Crowdfunding Sales Now Count Towards ARIA Charts
In an industry first, the ARIA Digital Charts will now take into account figures from crowdfunding platform Pledge Music. The site will begin submitting data to the official music charts based on sales made through the Pledge Music platform, potentially opening the doors for other popular crowdfunding sites to contribute to how the ARIA Charts are calculated in future. Pledge Music already supplies data to US stat trackers Soundscan and Australian General Manager Scot Crawford who says the new deal distinguishes the company’s emphasis on exclusively music-related fan-sourced projects. “We differ from fan-funding sites like our friends at Pozible etc. because our focus is not on the monetary goal but on the experience itself,” says Crawford, adding: “we only deal in music, and giving artists a new way to release music.” The likes of Slash and ABBA have used Pledge Music, as well as Aussie artists The Delta Riggs, Amy Meredith, and Alex Lloyd. Pledge Music’s contribution to the AIRA Digital Charts joins 23 other companies that already feed into the charts; including the likes of iTunes, Telstra’s Bigpond Music, Hillsong, ATM/Love Police, plus label-backed services such as Modular, Warner Music, Create/Control, Elefant Traks, GetMusic, and The In Sound. (via TheMusic)
Venues Slam Queensland 3AM Curfew Proposal
A proposal by the Queensland State Government has faced an outcry of backlash from venue owners and live music operators who are resisting a proposed change to close licensed venues by 3am, scrapping and replacing the current 3 am lockout policy. The move would affect a reported 100 clubs currently operating with the 3am license, however, casinos would be exempt due to their 24-hour trading license. Attorney-General Jarrod Belijie has stoked the proposal in a bid to overhaul Queensland’s liquor licensing laws to stem cases of alcohol-related violence. But nightclubs and live music venues argue that moves to cut back trading hours will put the $3.5 billion industry at serious risk, while emphasising that civilian violence is as much a problem of late-night public trasnportation – or the lack of it – with reports of up to 35,000 club attendees in Surfers Paradise hitting the streets on an average Saturday night. Alternatives to the 3am shut out include the introduction of ID scanners and better CCTV, suggests Cairns Liquor Accord spokesman Dominic Davies, and the reinforcement of the Drink Safe Precinct initiative, which resulted in 41% reduction in overall police offences according to statistics. Attorney-General Bleijieto is expected to make a final ruling on the 3am bill in the coming months. (via The Music Network)
I Manage My Music Workshop Hits The Road For 2013
I Manage My Music is a workshop intensive for musicians serious about making music in Australia today, presented in association with APRA|AMCOS. Whether just starting out or having released music previously, these workshops are for anyone wanting to move their career forward in a way that is achievable, sustainable and financially realistic. I Manage My Music presents a one-off workshop that will tour nationally in October, November and December 2013. Participants will hear from three self-managed singer-songwriters Jen Cloher, Mia Dyson and Liz Stringer. With eleven albums, ARIA Awards, Australian Music Prize short listings and countless other accolades between them, they’ll be discussing funding streams, time and financial management, how to build a team that supports your creative vision and touring on a budget both here and overseas. For the full run of dates and details, head to http://imanagemymusic.com/workshops/.
The Love Junkies Sign To New World Artists
WA grunge/punk trio The Love Junkies are pleased to announce that following on from their blistering showcases at this year’s BIGSOUND, they’ll be joining the roster at New World Artists which includes the likes of British India, Closure In Moscow, and Grinspoon. “We are incredibly excited to have The Love Junkies on board,” reads a statement from New World Artists, “These guys have one of the most explosive live sets we’ve seen from a young band in a while. New World Artists are looking forward to continuing the next part of their journey with them.” The Love Junkies’ manager Matt Johnson added: “It’s been a huge year for The Love Junkies with the release of their first album and the single “Baby Come Home” getting a lot of love from Triple J. The Love Junkies are an authentic and exciting live band and combined with New World Artists dedication to all things live music, it will give us the perfect platform from which to keep assaulting the ears of punters.”
Future Classic Expands Roster With Chrome Sparks
Aussie indie label Future Classic is pleased to announce the international signing of Brooklyn native Chrome Sparks, giving the much hyped Sparks EP an official global release and reissue of the sought after vinyl package. Chrome Sparks took the electronic world by storm last year, ripping through blogs with his self-released, Idris-Muhammad-sampling monster “Marijuana”, and the subsequent teaser of his ‘mid-player’ Sparks EP. The lead track has amassed a phenomenal 700,000 plays on Soundcloud without an official release, leading to a number of high profile remixes, most notably of Future Classic label mate Flume, and a host of US shows taking his DJ and Live performance on the road.
Live Nation Releases Pink’s Enormous Australian Tour Figures
International pop star Pink wrapped up her Live Nation-presented Australiasian tour earlier this month, and the figures revealed by the concert promoters demonstrate the monstrous success of the three-month, sold out 46-date run. The Truth About Love Tour drew over 600,000 fans, a record 18 shows at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena (to a total 250,000 punters and one misinterpreted bomb threat), 8 shows at the Sydney Entertainment Centre – the most performances by female star, breaking Kylie Minogue’s previous record. Pink also broke records with 4 sold out dates at Sydney’s Allphones Arena, with the most tickets sales by a solo artist – exceeding 67,000 (more than record holder Britney Spears’ 2009 The Circus tour). Over In WA, nearly 15,000 fans per night at Perth Arena sees Pink holding the record for the top four attended events at the venue and the most performances. The Brisbane Entertainment Centre hosted nearly 100,000 across 8 sell-out shows. The tour also stimulated record sales for the Sony Music released The Truth About Love, which returned to the #1 spot for a 10th week on the ARIA Charts after spending 51 weeks on the chart and earning 7x Platinum. (via The Music Network)
