DJ ALBO FUNDS 105 VENUES, FESTIVALS
The Federal Government is providing funding to 105 music venues and festivals as part of its Revive Live initiative. The money will ensure venues and festivals stay afloat, with those in regional and remote areas also given consideration.
The funding covers a wide range of expenses, including artist fees (provided they are Australian and original), marketing, accessibility upgrades, acoustics, staging costs, lighting and sound hire, and professional development.
For Fremantle’s 550-capacity Freo.Social, the $150,000 lifeline means total soundproofing is now possible. The venue faced closure in February after a boutique hotel complained about noise levels, leading to restrictions on which days it could operate.
The 46 venues include Melbourne’s Cherry Bar ($88,091), Bakehouse Studio ($88,566) and Max Watts ($70,100), Canberra’s Fiction Club ($90,000), Sydney’s Crowbar ($99,559), City Recital Hall ($94,250) and Oxford Art Factory ($50,741), Brisbane’s Tivoli ($91,785), Adelaide’s Crown & Anchor ($91,000) and Jive ($100,000), Hobart’s Republic Bar ($31,000), and Perth’s Mojos ($60,531) and The Rosemount ($40,000).
The 59 festivals include Subsonic Music ($49,535), Yours & Owls ($190,719), CMC Rocks ($69,300), Savannah in the Round ($200,000), National Folk Festival ($120,000), Summer Dance ($99,000), River Sound ($93,000), Desert Harmony ($100,000), Kiama Jazz and Blues ($40,000), Blak Day Out ($68,000), Gympie Muster ($69,000), Woodford Folk ($114,595), WOMADelaide ($100,000), Party In The Paddock ($168,121) and Melbourne Dethfest ($25,750).
For the full list of recipients, head to https://www.arts.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/revive-live-grant-recipients-2024-25.pdf.
Minister for the Arts Tony Burke said, “Music lovers should be able to enjoy local gigs, artists should be able to make a career out of their music and Revive Live is doing just that.”
SPEED, BARKAA, NINAJIRACHI WIN NSW MUSIC PRIZE
Sydney hardcore band Speed this week took out the inaugural NSW Music Prize, winning $80,000. The ceremony was held on Monday at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.
The prize was set up by the NSW Government to boost careers and delivered via Sound NSW.
“We started out with pretty humble intentions of just being a band that existed for the scene that we operate in,” guitarist Joshua Clayton told the Sydney Morning Herald. “To be recognised for something like this is a really awesome thing… something that we appreciate a lot.”
Other winners, receiving $40,000 each and building on their wins at the ARIAs last week, were BARKAA in the First Nations category and Ninajirachi for Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
The judging panel consisted of music strategist Emily Copeland, marketing and publicity exec Grant Donges, Kobalt Music Publishing chief Simon Moor, journalist and broadcaster Sosefina Fuamoli, and Travis de Vries of Awesome Black Studio.
Judges for the First Nations category were G.Y.R.O. host Ash McGregor, Jaja Dare of Apple Music/DECOLONISE, and singer-songwriter and APRA AMCOS director Leah Flanagan.
ABC BRINGING BACK TAKE 5, PIANO
Among some rather interesting new shows scheduled for ABC-TV in 2026, several music and entertainment programs are also returning.
Zan Rowe’s Take Five is back for its fifth season, expanded from six episodes to eight.
Rowe, thanking fans for their support, went on to note, “Take 5 began—and continues—as a long-running podcast. So while you wait for the next season, dive into the Take 5 pod for literally hundreds of life-affirming conversations.”
Guy Sebastian joins classical pianist Andrea Lam and host Amanda Keller for the second season of The Piano.
Also on the slate of interest to Mixdown readers: Classic 100 Concert, Rage, Creative Types and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
SALES KICK FOR “NEVER TEAR US APART”
When you look at INXS’ 2.61 billion+ streams on Spotify alone (4 billion including all platforms), 1987’s “Never Tear Us Apart” plays second fiddle to “Need You Tonight”, with a total of 505.2 million streams compared to 586.7 million as new generations discover them.
But Spotify’s November 2025 data shows that has reversed. Daily streams for “Never Tear Us Apart” reached 296,063 while the other song sat at 230,395. At the same time, the track climbed to #11 from #14 in the ARIAs.
This no doubt has to do with “Never Tear Us Apart” soundtracking the trailer for next year’s Toy Story 5. Reaction to the Pixar franchise trailer has broken the internet this month, with 142 million views in the first day, along with 47 million on Instagram and 37 million on TikTok.
This coincided with Michael Hutchence’s death anniversary on 22 November 1997.
In mid-winter, “Never Tear Us Apart” also topped triple j’s Hottest 100 of Australian Songs, a poll voted for by 2.65 million listeners.
SECRETLY DISTRIBUTION SETS UP IN OZ
Northern hemisphere indie powerhouse Secretly Distribution has set up an Asia Pacific division in Sydney under Max Thomas.
The APAC team will handle priority releases across Secretly’s roster, including Australian labels Chapter Music and Spinning Top, and New Zealand labels Lil’ Chief and Flying Nun.
The office will also manage relationships with regional distribution partners, including Leaplay in Korea, Rocket in Australia, Rhythm Method and Southbound in NZ, and Ultra-Vybe in Japan.
Thomas spent four years handling marketing and strategy for Secretly Group in the region, running album campaigns in Australia, NZ and Asia for Mitski, Bon Iver, Bright Eyes, Japanese Breakfast and Sharon Van Etten.
Marketing and campaign managers will be hired in Southeast Asia.
Founded in 1997 by independent label owners, Secretly has offices in New York City, London, Los Angeles and Chicago, and offers development, marketing, technology and investment support.
JAXSTA CLOSING
Ambitious Australian tech start-up Jaxsta will be unplugged for good on 17 December, according to a post from its current owner Vinyl Group. CEO Josh Simons said the business model was not sustainable, and they had for the last year tried to make it so “by reducing infrastructure costs, refining the platform, and doing everything we could to lower the costs with key data partners to allow the service to keep running.”
The technology will be preserved “to explore commercial opportunities to restart this work in the future if conditions allow.”
Set up in 2015 by Jacqui Louez Schoorl and Louis Schoorl, Jaxsta quickly became a global name because no one else had tried it, or at least not at that scale.
It was the world’s largest database of official music credits, amassing more than 340 million listings of performers, artists, engineers, producers and songwriters. It sourced the data from 355 companies, including labels, publishers and distributors.
EMINEM SINKS OR SWIMS
Slim Shady creator Eminem has initiated a trademark court dispute against Sydney-based company Swim Shady, which launched in December 2024 selling beach umbrellas, swimwear and other products.
Eminem filed a complaint in a US court, claiming he would suffer “damage and injury” if they kept the name, as his fans would confuse the two.
Swim Shady was set up by former South Sydney Rabbitohs CEO Jeremy Scott and his partner Elizabeth Afrakoff. Having survived the rough and tumble of rugby, Scott brought in two top IP lawyers, Shauna Ross and Andre Meyer.
They immediately took the fight to the rapper. According to a statement: “Swim Shady has applied to remove two of Eminem’s trademarks (Shady and Shady Limited) on the basis that they have not been used in the course of trade for a particular period of time for the specified goods. Evidence in that proceeding has been filed by both parties. Swim Shady has requested an oral hearing. Swim Shady takes its brand protection seriously and will defend its position.”
WANNA PLAY BASSINTHEGRASS 2026?
Darwin’s 10-hour bash on 16 May, BASSINTHEGRASS, is looking for two Northern Territory acts to open the show. They will be assessed on recording quality, artistic development and live performance experience.
They will be paid for their slot. Details at bassinthegrass.com.au. Entries close on 10 April, with winners announced on 24 April.
About 11,000 head to Mindil Beach to see Peking Duk, The Teskey Brothers, G Flip, Ball Park Music, Mallrat and Teen Jesus and The Jean Teasers, among others. It won’t be just NT audiences either—25% of the crowd comes from outside the territory.
TWO NEW FEATURES FOR SPOTIFY PREMIUM
Spotify is introducing two new features for Premium users. “SongDNA” highlights collaborators, samples and covers. “About The Song” will be swipeable cards offering in-depth info about what inspired a song and anecdotes about the writing and recording.
From now on, Spotify’s song credits will expand from just listing performers, songwriters and producers to include background vocalists, musicians and engineers—”all of the contributors who make each song possible.”
TEG TO USE AI TO MAKE FAN EXPERIENCE GREATER
Sydney-based global live promoter, ticketing and data company Ticketek Entertainment Group (TEG) is using artificial intelligence (AI) to provide customers with a greater fan experience.
A new partnership with Google Cloud will “create smarter, more connected fan experiences, transforming how millions of fans discover, experience and share live events.”
The first innovation launched by the partnership is Stella, Ticketek’s AI-powered fan assistant, which simplifies event discovery and ticket purchasing through conversational AI and enhanced search technology.
TEG explained, “Stella intuitively understands natural language, from artist names and venues to moods and genres, delivering relevant results and recommendations in real time.”
According to TEG, AI will be used for:
Hyper-personalised fan journeys: tailored recommendations and predictive insights that help fans discover events they’ll love.
Operational intelligence: smarter crowd management, accessibility tools and multilingual support for more inclusive, frictionless experiences.
Strategic growth: real-time analytics and performance dashboards “that empower promoters, venues and partners to make faster, smarter decisions.”
CROCODYLUS JOIN ORIGIN ROSTER
Sydney-based garage-punk quartet Crocodylus has signed a global recording and publishing deal with Sydney indie ORiGiN Music Group and released new single “Limbo”.
Emerging in 2015 from a high school friendship between Josh Williams and Stephen Sacco and building a fervent following, the band describe “Limbo” as “beautiful punk” which, after a period of uncertainty, puts them right among “contemporaries including Amyl and The Sniffers and Squid.”
ARIAS SPARK SALES
Standout appearances by You Am I and Amyl And The Sniffers at last week’s ARIA Awards translated into the ARIA Top 20 Australian Albums Charts.
You Am I’s The Dollop & The Wallop: The Best Of charged in at #3 while The Sniffers’ former #1 album Cartoon Darkness re-entered at #12. Interestingly, Ninajirachi’s Love My Computer stayed put at #18.
It’s a pity that with so many emerging talents showcased on the telecast to a wider mainstream audience, their names were not captioned.
The TV ratings showed the event is starting to crawl back from its lacklustre ratings of some years ago. This year it reached 953,000, ranking #8 for all non-news and current affairs programs on the night, #4 with both the 25–40 and 16–39 age groups. The Red Carpet segment was #15 among non-news and current affairs.
There were no extra viewing figures from the awards’ partner Spotify or social media volume. But Spotify said its app had 260,000 votes by users for the awards. The alliance between ARIA and Spotify aroused resentment in some music circles, given its royalty rates.
The streaming service sponsored a number of categories, including the new Spotify Global Impact List, which went to Dom Dolla, who amassed over 1.5 billion Spotify streams globally, including over 450 million this year. Dolla flew into Sydney on the day from Las Vegas and caught a return flight at 8.30am the next morning for a club show that night.
In the run-up to the ARIAs, there were extraordinary scenes by fans on the streets and in venues at shows by Oasis, AC/DC, Metallica, Lenny Kravitz and Amyl And The Sniffers.
But inside the Hordern Pavilion during the awards, time and time again musicians conveyed the importance of music in their lives.
“Fuck I love rock and roll!” exploded Tim Rogers in an emotional moment when You Am I were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
BARKAA, on a high about being the first female First Nations act to win the Hip Hop/Rap category, highlighted “grindin’ and hustlin’ harder than others just to prove that you’re worth it.” She later posted, “Hip hop raised me, and hip-hop saved me, and this is BIGGER THAN ME!”
In a graceful moment, Missy Higgins recalled how the chart-topping Second Act album was about the change of expectations after becoming a single mother a few years ago.
“Being a 42-year-old woman singing about divorce isn’t the sexiest thing in this industry. But the response has been incredible—it’s made me realise women my age don’t give a fuck about sexy. They just want to feel heard and seen.”
Best rib-tickler lines came from Amy Taylor, including not having to work in a supermarket again because the band was successful. “As the new Prime Minister of Australia, I would like to say, all immigrants welcome. I’d like to say, land back. The dole’s going up, and every pub gets a million dollars. Thank you.”
Meanwhile, the REAL Prime Minister was among those shovelling on the tributes for You Am I, along with Soundgarden’s Matt Cameron, Jimmy Barnes, Tex Perkins, Bernard Fanning, Nic Cester, Sarah McLeod and Sarah Blasko.
Albanese said, “Guys, whether you’re in the studio or on the stage, particularly at the Enmore, you’ve been coming to us for decades with truth, with wit and vulnerability. And along the way, you’ve added to who we are.”
It was fitting that Daniel Johns did the induction. “There would be no Silverchair without Berlin Chair,” he said. He refused earlier offers by ARIA to have Silverchair inducted until You Am I got honoured first.
MUSHROOM MUSIC CUT DEAL WITH PEERMUSIC
Mushroom Music has signed a sub-publishing deal with peermusic, who now represent the Mushroom Music Publishing catalogue across the United States, Canada and Latin America (excluding Brazil).
“We both share a deep independent spirit and a passion for supporting songwriters with integrity, care and creativity,” said Linda Bosidis, co-CEO of Mushroom Music.
“Mushroom Music has always been fiercely committed to protecting and elevating our songwriters, so we’re thrilled to partner with a like-minded, family-owned company that understands the value of hands-on relationships and the importance of investing in songwriters and their music.”
Mary Megan Peer, CEO of peermusic, added, “Linda and her team have built an incredible independent roster, and we’re thrilled to be representing the talented writers and artists of Mushroom Music in the Americas.
“This deal allows us to work with partners we greatly respect by leveraging our local creative, sync and administrative teams for the benefit of Mushroom Music’s roster. We plan to increase opportunities and earnings for their music creators.”
Mushroom Music’s catalogue features works by Kylie Minogue, Tobias, Amy Shark, Budjerah, Emily Wurramara, Bliss n Eso, Mia Wray, Hunters & Collectors, The Angels, Gordi, Middle Kids, Dan Sultan, Skyhooks, Yothu Yindi and Archie Roach.
WORK EXPERIENCE AT MICHAEL CASSEL GROUP?
Theatrical and live entertainment promoter Michael Cassel Group has released its work experience and placement program for 2026. Work experience is for students currently enrolled in tertiary, vocational education courses or schools. Professional placement is for recent graduates and those in their early career, or for those transitioning their career within the industry.
Applications can be submitted to michaelcassel.com/workexperience.
NEW ‘BULLETIN BOARD’ FEATURE FOR TIKTOK CREATORS
TikTok has globally launched a new “bulletin board” type channel, which allows creators with at least 50,000 followers to make it “quick and easy for creators to post news and updates, share exclusive content with their followers and build thriving communities.”
During beta testing, the channel was used by artists like the Jonas Brothers, publishers like People Magazine and sports teams like Paris Saint-Germain.
It follows TikTok’s other features this year to help its creators. TikTok For Artists provides data to show how their music is performing on the platform, and Songwriter Features helps others identify what songs they’ve written.
“100% NEW AUSSIE MUSIC” LAMP RADIO CALLS OUT TO RETAILERS
Victorian-based online radio station LAMP, which plays only 100% new Australian music, is calling out to registered music retailers to include the station and spread the word, rather than just playing hits or international music. LAMP, aka Local Australian Music Platform, was set up by music fan Brett ‘Freo’ Freeman, who hosts Mad Mile Music Club on Dandenong Ranges-based community radio station 3MDR. Full details at https://www.localaustralianmusicplatform.org.au/
NORTHERN TERRITORY WINNERS
Lisa Pellegrino took out two wins at the 2025 NT Performing Arts Awards, for Performer of the Year and People’s Choice. Pellegrino is also a radio presenter, actress and drag king.
Held at the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre (GYRACC) in Katherine and covering all art forms, contemporary music winners were rapper Yung Milla (Young Achiever), musician and producer James Mangohig (Behind the Scenes – Creative), and sound engineer and musician Matthew Cunliffe (Behind the Scenes – Production).
VALE (THOSE WE LOST IN THE LAST MONTH)
Ian Lees: Masterful, sought-after Sydney bassist who co-founded Moving Pictures and went on to play with Chasin’ The Train, Melinda Schneider, Kevin Borich, Mal Eastick, Gina Jeffreys and Lee Kernaghan, among many others. He died last weekend of a heart attack two weeks before he was due to go on tour with Schneider. Moving Pictures’ Alex Smith posted, “Forever and ever my friend, and just quietly the world’s greatest bass player,” while Schneider (“one of the most beautiful humans on the planet”) set up a crowdfunder for his family as Lees’ wife was recently diagnosed with cancer.
Robert Taylor: A Waipukurau, New Zealand-born member of Dragon, joining them in 1974 and accompanying them to Sydney, where they became one of Australia’s biggest bands. Bassist Todd Hunter suggested the opening of “April Sun In Cuba” as a great example of his work. This writer would also suggest “Bob’s Budgie Boogie”, which he wrote and sang on.
Guy Ghouse AM: A WA musician who won a West Australian Music award for the state’s best guitarist and was best known for his work with Noongar singer Gina Williams. Born in Perth to Malaysian parents, he was an educator who championed First Nations languages through music. He died at 56 after a two-year battle with cancer, some months after being awarded an Order of Australia.
Danny Mayers: Fronted surf-rock band The Delltones from 1982 to 2011, infusing the act with humour and “an extraordinary voice”, according to the band. He died at 77 after a battle with a rare kidney disease.
Tony Sommers: Played lead guitar in Johnny Young’s Kompany, which featured on The Go!! Show, and played with several bands including the Masters Apprentices between 1967 and 1968 before Doug Ford joined.
Irene Thornton: AC/DC singer Bon Scott’s Adelaide-based wife from 1972 to 1977, going on to date Ian Moss and Bob Starkey. She was the only AC/DC wife to receive any public attention, writing a book about him, Have A Drink On Me.
Sam Lovell: A WA musician and stockman. Born in 1933 at Calwynyadah Station in the state’s north, he was part of the Stolen Generation, taken from his family at the age of four. He was profiled in the award-winning 2023 documentary The Tale of Mr Kimberley by Marlanie Haerewa.
Kym Sims: A high-profile DJ in Adelaide’s LGBTIQ+ clubs, including Mars Bar and The Pony, spinning under the name VJKOfficial. Friends remembered Sims had a fascination for the history of buses, trains and trams.
Akio Hoshi: A Darwin-based musician and chef who moved to Australia to follow his passion for First Nations culture.
Bob ‘Bongo’ Starkie: His rhythmic and intuitive guitar style worked well with Red Symons and Bob Spencer, giving Skyhooks that distinctive sound which made them one of the biggest chart and live outfits. A gifted photographer and collector of paintings, Starkie’s visual flair showed itself in the forbidding face makeup and costumes he wore onstage. He once guest-edited an issue of Juke magazine. A bit of a hothead at times, he once chopped up the desk of booking agent Frank Stivala over an imagined slight (they made up) and was once almost sent home during a Skyhooks US tour. After the band first split in 1980, Starkie set up a studio, composed jingles (Four ‘N Twenty Pies, Vaseline, Allens lollies) and film soundtracks, ran the music venue Jump Club in Melbourne’s Collingwood for five years, dabbled in property and played in a series of bands which paid tribute to Skyhooks’ music and his influences. The day after he sold the Jump Club, he set off to Brazil to attend the Rio Carnival, where a chance meeting with infamous 1963 British Great Train Robbery participant Ronnie Biggs developed into a close friendship. They bought a holiday home on an island 90 minutes out of Rio, and Starkie began filming a documentary on Biggs’ life, which was not completed. He was diagnosed with leukaemia this year. He died last week aged 73, surrounded by his family and listening to Chuck Berry.
