>>From News.com.au
MUSIC capital of Australia? Once maligned as a hick country town, Brisbane is now challenging Melbourne for the title of Australian rock’s centre.
US industry bible Billboard magazine has crowned Brisbane one of its five international music hot spots spawning exciting new sounds for this year, alongside Beijing, Birmingham, Berlin and Marseille.
The magazine - which tracks the most popular songs and albums internationally - insists the city’s rich vein of current talent looks set to “threaten Melbourne’s traditional role as Australia’s main music city”.
This assessment is bolstered by Brisbane’s long legacy of hugely successful acts.
There’s been the singing Gibb brothers the Bee Gees in the 60s and infectious pop duo Savage Garden in the 90s, who have globally sold more than 180 million and 40 million records, respectively.
Brisbane’s more recent successes have included rockers Powderfinger, solo sensation Pete Murray and pop princesses The Veronicas - who clinched a $2 million record deal with US label Sire Records.
