LATEST NEWS…HOMEBAKE RETURNS TO KICK OFF THE FESTIVAL SEASON: Festivals remind one of summer, sweat and….songs. Homebake is an annual festival that represents the Australian music scene showcasing an all-Australian line-up with the occasional act coming from our sister land, New Zealand. Homebake is set to commence on the 3rd December 2011 at the Domain in Sydney after a one year break in 2010. With an even bigger line-up than the preceding year Homebake is sure to be a sell out. A few of the renowned acts that make up the huge line-up are Nick Cave's Grinderman (pictured), Pnau, Gotye, Gurrumul, Icehouse and The Vines. The Homebake line-up literally hits home on how great the music talent in Australia is. Tickets are on sale now from Ticketek & Oztix. Check out www.homebake.com for more info…EVERYONE LOVES A BAD SEED: In more Nick Cave news, the bad, brooding Australian rock icon isn't even dead yet and they are already paying homage to him with tribute concerts set to tour his mainland Australia in November. The songs of Nick Cave are to be reinterpreted by some of Australia's top vocalist's including rock chick, Abbe May and You Am I's, Tim Rogers. Brought to you by Triple j the shows concur with their own Ausmusic Month. Nick Cave has had a busy life with 35 years experience under his belt giving the artists chosen a lot to work with; it will be interesting to see who can pay tribute to his work most respectively. Tickets are on sale now, sadly for the young folk all shows are 18+…CHICKS CAN DJ! - DJ MINX TAKES OUT SHE CAN DJ TITLE 2011: The She Can DJ final was held at cream of the crop Ivy bar, where ten finalists battled it out with twenty minute sets, proving that yes chicks can DJ. Supported by big name sponsors and full to the brim with industry super stars such as the likes of international guest ambassador and DJ direct from Pacha Ibiza, Sarah Main and Stereosonic Festival co-director Simon Coyle, the event was more than impressive. DJ Minx won the title however isn't the only fox that has a future to look forward to with EMI Music, the brain behind the competition. Alison Wonderland also scored a recording contract with the EMI family and recently accompanied DJ Minx and the She Can DJ crew to London & Ibiza where they will worked alongside DJ kings, David Guetta and Swedish House Mafia playing at Ibiza parties notorious for dance music…SO LONG KURT COBAIN. NEVERMIND IS HERE TO STAY: Nevermind is an album that will never be forgotten or put aside to collect dust. Twenty years on since the release date September 24, 1991, Nevermind is being celebrated and praised by living music legends as well as today's music geniuses. Following grunge record Bleach was Nevermind, the mastermind of Kurt Cobain who was the group's chief songwriter. Cobain, a self confessed heavy metal devotee wanted to write more pop driven songs but what really helped the band in its aim to create a mix of pop and rock with Nevermind was getting American producer Butch Vig on side. Entering the charts in November 1991, Nevermind remained there for 52 weeks but took three months to get to number one. Twenty years on and Nevermind still belongs at number one in many musicians and music lovers minds…TRIPLE J HAS 'UNEARTHED' A NEW STATION: Triple j Unearthed started as a band competition in the 1990s, which then turned into a music sharing website and is now becoming a new ABC digital radio station along with already established radio station Triple j. Triple j unearthed is a digital station dedicated entirely to playing unsigned and independent Australian music. Unearthed is a music commune open to musicians and the public to upload, download and review tracks. Triple j's new born station gives Australian bands an original and exciting avenue to get noticed in this dog eat dog world…TWO TAKES ON NEIL YOUNG @ BLENDER GALLERY: If you are into photography Blender Gallery is Sydney's mecca of the exhibition world, especially if you are heavily into music. Blender Gallery specialises in Fine Art Music Photography and Limited Edition Rock 'n' Roll Prints. Being home to a number of iconic Rock 'n' Roll photographers and their collections such as AC/DC EXPOSED! by Philip Morris and Pattie Boyd (The Beatles & Eric Clapton), Blender Gallery will soon be providing accommodation for music photographers Henry Diltz and Joel Bernstein and their limited edition prints of legendary musician Neil Young. Both men are multi talented who are photographers as well as musicians, which has given them an advantage to understand and capture Neil's visual persona. Make sure to visit Neil Young in all his glory at Blender Gallery, 16 Elizabeth St, Paddington, Sydney from Thursday, November 3 at 6:00pm - December 3 at 6:00pm…LEONARDO SWEEPS OUR SHORES: Leonardo Di Caprio has introduced many unknowing Australians to the novel The Great Gatsby just by arriving here in September to begin filming on the drama romance film adaptation of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic 1925 novel of the same name. With a $120 million budget and being directed by Baz Luhrmann, The Great Gatsby consists of a reputable cast, amongst them is Australian actor Joel Edgerton who will take on the role as Tom Buchanan. The Great Gatsby has before now been filmed six times and is due to be released for the seventh time on December 25, 2012 by Warners Bros. Pictures…CONCERNS FOR ADELE'S NUMBER ONE ASSET: Anyone who owns a radio would know Adele for her chart hits Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You. Who truthfully knows any other of her songs as these are the only tracks that get any airtime and substantial amounts at that? Concerns surrounding Adele's voice have been the reason for her absence from the recent Q Awards and a run of performances in the U.S. Adele has been battling with a haemorrhaged vocal cord since January and still continues to struggle with throat problems. 21 is Adele's second studio album which was only released at the beginning of the year on the 21st January 2011. Die hard fans are hoping that she gets back to full health swiftly as they are anxious to have new tracks of hers replayed and stuck in their heads…STEVE JOBS, THE MAN BEHIND THE PC: Where do you begin with Steve Jobs? His career was so innovative and significant that there are not enough words to praise him with. Jobs' has had such an impact on the world that it feels a felony to try and summarise his life. Jobs' has been in the news not just since the day of his death but through out his career so it is not necessary to try and begin to summarise his remarkable life. Everyone knows his achievements and how he battled with a terminal illness. This piece is merely a tribute to his life and his contribution to the world. Jobs' was not only a genius inventor but a family man like everyone else. Jobs' creation is in most family homes in the form of a notebook, an iPhone, iPod, iPad, the list goes on and the Apple empire will continue to expand and continue to be apart of everyone's family and the way the world connects…TAME IMPALA: AUSTRALIA'S OWN WAVE OF PSYCHEDELIC: Tame Impala have proven that Australia has still got it by bringing back the sixties roots of when psychedelic music became a craze. The band comprises of four young, bare footed psychedelic rockers who have already made a name for themselves in the music industry and signed a worldwide deal with independent Australian label Modular People in 2008. Among the Modular team are well recognised acts such as Wolfmother, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Ladyhawke. In their short career Tame Impala have already played at Glastonbury, Big Day Out, Vivid Live, have had a slot on the Jimmy Fallon show and are headlining at Bengkel Night Park in Jakarta on the 29th October 2011. If you happen to be in Indonesia be sure to watch them take over its capital city…
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BEST OF 2008 SPECIAL

In this special edition of The Scoop, we pay tribute to the year that has just passed - 2008! I recently went on a mission to track down various industry types and asked them to name their albums, films, DVDs and gigs/events of 2008, their general highlights of the year, and some of their predictions for 2009. So without further ado, the award goes to…

MAZ COMPTON, 96.9 NIGHTS

Album Of The Year: Kings Of Leon - 'Only By The Night'
Single Of The Year: Jason Mraz - 'I'm Yours' or Sonny J - 'Can't Stop Moving'
Film Of The Year: 'Twilight' or 'Body Of Lies'
DVD Of The Year: New Season of Entourage on DVD
Gig/Event Of The Year: Homebake '08 - Crowded House headlining
Your 2008 Highlights: Pink playing at The Metro almost spontaneously, Lindsay Lohan becoming a lesbian, goodbye to skinny jeans, Trace Cyrus can finally buy his family some gifts for Christmas, the kid in 'Two and a Half Men' going through puberty - the show is way funnier!
Your 2009 Predictions: Coldplay's live show will be one not to miss, Madonna will do a world tour which excludes Australia (again), the return of the moccasin, Angelina Jolie will probably have another kid, the return of the boy band.

YUMI STYNES, MAX

Album Of The Year: Fleet Foxes - 'Fleet Foxes'
Single Of The Year: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - 'Dig! Lazarus Dig!'
Film Of The Year: Slumdog Millionaire
DVD Of The Year: Tropic Thunder
Gig/Event Of The Year: IF Awards after-party. Whoa!
Your 2008 Highlights: Gurrumul at the ARIA Awards blowing everyone's minds! Grazia Magazine launch. Britney Spears comeback
Your 2009 Predictions: 2009 is going to be a tricky year - there will be financial turmoil but great trouble can inspire great art. We're going to see some great records from artists who know a lot about pain - PJ Harvey, Mark Oliver Everett, Lupe Fiasco.

BRENDAN JONES, 101.7 WS-FM

Album Of The Year: 'Fight for your Flashback'
Single Of The Year: Pink - 'So What'
Film Of The Year: Australia
DVD Of The Year: Flight of the Conchords
Gig/Event Of The Year: Angels vs Rose Tattoo at Selinas
Your 2008 Highlights: Billy Joel
Your 2009 Predictions: Total domination of the FM dial for me and the 'manda'.

STEVE BALDERSON, FILM DIRECTOR

Album Of The Year: Guns N Roses - 'Chinese Democracy'
Single Of The Year: 'Stop Turning Me On' by The Music Lovers
Film Of The Year: WATCH OUT
DVD Of The Year: WATCH OUT
Gig/Event Of The Year: The "Stop Turning Me On" world tour
Your 2008 Highlights: Making WATCH OUT and then watching it get nominated for Best Film at Raindance and debut at # 32 in Amazon.com's Top 100 DVD Best Sellers. All within 10 months!
Your 2009 Predictions: Making another film.

PINKY BEECROFT

Album Of the Year: 'Somethin' Somewhere Better' by Pinky Beecroft & The White Russians
Single Of The Year: What's a single?
Film Of The Year: Bachelor Party 2: The Last Temptation
DVD of the Year: Breaking Bad
Gig/Event of the Year: Ween at the Enmore, Sydney
2008 Highlights: Ween
2009 predictions: I predict it will be a better year than the last few.

CHIT CHAT, MAX

Album Of The Year: Fleet Foxes - 'Fleet Foxes'
Single Of The Year: Elbow - 'Grounds For Divorce'
Film Of The Year: Men's Group
DVD Of The Year: Flight of the Conchords
Gig/Event Of The Year: Sea Sick Steve at Blues Fest
Your 2008 Highlights: My daughter learning to walk and knowing she's growing up in a world run by a black man.
Your 2009 Predictions: You'll see me at the beach more.

DANNY CLAYTON, CHANNEL [V]

Album Of The Year: Does It Offend You, Yeah? - 'You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into'. Evidently the longest band and album name of the year as well!

Single Of The Year: MGMT - 'Electric Feel' "I said ooh girl, shock me like an electric eel". Rush out to buy your head scarves now.

Film Of The Year: Wall-E. It may be a kid's movie and have little to no dialogue for the majority of the film but damn Pixar have it going on. Just as good as Finding Nemo…wow I am juvenile.

Gig/Event Of The Year: Bloc Party at the Hordern…AMAZING! Except everyone kept using me as a ladder to get a better view.

Your 2008 Highlights: Watching Sigur Ros and The Presets performing at the 2008 Splendour in the Grass and finally developing the ability to stop wetting the bed.

Your 2009 Predictions: Apple will release the iEverything. It is an iPod, phone, printer, fax, GPS, computer, water purifier, remote control car, warning flare, poker table, television and small nuclear fusion reactor all in one. Most importantly, it will fit in the palm of your hand.

CHRIS McKAY, STOMP

Album Of The Year: Foals - 'Antidotes'
Single Of The Year: Bon Iver - 'Skinny Love'
Film Of The Year: Pineapple Express
DVD Of The Year: 30 Rock Season 1
Gig/Event Of The Year: Sad to say, I've attended very little, if any shows this year :(

GREG WERCKMAN, IPECAC

Album Of The Year: Sigur Ros - 'með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust'
Single Of The Year: Me?
Film Of The Year: Let The Right One In
DVD Of The Year: The Counterfeiters
Gig/Event Of The Year: Sigur Ros live
Your 2008 Highlights: Obama
Your 2009 Predictions: Fantômas will confuse a lot of people at Big Day Out 2009.

LYNN FRASER, ROADSHOW

Album Of The Year: The Butterfly Effect - 'Final Conversation Of Kings'
Single Of The Year: The Butterfly Effect - 'Window & The Watcher'
Film Of The Year: Step Brothers
DVD Of The Year: Sex and the City
Gig/Event Of The Year: The Butterfly Effect - Wollongong

MIKE CAMPBELL, UNIVERSAL MUSIC

Album Of The Year: Kings Of Leon - 'Only By The Night'
Single Of The Year: Kings of Leon - 'Use Somebody'
Film Of The Year: Superbad
DVD Of The Year: Entourage
Gig/Event Of The Year: The National at Sydney City Recital Hall in January
Your 2008 Highlights: Moving in with my gorgeous girlfriend
Your 2009 Predictions: Taylor Swift is going to be one of the biggest stars in 2009

HEAPSAFLASH TEAM

Album Of The Year: Roots Manuva - 'Slime & Reason'
Single Of The Year: 'Sift The Noise' by Skipping Girl Vinegar
Film Of The Year: Dark Knight
DVD Of The Year: Anything without Steven Seagal
Gig/Event Of The Year: Rage Against The Machine @ Big Day Out.
Your 2008 Highlights: Obama
Your 2009 Predictions: The return of the Macarena into popular culture.

HEATH MAWSON, MODULAR

Album Of The Year: M83 - 'Saturdays = Youth'
Single Of The Year: Proxy - 'Raven'
Film Of The Year: Eine Kleine NachtMusik
DVD Of The Year: Soulwax - 'Part Of The Weekend Never Dies'
Gig/Event Of The Year: Ok so it was late Dec 07 but you cannot go past Daft Punk headlining Neverneverland. Mind dimension...
Your 2008 Highlights: The Presets & Cut Copy - commercially unknown, yet cult indie heroes rise like phoenix's to take #1 spots on the ARIA album charts & become household names around the globe.
Your 2009 Predictions: Two words... Tame Impala!

HAYLEY KERIGAN, PORTER NOVELLI

Album of the Year: Kings of Leon - 'Only By the Night'
Single of the Year: Sam Sparro - 'Black and Gold'
Film of the Year: Quantum of Solace
DVD Of the Year: The Black Balloon
Gig/Event of the Year: End of Fashion - The Gaelic Club
Your 2008 Highlights: That I made it through the year…well almost!
Your 2009 Predictions: It will be a good year!

STELLA CHAMBERS, RED LABEL

Album Of The Year: 'Narrow Stairs' - Death Cab for Cutie / 'Oracular Spectacular' - MGMT / Sparkadia / Ting Tings / Glasvegas
Single Of The Year: 'Sex on Fire' - Kings of Leon
Gig/Event Of The Year: I know it will be the MGMT shows upcoming!
Your 2008 Highlights: Seeing the Ting Tings at the Triple J Rooftop Gig.
Your 2009 Predictions: Cassette Kids.

MARK BUTCHER, SIREN VISUAL

Album Of The Year: My Disco - 'Paradise'
Film Of The Year: There Will Be Blood
DVD Of The Year: Pan's Labyrinths
Gig/Event Of The Year: The Assassination Collectives - Yah Yah album launch
Your 2008 Highlights: Hearing my best mate's gonna be a father.
Your 2009 Predictions: Nothing much will change in Australia.

DARAIN FARAZ, MYSPACE

Album Of The Year: Adele - '18'
Single Of The Year: Gnarls Barkley - 'Goin' On'
Film Of The Year: WALL-E (also received a massive 96% on film bible RottenTomatoes.com)
Gig/Event Of The Year: The Presets - MySpace Secret Show, Sydney
Your 2008 Highlights: Barack Obama winning the US election, Kevin Rudd's apology to the stolen generation
Your 2009 Predictions: MySpace Music is already making huge waves in the US. Watch out for MySpace Music hitting Aussie shores in 2009! Arguably the biggest thing to happen in recent music history!

KARIN CHARBIT, ITECH INTERNATIONAL

Album Of The Year: Hotel Costes Vol 11 / Café Del Mar 15
Single Of The Year: 'Angelic voices' - B-Tribes (Rebirth Remix) Buddha Bar VI /'Take A Chance' - Liam Hayes and Plush
Film Of The Year: WALL-E
DVD Of The Year: WALL-E
Your 2008 Highlights: Pope's visit to Australia.

EMMA GARDINER, MAP & PAGE

Album Of The Year: 'Chimneys Afire' - Josh Pyke
Single Of The Year: 'Sex on Fire' - Kings of Leon
Film Of The Year: Was 'Kite Runner' this year? Otherwise, I am going to go for 'Iron Man'.
DVD Of The Year: Mamma Mia
Gig/Event Of The Year: I am hoping it's going to be Homebake but failing that, I would go for Justin Timberlake at the Entertainment Centre
Your 2008 Highlights: The Impressionists at AGNSW
Your 2009 Predictions: Can't wait to see what Katie Noonan gets up to next year.

MARGUERITE BARBARA, ICON FILM

Album Of The Year: M83 - 'Saturdays = Youth'
Single Of The Year: The Do - 'At Last'
Film Of The Year: Slumdog Millionaire
DVD Of The Year: Paris (of course!)
Gig/Event Of The Year: Emilana Torini (Metro). Who knew she was a comedian.
Your 2008 Highlights: Obama winning
Your 2009 Predictions: Recession we had to have!

CHRIS SIORIS, JOHN SCOTT PERSONAL PR

Album Of The Year: Rihanna
Single Of The Year: Kanye West - 'Love Lockdown'
Film Of The Year: 'Control' - Joy Division film shot by Anton Corbjin
DVD Of The Year: Bourne - all of them
Gig/Event Of The Year: Zeta Bar 3rd Birthday party with Sam Ronson
Your 2008 Highlights: Mykonos, Lou Jacks Chicane
Your 2009 Predictions: Johnscottpersonalpr events - watch this space

EILEEN, PEER GROUP MEDIA

Album Of The Year: 'Youth Novels' - Lykke Li
Single Of The Year: 'I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance' - Black Kids
Film Of The Year: Burn After Reading
DVD Of The Year: Gumby
Gig/Event Of The Year: Beirut @ The Manning Bar & Stevie Wonder in Melbourne, Sufjan Stevens @ State Theatre Sydney.
Your 2008 Highlights: Beirut, V Festival, Stevie Wonder, The Spiegel Tent, Bacardi Express, Sufjan Stevens.
Your 2009 Predictions: Lykke Li will explode into the music scene with her tremendous talent and beautiful alternate-pop sound.

DAN SPEAK, BLUE PIE

Album Of The Year: Ooh la la - 'Peace & Harmony'
Single Of The Year: Jord Allen - 'Get Happy'
Film Of The Year: Into the Wild
DVD Of The Year: The Godfather Collection - The Coppola Restoration
Gig/Event Of The Year: Playground Weekender Music Festival
Your 2008 Highlights: Playground Weekender Music Festival + The Charlatans @ The Forum
Your 2009 Predictions: Jord Allen

SIMON WINKLER, 3RRR RADIO

Album of The Year: Flying Lotus - 'Los Angeles'
Single Of The Year: Mike Slott - 'Knock Knock/My Lightbridge'
Film Of The Year: The Edge Of Heaven
DVD of the Year: The Mysterious Cities Of Gold Series
Gig(s) of the year: Yeasayer at The Corner, Richmond, The Bamboos, Kylie Auldist & Megan Washington at Triple R Performance Space.
2008 Highlights: Election of Barack Obama, Santogold, The All Cities 7x7 Beatstrumental Series.
2009 Predictions: Greater global recognition for the genius of Australian bands.

JUSTIN WILCOMES, 4CC RADIO

Album Of The Year: Kings Of Leon - 'Only By The Night' + AC/DC - 'Black Ice'
Single Of The Year: Faker - 'This Heart Attack'
Film Of The Year: Quantum of Solace/ Sex Drive / Dark Knight
DVD Of The Year: Dark Knight
Gig/Event Of The Year: Splendour / Opening of the Hard Rock Theme Park in
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Your 2008 Highlights: Presets winning an ARIA / Beverley Hills 90210 being
axed after four episodes.
Your 2009 Predictions: House prices will go up again. Paris, Britney, Lindsay or Amy Winehouse will die...you choose.

JOHN SCOTT, JOHN SCOTT PERSONAL PR

Album Of The Year: Jessica Mauboy - 'Been Waiting'
Single Of The Year: Britney Spears - 'Piece Of Me'
Film Of The Year: The Black Balloon
DVD Of The Year: Mrmagoriums Wonder Emporium
Gig/Event Of The Year: Sam Ronson At The Hilton 3rd Birthday - nothing short of brilliant!
Your 2008 Highlights: My 10 year old son is a published poet!
Your 2009 Predictions: Jessica Mauboy will turn heads! Only the brave will survive.....

MARSHALL CULLEN, FOGHORN MEDIA

Album Of The Year: Kings of Leon - 'Only By The Night'
Single Of The Year: Sex on Fire - 'Kings of Leon'
Film Of The Year: The New Cohen Bros
DVD Of The Year: Anything Battlestar Galactica
Gig/Event Of The Year: St Kilda Festival
Your 2008 Highlights: Womad and touring with the Hoodoo Gurus
Your 2009 Predictions: Re music - festivals will continue to replace the ailing pub scene, roots and acoustic artists will find alternative venues with the rise of DIY house concerts as people take even their venue choice into their own hands along with increased online consumption of music as broadband speeds and take up increase. Major labels will continue to contract and focus on high end pop and established artists. New artists will more and more find their audience via live and online. Re the world - we hold our breath to see if the democrats can really fix anything.

TIMOTHY RITCHIE, ABC RADIO NATIONAL

Album Of The Year: School of Seven Bells - 'Alpinisms'
Single Of The Year: Brett Dennen - 'Make You Crazy'
Film Of The Year: Burn After Reading
DVD Of The Year: The Clash live at Shea stadium
Gig/Event Of The Year: FBi SMAC Awards
Your 2008 Highlights: Sorry speech by Rudd and acceptance speech by Obama
Your 2009 Predictions: Economic downturn to continue which leads to more young bands in pubs doubled with the changes to licensing laws means more young bands starting and playing around Sydney.

JEFFREY HALLS, BLAK HOLE

Album Of The Year: Neil Hamburger Sings Country Winners
Single Of The Year: Soon to be released collaboration of Hard Ons, Neil Hamburger and Dr El Suavo!
Film Of The Year: Crispin Glover's 'It Is Fine! Everything Is Fine'. Shown in Australia for the first time when he toured this year.
DVD Of The Year: Stupidity (doco)
Gig/Event Of The Year: Jerry Lewis at Hammer Hall, Melbourne. US election campaign.
Your 2008 Highlights: The fall of capitalism and right wing governments around the world
Your 2009 Predictions: Producing 'The Dr El Suavo Tonight Show'. Which along with Barack Obama will make the world a nicer place to live!

CHRIS MARIC, RIOT ACT

Album Of The Year: Motorhead - 'Motorizer'. Lemmy will never die.
Single Of The Year: 'Warwick Ave' - Duffy. Only cause my 2 year old daughter makes sure it's the only song I hear all bloody day!
Film Of The Year: I never even made it to a cinema this year - ain't that pathetic. From the movies I saw, did the 'Bourne Ultimatum' come out this year? hehe
DVD Of The Year: Dimmu Borgir - 'The Invaluable Darkness'. As far as packaging, content and value for money - no one beats the Dimmu boys!
Gig/Event Of The Year: Immortal - I never ever expected to see the Sons of Northern Darkness in Sydney town, but they came and they destroyed!
Your 2008 Highlights: It was a serious blur - The NON highlight was me missing Iron Maiden on account of being in the UK at the time! Arghhh!
Your 2009 Predictions: People will not tolerate blandness anymore. Fewer releases, better music = longer lasting albums. I mean 'Chinese Democracy' already got knocked off the top spot two weeks in!

STUART MATCHETT, DIG DIGITAL RADIO

Album Of The Year: 'Gurrumul' by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Single Of The Year: 'Sex On Fire' by Kings Of Leon
Film Of The Year: No Country For Old Men
DVD Of The Year: Across The Universe

ALLYSON MOORE, DIG DIGITAL RADIO

Album of the Year: 'Into The Wild' - Eddie Vedder
Film of the Year: Burn After Reading
Gig/Event of the Year: Rufus Wainwright - State Theatre
2008 Highlight: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu live in ABC Southbank Foyer for 'Intimate Evening with…' series

STEPHEN WADE, SOUTHBEAT

Album Of The Year: 'Chimneys Afire' - Josh Pyke
Single Of The Year: 'Stay With Me Bright Eyes' - Something With Numbers
Film Of The Year: The Dark Knight
DVD Of The Year: The Love Guru
Gig/Event Of The Year: Sold out Coaster Festival
Your 2008 Highlights: Sold out Something With Numbers at Metro
Your 2009 Predictions: Gin Wigmore to have a massive year. Slow Down Honey to break through in a big way

SAM HOWIE, ZING

Album Of The Year: Kings of Leon - 'Only By The Night'
Single Of The Year: The Presets - 'Talk Like That'
Film Of The Year: The Dark Knight
DVD Of The Year: Earth
Gig/Event Of The Year: Future Music Festival

LOU RIDSDALE, AZTEC MUSIC

Album Of The Year: 'Cellulite Soul' by Witch Hats
Single Of The Year: 'No Apologies' by Dirty York
Gig/Event Of The Year: The Sonics at Barcelona Primavera Festival
Your 2008 Highlights: Travelling Europe for three months
Your 2009 Predictions: Tex Napalm (from Germany)

JOSH FREDERICK, RIALTO

Album Of The Year: Santogold - 'Self Titled'
Single Of The Year: Kylie - 'In My Arms'
Film Of The Year: The Duchess
DVD Of The Year: Lars & The Real Girl
Gig/Event Of The Year: BDO 2008
Your 2008 Highlights: Kylie X 2008
Your 2009 Predictions: Madonna gets more plastic surgery…..

PAUL AZZOPARDI, JAM MUSIC

Album Of The Year: 'involver2' - Sasha
Single Of The Year: Empire Of The Sun - 'Walking On A Dream'
Film Of The Year: Step Brothers
DVD Of The Year: Harvery Birdman box set
Gig/Event Of The Year: Good Vibrations Festival, Ice Cube @ Enmore
Your 2008 Highlights: Going to Ibiza finally
Your 2009 Predictions: Going to be a crazy year!

RHIANNON HAUGHEE, AZURE PR

Album Of The Year: Roots Manuva
Single Of The Year: 'Your Call' - Hermitude
Film Of The Year: Taken
Gig/Event Of The Year: Urthboy - Oxford Arts

KANE MARTIN, 4AK RADIO

Album Of The Year: Jason Mraz - 'We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things'
Single Of The Year: Natasha Bedingfield - 'Love Like This'
Film Of The Year: Black Knight
DVD Of The Year: Underbelly
Gig/Event Of The Year: PINK
Your 2009 Predictions: Rick Astley to make a comeback :)

BILLY, OBESE RECORDS

Album Of The Year: 3-way tie? Bliss n' Eso - 'Flying Colours', Dialectrix - 'Cycles of Survival', The Gaslight Anthem - 'The '59 Sound'
Single Of The Year: Bliss n' Eso - 'Eye of the Storm'
Gig/Event Of The Year: The Gaslight Anthem Australian tour
Your 2008 Highlights: Hanging out at the ARIAs, Homebake weekend, Spit Syndicate/Thundamentals afterparty
Your 2009 Predictions: Hopefully a better year for all, some financial happiness, and some serious business on that Thundamentals debut LP

JUSTIN NYKER, MOTHERSHIP MUSIC

Album Of The Year: 'Incanto' - Andre Bocelli
Single Of The Year: 'Are You Magnetic' - Faker
Film Of The Year: Batman Dark Knight
DVD Of The Year: American Drug War: The Last White Hope
Gig/Event Of The Year: Fat As Butter Festival 2008, Newcastle
Your 2008 Highlights: 1. 4.5kg Salmon I caught off Nth Entrance Beach, NSW. 2. Sacking of John Howard. 3. Sacking of George W. Bush
Your 2009 Predictions: 1.Music - Grafton Primary. 2. Politics - Civil Uprisings. 3. General - Increased UFO sightings.

NEHA POTALIA, ARIA AWARDS

Album Of The Year: Bon Iver, Cut Copy, The Presets, Fleet Foxes.
Single Of The Year: Beni - 'My Love Sees You'
Film Of The Year: 'Richard - The Most Interestingest Person I Ever Met'.
DVD Of The Year: The Wire - Seasons 1 to 5.
Gig/Event Of The Year: Prince at Coachella.
Your 2008 Highlights: The Presets - 'My People' at the ARIAs.
Your 2009 Predictions: Oh who knows but I hope more disco!

LEE EVANS, EMI MUSIC

Album Of The Year: The Kooks - 'Konk'
Single Of The Year: Coldplay - 'Viva La Vida'
DVD Of The Year: Arctic Monkeys - 'At The Apollo'
Gig/Event Of The Year: Crowded House tour
Your 2008 Highlights: Nick Cave winning Best Male Artist at the 2008 ARIA awards & of course the release of the Coldplay album 'Viva La Vida'
Your 2009 Predictions: Empire Of The Sun - album 'Walking On A Dream', Animal Collective - album 'Merriweather Post Pavillion' & Lily Allen - album 'It's Not Me It's You'

DEAN BUCHANAN, DMG RADIO

Album Of The Year: The Presets - 'Apocalypso'
Single Of The Year: Empire of the Sun - 'Walking On A Dream'
Film Of The Year: Deception (Hugh as a bad guy!)
DVD Of The Year: Bourne Ultimatum
Gig/Event Of The Year: Pink. The Police. ARIA Hall of Fame - always a great night.
Your 2008 Highlights: Vega Sydney's continued growth (now consistently outrating Triple M). The 18-24 growth of the Nova Network with a focus on new music first. The All Blacks winning the Bledisloe Cup, Tri-Nations and UK Grand Slam. The Kiwi league team - choice bros!
Your 2009 Predictions: It will a tough year for everyone. Don't let the pessimists win - business is good! Growth of content on Mobiles. The Wallabies will be competitive.

RENEE BARGH, CHANNEL [V]

Album Of The Year: Estelle - 'Shine'
Single Of The Year: Santogold - 'L.E.S Artistes'
DVD Of The Year: The Lost and Dexter box sets
Gig/Event Of The Year: Mark Ronson at Global Gathering
Your 2008 Highlights: Travelling to some of the world's best surf locations, scoring my job at Channel [V] and shooting the new show B430 at Budapest's Sziget Festival, and Obama becoming president.
Your 2009 Predictions: There are some awesome line-ups for festivals next year and amazing big artists heading out to the country producing some quality world class live performances.

JANE GAZZO, CHANNEL [V]

Album Of The Year: Santogold - 'S/T'
Single Of The Year: Pnau - 'Embrace'
Film Of The Year: Not Quite Hollywood
DVD Of The Year: Patti Smith - 'Dream of Life'
Gig/Event Of The Year: Splendour in the Grass 08 and Purple Sneakers 3rd Birthday Party - Abercrombie.
Your 2008 Highlights: Mark Ronson at Global Gathering, Kenny Rogers at the State Theatre, Henry Rollins at the York Theatre, John Foxx at the Metro, Art Brut at The Factory
Your 2009 Predictions: The Jezabels, The Scare, Hunter Dienner, and that Gabriella Cilmi will disappear.

And finally…

DANNY CANAK, SYDNEY UNLEASHED

Album Of The Year: The Presets - 'Apocalypso'. Honourable mention goes to local act The Hampdens for their criminally overlooked 'The Last Party' album.

Single Of The Year: The Presets - 'My People'. Clean but abrasive at the same time - just how I like it. One of the single's of the decade!

Gig Of The Year: Rage Against The Machine @ Big Day Out, Cypress Hill @ Good Vibrations, Mammal @ Musicoz Awards

Film Of The Year: Not quite '08 but 'Superbad' was a great laugh!

DVD Of The Year: GG Allin - 'Hated'. Old doco out for the first time on DVD. One of the most vile commercially available releases you'll ever witness - you have been warned!

Your 2008 highlights: Axl Rose releasing the ridiculously long awaited GNR 'Chinese Democracy' album after 15 long years...then going AWOL when it came time to promote the damn thing! Intriguing! On a personal level, being mistaken for a celebrity at one of the ARIA Award afterparties and getting flashed by no less than two fine young upstanding female citizens!

Your 2009 predictions: Fantômas to challenge the Big Day Out audience and put on one of the most memorable performances of the entire event. Locally, Melbourne's Mammal to become one of the most exciting live acts that Australia has ever seen! That is if they aren't already!

© Danny Canak

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