AIR Board
AIR’s Board of Directors are:
David Vodicka (Rubber Records) – Chairman
David Vodicka is a Principal of Media Arts Lawyers and has had extensive experience with over 20 years of practice representing musicians, artists, performers, composers, recording, production, management and publishing entities. He has dealt in all facets of law affecting the creative industries and has had considerable hands-on experience in the music recording and publishing fields as director of independent label Rubber Records and music publisher Rubber Music Publishing.
David is a passionate advocate for local music and creative industries and presently is chairman of the board of AIR (the Australian Independent Record Labels Association), is a current board member of ARIA (Australia Recording Industry Association) and the PPCA (Phonographic Performance Company of Australia) and has held the positions of Vice President of WIN (Worldwide Independent Network) and board member of MIFF (Melbourne International Film Festival).
Basil Cook (ABC Music) – Treasurer & Secretary
Basil has worked in the Australian music industry for many years with roles in various record labels including marketing, A&R and digital and is a passionate supporter of Australian music. Basil is currently the Head of Contemporary labels at ABC Music, as well as overseeing Digital Strategy and A&R manager at FOUR | FOUR and has worked with a diverse array of bands and artists including Tim Rogers, Chris Lilley, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Lee Kernaghan, The Wiggles and many more.
Andrew Stone (Chugg Music)
Andrew Stone is the director of Chugg Music, the Record Label and Management arm of Chugg Entertainment. The label represents Australian artists Sheppard, Deep Sea Arcade, Hey Geronimo, Lime Cordiale, The Griswolds, Tambourine Girls, and Canadian band, Down With Webster. Chugg Music is also the AUS label for Lime Cordiale.
Sheppard has the #1 selling Australian single for 2014, with their song Geronimo, which spent 3 weeks at #1 on the ARIA charts, the most in history for an independent Australian band. The single has achieved double platinum sales, along with their EP and first single, Let Me Down Easy, which achieved platinum sales in 2013 and multiple ARIA and APRA award nominations.
Chugg Music also runs the independent PR company, Rare Finds, which has helped to launch the careers of YesYou, Millions, Gung Ho, Cub Sport, The Trouble With Templeton, Pepa Knight, The Belligerents, and many others.
Ashley Gay (Xelon Entertainment)
A distinguished record executive, Ashley Gay has been instrumental in the rise of Australia’s electronic dance music scene.
Starting his career in the mid-1990s, Ashley has worked closely with countless dance and electronic music artists and hundreds of labels.
A former radio DJ and music director for dance radio in his hometown of Melbourne, Ashley entered the record business with the prestigious dance labels Pro-DJ (1995-2000) and Central Station Records (2000-2007).
In late 2007, Ashley combined his expertise in IT and computer science with his A&R skill set for the launch of Xelon Entertainment, which today represents over 500 labels in all genres.
Today, he heads up Xelon Entertainment, Australia’s premier digital music distributor, boasting offices in various countries. Remarkably for the space, Xelon remains 100% independent and completely Australian-owned.
Josh Olson (Hillsong)
Josh Olson has been on the team at Hillsong for over 16 years and is committed to finding new ways for artists to connect & grow with their audience. With extensive experience in crafting and executing marketing campaigns both in Australia & internationally, Josh brings a unique approach to the independent music sector and is currently Head of Operations of Hillsong Music Australia and SHOUT! Music.
Kate Lawrence (UNIFIED Music Group)
Kate Lawrence is UNIFIED Music Group’s Label Manager, overseeing operations across record labels UNFD and Domestic La La. In her six years at the company, Kate has worked on more than 15 top 10 Australian charting albums and multiple ARIA-award-winning records.
Kate has been involved in global campaigns for artists such as Silverstein, Northlane, ERRA, Architects and Tonight Alive, and currently oversees campaigns for all of UNFD’s Australian-based artists, including Thornhill, Yours Truly, Slowly Slowly, In Hearts Wake and more.
Expanding upon her background in social media and marketing, Kate specialises in fan engagement and streaming strategies for artists and is passionate about educating and empowering artists in the heavy music world and beyond.
Lorrae McKenna (Our Golden Friend)
Lorrae McKenna is the owner of Our Golden Friend – an Artist Management and Record Label collective based in Melbourne. She manages Jade Imagine, Jess Ribeiro, Poppongene, RVG and Totally Mild and runs a record label that includes artists 808s and Greatest Hits, RVG, Moonlover and Poppongene on its roster.
Lorrae was most recently the Promotions and Marketing Manager at Remote Control Records. Joining Remote Control Records in 2013, Lorrae was instrumental in re-invigorating the label’s Australian roster of artists, signing and developing acts such as Courtney Barnett, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Methyl Ethel, The Murlocs and many more.
Lorrae departed Remote Control in October 2016 and has focused her time on building the label alongside her management roster. Lorrae has been an active part of the Australian music industry for the past 13 years working in a range of varying roles including working for Allans Billy Hyde Music (as Marketing and Publicity Coordinator), Crucial Music (working for Rae Harvey as her Publicity & Marketing manager) & at 774 ABC Melbourne (as the local radio PR & Marketing Coordinator).
Philip Mortlock (ORiGiN Recordings)
Philip Mortlock has been actively involved on the AIR board since 2001, representing his own label ORiGiN Recordings previously working for one of Australia’s oldest independent music companies, Alberts. He worked previously with Warner Music for many years prior to going ‘independent’. Philip is also on the board of the National Film and Sound Archive board and is a founding Patron of The Australian Music Prize.
Sweetie Zamora (Remote Control Records)
Victoria Sweetie Zamora is Head Of Labels & Promotions at Remote Control Records. Sweetie has managed campaigns for artists including Adele, Courtney Barnett, Methyl Ethel, Queens of The Stone Age, The xx, The National, Donny Benet, Sui Zhen and many more. She is the main point of contact for Remote Control’s local and international artists, managers and label partners (Beggars Group, Omnian Music Group, Milk! Records, Barely Dress Records + more) and also works with the full Remote Control team to organise release planning, strategy and PR campaigns. Since 2007 Sweetie has worked for the likes of Bossy Music, Laneway Festival, Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House and Warner Music Australia. She also plays the bass guitar and is a Ken Done enthusiast.