Melba Foundation, 2009-10 Has Been a Year of Success on Many Fronts
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MMeellbbaa FFoouunnddaattiioonn AAnnnnuuaall RReeppoorrtt 22000099--22001100 CONTENTS CEO REPORT ........................................................................................................................ 1 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT ...................................................................................... 3 RELEASES ............................................................................................................................ 4 DISTRIBUTION .................................................................................................................. 4 PREVIOUS RELEASES ....................................................................................................... 11 ACHIEVEMENTS .................................................................................................................... 13 LIST OF SUPPORTERS ........................................................................................................... 15 DIRECTORS ......................................................................................................................... 16 APPENDIX: AUDIT REPORT “Melba is an Australian label of fragrant distinction” (MusicWeb International) CEO REPORT For The Melba Foundation, 2009-10 has been a year of success on many fronts. First and foremost, the Foundation continues to deliver unparalleled new career opportunities for Australian artists through the quality and innovation of its releases. “Whilst I have recorded many CD’s with other labels throughout Australia and overseas, the opportunity to be supported and recorded with such magnificent sound quality, presented in a brilliant way, distributed throughout the world, reviewed by all the leading magazines, websites and newspapers covering CD’s in the world, and above all, to work with such a supportive Australian company turned the experience into a life changing opportunity….I have personally received the best and most influential reviews of my life since the release of my first disc with Melba, and I am equally confident in saying that many other fine and until recently unheralded Australian musicians can say the same for themselves.” Paul Dean, Artistic Director, Australian National Academy of Music and Melba artist “ These recordings have provided an unmatched opportunity for Orchestra Victoria to enhance its international profile. This, in turn, will make it easier for the orchestra to attract high quality conductors, thereby further developing the orchestra’s range and standards. With Melba recordings, it is not necessary for Australians to plead for attention that their work is “world class” or “global cutting edge”. International critics do that for us. Reviews in the leading music publications have been highly positive. We are particularly fortunate that we have in Australia (in Melba recordings) a recording label with the highest standards of professionalism and imagination.” Jo Beaumont, Artistic Director, Orchestra Victoria The market excitement generated by the release of Turbulent Heart, a world premiere recording of works by Vierne featuring Steve Davislim and the Queensland Symphony conducted by Guillaume Tourniaire has taken Melba to new highs of international awareness and acclaim. It was awarded with the Editor’s Choice awards in three European magazines and 23 ecstatic reviews. Melba is Australia’s classical label of excellence and a calling card for our artists and music culture around the world. Seven recordings were undertaken this year and four were released, including two featuring emerging artists. Releases included J.S. Bach Organ Sonatas, featuring the incomparable Christopher Wrench; Turbulent Heart with tenor Steve Davislim and The Queensland Orchestra conducted by Guillaume Tourniaire; Beloved of the Gods, featuring the young artists of the Tinalley Quartet and the Dean, Emmerson, Dean Trio. Also released was Volupté, a recording of viola music featuring Roger Benedict accompanied by the exciting young pianist Timothy Young. These releases were supported by launch and performance events in Brisbane and Melbourne, attended by special guests Bruce Beresford, Richard Bonynge Cheryl Barker, Michael Shmith and Guillaume Tourniaire and featuring performances by Tinalley String Quartet, Paul Dean, Timothy Young, Suzanne Johnston, Ray Chen, Kristian Winther, Benjamin Martin, Kevin Power, Joshua Bloom and Rosamund Illing. Melba Foundation Annual Report 2009 2010 Page 1 of 16 The total of 177 media reviews and features achieved this year exceeded forecast and overall sales targets have been met with sales revenues growing steadily. On the digital delivery front, the sound quality of portable devices continues to improve, although it still has some way to go to replicate the full sonic experience of a Melba CD. Until these sound quality issues are addressed, physical CD’s will continue to constitute the vast majority of Melba’s sales. Nonetheless, Melba’s entire catalogue was available for digital download this year as Melba is determined to be at the forefront of digital delivery. Melba continues to have the most extensive international distribution of any Australian label. The Foundation has worked to address the issue of reducing core operational funding from the Australian Government with a renewed effort in fundraising and marketing – an effort that has been successful. Our wonderful Patrons and Benefactors have extended their commitment to the Foundation and development revenue is significantly higher this year. Important events were hosted by Lady Potter, Mrs Jeanne Pratt, ANZ and at Government House Melbourne and Brisbane. However, in order to maintain output at an average of at least seven quality recordings per year – the level of activity at which Melba’s market presence can be of benefit to Australian artists – core operational funding is required. Melba’s flexibility and innovation in the face of rapid technological and market changes have propelled it to a leading position in the international marketplace. It is delivering real benefit for Australian artists. This could not have been achieved without the support of the Australian Government and a strong family of Patrons and Benefactors. We thank our hard working Board of Directors and staff and look forward with optimism to the year ahead. Melba Foundation Annual Report 2009 2010 Page 2 of 16 “Overall this is second only to the excellent presentation we have come to expect from Opera Rara. Together they put most other companies to shame.” (MusicWeb International) CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT The Melba Foundation is a charitable trust that promotes the Australian classical music field by supporting the production of state-of-the-art audio and film recordings for the international and national markets. It aims to build a world-renowned recording label based in Melbourne, dedicated to the promotion of Australian classical musicians, soloists and orchestras. It aims to vastly improve the international profile and economic opportunities for Australia’s classical music industry and preserve Australia’s fine music heritage for future generations while presenting a distinctively Australian classical music culture to the world. The Melba Foundation is committed to the highest standards of corporate governance. This commitment applies to the dealings of the Foundation with all its stakeholders and is reflected in the Foundation’s corporate values. The Foundation has adopted a Board Charter that meets accepted best practice recommendations and a Code of Conduct that Directors agree to abide by at all times. The Foundation has also entered into signed contracts which formalise management processes whenever a potential conflict of interest might arise with the Executive Directors of the Foundation. The corporate governance framework of the Melba Foundation is geared towards promoting artistic and technical excellence in the field of classical music internationally through ensuring and improving the efficient use of resources, compliance with statutory and other external requirements and achieving best practice in administrative and financial management. Harness the talents of Australia’s finest performers and technicians Achieve excellence in all aspects of production Build its national and international reputation for excellence Our Mission Create a heightened awareness of Australian cultural achievement Increase investment in our finest artists and their recordings Preserve a recorded legacy of Australian performers Our Aims To promote Australian artists on the international stage and give them the recognition they deserve Integrity – Musical and technical excellence Leadership – To lead the Australian recording industry in excellence Our Values – To lead the classical music industry in Australia Innovation – To select and record significant classical works Melba Foundation Annual Report 2009 2010 Page 3 of 16 “The distinguished Australian label” UK Gramophone RELEASES DISTRIBUTION All Melba releases are distributed internationally via three methods: 1. Internet sales on the Melba website ( www.melbarecordings.com.au ) and the major on-line music retailers such as Amazon. 2. Tunecore – Aggregation service which on-sells to iTunes, Napster, Amazon mp3, etc. Every track on every Melba release is available for digital download via the Tunecore service. 3. Supplied to shops via distributors in countries as follows: Country Distributor Australia Fuse Music Austria Gramola Benelux AMG Czech Republic Euromusica Finland Fuga