The Chamberlain Hotel recently completed a stylish makeover and is poised to become one of the hippest bars in Sydney’s CBD. A multi-purpose venue that lends itself to any occasion, the Chamberlain is right up there with the coolest of bars, yet is relaxed enough to suit work parties, hens nights, share a cocktail or two, enjoy something to eat or simply try your luck on the pokies.

Nightlife’s brief was to supply an automated playing system to control customised pre-programmed music incorporating café style, acid jazz and funky house tunes that would automatically change to suit the trading patterns and preferred demographics of the main bar, with a second source of easy listening music for the gaming area. The ideal solution here was Nightlife’s Multi-zone HDMS™ that can play two sources of music from the one system. The result, says manager Dino DeStefani, is an appropriate and comfortable atmosphere that is maximised every moment of the day without the need for staff to spend time managing the music.

Meanwhile down the road a little is Side Bar, a funky new nightspot underneath the five level Wake Up Sydney Central, a backpacking establishment rated as one of the best in the world. Side Bar is a happening place to meet, play and party. This place always rocks.

The brief here was to introduce a DJ system that could also be used to control a digital jukebox. The system was to be set up behind the bar so that the management could control the music instead of having to budget for DJs every night of the week. Naturally, the solution was to introduce Nightlife’s Professional DJ HDMS™ with interfacing digital Jukebox. When not being operated by a DJ, the HDMS™ is set to Jukebox mode and is programmed so that specific themes of music fit in with the type of parties being run by the venue. The backpackers love it and the music is played in a seamless mix just as if the DJ is in control. This creates a smooth consistent atmosphere that is fully funded by the punters.

The manager of Side Bar, Julian Leitl uses the advertising billboards to promote their various parties and take happy snaps of the revellers who then get a real kick out of seeing themselves up on the big screens.

Nightlife can provide a custom solution to suit your venue’s needs. To find out how call our sales team on 1800 679 748.

HAPPY NEW YEAR and a big welcome to 2004!!! We are off to a great start this year with a bunch of awesome new tunes for you to get your teeth into.
	When I think of summer in Australia, I think of rock festivals! The biggest and best of these is, of course, Big Day Out. BDO 2004 boasts, as always, a stellar line-up of awesome talent including Black Eyed Peas, Basement Jaxx, Metallica and Dandy Warhols to name just a few. This month on RD94 and ED94, we release a couple of pearlers from some bands featuring on the tour of Australia and New Zealand. Check out Rollover DJ from Melbourne rock outfit Jet, Growing On Me from British band The Darkness, Nashville’s Kings Of Leon and Kiwi heroes Salmonella Dub. See ya there!
	PTY LTD is on the up. I mentioned these guys a couple of months ago when their entire album, You Should Be Like This More Often, was released onto our CAFE list. Well, get excited because now we have released a video for the funky as hell, horn laced Elevator Lovin’. This Brisbane trio, consisting of Peter G (keys), Daniel Tainsh (drums/samples) and Tim Tainsh (vox/bass) have definitely come up with the goods here and this is a perfect soundtrack for the summer. It’s on CR94.
Speaking of awesome Brisbane talent, check out The Boat People and their clip to the fantastic From The Corner. Penned by drummer/vocalist Chris Pickering, ‘Corner’ is a fantastic slice of radio pop and is from the Squeaky Clean EP released early last year. Play it from RD94.
	It’s been two years since five times Grammy award winner Alicia Keys exploded onto the worldwide music scene with her debut album Songs In A Minor. This month sees Alicia return with another album called The Diary Of Alicia Keys. You Don't Know My Name is the first release from the ‘Diary’ and clearly is the stand-out track. This is Alicia at her seductive best - sweet and soulful with a hint of the tickling piano keys. Already a huge Billboard Hot 100 hit, we’ve released it on ED94.
	Nelly Furtado has been a busy girl since we last heard from her 2 years ago. Not only has she completed a fantastic second album, she also became a mother. In September, Nelly and her partner/touring DJ Lil’ Jaz became proud parents of a baby girl named Nevis. The first single from the album Folklore is the superb Powerless (Say What You Want). The song features famed banjo player Bela Fleck and is produced by long time mentors Track And Field. Check out the equally cool video from CR94.
	With the RnB/Hip-Hop dominance in the Top 100 at the moment, it’s nice to see a good pop track setting the airwaves on fire this summer. The UK’s Girls Aloud have released one massive pop track from the soundtrack to the starstudded flick Love Actually. The track in question is a cover of the Pointer Sisters 1983 classic Jump. It’s out now on CR94.
I think Goldfrapp are one of the funkiest duos around at the moment and their third single, the joyously sexual Twist is no exception. From their second album Black Cherry this song is another churning slab of chunky electro-tinged pop and we have released it this month on CR94.

	Author - Ben Preece
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	DJ David Hiscock - Newtown Hotel. When it comes to experience, 33 years worth in fact, David Hiscock is the man. David’s start in the music industry was influenced by the Melbourne scene circa 1971, and since this time he has developed an encyclopaedic knowledge of music that would be the envy of any young DJ.

After 18 years as DJ at Sydney’s popular Newtown Hotel (which has only recently become a Nightlife client), David finds “the HDMS™ a joy to work with!”

Fave artist is Sophie Ellis-Bextor and appropriately David’s favourite (theme) song of all time is “I Will Survive”! He would most like to meet Bill Gates. Why? “To thank him for all the money he quietly puts into AIDS charities.”

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WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BACK UP
From time to time we may need to do technical diagnostics on your Hard Drive Music System ( HDMS™ ), and to ensure that you have music playing whilst we troubleshoot, you will be asked to switch to your back up DVD or VCD player.

To do this you will need to find the video-audio selector which will be labelled HDMS™ or Nightlife for switch number one and Back up for switch number 2. (This does not apply to venues that have a twin system).

You will also need the back up video CDs that were supplied with your new system. Please check that you have some of these and keep them close to the back up DVD/VCD player in case of emergencies.

If you are not sure how to switch to back up, or don’t have any back up VCDs, please call the Customer Support Centre on 1800 773 468, and we will organise replacements and any necessary training for you and your staff on the use of your back up player.

News From NZ

Well, thank goodness for Nightlife!

The hospitality industry is facing new challenges from several legislative changes brought about by the New Zealand Government during 2003.

After imposing an excise tax on selected alcoholic drinks, they placed restrictions on pokie machines because of concerns about gambling. When you consider that Lotto was allowed to increase Powerball to a possible 15 million dollar jackpot (up from 8 million), and this organisation continues to feature in the top 15 of the nation’s advertisers - ahead of the likes of Harvey Norman, you have to wonder. Meanwhile, just don’t try to put a sign outside your door advertising a pokie room!

Another concern was about the effects of passive smoking on the hospitality worker. So, ignoring sound advice to introduce an air quality standard, the NZ Government pushed through the Smoking Ban just prior to Christmas. Is there a difference between the health needs of a hospitality worker and a prison worker? The answer is no, but you can still smoke in prison. Again, you have to wonder!

Whilst these changes will impact upon the hospitality industry in various ways, Nightlife Music Video will still be there to create the perfect atmosphere in your venue and keep the patrons coming back for more. As always, the team at Nightlife offers you, our valued clientele, every support and assistance, and with further exciting product and industry developments in the pipeline, the outlook for 2004 is quite encouraging.

Meanwhile, we trust that the festive season takings were good and prosperous and we look forward to working with you this year.