2005 Music Industry Highlights
Sydney Unleashed tracked down a number of music industry figures to get their highlights for the year 2005.
KIRRI LIEPENS, ROCK SOLID: Ben and Missy hassling the Hoff @ The ARIA’s; the Pete Wells benefit at the Enmore in September; Wave Aid; the suicide of Paul Hester (you didn’t say they had to be happy highlights – anyway, his death created a national conversation about depression).
ROSE MARIE LIM, IDENTITY PR: Mariah Carey’s comeback hits (one after the other); release of Sarah McLeod’s debut solo album ‘Beauty Was a Tiger’; Ms Dynamite’s comeback hit ‘Judgement Day’ & Destiny’s Child split up.
CHRISTINE KAKAIRE, EX-CREATIVE VIBES: The rise of Datarock and seeing Little Barrie live in Sydney.
JOHN ZUCCO, THE RIGHT PROFILE: The downturn on TV ratings for Australian Idol.
NATASCHA HINZ, SBA MUSIC: The Hoff taking off; Ben Lee winning 3 ARIA’s; going quad biking on the sand dunes at Nelson Bay – wicked fun! Lil Kim going to jail and still trying to sell records! Being right up front on the race track at the Melbourne Cup when Makybe Diva won!
RICHARD KINGSMILL, TRIPLE J: Hearing Antony sing at the Leonard Cohen tribute night back in January.
JON SATTERLEY, ROADRUNNER RECORDS: Watching my son get born (and subsequently caring for him), seeing Slipknot destroy the place at The Big Day Out, and being allowed to worship Nightwish three times during their Aussie tour in March.
CAROLINE RIVETT, SHOCK RECORDS: It was a true privilege to see The Mess Hall on fire at this old warehouse in Annandale. The energy was electric. Two guys that managed to absolutely do my head in with such rich textured sound! Amazing! Sitting in radio recording booths experiencing Martha Wainwright play Live To Air – so much emotion and heart brought tears to my eyes. Driving The Black Keys around complete with camera man filming interview for their DVD from the front seat of my car and watching them play at Triple J and do a ‘Rage guest presents’ – such talented and hilarious guys! Sage Francis at The Basement & Ozomatli at The Metro – never seen those venues so packed or alive! Watching all our brilliant home grown talent like Dan Kelly, Sophie Koh, Bodyjar, The Casanovas – makes me proud!
ALEX DALRYMPLE, NOVA 96.9FM: European Summer Festival season; Television @ Azkena Rock Festival in Spain, Stooges Fun House gig in London; Dinosaur Jr – You Are Living All Over Me gig in London; falling in love in Barcelona; and finally getting to Paris.
ADAM YEE, LEVEL ONE AGENCY: Sarah Blasko covering ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’ by Jet in a jazz style at the APRA awards – simply stunning. The Mess Hall’s rise and rise.
AMELIA ZAINA, AUSTEREO: Going to Cuba for 3 weeks and then flying out of Cancun on the last flight – 27 minutes before they closed the airport because of Hurricane Wilma; Little Britain series 2; going to Cat Empire’s J-Sessions recording at Prince of Wales in St Kilda; moving into Austereo’s amazing new building at World Square – cutting edge, brand spanking new and with our awesome rooftop, we’re on top of the world; and meeting Clive James.
LEANNE DE SOUZA, BUZZ: Shihad at Big Day Out in Auckland (Jan 05), Valley Jazz Festival – Brisbane (April 05), Big Sound Music Conference – Brisbane (July 05), Ruby Hunter & Archie Roach with Australian Art Orchestra “Ruby’s Story” at The Powerhouse Brisbane.
MONIQUE LISA, PR/MANAGER, etc: Intercooler at the Viper Room Hollywood; hearing Switchkicker for the first time; having the pleasure of working with That 1 Guy and witnessing his live show.
TARA THOMAS, ARIA: All of the Transmission parties – Simon sure knows how to put on a rave!
JOHN HOWARTH, CEO, RIOT: The Fozzy tour; watching the Classic Anthrax line up live; Australia making the World Cup finals (in soccer).
JONATHAN WILLIAMSON, RUBBER RECORDS: The comeback of the word ‘Wolf’, soccer’s sooo hot right now.
GARRY PEADON, GREENROOM CANBERRA: To cut a long story short. 5pm: A punk band from Sydney were driving down for a gig. About 20 minutes out of Sydney, their car broke down. A passer by (who lives in Sydney), with his rather sexy daughter in the car, stopped, loaded all the gear into the car and the five band members (it just so happened that this guy had a dual cab ute), drove them down to our door step. 9.30pm: This guy stayed around for the gig. 1am: loaded all the gear back into the car and drove all the members of the band back to their homes in Sydney. All for no charge, and no fuss. Now I bet you don’t get that kind of H.E.L.P. from your NRMA.
ROB APPEL, CHAOS ENTERTAINMENT: itunes Australia launch.
STUART STUART, CHARTSONG: The Veronicas signing a massive US deal; the download industry taking some major steps toward becoming legit.
GARY SEEGER, FESTIVAL MUSIC PUBLISHING: Homebake; The Panics top 40 debut; Gerling new demos and Chelsea FC success!
HANNAH LE COIC, PUBLICIST: Kicking off the year with The Black Keys at Falls Festival; WaveAid; jumping on the road with the Indent/Music NSW crew on their Barham to Bathurst workshop tour; playing the tambourine with the incredible Gabriel’s Day at the Shoreshocked Festival. I’m also positive Homebake and Festival of the Sun in Port Mac will make the highlights list!
SHANNON KEAYS, TWO FISH OUT OF WATER: The Presets. The Presets. The Presets.
NARRELL BROWN, JAYBEES ENTERTAINMENT: New young acts at Narooma Blues Festival and the influx of great fresh artists in Australian music such as Missy Higgins, Ben Lee, The Veronicas, Thirsty Merc, The Dawn Collective, The Fumes etc.
ALICIA MOREAU, FREELANCE PUBLICIST: Infusion @ Prince of Wales; John Legend @ Prince of Wales & Mercury Lounge; The Shins @ The Corner; Ben Folds @ The Forum; Finn Brothers @ Hamer Hall; The Cat Empire @ The Forum.
JESS McAVOY: For me, playing 8 shows in New York City.
JUSTIN DORSET, SLANTED/LIBERATION: Interpol live at The Forum; Airbourne…everywhere; Doves live at The Forum; Polyphonic Spree at The Place; Nada Surf in Vancouver.
CAROLINE TULLY, EX GM, CHUGG ENTERTAINMENT: Wave Aid; Gomez; Bright Eyes.
KARL MOELLER, WARNER MUSIC: James Blunt showcase in Melbourne.
RACHEL MAVROS, ABC/WARNER: Green Day tour.
OTHER RESPONSES:
NUI TE KOHA, HERALD SUN: Less Delta, more Missy; Apple Music Store opens.
DAVID SAYER, PREMIER ARTIST: The Exploders coming out of Lake Bolac and taking them all on.
PAUL PAOLIELLO, RAJON: Top 20 chart for Tina Cousins, Hanson sold out tour, hanging out with Melanie C, surviving as an independent music company in a volatile business environment.
SAM CAVANAGH, AUSTEREO: Getting an iPod; summer; seeing Plantlife live; seeing John Legend live.
NIK TROPIANO, MD, CHATTERBOX RECORDS: Going to America this year to set up an office and sending Daysend to tour – great achievement for myself. Further releasing the most incredible album – not biased, this is a fact.
GEORGE PALATHINGAL, SMH: I guess you’re talking music, so I’ll leave out the birth of my daughter. The mighty Swans winning the Grand Final and the fabulous rebirth of the ‘Batman’ franchise. The Strokes at the Gaelic Club – truly the most exciting band of the 21st century. The Beastie Boys doing ‘Intergalactic’ on the Hordern sound desk. Seeing the Black Keys rock and Tim Rogers melt down at the Falls Festival in Tassie (technically last year, but only just). The Hives at the Metro – howlin’ Pelle Almqvist is a god. The usually average/mediocre Ben Lee and Stereophonics surprising with fine albums.
LIZ EVE, CREATIVE VIBES: Fat Freddy’s Drop @ the Gaelic Club, Socceroos beating Uruguay, The Calamari at Thai Terrific in Bondi, Alice Russell and Qauntic Soul Orchestra at the Metro, Boogie Down @ Candy’s Apartment.
SCOT CRAWFORD, EX-FMR: FMR finally being sold.
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