TIKTOK TO SPOTLIGHT SONGWRITERS
Australian and global songwriters will have TikTok increase their profile on the platform as to what they have achieved and the hits they have written.
This will improve discovery and monetisation opportunities. They will also be provided with tools to expand their audience and tell the story of their songs.
Currently in beta, the features will mean “The new features mean that songwriters’ musical works and their shared content will sit side-by-side in one place on TikTok for the first time.”
Partners
Warner Chappell Music, Kobalt Music, Reservoir Media and Sentric are among TikTok’s partners in the new feature.
Research by the UK’s MIDiA found over 80% of songwriters post on social media for their careers, and 53% of these do so on TikTok.
ARIAs ADD BEST FESTIVAL CATEGORY
This year’s ARIA awards – held at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Wed. Nov. 19 – introduce the Best Music Festival category.
It was developed with the Australian Festival Association (AFA) and the award is sponsored by ticket exchange platform Tixel.
To be eligible, festivals must feature either an Australian headline act or a lineup comprising at least 50% Aussies.
Read up on all the latest columns here.
Self-Nominate
Festival promoters will self-nominate (and have to be members of the AFA), with entries judged by the full ARIA Voting Academy.
Entries close on Monday Aug. 18) with an entry fee of $400 (ex GST.
Discounts are available for not-for-profit festivals.
MILITARY MADNESS #1: KING GIZZARD QUIT SPOTIFY
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, along with Deerhoof and Xiu Xiu, pulled their music from Spotify after its CEO Daniel Ek led an investment of US$703 million in European defence tech firm Helsing.
It makes Al military drone technology and also developed the ‘Centaur’ system that “integrates advanced AI pilots into the cockpits of existing and future fighter aircraft”.
The prolific Aussie band, who have a new demo collection, said, “Can we put pressure on these Dr. Evil tech bros to do better? Join us on another platform.”
MILITARY MADNESS #2: FESTIVALS CONNECTED
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, of the NSW Legislative Council, has demanded the State Government claw back the $1 million it gave two festivals run by Sydney-based promoter Fuzzy.
Faehrmann alleged, “Fuzzy is majority owned by global entertainment giant Superstruct which operates 80 music festivals around the world and was bought out last year by global investment firm KKR.
“KKR has links to Israeli investments in West Bank and Gaza. How can Labor justify this?”
Listen
Faehrmann was referring to Fuzzy festivals Listen Out and Field Day, each of which received $500,000 from Labor’s Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund, which the Greens supported at the time.
Fuzzy runs it own race. There is no suggestion, of course, it has any connection or sympathies with its parent company’s activities.
PYKE, FLANAGAN, JOIN MUSIC AUSTRALIA COUNCIL
Josh Pyke and Leah Flanagan have joined the Music Australia Council, while Danielle Caruana aka Mama Kin and Dr Sophie Payten (aka Gordi) were reappointed by the Government.
Their presence allows strong music industry representation to ensure the organisation’s work in growing and strengthening contemporary music, backed by more than $69 million in federal funding over four years.
TV RATINGS: VOICE, INXS
The return of The Voice and INXS: Live At Wembley brought the viewers in for Seven Network last Sunday (Aug 10).
The Voice was #4 show for the night, with 984,000, just above 2024’s 977,000 return.
INXS: Live at Wembley ranked #7 with 404,000.
Age Group
In the 25—54 age group, The Voice was #5 and INXS at #6.
The 16—39 demo had The Voice at #5 and INXS at #8.
WILDLANDS’ SA EDITION AXED
After three years, the Adelaide edition of the Wildlands festival is scrapped for this year.
Its promoter explained, “The landscape has shifted, and the viability of delivering the event at the standard we hold ourselves to simply isn’t possible this season.”
DON’T PHUNK WITH MY CHART #1: HILLTOP HOODS
The #1 debut of Fall From The Light in the ARIA chart this week gives Hilltop Hoods their seventh ride to the penthouse – and a new chart stat.
ARIA announced: “Hilltop Hoods have now had more #1 albums than any other Australian group.”
Da Hoods are fifth Aussie act – with Ball Park Music, Bliss n Eno, Jimmy Barnes and Calum Hood – to top the ARIA charts in 2025 so far.
DON’T PHUNK WITH MY CHART #2: CHAPPELL ROAN
This week, Chappell Roan became the first artist to land two #1 singles in the UK in 2025.
“Pink Pony Club” did it in March – five years after its release and now with sales of 1.4 million there – and now “The Subway” which the American star first performed live last year.
YOUNGER LISTENERS TURN TO PODCASTS, TUNE OUT AM/FM RADIO
Younger US listeners aged 13 to 34 are deserting AM/FM radio and turning to podcast – which is going to have serious implications.
Billboard reported that in 2014, Edison Research found AM/FM listening having a seven-to-one margin over podcast listening in that age group.
But in the second quarter of 2025, both had a 14% share of time spent listening to audio.
Changed
Billboard said: “So, what changed? The popularity of video podcasts is a major factor.”
More Americans are listening to video podcasts on YouTube than Spotify.
But Spotify has fought back, expanding the number of video podcasts to 430,000.
Worked
It’s worked: more than 350 million viewers, up from 65% a year ago, are using it, and video consumption on Spotify is growing 20 times faster than audio consumption.
What will you see? Newer podcasts will go towards delivering content to younger audiences, and start expecting radio broadcasters to hit financial hot water.
NEW MANAGEMENT FIRM WEIRD FISHES LAUNCHES
Weird Fishes is a new management firm run by Rhett McLaren, Joe Miles and Aidan McLaren.
Its roster has Boy & Bear, Pete Murray, Tim Hart, The Dreggs, Steph Strings and Grammy-winning Mike Waters.
The new company is a significant move for Miles and the McLaren brothers.
Unified
For the past ten years, they had a deal with Unified Music Group to manage their artists and run its UNIFY Gathering as well as Gippsland Country Music Festival.
The trio also are the driving-force behind The Hills Are Alive Group and festivals NYE On The Hill and Ocean Sounds.
Weird Fishes said: We wholeheartedly believe in the unique talent, audience-connection and growth-potential of each of the acts we represent, both locally and internationally, and are excited for what the future holds.”
MADISON AV is hiring!
After recently taking over HARMAN Professional Solutions in Australia, Madison AV is expanding, with job opportunities listed for your perusal! Roles include Sales Management, Sales Representative, Business Development and Marketing roles. A list of positions and links are below:
National Sales Manager, Audio
https://www.seek.com.au/job/85186384?cid=company-profile&ref=company-profile
Tour and Performance Audio Business Development & Sales – Melbourne
https://www.seek.com.au/job/85188106?cid=company-profile&ref=company-profile
Tour and Performance Audio Business Development & Sales – Sydney
https://www.seek.com.au/job/85187988?cid=company-profile&ref=company-profile
Channel Sales Representative – Retail Audio (NSW/ACT)
https://www.seek.com.au/job/85187169?cid=company-profile&ref=company-profile
Channel Sales Representative – Retail Audio (VIC/TAS)
https://www.seek.com.au/job/85187233?cid=company-profile&ref=company-profile
Channel Sales Representative – Retail Audio (QLD/NT)
https://www.seek.com.au/job/85187563?cid=company-profile&ref=company-profile
Channel Sales Representative – Retail Audio (WA/SA)
https://www.seek.com.au/job/85187436?cid=company-profile&ref=company-profile
Marketing Executive – HARMAN Retail
https://www.seek.com.au/job/85188294?cid=company-profile&ref=company-profile
THE ANGELS: TAKE A LONG LANE
The Angels are the latest Adelaide act to be honoured with their own lane and murals by the City of Adelaide.
The Angels Lane is found between TAFE SA’s City West campus and Hindley Street Music Hall in the West End.
On August 4, past and present members, along with Doc Neeson and Chris Bailey reps, gathered for the unveiling.
Glitch
The lane was originally to be off Gawler Place in 2019. But a bureaucratic glitch saw a new place decided on last year.
Among those getting honoured have been Sia, Cold Chisel, No Fixed Address and Paul Kelly.
We at Mixdown reckon that when the time comes for John ‘Swanee’ Swan to get a lane, he opt for a body of water… as in Swan Lake.
Just saying…
NEW SIGNINGS: HELENA @ PERFECT PITCH
Perfect Pitch Publishing’s latest roster addition is Perth band Helena who formed in in early 2021.
They stormed the 2025 WAM Song Of The Year awards, taking the Golden Song with the song “P’s Get Degrees” and a win in the Rock section.
NEW SIGNINGS: STELLA DONNELLY @ DOT DASH
After a break from music, Fremantle/Walyalup singer songwriter Stella Donnelly has shifted to Melbourne/Naarm, and signed with Dot Dash Recordings / Remote Control Records.
Her new singles “Baths” (inspired by doing laps at Brunswick Baths) and “Standing Ovation” are the first new music from her since the Flood album in 2022, and her new chapter described as the “right time for a reset.”
NEW SIGNINGS: DEVON STREET @ TONE CITY
Perth band Devon Street who recorded their May EP Need Me Now at Sam Frost’s Tone City Recording Studio extended its relationship by joining its artist management and label divisions.
A new single “Charis (Dream)”, produced by Frost, is out on August 14.
Last year Tone City Records launched Prickly Pear, an artist development program for emerging acts.
NEW SIGNINGS: SHANNON NOLL @ GREAT AUSTRALIAN RUM CO.
Music artist and Master Blender Shannon Noll is leading the Great Australian Rum Co.’s new premium craft rum range.
The first is the double-distilled King Brown, which recently took Silver at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Awards.
It begins with a smooth base aged two years in American Oak, before finishing across an intricate lineup of casks—ex-Shiraz French Oak, Maple Syrup, Bourbon, and finally Muscat.
Small Batch
“At Great Australian Rum Co., we take a small-batch approach to rum-making,” says Noll.
“Every barrel is hand-selected, every finish meticulously crafted. This isn’t just rum—it’s a reimagining of the category.”
NEW SIGNINGS: AANT @ DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
The Automobile Association of the Northern Territory (AANT) and Darwin Entertainment Centre struck a 10-year partnership that will see the venue renamed the AANT Centre.
The new name rolls out across signage, digital platforms, and communications in the coming weeks.
Support
The AANT will support the venue “expand its role as a cultural hub for the Northern Territory – delivering world-class entertainment, showcasing bold local talent, and creating unforgettable live experiences for Territorians and visitors alike, year-round.”
NEW SIGNINGS: RHYDIAN LEWIS @ DORSEY PRODUCTIONS
UK-born Byron based suave-looking crooner Rhydian Lewis joined the management roster of Scott Dorsey’s Dorsey Productions, Noise 11 reported.
The company, with offices on the Gold Coast and Los Angeles, is about to announce a new project for Lewis, which includes recording in Nashville.
Lewis said: “Scott’s father, Engelbert Humperdinck, has always been one of my musical heroes.”
NEW SIGNINGS: MIDNIGHT TIL MORNING @ CHUGG MUSIC
Chugg Music’s management roster expands with Midnight Til Morning, a pop band (two Aussies, two Americans) formed from Netflix’s global reality series Building the Band.
A new single “Bye” has been released this month.
NEW SIGNINGS: HOODOO GURUS @ ONE LOUDER
After the passing of long time manager Michael McMartin and his replacement Mick Mazzone, the Hoodoo Gurus have joined Ball Park Music, Paul Kelly, Kate Miller-Heidke, Alex The Astronaut and Graace at One Louder.
WINNERS OF DIANA TOROSSIAN SONGWRITER AWARD
APRA announced the two recipients of the inaugural Diana Torossian Emerging Songwriter Award.
First prize went to Ama, a 22 year old Sri-Lankan/Australian indie-pop writer from Western Sydney.
She gets $5,000 cash and a game-changing $20,000 worth of songwriting and mentoring.
Sessions
The five songwriting sessions are with Andrew Lowden (Thrones), David Musumeci and Anthony Egizi (DNA), Evie Irie, Gary Pinto and Michael Fatkin.
The five mentoring sessions are with Lorrae McKenna (Golden Grants), Michael Parisi (management), Paul Harris (Warner Music A&R), Rachel Kelly (Unified Publishing) and Sammie Walsh (Beehive PR).
Ama said, “It’s a moment of real validation that I’m on the right career path, and it gives me the chance to fully invest in myself and pursue this artist journey with everything I’ve got.”
Second Prize
Second prize went to alt-pop/RnB songwriter from Wollongong, NSW, Daisy Pring.
She receives a year’s career development course ‘Songwriter Success Masterplan’ at the Australian Songwriters Conference, valued at $6,500.
Artist Manager
Diana Torossian was an artist manager who passionately found and nurtured new songwriting talent as David Musumeci and Anthony Egizii (DNA), Lindsay Rimes and Sarah Aarons.
She passed away in Sept. 2024.
Musumeci, who set up the award with Andrew Lowden and David Rosenberg to continue her legacy, reveals, “We’ve been overwhelmed with the huge response to this award, which just goes to show how important recognition and support like this are for emerging songwriters.
“We hope that AMA and Daisy continue their incredible trajectory in the music industry and look forward to seeing and hearing what they do next!”
INDUSTRY WORKS TO IMPROVE WELL BEING
Creative Australia has unveiled a new two-year initiative that aims to strengthen the role of the arts in health and community care, helping to improve wellbeing and support stronger, more socially connected communities.
The Creative Health Alliance Australia partners with the Foundation for Social Health and leading researchers from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) Justice Health Group.
Foundations
They will lay the foundations for national creative health infrastructure, delivering new tools, support structures and standards to recognise the vital role of creative practitioners in supporting individual and community wellbeing.
Creative Australia Research Fellow and Manager Research Partnerships, Dr Christen Cornell said, “Our research and sector engagement show that creative health programs are already having powerful impacts in communities across Australia, but often without the recognition and support they deserve.
“This initiative lays the foundations for a more coordinated and sustainable future for creative health – not as charity or enrichment, but as a core component of Australia’s public health future.”
Two Year
The two-year partnership will work to deliver:
- A co-designed national quality framework for creative health.
- A practitioner-facing badge system and toolkit based on the quality framework.
- A searchable database of creative health practitioners.
Peer Mentoring
- Peer mentoring, residencies, and training for creative health workers.
- A three-tier fundraising strategy (government, philanthropy, self-generating).
- Sustainable long-term stewardship and coalition-building across clinical, cultural, and community sectors.
Problem
Melanie Wilde, Chief Executive of the Foundation for Social Health advised, “We’ve spent years diagnosing the problem.
“Now is the time to fund what works – and treat connection as essential infrastructure.”
FROM THE REAL ESTATE PAGES…
While those Silverchair reunion rumours are doing their rounds these past two weeks, Daniel Johns is going ahead with plans to build a new home in Newcastle with beach views.
According to the Newcastle Herald, Johns searched elsewhere to find a “sanctuary” – “from Tasmania’s wild coastlines to the tranquil towns of southern NSW,” said the estate agent.
Demolished
In May he demolished the five-bedroom house in Merewether he lived in for 25 years, which he bought in 2000 for $1.4 million.
He has subdivided the block, selling half of it for $3.2 million after four weeks on the market.
Parkway
Meantime, Parkway Drive drummer Ben Gordon has re-listed his four-bedroom, three-bathroom house in Byron (with basement-level gym and a separate home office) with a price guide of $9 million to $9.9 million.
VALE (THOSE WHOM WE LOST IN THE LAST MONTH)
Bill Leimbach, father of Lime Cordiale’s Oliver and Louis, was an Oscar-nominated film maker who helped manage his sons early in their career and once famously stole Bob Dylan’s boots from the front of the stage at a college concert.
John Blanchfield was ‘60s pop star Jon Blanchfield (“She’s My Baby”, “Son Of A Simple Man”) who in the ‘70s set up Rainbird Records (Lobby Loyde, Cash Bachman, Normie Rowe) and managed Rowe, Mondo Rock, Vince Jones, Goanna, Stockley See Mason etc).
Chris Faiumu (aka DJ Fitchie or DJ Mu) was a founder and beat maker with New Zealand outfit Fat Freddy’s Drop, which broke out of Wellington in 2005 to multi-platinum success.
Jazz
Jazz singer Judy Bailey, who moved to Australia in 1960, was a sought-after pianist and arranger and a founding faculty member of the jazz studies program at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Col Joye was one of the original Australian rockers, fronting Col Joye & The Joy Boys, and acclaimed for his role in discovering the Bee Gees.
Jon Knight was a DJ in Melbourne in the ‘80s opening nightclubs like the Metro and setting up his own agency Artz Entertainment. He suffered from motor neutron disease.
Playboys
Pete Carroll was a member of Normie Rowe’s backing band The Playboys in the ‘60s. His son Dan confirmed he passed away listening to The Shadows’ instrumental hit “Apache”.
Bobby Bright was part of the duo Bobbie & Laurie (“Hitch Hiker”, “Carroll County Accident”) who was acclaimed for a voice that was “perfect” for contemporary pop and country.
John Brownrigg was a member of The Sect, who formed in Qld and moved to Melbourne where they released a number of singles on Columbia Records before breaking up in 1970.
Loved One
Ian Clyne was co–founder of The Loved Ones best known for The Loved One”, and also performed with Chain, Ram Jam and Levi Smith.
Miles Yorke was an executive at EMI Records, first in London and then in Sydney, where he served as label manager for Alberts Records when it was flying high with AC/DC, Angels, JPY and Rose Tattoo among others.
Justin Frew was best known for being a member of numerous local bands, particularly in the 1990s. He formed ntenna with The Scientists’ Kim Salmon, Dave Faulkner, and Southend bandmate Stuart McCarthy.
Egypt
Egyptian-born singer Johnny Florence arrived in Adelaide in 1956 who became a TV variety and live performer.
Margaret Hargreaves, a pioneer of the Sydney pub scene and long time operator of Shakespeare Hotel in Surry Hills, was also a passionate supporter of live music.
