Published Wednesday, 03 September, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Overseas airplay helps boost exports for Queensland bands
A new group of Queensland bands are making an impression in the US and Europe by securing quality overseas radio exposure and performance opportunities at high-profile international music showcases with support from Trade Queensland.
Minister for Trade John Mickel said that Trade Queensland was providing a variety of assistance for Queensland bands to break into the American and European markets.
“US radio is a highly valuable medium to connect Queensland artists to mass listening audiences in this huge market of 300 million people,” Mr Mickel said.
“Bands being assisted by Trade Queensland are benefiting from a long standing relationship with artist discovery and development firm, A&R Worldwide – sister company to the MUSEXPO event in the US, which is expanding with the first MUSEXPO Europe to take place in October.
“The company has helped to expose Queensland talent through influential ‘tastemaker’ radio stations across America including KCRW Los Angeles, SIRIUS, KITS San Francisco, Q101 Chicago and Indie 103.1FM,” Mr Mickel said.
Sat Bisla from A&R Worldwide said that the kind of exposure generated through US radio interviews and airplay can help catapult an artist’s career stateside.
“The fact that US commercial radio has been so receptive to Queensland artists on its own or through our recommendations says a lot about the exportability and quality of the Queensland music market,” he said.
Brisbane band The Boat People is tasting success in the US and UK markets following assistance from Trade Queensland and A&R Worldwide through MUSEXPO.
“In the US, The Boat People have benefited from extensive airplay on KCRW and Indie 103.1. The band became a CMJ new music feature artist, winning the CMJ grand prize in March. Later in the year they will play the CMJ Music Marathon and perform a live set on KCRW,” said Rick Chazan, Manager of The Boat People.
“This has attracted the attention of CMJ as a leading promoter of new music talent, as well as huge worldwide booking agent The Agency Group, and a ‘radio plugger’ and lawyer in the US.
“Attracting giant promoter Live Nation to assist in developing The Boat People overseas means they will return to the US and UK to tour in October and November, supporting the release of their new album, Chandeliers,” Mr Chazan said.
Manager of Operator Please Tim Manton said that the band’s exposure, particularly on European radio had helped to break the band in that market, opening them up to a massive audience.
“The help we have received to secure radio exposure has assisted Operator Please to perform at international festivals such as Glastonbury, Wake Stock, Secret Garden Party, Love Box, Melt Festival (Germany), Reading and Leeds Festival, all in the past 12 months,” Mr Manton said.
Dew Process Recording’s Paul Piticco has lived in New York and Los Angeles and has seen first hand the impact radio exposure has on the ability to sell albums and concert tickets in the American market.
“I have had various degrees of success in the States with three Queensland based acts - Powderfinger, Bernard Fanning and The Grates. While it is always difficult to achieve radio success, it is looking more possible than ever for our clients, Yves Klein Blue, through the linkage between Trade Queensland and stations like KCRW & Indie 103Fm,’ Mr Piticco said.
Simon Homer from Plus One Records represents Intercooler and The Gin Club, and said that KCRW through Music Director Nic Harcourt had greatly assisted the bands’ push into the US.
“After Nic Harcourt saw Intercooler play at BIG SOUND in 2007, his invitation to play a KCRW live showcase helped them perform to an audience much bigger than any show played live in the States,” Mr Homer said.
“With Trade Queensland’s involvement, The Gin Club was able to virtually walk off a plane from Brisbane and play on Indie 103.1 - a great way to get the band heard and set up a great MUSEXPO Conference showcase,” he said.
Mr Mickel said that a recent high profile US radio interview with Trade Queensland’s Commissioner to the Americas, Peter Beattie, would further assist Queensland’s export music industry and emerging bands.
“Peter Beattie undertook an interview on the influential syndicated radio program Passport Approved which broadcasted live on Indie 103.1FM in LA, on Saturday August 2,” Mr Mickel said.
“Indie 103.1 was recently voted the Best Radio Station In America for 2008 by readers of Rolling Stone and has over 650,000 listeners. The station had earlier been North America’s radio introduction for successful artists like Wolfmother and Sam Sparro.
“During the interview Mr Beattie highlighted the excellent talent that is emanating from Queensland including Savage Garden, Powderfinger, Pete Murray and, more recently, The Boat People, The Gin Club, Small Mercies, The Grates, Operator Please and Yves Klein Blue,” Mr Mickel said.
Minister’s office: John Smith 3237 1944, Jane Rowe 3237 1125, Nathan Moir 3235 4060
3 September, 2008
Minister for Trade John Mickel said that Trade Queensland was providing a variety of assistance for Queensland bands to break into the American and European markets.
“US radio is a highly valuable medium to connect Queensland artists to mass listening audiences in this huge market of 300 million people,” Mr Mickel said.
“Bands being assisted by Trade Queensland are benefiting from a long standing relationship with artist discovery and development firm, A&R Worldwide – sister company to the MUSEXPO event in the US, which is expanding with the first MUSEXPO Europe to take place in October.
“The company has helped to expose Queensland talent through influential ‘tastemaker’ radio stations across America including KCRW Los Angeles, SIRIUS, KITS San Francisco, Q101 Chicago and Indie 103.1FM,” Mr Mickel said.
Sat Bisla from A&R Worldwide said that the kind of exposure generated through US radio interviews and airplay can help catapult an artist’s career stateside.
“The fact that US commercial radio has been so receptive to Queensland artists on its own or through our recommendations says a lot about the exportability and quality of the Queensland music market,” he said.
Brisbane band The Boat People is tasting success in the US and UK markets following assistance from Trade Queensland and A&R Worldwide through MUSEXPO.
“In the US, The Boat People have benefited from extensive airplay on KCRW and Indie 103.1. The band became a CMJ new music feature artist, winning the CMJ grand prize in March. Later in the year they will play the CMJ Music Marathon and perform a live set on KCRW,” said Rick Chazan, Manager of The Boat People.
“This has attracted the attention of CMJ as a leading promoter of new music talent, as well as huge worldwide booking agent The Agency Group, and a ‘radio plugger’ and lawyer in the US.
“Attracting giant promoter Live Nation to assist in developing The Boat People overseas means they will return to the US and UK to tour in October and November, supporting the release of their new album, Chandeliers,” Mr Chazan said.
Manager of Operator Please Tim Manton said that the band’s exposure, particularly on European radio had helped to break the band in that market, opening them up to a massive audience.
“The help we have received to secure radio exposure has assisted Operator Please to perform at international festivals such as Glastonbury, Wake Stock, Secret Garden Party, Love Box, Melt Festival (Germany), Reading and Leeds Festival, all in the past 12 months,” Mr Manton said.
Dew Process Recording’s Paul Piticco has lived in New York and Los Angeles and has seen first hand the impact radio exposure has on the ability to sell albums and concert tickets in the American market.
“I have had various degrees of success in the States with three Queensland based acts - Powderfinger, Bernard Fanning and The Grates. While it is always difficult to achieve radio success, it is looking more possible than ever for our clients, Yves Klein Blue, through the linkage between Trade Queensland and stations like KCRW & Indie 103Fm,’ Mr Piticco said.
Simon Homer from Plus One Records represents Intercooler and The Gin Club, and said that KCRW through Music Director Nic Harcourt had greatly assisted the bands’ push into the US.
“After Nic Harcourt saw Intercooler play at BIG SOUND in 2007, his invitation to play a KCRW live showcase helped them perform to an audience much bigger than any show played live in the States,” Mr Homer said.
“With Trade Queensland’s involvement, The Gin Club was able to virtually walk off a plane from Brisbane and play on Indie 103.1 - a great way to get the band heard and set up a great MUSEXPO Conference showcase,” he said.
Mr Mickel said that a recent high profile US radio interview with Trade Queensland’s Commissioner to the Americas, Peter Beattie, would further assist Queensland’s export music industry and emerging bands.
“Peter Beattie undertook an interview on the influential syndicated radio program Passport Approved which broadcasted live on Indie 103.1FM in LA, on Saturday August 2,” Mr Mickel said.
“Indie 103.1 was recently voted the Best Radio Station In America for 2008 by readers of Rolling Stone and has over 650,000 listeners. The station had earlier been North America’s radio introduction for successful artists like Wolfmother and Sam Sparro.
“During the interview Mr Beattie highlighted the excellent talent that is emanating from Queensland including Savage Garden, Powderfinger, Pete Murray and, more recently, The Boat People, The Gin Club, Small Mercies, The Grates, Operator Please and Yves Klein Blue,” Mr Mickel said.
Minister’s office: John Smith 3237 1944, Jane Rowe 3237 1125, Nathan Moir 3235 4060
3 September, 2008