// News

Mushroom Marketing continues to support emerging Australian musicians.
10 talented contestants battled it out in one of the toughest and closest Telstra Road to Discovery Finals to date. Andrew Redford from the Sunshine Coast and Kelly Menhennett of Barmera (South Australia) took out the Performer and Songwriter Categories respectively. Mia Wray, just 16 years of age, walked away with the People’s Choice Award.

Our judges, Karl Broadie (APRA Songwriter Relations Manager), Felicity Urquhart, Matt Fell (CMAA 2011 & 2012 Producer of the Year), Noel Mengel (Music Editor, Courier Mail) and Mushroom’s very own Bill Page, commented the group of finalists were more diverse and of higher standard than in any previous year.

Considered a must-see highlight of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, the sold-out show at TRECC, hosted by James Blundell, also included performances by Harry Hookey (Telstra Road 2010/11 Performer Winner), David Garnham (Telstra Road 2010/11 Songwriter Winner) and The McClymonts. The 1000 strong audience was also delighted by a special surprise set from Kasey Chambers, Bill Chambers and Ashleigh Dallas.

Major winners, Kelly Menhennett (Songwriting) and Andrew Redford (Performance)

People’s Choice Award recipient, Mia Wray

From left to right; Bill Chambers, Nikki Jensen (Telstra Road 2010/11 Finalist), Harry Hookey (Telstra Road 2010/11 Performer Winner), Ashleigh Dallas and Kasey Chambers

Up close and Live with 360 – Exclusive Telstra In-Store Competition

Up close and Live with 360 – Exclusive Telstra In-Store Competion

Mushroom Marketing created the 360 Live retail sales promotion for the Telstra Victoria team.
25 lucky Telstra customers who purchased a pre-paid starter kit between November 25 and January 11 won entry to an exclusive, intimate performance by Melbourne MC, 360, Wed Jan 18 at the Bourke St Telstra Icon store.

The competition was promoted through mainstream and music media and was supported by JB HiFi, 7/11 and other Telstra retail partners over the holiday period. It received a mass of entries and outperformed any other youth focused Telstra retail promotion in recent years.
Telstra’s point of sale and promotion within and outside participating retail environments was amazing. Check out the digital billboard on the corner of Bourke St and Swanston St in the Melbourne CBD, pictured below.

Watch this space for details and launch dates for call for entries, also check out www.telstra.com/trtd – it could be the start of something amazing!

Ten of Australia’s most promising music artists have beaten hundreds of hopefuls from across the nation to become finalists in the Telstra Road to Discovery talent development program Final held during the iconic Tamworth Country Music Festival Tuesday January 24, 2012.

A winning performer and songwriter will be announced in Tamworth and will win a 12-month music mentorship package, which includes a return trip to Nashville, USA.

Prior to the Semi-Final event Saturday Dec 3, 18 Semi Finalist’s took part in an intensive two-day music development Boot Camp, where a network of music industry professionals including songwriters, publishers, established artists and industry organisation’s shared their invaluable knowledge and experience.

The Telstra Road to Discovery Final, is the culmination of a six-month search around the nation which included 12 live music performance heats, one digital online heat for performers in remote and regional areas and a separate online category for songwriters.

Tailored to suit each winner’s musical aspirations, the ultimate prize package includes access to a network of music industry professionals, a studio recording session, domestic and international gigs, co-writing appointments, digital marketing, video production and more.

(The 10 finalists pictured with James Blundell and The McClymonts, Sat Dec 3 at the Sydney Telstra 500)

Mushroom Marketing has created Australia’s first ever hip hop songwriting study guide endorsed by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

Not Just Noise is an interdisciplinary resource, suitable for year 7-11 classes of English, Media and Music. It uses a series of specially produced videos as key learning tools which feature insights from Australian hip hop artists on writing and performing hip hop lyrics.

The study guide package also includes professional music beats students can record their lyrics to and teacher documentation with in-depth overviews and suggested class activities.

Teachers can download Not Just Noise from: fuse.education.vic.gov.au (Learning Resource ID: YM2BF8). Check it out.

Who will score their big break?..it could be the start of something amazing

After 3 months on the road, 12 locational shows, 8 states, 63 contestants and hundreds of entries, the Telstra Road to Discovery heats have officially finished for 2011.  Our whirlwind journey across Australia delivered up a scoop of exciting new talent who go through to the next phase of the competition. 18 of our best fly to Sydney in the first week of December to take part in Boot Camp (3 days of music mentoring workshop across all facets of the industry).

From Boot Camp, contestants compete in the Semi Final as part of the entertainment line-up at the Sydney Telstra 500 V8 Supercars Saturday 3 December. The Top 10 finalists chosen, progress through to the Final at Tamworth Country Music Festival January 24, 2012 where our winning performer and songwriter will be announced, both walk away with a 12 month prize package including shows at The Americana Festival in Nashville 2012.

Our current winners, David Garnham (Songwriting Category) and Harry Hookey (Performer Category) have just returned from their prize package trip to Nashville, which included showcase gigs, co-writes and workshops during the Americana Music Festival. They established career-long connections in Nashville and with the Aussie contingent they travelled with, including the likes of James Blundell and Caitlin Harnett. On their return from Harry and Dave delivered stellar performances at the last Telstra Road to Discovery heat at the Sydney Blues and Roots Festival, alongside Marshall and The Fro.

Pictured: David Garnham, Dobe Newton, Catherine Britt, Bill Page, James Blundell and Harry at the Bluebird Cafe, Nashville.

Harry Hookey releases his first single “Don’t You Ever Treat Me Like a Fool” on November 25. Produced by 2011 Golden Guitar “Producer of the Year” Matt Fell; an EP follows in January 2012. Check the vid and hear the track from Nov 25 www.harryhookey.com.

David Garnham has just completed a series of scorching hot gigs including one with Charles Jenkins at the Union Hotel in October.  Dave has a series of gigs coming up, check out www.davidgarnham.com for updates. Also stay tuned for news on a new album from Dave; produced by consummate craftsman Melbourne songwriter/musician and performer Charles Jenkins.

Catch Harry, Dave, The McClymonts, some very special surprise guests and 10 of Australia’s most exciting emerging artists in Tamworth at the Telstra Road Final, 7.00pm Tuesday January 24, 2012 It’s a must see highlight and the best value ticket of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, this year hosted by music legend James Blundell. Tickets on sale now from www.tcmf.com.au and www.ticketek.com.au

The Telstra Road to Discovery 2011/12 launch event was held at the ‘The Basement’ in Sydney on Monday June 20 and to sing in the program’s evolution, change of name (previously Telstra Road to Tamworth) and its redefined emphasis on talent development and music mentorship, Telstra enlisted the help of Australian artists Mick Thomas (Weddings, Parties, Anything), Ella Hooper (Killing Heidi), Charles Jenkins (Charles Jenkins & The Zhivagos) and solo artist Karl Broadie to perform alongside past winners Harry Hookey, Luke Webb, David Garnham and Tenielle, respectively.

Tim Rogers (You Am I) closed the night with a standout performance also featuring each of the aforementioned past winners. Speaking of his passion for helping nurture independent Australian artists, Tim said “I was lucky enough to be surrounded by vagabond artists and musicians who would often part with sage advice perhaps without their knowledge of doing so.  I learnt to listen to whoever you were stuck in a draughty band room with at 3am, through the brio and balderdash there’s always something to hang on to. “

Michael Gudinski stated “The Telstra Road to Discovery program provides independent performers and songwriters the opportunity to further develop their talents. Such support for the next generation of emerging Australian musicians is vital. Increasing the role of mentorship from music industry professionals into the program provides stronger connects for young musicians to those who have already travelled this road and Mushroom Marketing is proud to be part of this process.”

Building on eight successful years as the Telstra Road to Tamworth, the program’s name has changed to reflect a new era that opens it up to artists from a wider range of music genres, from blues and roots, to folk and country.

So, if you, or someone you know is passionate about becoming established in the Australian music scene and the chance to participate in the prize package, go to http://www.telstra.com/trtd for more information.

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The Federal Government sponsored CHANGE IT FOR THE BETTER Tour rolls out around the Country from May 19. Supporting ‘The Line’ Campaign that promotes Respectful Relationships and aims to reduce the incidence of violence against women CHANGE IT FOR THE BETTER features PEZ, MAYA JUPITER and 360.

The Tour put together in conjunction with PREMIER ARTISTS promotes quality local Australian hip hop while generating awareness of ‘The Line ‘ initiative right across the country. We are undertaking a select series of Schools Songwriting Workshops along the way as part of the tour featuring Pez and Maya Jupiter. www.australia.gov.au/theline

CHAMPIONSHIP MOVES Concert Series kicks off on May 20 – June11 with a series of live shows in a cross section of Victoria’s leading metropolitan and regional licensed music venues including Corner Hotel, Cherry Bar, Bended Elbow Geelong featuring some great acts including Low Rider, Red Ink, Kim Churchill, Loon Lake to name a few.

The Series is another example of the positive role our live music scene and artists are playing in opposing alcohol fuelled violence . It will see innovative on line content from participating artists promoting their shows whilst reinforcing the benefits of ‘looking out for your mates’ in licensed music venues while enjoying great live music.

www.championshipmoves.com.au

In May we launched a series of Songwriting Workshops in Victorian Schools for the Department of Justice as the next phase of the LIVE NO FEAR Campaign that aims to discourage young Victorians from carrying knives.

These WORDS NOT WEAPONS Songwriting Workshops feature artists such as PEZ and MANTRA as well as renowned music educator DOBE NEWTON .

Student’s lyrics inspired by these workshops will ultimately be produced and recorded into songs with one of the country’s leading hip hop record producers and then distributed and promoted amongst the student community and their peers. www.livenofear.com.au
Through www.livenofear.com.au we provide direct communication between participating students and our participating Artists and music industry specialists including STYALZ FUEGO who is producting the tracks.