Last January, the Australian branch of Rolling Stone magazine launch the 1st Annual Rolling Stone awards – with artists like Dave Grohl and Sarah Blasko among those taking out the top honours.
The magazine recently announced the awards would be returning later this month, and so I caught up with Rolling Stone’s Editor-in-Chief, Matt Coyte, to chat about the awards, running the magazine and what we can expect next from his band Further. Read on!
Oh and make sure you vote in the Patron Readers Choice Awards.
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While we’re here to talk about the awards, I’d like to preface this interview by asking what I believe is a slightly rhetorical question: You are the EIC of the most famous music magazine in the world – is it fair to say you’re living the dream?
If your dream is sitting in a small office, working long hours while you send writers away to gigs in exotic places where they can drink copious amounts of free beer, then yes, it is!
Capitalizing on that dream, you’ve no doubt had the pleasure of meeting some of your musical heroes – who have been highlights?
I try to avoid meeting people that I really worship. For example, I spent the entire 2009 Big Day Out trying to avoid eye contact with Neil Young because I was so scared that he’s say or do something to make me love him any less. I learned this lesson when I literally put Ozzy Osbourne to sleep during an interview.
Last year Rolling Stone, with you at the helm, made a splash in the local industry by celebrating it – with the first annual Rolling Stone Awards. How did the event come about?
Somebody asked us if Rolling Stone had ever had an awards and we couldn’t answer them. After doing some research, we realised that there has never been a Rolling Stone Awards, so we thought it was about time we rectified the situation.
It seems like it was a bit of a no-brainer to have Rolling Stone awards in Australia … I think the words you have used are “Long Overdue” – what took you guys so long!?
To be honest, I’m not too sure. I think it was a lack of resources. As part of ACP, we have a lot more people with skills to call on to help us do events like this properly. I’m actually glad that it has taken so long to make it happen, because the name is so established now, the award actually means something when it’s sitting on your mantle…
What has been the process of choosing the nominees and eventual winners, and who chooses them?
We put together a list of high profile judges from the world of music, journalism, film, TV, art and sports and asked them to pull together an exhaustive list of worthy nominees. They were then asked to vote from the resulting shortlist of names. The Reader’s Choice Award is, as you’d imagine, a reader voted award where they choose their favourite song from the years 100 top charting singles.
The awards party last year was a huge success. You’re moving to what looks like a larger venue for the 2nd Installment – what other changes can we expect from the event?
A more relaxed atmosphere with (thankfully) less speeches from yours truly. It’ll be less formal and more like a big warehouse party with top shelf liquor. It’ll also be a chance for the industry to let its hair down and receive some well-deserved credit.
I just voted in the Patron Readers Choice Awards. What was your favourite tracks of 2010?
My favourite track of 2010 would have to be “Back In ‘84” by Ceremony, from their Rohnert Park LP. They’re a newish punk band that sound really authentically like music I used to skateboard to.
We’ve been busy recently at the AU offices making our predictions on which Aussie bands will break in 2011 – who do you think (or perhaps, hope) will make the leap in 2011?
I’d love to see Front End Loader finally get the credit they deserve. Their new album (released soon) is absolutely jaw dropping. It rips all over Queens Of The Stone Age or other bands that fill huge venues. I hope Triple J play it so the kids get a chance to realise how awesome FEL are…
And while we have you – I understand that 2011 will see new Further material released?
I hope so. But we’ve been spread pretty thin of late, so the record’s hit a bit of a standstill. Maybe September? Let’s say September …
