boyd, General Manager, of the Stereo 974 radio station based at Brooklyn.
Melbourne
Observer
On This Day Thursday, November 14
■ Horse trainer Bart Cummings was born in Adelaide in 1927 (86). Happy birthday Bart. Prince Charles was born in Buckingham Palace, England, in 1948 (65). Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist was born in 1971 (42). Actress Michala Banas was born in Wellington, NZ, in 1978 (35).
● Bruce McKay
Friday, November 15
■ Richmond football icon Jack Dyer was born in 1913. He died aged 89 in 2003. Petula Clark, English singer and actress, was born in 1932 (81). Frida (Anni-Frid Lyngstadd-Frederiksson), dark-haired vocalist with ABBA, was born in Norway in 1945 (68).
Saturday, November 16
■ Actor Max Gillies was born in Melbourne in 1941 (71). Actor Ken James was born in Sydney in 1948 (65). He was in the original cast of Skippy. Australian adventurer Alby Mangels was born in Holland in 1948 (65). Actress Gigi Edgley was born in Perth in 1977 (36). Part of a famous family.
Sunday, November 17
■ American actor Rock Hudson was born in 1925. He died aged 59 in 1985. British comedian Peter Cook was born in 1937. He died aged 57 in 1995. US actor Danny Devito was born in 1944 (69). Entertainer Lucy Durack was born in 1981.
Monday, November 18
■ Sir William S Gilbert, who partnered with Sullivan, was born in London in 1836. He died aged 74 in 1911. Actor David Hemmings was born in Guildford, England, in 1941. He died aged 42 in 2003. American actress Linda Evans was born in 1941 (71). She starred in Dallas.
Tuesday, November 19
■ American bandleader Tommy Dorsey was born in 1905. He died aged 51 in 1956. The late Margaret Whitlam, wife of former Prime Minister Gough, was born in 1919. US radio-TV talk show host Larry King is 80. Australian singer Robin Jolley was born in 1950. He is 63 today.
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