Episode 7: August 25

Hey y'all,

The theme of this week's show is reality television, and our playlist consisted solely of artists who launched their careers through reality television programs.

We've started a new poll asking whether or not you think Australian Idol has run past its used by date. The show is now in its seventh season, with television ratings and winner's record sales declining with each passing year. Do you still enjoy the show, or is it a tired format? Make sure to cast your vote!

A whole heap of podcasts are now up including episode 4 with Dan Vo and epidode 5 with Steve Toms! You can find the download links to the right of your screen, or stream them here.

Without the beat I'm nothing
Without a song in my heart

- Petro xox



1. True Bliss – Freedom
Dream, 1999
2. Ricki-Lee – Can't Sing A Different Song
Brand New Day, 2007
3. Bardot – Don't Call Me, I'll Call You
Play It Like That, 2001
4. Girls Aloud – Sound Of The Underground
Sound Of The Underground, 2003
5. Damian Leith – All I Want Is You
Where We Land, 2007
6. Jessica Mauboy – Up/Down
Been Waiting, 2008
7. Jordin Sparks – SOS (Let The Music Play)
Battlefield, 2009
8. Will Young – Leave Right Now
Friday's Child, 2003
9. Guy Sebastian - Closer To The Sun
Closer To The Sun, 2006
10. No Angels – Daylight In Your Eyes
Elle'ments, 2001
11. Kelly Clarkson - Yeah
My December, 2007
12. Rob Mills – Overrated
Up All Night, 2004
11. Carrie Underwood - Wasted
Some Hearts, 2005
12. Shannon Noll - Angels Bought Me Here
That's What I'm Talking About (limited edition), 2004
13. Leona Lewis - Run
Spirit: The Deluxe Edition, 2008




Over the past decade, reality television has had a huge impact on the music industry. This got us thinking...Is reality television the way to go for those wishing to launch a music career? To what degree have contestants from shows such Popstarts, Idol and X Factor been able to sustain long and credible music careers? Here's a quick history...

It all began in New Zealand in 1999 when the first ever Popstars series formed short-lived girl group True Bliss. Australia was next-up with Bardot, and the rest of the world followed as the format was sold to over 50 countries. The 2002 UK version produced the most successful act to come from the entire Popstars franchise, Girls Aloud, who managed to achieve 15 consecutive Top 10 hits and five studio albums.

The Idol franchise began in the UK in 2002 with gay singer Will Young taking the crown. It came to Australian shores in 2003 and six seasons later, original winner Guy Sebastian and original runner-up Shannon Noll remain the highest selling contestants and continue to create music. Other winners such as Casey Donovan, Kate Kate DeAraugo and Natalie Gauci have disappeared into oblivion. Original US winner Kelly Clarkson, without a doubt, remains the most successful Idol contestant with record sales past 20 million.

The UK's X Factor, whose biggest export Leona Lewis has become a worldwide phenomenon, attracts 10 million viewers and is a sure-fire win for the traditional Christmas #1. It is about to commence its sixth series, and is now a prime spot for other artists to perform when promoting a song.

Britain's Got Talent bought Susan Boyle to overnight international stardom, and the Australian version has produced young opera singer, 2009 winner Mark Vincent, whose debut album peaked at number two on the Australian Album Charts in the past couple of months.



Singles
Bag Raiders – Shooting Stars
Kelly Clarkson – Already Gone
The Fray – Never Say Never
Gossip – Heavy Cross
The Script – Before The Worst
Shakira – She Wolf
J-Wess – Anything For You

Albums
Arctic Monkeys – Humbug
Andy Bull – We’re Too Young
Andy Bull – We’re Too Young (Limited Edition)
Andy Cowan – When The Night Comes In
John Farnham – Essential 3.0
Jet – Shaka Rock
Kid Confucius – Let Go (Tour Edition)
Kisschasy – Seizures (CD/DVD)
Jessica Mauboy – Been Waiting (Deluxe Edition)
The Next – Light Of Day EP
Sean Paul – Imperial Blaze
Tex Perkins – The Best Of
Matt Walters – Echo On EP
Wiley – Race Against Time

Compilations
OST – Hannah Montana 3
OST – Wizards Of Waverly Place
Various – Dad Rocks!
Various – Songs For Dad



> Vanessa Amorosi has confirmed on Twitter that her forth studio album will be released later this year. The first single “This Is Who I Am” is due in stores October 16th. The track was co-written by Vanessa and Sweden’s Macho Psycho, who has also produced the track. Macho co-wrote and co-produced Pink’s hits ‘Stupid Girls’ and ‘Bad Influence’. Vanessa filmed the music video for the single last week in Los Angeles.

> Natalie Imbruglia’s comeback single "Want" goes to Australian radio this week, and she will be in the country to promote its release, making a visit to Rove this Sunday night. Her forth studio album Come To Life will be released on October 9.

> Leona Lewis has revealed the title of her second album – Echo. The record is due in stores worldwide November 17.

> Kate Ceberano is releasing a Christmas album in November. The album will feature a duet with Ronan Keating.

> Kate Miller-Heidke is set to release her first live album on September 18, recorded earlier this year at Melbourne’s HiFi Bar. The set will include popular live favourite “Are You Fucking Kidding Me (The Facebook Song)”.

> Music DVDs out in the coming weeks: The Veronicas’ release the “Revenge Is Sweeter” tour on September 1, Delta Goodrem releases “The Believe Again Tour” on September 18 and Tina Turner releases “Tina Live” on September 25, a live recording of her recent 'Tina Turner's 50th Anniversary' concert tour.



Wed 26th August
BRISBANE – Pink (Entertainment Centre)
HOBART – Snob Scrilla (Republic Bar)
MELBOURNE – Kate Ceberano (The Palms At Crown)
ROCKHAMPTON – Eskimo Joe (Pilbeam Theatre)
SYDNEY – Newton Faulkner (Oxford Art Factory)
WARRNAMBOOL – Dukes Of Windsor (The Loft)

Thurs 27th August
ADELAIDE – Lost Valentinos (Jive Bar)
BALLARAT – Augie March (Karova Lounge)
BRISBANE – Shannon Noll (Kedron Wavell Services Club)
FERNTREE GULLY – Dukes Of Windsor (Ferntree Gully Hotel)
LAUNCESTON – Snob Scrilla (Hotel New York)
MACKAY – Eskimo Joe (Mackay Entertainment Centre)
MELBOURNE – ARIA Hall Of Fame
MELBOURNE – Kate Ceberano (The Palms At Crown)
SYDNEY – Ophelia Of The Spirits (Vanguard)
SYDNEY – Gin Wigmore (Notes Live)

Fri 28th August
BALLARAT – Snob Scrilla (Karova Lounge)
CAIRNS – Eskimo Joe (Brothers Leagues Club)
GYMPIE – Shannon Noll (Gympie Muster)
MELBOURNE – Dukes Of Windsor (Corner Hotel)
MELBOURNE – Melody Gardot (National Theatre)
MELBOURNE – Angie Hart (Northcote Social Club)
PERTH – Lost Valentinos (Amplifier Bar)
SYDNEY – Pink (Acer Arena)

Sat 29th August
ADELAIDE – Snob Scrilla (Edinburgh Castle Hotel)
FRANKSTON – Dukes Of Windsor (Pelly Bar)
FREMANTLE – Lost Valentinos (Norfolk Hotel)
GOLD COAST – Shannon Noll (Twin Towns Services Club)
MELBOURNE – Augie March (Forum Theatre)
PERTH – Grafton Primary (Capitol Theatre)
SYDNEY – Ja Rule (Luna Park Big Top)
SYDNEY – Pink (Acer Arena)
TOWNSVILLE – Eskimo Joe (Townsville Entertainment Centre)

Sun 30th August
BRISBANE – Shannon Noll (Victoria Point Sharks Club)



Go on sale Friday 28th August
Jarvis Cocker (Melbourne)
Marilyn Manson (Sydney)




We put UK singer-songwriter Will Young, under the Queer Spotlight. He rose to fame in 2002 after winning the inaugural Pop Idol contest, making him the world's first winner of the now-worldwide Idol franchise.

He has since gone on to sustain a very successful career with four Top 2, multi-platinum albums, four number one singles and an impressive set of Top 5 hits. In November, he releases his first Best Of collection The Hits, closing this chapter of his music career, before moving into a dance direction. Will publicly came out as gay not long following winning the Pop Idol competition.



> iTunes reps 1 in every 4 songs sold in U.S.
iTunes-purchased songs now account for 25 percent of the overall music market -both physical and digital- in the U.S., says an NPD Group report released Tuesday. However, CDs are still the most popular format for music lovers, winning a 65 percent slice of the market for the first half of 2009.

> Politicians Demand Scrutiny of Live Nation-Ticketmaster Merger
Lawmakers have come out in force against the Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger claiming that Live Nation Ticketmaster “would enjoy a virtual stranglehold over the live entertainment industry.”

Episode 6: August 18

This week marked the return of Johno after three weeks holidaying in Europe. It's so great to have him back! A gigantic thank you to Chris Jameson, Dan Vo and Steve Toms for co-presenting the show with me during his absence. I had a ball sharing the mic with these three passionate presenters and enjoyed the unique touch each of them bought to their respective shows.

A big hello to our new listener from Ireland with whom we communicated back and forth throughout the evening. I still get overwhelmed at the thought of people hearing us from all corners of the globe! What a thrill :)

Bohemian boys and Brazillian girls
A familiar noise in unfamiliar worlds
It's like a million beats in a Parisian heart
We're made of glass
From the boy in the West to the girl in the East
They've been working a sweat in the name of the beast
Where oblivion stops and oblivion starts
We're made of glass

- Petro xox



1. Whitney Houston – Million Dollar Bill
I Look To You, 2009
2. Alcazar – Stay The Night
Disco Defenders, 2009
3. Will Young – Who Am I
Keep On, 2005
4. La Roux – Tigerlily
La Roux, 2009
5. Lisa Mitchell – Coin Laundry
Wonder, 2009
6. Britney Spears – Radar (Bloodshy & Avant Remix)
Blackout, 2007
7. Missy Higgins – 100 Round The Bend
On A Clear Night, 2007
8. Annie – Songs Remind Me Of You
Don't Stop, 2009
9. Kate Ryan - Voyage Voyage
Free, 2008
10. Neneh Cherry – Man Child
Raw Like Sushi, 1989
11. Silverchair - Low
Young Modern, 2007
12. Röyksopp ft. Karin Dreijer Andersson – This Must Be It
Junior, 2009
11. The Saturdays - Up
Chasing Lights, 2008
12. Madonna - Celebration
Celebration, 2009




This week we went through Nick Southall's list "Top 10 Things I Hate About CDs". We could totally relate to some of his frustrations such as tight outer cardboard sleeves that make the CD case virtually impossible to get out, price stickers that leave yucky marks, and so forth, although we disagreed with the free DVD point...who doesn't love a little bonus?

Here's the countdown:
10. Outer sleeves
9. Stickers
8. Bad / unimaginative graphic design
7. CD tray pins
6. Inconsistent spine writing
5. Nipples
4. Free DVDs
3. Huge booklets
2. Hidden tracks
1. Digipaks



Singles
Daughtry – No Surprise

Albums
All American Rejects – When The World Comes Down (Tour Edition)
autoKratz – Animal
Cobra Starship – Hot Mess
Cassie Davis – Differently
Paul Dempsey – Everything Is True
Paul Dempsey – Everything Is True (Limited Edition)
Calvin Harris – Ready For The Weekend
Demi Lovato – Here We Go Again
Rolling Stones – Jump Back : Best Of Rolling Stones
Seal – Soul Live
Short Stack – Stack Is The New Black
Short Stack – Stack Is The New Black (Collector’s Edition)

Compilations
Various - Onelove Presents : Toolroom Nights
Various – Unclubbed



Wed 19th August
ALBURY – Dukes Of Windsor (Roi Bar)
BYRON BAY – Snob Scrilla (Great Northern Hotel)
FRANKSTON – Grafton Primary (Pelly Bar)

Thurs 20th August
GERALDTON – Shannon Noll (Queens Park Theatre)
GOLD COAST – Snob Scrilla (Coolangatta Hotel)
GRIFFITH – Dukes Of Windsor (Area Hotel)
MARGARET RIVER – Augie March (Settlers Tavern)
SYDNEY – All American Rejects (Live At The Chapel)
SYDNEY – The Audreys (The Basement)
WOLLONGONG – Lost Valentinos (The Harp)

Fri 21st August
ADELAIDE – The Audreys (Governor Hindmarsh)
BALLARAT – Dukes Of Windsor (Karova Lounge)
CANBERRA – Lost Valentinos (Club Academy)
FREMANTLE – Augie March (Fly By Night)
MELBOURNE – Grafton Primary (Corner Hotel)
PERTH – Shannon Noll (Burswood Theatre)
SYDNEY – Kate Ceberano (State Theatre)
SYDNEY – Tokenview (The Vanguard)
TOOWOOMBA – Snob Scrilla (Bon Amici Café)

Sat 22nd August
BRISBANE – Eskimo Joe (Riverstage)
BRISBANE – Snob Scrilla (Globe Theatre)
BUNBURY – Shannon Noll (Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre)
FREMANTLE – Augie March (Fly By Night)
HOBART – Dukes Of Windsor (Republic Bar)
HOBART – Grafton Primary (University Of Tasmania)
MELBOURNE – The Audreys (Northcote Social Club)
WOLLONGONG – Pink (WIN Entertainment Centre)

Sun 23rd August
LAUNCESTON – Dukes Of Windsor (Hotel New York)
MANDURAH – Shannon Noll (Mandurah Performing Arts Centre)
WOLLONGONG – Pink (WIN Entertainment Centre)



Went on sale Monday 17th August
Newton Faulkner (Melbourne, Sydney)
Flo Rida (Perth)
Homebake 09
Pearl Jam (Nationally)

Go on sale Thursday 20th August
Stereosonic (Nationally)

Go on sale Friday 21st August
La Roux (Sydney, Melbourne)



> Frontier Touring has announced two very intimate shows for British outfit La Roux, in Sydney and Melbourne. Frontier has suggested that tickets for the gigs will be extremely sought after, with the band scheduled to play 'strictly one show only' in each city. Tickets for both dates go on sale on Friday August 21.

September 29 : Sydney (The Gaelic)
October 01 : Melbourne (Prince Bandroom)

>West Australian outfit Tame Impala are hitting the road with series of live dates in virtually every state throughout September and October. It's the band's second tour of the country this year and will kick off in Caringbah in Sydney's south, on September 16. Tickets for all dates are on sale now. They play Melbourne at the Corner Hotel on October 23rd.

September 16 : Caringbah (Bizzo's)
September 17 : Wollongong (Waves Nightclub)
September 18 : Canberra (ANU)
September 19 : Albury (Indie Music Festival)
September 24 : Mona Vale (Mona Vale Hotel)
September 25 : Sydney (Manning Bar)
September 26 : Newcastle (Cambridge Hotel)
September 27 : Coffs Harbour (Coffs Harbour Hotel)
September 30 : Byron Bay (Great Northern Hotel)
October 01 : Gold Coast (Coolangatta Hotel)
October 02 : Brisbane (HiFi Bar)
October 04 : Maroochydore (Sands Tavern)
October 08 : Geraldton (Breakers)
October 09 : Fremantle (Fremantle Arts Centre)
October 10 : Bunbury (Prince Of Wales Hotel)
October 15 : Hobart (Republic Bar)
October 16 : Launceston (Hotel New York)
October 17 : Adelaide (Adelaide Uni Bar)
October 18 : Mildura (Sandbar)
October 21 : Ballarat (Karova Lounge)
October 22 : Geelong (Eureka)
October 23 : Melbourne (Corner Hotel)

> The first Australian Idol runner-up Shannon Noll won't finish his current tour of the country 'til early in October, but he's already announced another tour onto the end of this, with Aussie rockers The Screaming Jets.
The 'Dirty Rockin' Scoundrels' tour will see 'Shanny and the Jets' take in ten dates throughout New South Wales, the ACT and suburban Melbourne, kicking off in Penrith in Sydney's west on October 07. Tickets are on sale now.

October 07 : Penrith (RSL)
October 08 : Campbelltown (RSL)
October 09 : Newcastle (Panthers)
October 10 : Wollongong (Waves Nightclub)
October 11 : Canberra (Vikings Erindale)
October 14 : Hallam (Hallam Hotel)
October 15 : Ferntree Gully (Ferntree Gully Hotel)
October 16 : Sunshine (Westend Nightclub)
October 17 : Chelsea Heights (Chelsea Heights Hotel)
October 18 : Doncaster (Hotel Shoppingtown)

> Speaking of Idols, 2006 winner Damien Leith is about to release his second studio album of original material titled Remember June. To celebrate the album's release on Friday October 16, Damien will play two very exclusive and intimate shows; one at The Premier Room at Sydney's State Theatre on October 16 and one at Melbourne's Thornbury Theatre on October 17.

> Fleetwood Mac will tour Australia and New Zealand in December after the European tour.

December 01 : Brisbane (Entertainment Centre)
December 02 : Brisbane (Entertainment Centre)
December 05 : Hunter Valley (Hope Estate Winery)
December 07 : Sydney (Acer Arena)
December 08 : Sydney (Acer Arena)
December 11 : Perth (Members Equity)
December 12 : Perth (Members Equity)
December 15 : Melbourne (Rod Laver Arena)
December 16 : Melbourne (Rod Laver Arena)
December 19 : New Zealand

> The last month has been a complete career turnaround for Brisbane singer Kate Miller-Heidke with her first ever Top 5 hit “Last Day On Earth” and last year’s Curiouser album making it’s way back up the charts. She has announced on her Twitter that she plans to tour the country in November, her second Aussie tour for the year. No official dates have been released. Kate is currently doing shows oversees.




We put Melbourne girl Missy Higgins, Australia's highest selling female bisexual, under the Queer Spotlight. Missy is best known for her blend of acoustic folky-pop in the form of hits "Scar", "The Special Two" and "Steer", from the 9x platinum The Sound Of White (2004) and the 3x platinum On A Clear Night (2007). In 2001, she won Triple J's "Unearthed" competition, and has gone on to win six ARIA Awards.

"I’ve been in relationships with both men and women so I guess I fall most easily under the category 'bisexual'...Please rest assured that I am not, never have been, and never will be ashamed of my sexuality but also please respect the fact that when I do an interview I want it to be about my music and not about my love life!"

> Full stream ahead for music at $10 a month
In October, bandit.fm will introduce an "all you can eat" music service that allows subscribers to stream as much music as they like for $9.99 a month. The four major record labels have all jumped on board.

> US defends federal copyright infringement law
The US Justice Department on Friday defended a federal law that resulted in a 1.92m verdict against a woman for swapping 24 songs over the Kazaa internet service.

Industry News

Idol's debut ratings nothing to sing about

Ratings for Sunday night's debut episode of the new family-friendly Australian Idol, shedded up to 20 per cent of last year's audience.

With ratings for the reality series continuing to slide - down more than 100,000 viewers nationally - the move to an earlier 6.30pm timeslot has failed to stem the tide against the program. The Daily Telegraph reports that despite acting swiftly to distance itself from shock jock Kyle Sandilands, the decision to dump the controversial judge appears to have fractured audiences further. Whether a protest vote against Sandilands' sacking or a snub of the radio star, who appears in this year's first three pre-recorded episodes, ratings across all demographics took a tumble.

Now in its seventh season, Channel 10's Idol finished third in the timeslot nationally, with an average of 1.29 million viewers, to Nine's returning Domestic Blitz (1.34m) and Seven's Dancing With The Stars (1.301m).

It was viewers aged in the overlapping categories of 25-54 and over 40 who voted with their remotes, losing 10.5 per cent and 20 per cent of viewers respectively on last year's audience figures. Sydney turned off the program in particular, with audience numbers down 12.7 per cent to 402,386 people.

It was the first ratings test of audience sentiment following Sandilands part in a live lie detector test of a 14-year-old girl on his 2DayFM breakfast show. The humiliating segment spiraled out of control when the teenager said under duress that she had been raped two years ago.
Link to article.

ACMA launches investigation into Vile and Tacky O controversy

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has announced it would launch an investigation, reviewing the practices that lead to the public humiliation of a 14 year-old alleged rape victim on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on 2DAYFM.

Public outrage has followed the stunt in which a 14-year girl was strapped to a lie detector and asked questions about her sex life. Two weeks later, Austereo is yet to release its findings or terminate the broadcasters who let the girl go live to air without delay while knowing she was 14-years old. The girl’s mother, who took part in the segment to win Pink concert tickets, has also been slammed for forcing her daughter onto the show and asking of her sexual experiences despite having prior knowledge of the alleged rape.

Despite recent claims by the girl's extended family that she was not raped in an interview with A Current Affair, the innocence of the girl will not be what the ACMA investigation is about. ACMA will be looking at the policies that were in place that allowed this to go to air in the first place.

It does not change the fact Kyle and Jackie O agreed and encouraged the under age girl to go on the program without her consent, hooked up to a lie detector, and allowed the questioning to go to air without using a 7-second delay. Kyle asking "Right … is that the only experience you’ve had?" straight after the girl claimed to being raped two years ago, in particular, has been subject to heavy criticism.
Link to article.

Episode 5: 11.08.09 Playlist

1. Alesha Dixon – Let's Get Excited
The Alesha Show, 2008
2. Guy Sebastian – Like It Like That
Like It Like That, 2009
3. Kylie Minogue – Dancing Queen (Live)
Intimate & Live, 1998
4. Beyoncé – Diva
I Am...Sasha Fierce, 2009
5. Spice Girls – Who Do You Think You Are
Spice, 1996
6. Gin Wigmore – Oh My
Holly Smoke, 2009
7. Gossip – Men In Love
Men In Love, 2009
8. Michael Jackson – Butterflies
Invincible, 2001
9. Alicia Bridges - I Love The Nightlife
Alicia Bridges, 1978
10. Pixie Lott – Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)
Turn It Up, 2009
11. Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun
She's So Unusual, 1983
12. Sam Sparro – American Boy
Live Lounge, 2008
11. Kylie Minogue - Spinning Around (Live)
KylieX2008: Live In London (DVD), 2008

Issue under the microscope: Youth music industry workshops

Sarah from FReeZACentral and The Push joined us on the show to promote a series of free music industry workshops taking place throughout August in metropolitan and regional Victoria. The accredited workshops explore how to establish your career in the music industry and are run by experienced trainers and established industry professionals.

Workshop presenters will cover song-writing, performance, sound engineering, recording, technical production, event and tour management, music business, band management, media, communications, marketing and publicity.

If you are between 15-25 years of age and keen to take part, register online or call 03 9380 1277 for a registration form.

The August dates are:
Tuesday 11th
COPAC, Civic Hall, Colac (cnr Rae & Gellibrand St) 5.45-8.30pm
Wednesday 12th
Radio Workshop w/ SYN, Storey Hall, RMIT, Melb (342 Swanston St) 5.45-8.30pm
Wednesday 19th
Civic Centre, Wodonga (Hovell St) 5.45-8.30pm
Saturday 22nd
Northcote Town Hall, Northcote (High St) 2-4.45pm
Wednesday 26th
Nexus Youth Centre, Horsham (14 Pynsent St) 5.45-8.30pm
Thursday 27th
ICU, Castlemaine Basement (1 Halford St) 5.45-8.30pm

For more information: freezacentral.vic.gov.au

Releases & Touring

Main source: auspOp




Singles
Bertie Blackman – Thump
Cassie Davis – Do It Again
Paloma Faith – Stone Cold Sober
Freemasons Feat. Sophie Ellis Bextor – Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)
Pixie Lott – Mama Do
Pink – Funhouse
Pitbull – I Know You Want Me
Guy Sebastian – Like It Like That

Albums
Anjulie – Anjulie
Dada Life – Just Do The Dada
Dandy Warhols – The Dandy Warhols Are Sound
Little Einsteins – Little Einsteins Musical Missions
Matisyahu - Light
Chrisette Michele – Epiphany
Katy Perry – One Of The Boys (Tour Edition)
Katy Perry – One Of The Boys (Tour EP)
Nick Skitz – Come Into My World

Compilations
OST - Balibo
OST - Bandslam
Various – Girlforce
Various – Leave Them All Behind III
Various – Mashed 5




Wed 12th August
BRISBANE – Katy Perry (The Tivoli)
COFFS HARBOUR – Dukes Of Windsor (Hoey Moey)

Thurs 13th August
ADELAIDE – Eskimo Joe (Thebarton Theatre)
BALLARAT – Jimmy Barnes (Regent Multiplex)
BALLARAT – Lost Valentinos (Karova Lounge)
MELBOURNE – Pink (Rod Laver Arena)
NEWCASTLE – Dukes Of Windsor (Cambridge Hotel)

Fri 14th August
ADELAIDE – Shannon Noll (Governor Hindmarsh)
CANBERRA – Grafton Primary (The Academy)
CANBERRA – Tokenview (ANU Bar)
CASTLEMAINE – Augie March (Theatre Royal)
MELBOURNE – Lost Valentinos (Roxanne Parlour)
MELBOURNE – Katy Perry (The Forum)
MELBOURNE – Pink (Rod Laver Arena)
MELBOURNE – Snob Scrilla (East Brunswick Club)
SYDNEY – Dukes Of Windsor (Annandale Hotel)
SYDNEY – White Album Concert (State Theatre)

Sat 15th August
ADELAIDE – Jimmy Barnes (Thebarton Theatre)
ADELAIDE – Shannon Noll (Governor Hindmarsh)
CANBERRA – Kate Ceberano (Southern Cross Club)
FREMANTLE – Eskimo Joe (Fremantle Arts Centre)
GEELONG – Lost Valentinos (Club 4Play)
GEELONG – Snob Scrilla (Barwon Club)
MEENIYAN – Augie March (Meeniyan Town Hall)
MELBOURNE – Tokenview (Revolver Upstairs)
WOLLONGONG – Dukes Of Windsor (Waves Nightclub)

Sun 9th August
CANBERRA – Dukes Of Windsor (ANU Bar)
CANBERRA – Pink (AIS Arena)
MOUNT GAMBIER – Jimmy Barnes (Barn Palais)




Went on sale Monday 10th August
Jimmy Barnes (Brisbane)
Josh Pyke (Sydney)
Rob Thomas (Swan Valley)

Go on sale Thursday 13th August
Grinspoon (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane)

Go on sale Friday 14th August
Jarvis Cocker (Nationally)
Nickelback (Sydney, Melbourne)
Cliff Richard & The Shadows (Nationally)




> The Motown 50th anniversary celebration will head to Australia in February 2010 with The Temptations, Four Tops, Martha and the Vandelas, The Miracles and Mary Wilson from The Supremes. Special guest for the show will be Joan Osbourne while Australia’s Jimmy Barnes and Ian Moss will both also appear on the bill.

February 16, Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena
February 19, Sydney, Entertainment Centre
February 23, Brisbane, Entertainment Centre

> Moby and Yeah Yeah Yeahs are two highlights for this year's Falls Festival. The 2009 Falls Festival will take place in Lorne, Victoria and Marion Bay, Tasmania over the New Years long weekend. Other acts announced include Hilltop Hoods, The Temper Trap, Xavier Rudd, Emilana Torrini, Little Birdy, Midnight Juggernauts, Sarah Blasko and so many more. Tickets will be allocated by ballot from the Falls Festival website.

> The line-up for the 2009 season of dance festival Stereosonic has been announced. The line up features some of the biggest names in the dance arena, with Axwell, Chicane and Deadmau5 topping the bill. Also joining for the 2009 tour, which kicks off it's five date jaunt around the country in Sydney on November 28, is Fedde Le Grand, Miss Kittin and Zombie Nation. Representing the local scene includes Andy Murphy and Onelove DJs Acid Jacks and Grant Smillie. Tickets for all events will go on sale on Thursday August 20.

November 28 : Sydney (Moore Park, Hordern Pavillion, RHI & Surrounds)
November 29 : Perth (Claremont Showgrounds)
December 05 : Adelaide (Bonython Park)
December 05 : Melbourne (Royal Melbourne Showgrounds)
December 06 : Brisbane (Eagle Farm Racecourse)

> The annual Good Vibrations Festival kicks off in Sydney in February 2010. No acts have been confirmed just yet, but pre-sale tickets for next year's event are set to go on sale this Friday morning.

February 13 : Sydney (Centennial Park)
February 14 : Perth (Claremont Showground)
February 20 : Gold Coast (Parklands Showgrounds)
February 21 : Melbourne (The Nursery, Flemington Racecourse)

Issue under the microscope: LAST.FM

On last weeks show, I discussed the purpose and functions of one of my favourite websites LAST.FM.

LAST.FM is an online community for music lovers, founded in 2002. It claims over 30 million active users in more than 200 countries. The website includes the standard features of a social networking website such as friend requests, wall posting and a private messaging system. However, its primary purpose is to set up a music library detailing each members listening habits, by storing information about all the music they consume on their computer, ipod and other mp3 devices.


After signing up an account to LAST.FM, users must download and install a plugin, known as the "Audioscrobbler", which connects their music player (i.e. iTunes, Windows Media Player etc) to the website. LAST.FM will then automatically submit the artist and song title to your profile page, as you are listening to it, as seen in the picture above.

LAST.FM keeps a track record of the number of songs you've listened to since becoming a member. Since becoming a user in April 2006, I have listened to a total of 84,710 tracks! LAST.FM continually ranks the music you listen to in order of the number of times you have listened to particular songs and/or artists. You can see which songs/artists you've listened to the most in the past 7 days, the last 3 months, the last 6 months, the last 12 months and overall.


Above shows my top 10 overall listened to artists, and their play counts. No surprises with who pops up really!


Above in Table 1 is my top 10 listened to artists of the past 3 months (notice the different time periods you can select at the top, and the "see more" option at the bottom which can extend the table to show all artists). Table 2 shows my top 10 listened to tracks for the past 7 days.

Every artist/song has its own page where you can view the number of times they have been listened to by all LAST.FM users. These pages also have a "wall" where you can leave comments about the artist/song. Artist pages rank the artist's songs in order of their popularity amongst users. Taken from Michael Jackson's page:


As you can see, the most listened Michael Jackson song by LAST.FM users for the past week is "Billie Jean" with 22,751 spins.

On a social networking level, LAST.FM is great for recommending "friends" who share similar musical tastes with you. These are known as "Neighbours", and it's a great way of making online friends who share a passion for the same kind of music that you do. When you browse another user's page, it will list the common artists you share with that user, and provide a musical compatibility rating of low, very low, medium, high, very high and SUPER! This is one of my favourite features. Here is my compatibility rating with The Fool and the Opera presenter Dan Vo and Diff'rent Strokes presenter David Lim...no suprises here either!


LAST.FM also recommends you artists and videos that are in sync with your musical tastes - a great way of discovering artists you may not have otherwise noticed. There is also LAST.FM radio which allows you to stream your friend's playlists! You can also write journals, create groups, and event pages for upcoming concerts, festivals etc.

As you can see, LAST.FM is a fantastic service for people who are passionate about the music they listen to, and want to keep a record of their listening habits. Register an account today and start scrobbling your tracks! If you are a member, or are becoming one, make sure to join the Sound Museum group so we can see what our listeners are listening to. Happy listening!

Industry News

Student ordered to pay for illegal downloading

Joel Tenenbaum, a student who admitted illegally sharing 30 songs online, has been ordered to pay a fine of $675,000 (£400,000). A jury decided that the 25-year-old should pay $22,500 (£13,370) per song to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), to be distributed between the record labels whose copyright had been infringed.

Tenenbaum's reaction was mixed, as he had been anticipating a fine of up to $4.5m. He said the result of the trial "sends a message of 'We considered your side with some legitimacy ... $4.5m would have been, 'We don't buy it at all'."
There was suggestion from Tenenbaum's lawyer, Charles Nesson, that the verdict would be appealed. The RIAA released the following statement: "We appreciate that Mr Tenenbaum finally acknowledged that artists and music companies deserve to be paid for their work. From the beginning, that's what this case has been all about. We only wish he had done so sooner rather than lie about his illegal behaviour."

Tenebaum was first approached by the RIAA in 2003, when the music industry body wrote to him asking for $5,250 in compensation for seven songs he had illegally shared on the P2P site Kazaa. He was among roughly 30-40,000 people fined, but only one of a handful to contest the fine. Shortly before the trial, the RIAA increased the number of songs he was being sued for from seven to 30.

Earlier this year, Jammie Thomas Rasset was found guilty of illegally sharing 24 songs via Kazaa. She was ordered to pay a total of $1.92m, or $80,000 per song. Tenenbaum, only the second person to be found guilty of illegal filesharing in the US, had reportedly said he would file for bankruptcy if the verdict stands.
Link to article.

Mariah's 'Memoirs' CD to include mini-magazine with ads

As music sales continue to drop like they're not so hot throughout the industry, Island Def Jam Music Group is jamming on a new business model: integrating brands into artists' CD booklets.

The first deal, created for the Mariah Carey release Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel on Sept. 15, is a 34-page co-production with Elle magazine that includes lifestyle ads from Elizabeth Arden, Angel Champagne, Carmen Steffens, Le Métier de Beauté and the Bahamas Board of Tourism. Providing the experiment goes well, the label is eyeing bigger brand deals for booklets of CDs by Rihanna, Bon Jovi, Kanye West and other artists.

The mini magazine contains Mariah-centric editorial ("VIP Access to Her Sexy Love Life," "Amazing Closet," "Recording Rituals") and lifestyle advertising along with lyrics and other CD booklet elements. Elle contributed the editorial and designed the layout.

The booklets were created for the first run of U.S. CDs (1 million) and the first 500,000 overseas, said Jeff Straughn, svp-strategic marketing for Island Def Jam Music Group. It will also be available in a digital format for those who buy music online.
Link to article.

Artist News

Natalie comes to life

Natalie Imbruglia has finally revealed the release dates of her fourth studio album Come To Life. It will be released on Island Records on October 5 in the UK and Oct 12th in Europe. It will be preceded by the single "Want" on September 28.

The 10 track album is produced by Ben Hillier (Blur, Elbow, Depeche Mode), and features three writing collaborations with Coldplay including the first single "Want", which Natalie co-wrote with Chris Martin. One of the tracks is produced by Brian Eno (U2's main collaborator).

It has been a long four years since the release of her last studio album Counting Down The Days, which debuted at #1 in the UK. In 2007, Natalie released a singles collection before cutting ties with Sony. Come To Life is said to "chart an entirely new path for this vastly under-rated artist. This remarkable record combines dark, driving beats and gorgeously wistful ballads into a totally cohesive whole."

We can't wait! Meanwhile, a music video for the album track "Wild About It" has been released to create buzz for the album. This is not the single. Watch it here.

Kasey Chambers “Doing it for the kids!”

Australian country princess Kasey Chambers and her father Bill Chambers will release an album of children’s songs under the name Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill and the Little Hillbillies.
Kasey’s husband Shane Nicholson and her brother Nash Chambers will play on the album. Nash and the Chambers family have produced the album. The album will also feature the songwriting debut of Kasey’s 7-year old son Talon who has written the song "Two Houses" for the album.

To coincide with the album, Kasey has also written a children’s book called Little Kasey and the Lost Music. The book will feature a bonus CD of the track "The Lost Music Blues" as well as an audio reading of the book by Kasey. “Writing this book has been a dream of mine since my first son was born 7 years ago. The idea of the story and characters started back then and have grown a little each passing year,” Kasey said in a statement. Both the book and CD will be released on October 30 through Liberation.

Eminem lashes out against Mariah

Eminem has attacked Mariah Carey with an extremely ugly rap called "The Warning". The lyrics graphically details his alleged sexual encounters with Mariah as well as an attack on her husband Nick, calling him a faggot (we're not impressed).


The public feud between the two stars began when Eminem released the track "Bagpipes to Baghdad" on his latest album Relapse. Mariah's latest single "Obsessed" is widely speculated to be about the rapper, although she denies this. It's hard to believe the song has nothing to do with Eminem when you watch the music video in which Mariah is dressed as Eminem stalking her! (see photo above).

Eminem claims to have had an affair with Mariah in 2001, although Mariah denies this ever happened. which she denies.

Pink breaks Rod Laver record

Pink has left her mark on Rod Laver Arena permanently. A pillar backstage has been painted pink to commemorate her record-breaking run of shows and she has even autographed it.

On Sunday, Pink performed her 13th show at Rod Laver Arena for the Funhouse tour, breaking John Farnham's previous record of most shows at the venue on one tour. Petro was at that very show and had an absolute blast!

Releases & Touring

Main source: auspOp




Singles
Ciara – Work
JLS – Beat Again
Ricki-Lee – Don’t Miss You

Albums
Diafrix – Concrete Jungle
Chris Isaak - Soundstage
Michael Jackson – The Stripped Mixes
Kings Of Leon – Notion EP
Lisa Mitchell – Wonder
Modest Mouse – No One’s First And You’re Next EP

Compilations
OST – Handy Manny
Various – Onelove Presents : Toolroom Knights

Music DVDs
Boyz II Men – Motown : A Journey Through Hitsville




Wed 5th August
ADELAIDE – Pink (Entertainment Centre)
BRISBANE – White Album Concert (QPAC)
PERTH – The Game (Metro City)
SYDNEY – Phoenix (Enmore Theatre)
WOLLONGONG – Downsyde (Harp Hotel)

Thurs 6th August
ADELAIDE – The Game (HQ Club)
BRISBANE – Lost Valentinos (Somabar)
BRISBANE – White Album Concert (QPAC)
CANBERRA – Downsyde (Transit Bar)
LAURIETON – Something With Numbers (Laurieton Hotel)
MELBOURNE – Eskimo Joe (The Palace)
MELBOURNE – Faker (Prince Bandroom)
SOUTHPORT – Dukes Of Windsor (Delplaza)

Fri 7th August
BATEAU BAY – Something With Numbers (Entrance Leagues Club)
BULLI – Tokenview (Heritage Hotel)
FERNTREE GULLY – Downsyde (Ferntree Gully Hotel)
GOLD COAST – Lost Valentinos (Neverland Bar)
HARBORD – Shannon Noll (Harbord Diggers Club)
MAROOCHYDORE – Dukes Of Windsor (Sands Tavern)
MELBOURNE – Eskimo Joe (The Palace)
MELBOURNE – The Game (Festival Hall)
PERTH – Pink (Burswood Dome)
SYDNEY – Jimmy Barnes (Enmore Theatre)
SYDNEY – Faker (The Metro)
SYDNEY – White Album Concert (Opera House)

Sat 8th August
ADELAIDE – Kate Ceberano (Her Majesty’s Theatre)
BATEAU BAY – Something With Numbers (Entrance Leagues Club)
BRISBANE – Dukes Of Windsor (The Zoo)
BRISBANE – Eskimo Joe (EKKA)
MEENIYAN – Naked In The Woods
MELBOURNE – Downsyde (Esplanade Hotel)
NEWCASTLE – Tokenview (The View Factory)
PENRITH – Shannon Noll (Penrith Panthers)
PERTH – Pink (Burswood Dome)
SYDNEY – Jimmy Barnes (Enmore Theatre)
SYDNEY – The Game (Luna Park)
SYDNEY – White Album Concert (Opera House)
TOWNSVILLE – Faker (The Club)
WOOMBYE – Lost Valentinos (The Woombye)

Sun 9th August
BYRON BAY – Dukes Of Windsor (Great Northern Hotel)
BRISBANE – Eddie Kowalczyk (The Tivoli)
MOUNT BULLER – Downsyde (Kooroora Hotel)
SYDNEY – White Album Concert (Opera House)




Go on sale Friday 7th August
Rob Thomas (Nationally)





Iconic rockers Pearl Jam will visit Australia and New Zealand in November for their first tour down under in three years. Their new single 'The Fixer' was the most added track to local radio last week. Support for the seven dates will come from Ben Harper and Relentless 7 along with local singer songwriter Liam Finn. Chugg Entertainment has announced that the dates announced will be 'one show only' in each city. Tickets for all dates are on sale on Monday August 17. Pearl Jam's new album Backspacer is due into stores on September 18.

Australia
November 14 : Perth (Members Equity Stadium)
November 17 : Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
November 20 : Melbourne (Etihad Stadium)
November 22 : Sydney (Sydney Football Stadium)
November 25 : Brisbane (QSAC Stadium)
New Zealand
November 27 : Auckland (Mt Smart)
November 29 : Christchurch (AMI Stadium)

Nickelback have added two more dated to their November tour, after initial shows in Melbourne and Sydney sold out.
The new dates:
November 14 : Sydney (Acer Arena) on sale AUG 14
November 17 : Melbourne (Rod Laver Arena) on sale AUG 17

British indie rockers Gomez are back in October for their seventh visit to our shores.

The band will perform tracks from their latest album A New Tide, which was released earlier in the year. Tickets for all dates are on sale Monday August 03.

October 22 : Sydney (Metro Theatre)
October 24 : Canberra (ANU Bar)
October 25 : Brisbane (HiFi Bar)
October 28 : Melbourne (HiFi Bar)
October 30 : Adelaide (Governor Hindmarsh)
October 31 : Fremantle (Fly By Night)
November 01 : Fremantle (Fly By Night)

Pop veteran Cliff Richard is teaming up with his former band The Shadows, and will tour at the start of next year. Cliff and the Shadows were responsible for a string of incredible hit singles throughout the 1950s and 1960s including "The Young Ones", "Livin Doll", "Summer Holiday" and "Bachelor Boy" and will tour Australia as a group in February for the first time in 49 years. Tickets for all shows will go on sale on Friday August 14.

February 06 : Perth (Burswood Dome)
February 10 : Adelaide (Entertainment Centre)
February 13 : Melbourne (Rod Laver Arena)
February 16 : Gold Coast (Convention Centre)
February 18 : Brisbane (Entertainment Centre)
February 20 : Hunter Valley (Hope Estate Winery)
February 21 : Sydney (Entertainment Centre)

Sydney group Kid Confucius have announced a national tour across Australia's east coast, making stops in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra. To celebrate the live dates, kicking off on September 13, the band is also releasing a tour edition of their 2008 album The Let Go. The new edition, in-stores on August 21, will include exclusive remixes, along with videos and the previously unavailable track "Daydreaming". Tickets for the live dates are on sale now.

September 13 : Bondi (Beach Road Hotel)
September 19 : Brisbane (Troubadour)
September 24 : Canberra (Transit Bar)
September 26 : Sydney (Oxford Arts Factory)
October 08 : Melbourne (Toff In Town)

Episode 4: 04.08.09 Playlist

1. Madonna – Celebration
Celebration, 2009
2. Sophie Monk – Pie Jesu / Come My Way
Calendar Girl, 2003
3. U2 (Passengers) ft. Luciano Pavarotti – Miss Sarajevo
Original Soundtracks 1, 1995
4. Pink – Glitter In The Air
Funhouse, 2008
5. Alanis Morissette – Straightjacket
Flavors Of Entanglement, 2008
6. Ten Tenors – Bad Influence (Live)
JOY 94.9 Studio Recording, 2009
7. Malena Ernman – Un Bel Di
La Voix Du Nord, 2009
8. Natalie Imbruglia – Identify
Stigmata OST, 1999
9. David Daniels – Ombra Mai Fu
100 Best Baroque, 2006
10. Jessica Mauboy – That Girl
Because (single), 2009
11. Kate Miller-Heidke - Space They Cannot Touch
Little Eve, 2007