• Nova Entertainment brand treats listeners and advertisers to exclusive performance
• Cathy O’Connor pays tribute to key execs who loved The Carpenters
During Michael Bublé’s whistle-stop Australian tour he played only three shows – a Sunrise concert in Sydney’s Martin Place, a one-off stadium show to close Allianz Stadium and smoothfm’s Feel Good Night show for just 400 people at Sydney’s Seymour Centre.
Even though Bublé was playing for a small crowd in an intimate space, he didn’t skimp on the presentation, bringing his complete 26-piece orchestra to the Seymour Centre stage.
Prior to the performance, Nova Entertainment hosted clients to cocktails in the venue’s Sound Lounge with smoothfm weekend announcer Richard Wilkins welcoming the guests. Sydney commercial director and market lead Luke Minto spoke, as did Nova Entertainment CEO Cathy O’Connor. She recalled the very first song played on smoothfm was Bublé’s Haven’t Met You Yet.
“Michael Bublé typifies every single part of the DNA of this wonderful brand smoothfm,” O’Connor said.
“I remember over six years ago when we came up with the idea for smoothfm we thought we had to do something different from what else was happening on FM. If we did more of the same we would have all just shared the same audience. We knew we had to be different and we had to be bold and do something that no one else is doing.
“We also thought we should do something we like as well. Doing more of the same is never really what gets you a break through performance.”
Nova Entertainment CEO Cathy O’Connor
O’Connor paid tribute to Nova Entertainment’s head of programming Paul Jackson and head of marketing Tony Thomas for the concept of smoothfm. (Neither of the Nova execs was able to attend on Saturday night.)
“These were two men in their 40s who loved The Carpenters,” O’Connor laughed. “I grew up in Australia and I don’t know too many men in their 40s who love The Carpenters. It’s usually all about rock and INXS and Midnight Oil. These guys were kind of in touch with their feminine side, which of course is no problem at all.
“They got so excited with the concept they said they were going to get Michael Bublé in the smoothfm ad. I said that was a great ambition and I was glad they were aiming high. If there is one artist that typifies what smoothfm is all about it is – which is feelgood, relaxed and fun and contemporary with wonderful music – it would be Michael Bublé.
“I told them if they could pull that off they would be legends.
“The two boys with big heads are still walking our corridors and we continue to have a connection with Michael Bublé.”
O’Connor noted how good the smoothfm commercial featuring the Canadian singer was, and it is something they still run six years later. “I don’t think there’s any radio station in the world that got that much mileage out of a commercial – it was just perfect.
“There was a great idea, a little bit of luck, a lot of guts and it was executed very, very well.”
Bublé started his performance with I Only Have Eyes, followed by When I Fall in Love, new singles Such A Night and Love You Anymore, and classics Nobody But Me, Save the Last Dance and Feeling Good.
smoothfm’s Bogart Torelli, Georgie Page and Glenn Daniel
Some of the tunes were from his new album Love, his first studio album in two years, which will be released on November 16.
Guests at the event included smoothfm 95.3 breakfast hosts Bogart Torelli and Glenn Daniel, smoothfm weekend announcer Richard Wilkins and partner Virginia, morning announcer Ty Frost, Kate Mason – smoothfm’s head of music, smoothfm program director Georgie Page, Peter Clay – head of programming Nova 96.9 and smoothfm network, Leanne Gibb – group marketing director, Claire Marshall – music marketing director, Ben Latimer – Nova 96.9 and Nova 919 program director, Rob Sloan – agency sales director, Polly Goodchild – brand & promotions director – Nova, smoothfm & Fiveaa, Nova’s Kent “Smallzy” Small and EP Zach La Cava, smoothfm 91.5 breakfast producer Lauren Saylor and smoothfm 95.3 breakfast producer Anna Crotti.
Others in attendance included Billy MacLeod – Warner Vice President Promotions and Publicity, Graham Donald – Seven creative director, Foxtel’s Danny Keenan – head of artist & music industry relations, Foxtel’s Fraser Stark – GM arts and music, Jamie Campbell – Foxtel’s director publicity & talent, Sasha Mackie – Foxtel’s head of marketing, Daily Telegraph’s Fiona Wingett, Vivienne Kelly – Mumbrella editor, Pippa Chambers – editor AdNews, Cameron Adams – national music writer News Corp and 9Honey’s Shelly Horton.