December 2024
Queenslander’s Doctor Who theme joins sound archive
Atherton-born composer Ron Grainer’s pioneering electronic theme for the sci-fi series has joined a beer ad and a politician’s maiden speech in the National Sound Archive.
- Liz Hobday
November 2024
Music industry brass throw weight behind talent booking platform
An online platform that fashions itself as the future marketplace and booking platform for top Aussie talent is rounding the final week of its $2 million raise.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
September 2024
Mercury hits the right note at JMC Academy; buys majority stake
JMC’s alumni include Pacific Avenue’s Harry O’Brien, Universal Music Group’s Brent “Quincy” Buchanan and Animal Logic Entertainment’s Felicity Staunton.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
- Exclusive
- New music
Why Missy Higgins stopped therapy to make an album
Two decades on from the multi-platinum The Sound Of White, Missy Higgins is looking inward again – only this time it’s to cope with being a newly single mother of two.
- Alexander Gow
July 2024
- Analysis
- New music
‘Bunnings of music’: why Matt Gudinski remade Mushroom
Most roads in the Australian music business used to lead to the Mushroom Group, and a restructure announced on Thursday seeks a return to those glory days.
- Michael Bailey
- Exclusive
- Media & marketing
Matt Gudinski remakes Mushroom in biggest restructure this century
Matt Gudinski, the son of legendary promoter Michael, will shut a range of well-known imprints and consolidate its artists under one umbrella.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
February 2024
Kylie Minogue’s ‘Padam Padam’ delivers her first Grammy win since 2004
The Australian singer’s song has been described as a “hypnotic electro”-inspired dance pop.
- Maria Sherman
November 2023
The festive rituals of six high-flyers from around the world
Family is at the heart of celebrations for these globetrotters – no matter who, or where, they are.
- Philippa Coates, Jill Dupleix and Charis Perkins
February 2023
Manufacturers reboot to ride the vinyl revival, but can it last?
Australia has three pressing plants riding the vinyl wave, with surging demand meaning there is plenty of work to go around. But competition may be about to get fierce.
- Gus McCubbing
January 2023
- Exclusive
- Performing arts
Streaming quotas tipped to force TV behind paywalls
Commercial TV networks are wary about a push to make streaming giants like Netflix compete for local productions.
- Andrew Tillett
How a $100 gift to a girl in Mildura led to international opera fame
Victorian-born soprano Siobhan Stagg is in huge demand from opera companies and orchestras worldwide. But her career could just as easily never happened.
- Philippa Coates
First vinyl, now cassette tapes are making a comeback
Much to the bemusement of Boomers, audio cassettes, which peaked in popularity in 1989, are staging a revival, and it’s young people who are buying them.
- Gus McCubbing
August 2022
How a new Australian orchestra won over conductor royalty
The rapport between the AWO and celebrated Indian conductor Zubin Mehta has as much to do with cricket bats as it does with batons.
- Michael Bailey
State funeral for Seekers’ star Judith Durham
The family of singer Judith Durham have accepted an offer from the Victorian government for a state funeral to honour her life.
- Tara Cosoleto
June 2022
This leader’s retirement dream includes a room-sized train set
In her future, soprano and composer Deborah Cheetham sees a shed or a barn or a room “completely and utterly devoted” to a Middle Earth locomotion extravaganza.
- Philippa Coates
April 2022
The surprising stories behind Australia’s hottest album covers
With vinyl’s resurgence, the spotlight is back on album artwork. Here are the stories behind the gorgeous cover art of six new LPs by Australian musicians.
- Jeff Allan
February 2022
Glenn Wheatley’s last big deal
In his final media interview, Glenn Wheatley was confident he had another hit on his hands.
- Updated
- Andrew Burke
December 2021
From Foo Fighters to Yothu Yindi – the year in music books
Concerts were out for much of 2021, but you could still immerse yourself in your favourite bands with some of the year’s best music books.
- Michael Bailey
Yes to Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s Noël! Noël!
The ABO’s period instruments help evoke the reason for the season in a return of its annual Christmas concerts.
- Michael Bailey
‘Hit job’: Sydney Symphony Orchestra chief claims she was harassed
Emma Dunch has accused the NSW government of “a hit job” against her as she departed her role on Friday with two years still to run in her contract.
- Michael Bailey