ANNOUNCEMENT: The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts will hold a public hearing in Sydney on Friday, 2 November 2018 for its inquiry into the Australian music industry.

The triple j Awards nominees for 2018 are in and its a big year. Amy Shark, Courtney Barnett, Tash Sultana lead a strong female contingency for Album of the Year while the diversity of Sampa the Great to John Butler Trio makes for a wide Artist of the Year list.

The Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper soundtrack for their film 'A Star is Born' rises three places to claim the No.1 slot on the ARIA Albums Chart, the set also taking the top spot in New Zealand (1st week), England (returns for 2nd week), America and Canada (holds for a second week).

Major new titles coming this week from: David Campbell, Mark Vincent, John Legend, Tom Odell, Haken, Roger Waters, Gang of Youths (unplugged), Keith Sweat, Pierce Brothers, Lukas Graham, Boy George & Culture Club, Black Eyed Peas, Deep Sea Arcade, Andrea Bocelli, Nas, Robyn and Thom Yorke's soundtrack for 'Suspiria'.

In 1982 Lee Kerneghan was crowded Star Maker at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. In 2019 he will have a more business-like role, as Ambassador.

ARIA will be changing its chart rules as of the end of this week (27 October 2018) to place a greater emphasis on paid subscription streaming.

Lady Gaga is fighting for the top spot on this week's Official Singles Chart with Shallow - her Bradley Cooper collaboration from A Star Is Born.

Paul Kelly sees his 24th studio album "Nature" become his second successive No.1 on the ARIA Albums Chart this week.

Calling "Shotgun" at the No.1 spot again is George Ezra for a fifth straight week at the top of the ARIA Singles Chart.

This week at iHeartRadio Music News powered by it is our biggest week every with extended interviews from Bryan Ferry, David Draiman of Disturbed, Mario McNulty, the producer of the new edition of David Bowie ‘Never Let Me Down’, Wreckless Eric, PP Arnold and Mike Kroeger of Nickelback.

Jimmy Barnes, Midnight Oil, James Reyne and Daryl Braithwaite are just some of the artists who have contributed to the Sony release ‘Drought Relief’, to raise funds for Australia’s struggling farmers.

Australia’s Skegss and Amyl & The Sniffers and New Zealand’s The Chills will perform at SXSW 2019.

Nominees for the 2018 Screen Music Awards have been revealed with front-runners Antony Partos and Matteo Zingales leading the nominations in four categories.

Baby Animals’ guitarist Dave Leslie has a Guitar Workshop coming up with a full band to showcase.

The fifth studio album for the American duo twenty one pilots entitled "Trench" debuts in the top spot of the ARIA Albums Chart this week, becoming their first No.1 album in Australia.

It's a fourth week at the top of the ARIA Singles Chart for the George Ezra track "Shotgun", plus the song also holds for a second week at the summit in New Zealand.

The Victorian government is once again leading the Arts community with support for The Age Music Victoria Awards. Premier Daniel Andrews has announced a $10,000 cash prize for Best Victorian Album.

Def Leppard, Radiohead and Roxy Music have made The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2019 shortlist.

Bluesfest has revealed its second major announcement for 2018 with Paul Kelly, David Gray and Gary Clark Jr leading the line-up.

Comedy crew The Chaser have out-Jonesed Alan Jones by projecting his phone number onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House.

When it comes to the Official Albums Chart Number 1, Rod Stewart certainly wears it well. The legendary singer has scored his ninth chart-topper with Blood Red Roses, beating fellow icon Cher into second place.

The seventh studio album for local group The John Butler Trio entitled "Home" becomes the acts fourth No.1 album in Australia this week.

George Ezra keeps his "Shotgun" loaded at the top of the ARIA Singles Chart for a third straight week, plus the song is now at the top in New Zealand (1st week) and is also 2x▲Platinum in sales here.

Major new titles coming this week from: twenty one pilots, Coheed & Cambria, Echo & The Bunnymen, Monuments, High Cornwell, You Me at Six, T.I., Katie Melua (GH), Judah Kelly, Broderick Smith, Cat Power, Bob Evans, Steve Perry, John Lennon's Imagine re-issue, Triple J's Like a Version Vol.14 and the soundtracks for 'Venom' and the new 'A Star is Born' with Lady Gaga.

After 32 years as Managing Director of Mushroom Publishing, respected Australian music industry icon Ian James is standing down.

It's a fourth week at No.1 for the Eminem set "Kamikaze" becoming the third longest run at No.1 during 2018 on the albums chart.

George Ezra hits the No.1 target for a second week with his song "Shotgun", with Australia now the fifth country to make it a chart-topping hit, previously it hit No.1 in England (4 wks), Ireland (9 wks), The Netherlands (2 wks) and currently sits at the top in Belgium (3rd wk).

Live Nation, the world’s leading live entertainment company released findings today from The Power of Live, a global study that captured trends and behaviours of 22,500 live music fans, from 11 countries, ranging ages 13 to 65. Conducted in partnership with research agency Culture Co-op, the findings revealed that in today’s digital age, live music is more necessary than ever and creates the ultimate human connection.

Major new titles coming this week from: John Butler Trio, Kodaline, Loretta Lynn, Sigala, Cher, Against the Current, Tom Petty (GH), Phil Collins (GH), The Living End, Mudhoney, Cypress Hill, Seasick Steve, Rod Stewart, Logic, alt-J, Anti-Flag, Chic, Lupe Fiasco, Ben Browning and Eddi Reader.

The second NSW Parliamentary Friends of Australian Music (PFOAM) event rocked Macquarie Street last night, with a delegation of New South Wales songwriters, musicians, recording artists and key industry leaders highlighting the contribution the contemporary music industry makes to our economy, our community and our culture.