Hello and welcome back to our weekly wrap of music industry shenanigans that have happened around Australia (and the world). It’s been a few sleepy weeks with Santa bringing all kinds of things for everyone. Everyone seems to now be busily making tunes or wheeling’ deals again, so let’s get into the thick of things.

This week: ARIA action for 2012 and in the last week, more Australian acts announced for SXSW, and a new crowd-funding site specifically for musicians to fund albums, projects and videos.

The Melbourne Zoo is about to get wild in a whole other way, with the announcement of their 2013 Twilight Zoo Program, with tickets available now. Kicking off on January 25 with ARIA Award winner Missy Higgins, the Zoo Twilight Program, sees the zoo put on a live music event every Friday and Saturday night through until March 9th.

In this last State Of Affairs column of the year, we look back at a week where Gotye continues to be recognised for that song, Christmas albums attack the ARIA charts and awards aplenty are being handed out here at home for various things. Plus a bunch of awesome opportunities to get funding for your project through the Australia Council.

Ahead of the Arias, the Upper Beresford was home to the Sony Music Showcase as eager fans, family and Sony staff celebrated four of the amazing Sony artists that were nominated for an Aria in 2012; Jessica Mauboy, Johnny Ruffo, Justice Crew and Timomatic.

Pictured: Jay Sean.

Pictured: Charlotte Dawson, Tiffiny Hall, Rachael Finch.

In this week's column: opportunities in the International Songwriting Competition and the Telstra Road to Discovery. The Sandringham Hotel get a huge heap of fan support, and Allens Billy Hype go in administration.

In this week's edition: Figures on how many of us actually consumed live music, make a video for M83, and Magoo makes a move.

In this week's column: Universal and the Parker & Mr. French group team up, Ed Sheeran tops the album chart after nearly a year meandering in it, an opportunity to write music for next year's Sydney Festival, and news from three industry awards nights that occurred last week!

In this weeks edition: Plenty of opportunities - get on commercial radio, be involved with remixing Bon Iver or grab a grant to tour and network. New signings for The Snowdroppers, Mark 'Chopper' Read and The Rubens plus yet another street press magazine closes.

In this week's edition: Karise Eden ploughs on at the top of the charts, For All Eternity, Violent Soho & The Janoskins all get signed to record deals, and SxSW starts revving up and calls for applications for attendees.

This week in the State Of Affairs: the highest ticket selling promoters are revealed, the deadline to the road to discovery has been found, Tim Rogers signs to a new imprint label plus workshops ahoy!

While we've been making upgrades on the site, a pile of tour announcements have come through! In case you missed them, here's a look at the Australian tour dates for: Manchester Orchestra, Blood Orange, Hermitude, Big A little a, Katchafire, The Lazys, Justice Crew, Youri Blow, Vintage Trouble and The Dad Horse Experience.

MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA