Fans of the Ghostbusters franchise are going to love watching the chemistry among the Ghostbusters cast, featuring iconic actors such as Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis. The film’s blend of humor and supernatural elements undoubtedly led to numerous unexpected and hilarious moments during filming, adding an extra layer of excitement to the blooper reel.
30-Minutes Of Strawberry Fields, The Canceled CGI Beatles Movie From 1989
This is a half-hour WIP reel for the canceled animated film Strawberry Fields. Strawberry Fields, conceptualized in 1985, was supposed to be a psudeo-sequel to the film Yellow Submarine, produced by Al Brodax. Brodax had made a deal with the Computer Graphics Laboratory of the New York Institute of Technology to create a new feature length animated film done completely in CGI. It would feature songs by The Beatles the same was as Yellow Submarine had done, but be a new narrative with original characters, omitting the Beatles themselves entirely. Given that Apple Records no longer owned the rights to the Beatles catalog, Brodax had to make an agreement with Vestron and ITC Productions, two companies that promised that they could give the permission for their usage.
During production it was discovered that the technology was not advanced enough to be able to animate human beings properly. Because of this, it was decided that the characters would be 2D animated and placed on top of 3D rendered environments. The 2D animation was managed by Al Lowenheim and Lion’s Den Studios before it slowed down in 1989 when campus owner and founder Alexander Schure disagreed with the use of 2D animation. Attempts were made to switch it back to 3D animation, however when Vestron and ITC Productions confessed that they don’t actually have the rights, the film came to a halt in 1992.
There were a few pieces produced between 1989-1992 that are not included within this reel, however the majority of which that is known to exist is here.
There are some scenes that may seem confusing besides the fact that they are out of order. This is because, according to art director David Lubell, that CGL threw in some things that they had already animated beforehand into the reel because they thought it might fit. They might have also been included to gain the trust of potential investors in their impressive quality. For example, one of the beginning scenes with an ant constructing a sphere was taken from CGL’s previous feature film The Works, which was shelved in 1986.
The source of this tape would like to remain anonymous.
Despite previous rumors, Don Bluth was not part of this film. However, animator Jeff Merghart, who worked on An American Tale, was a key member of the animation team. Bluth’s style likely heavily influenced Merghart and therefore the look of the film.
The complete soundtrack was intended to be:
Michael Jackson – Come Together
Cyndi Lauper – Across the Unierse
Crosby, Stills & Nash – Blackbird
Robert Palmer – Baby, You’re a Rich Man
Siedah Garrett – Hey Jude
Cheap Trick – Magical Mystery Tour
Luther Vandross – Michelle
Stevie Ray Vaughan – Taxman
N/A – Strawberry Fields
A handful of these songs can be heard in the reel, a few of which were recorded specifically for it. Cyndi Lauper’s cover of Across The Universe is not included but can be found uploaded on YouTube as a bootleg copy. Jackson’s cover of Come Together is pulled from the same performance on the 1988 film Moonwalker.
Bassist Performs A Wicked Solo On His 360° Spinning Neck Guitar
Renowned musician Charles Berthoud showcased his exceptional talent by delivering a vibrant instrumental performance on a revolutionary Bluetooth-enabled guitar/bass hybrid, complete with a neck capable of spinning a full 360°. Crafted by the innovative Swedish musician Mattias Krantz, this one-of-a-kind instrument was generously loaned to Berthoud, adding a captivating dimension to his musical expression.
Government Increases Canada Music Fund by $32 Million
Today, the federal government announced an increase to the Canada Music Fund of $32 million annually over the next two years. Given the government’s fiscal constraints, this is very welcomed news and marks the first increase to the Fund since 2019.
For decades the Canada Music Fund has been a critically important investment source for Canadian-owned music companies and artists. However, in recent years the explosive growth of the sector has greatly increased demands on the Fund beyond its current capacity. That is why, ahead of Budget 2024-25, music organizations nationwide joined forces to call for a permanent increase of the Canada Music Fund. While falling short of the government’s promise of $50 million, this increased investment signifies progress in bolstering the industry’s growth and stability.
“As the voice of the Canadian-owned music sector, CIMA applauds the government’s increased investment in the Canada Music Fund,” said Andrew Cash, CIMA President. “This is a recognition of music’s significant contribution to our cultural fabric and national economy. CIMA will continue to work closely with our government partners to ensure that the Canadian-owned music sector receives the investments necessary to continue to thrive both domestically and internationally.”
Founded in 1975 CIMA is the not-for-profit national trade association representing over 350 Canadian-owned music companies connected to over 6000 artists in every province and territory in Canada. CIMA’s membership ranges from individual artists and solopreneurs to Canadian-owned global music companies. CIMA’s mission is to empower and engage Canada’s music community to build and sustain equitable, inclusive, diverse, and successful global businesses and careers through advocacy, professional development, collaboration, networking, and celebration.
Winners announced for The 53rd Annual JUNO Awards
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and CBC celebrated Canada’s Biggest Night in Music this evening at The 53rd Annual JUNO Awards Broadcast. Hosted by legendary singer, songwriter and pop superstar Nelly Furtado, the awards were broadcast from Scotiabank Centre in Halifax on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music’s YouTube page.
JUNOS’ most decorated artist and Nova Scotian Anne Murray took to the stage to present the Group of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada to The Beaches. Following their win, The Beaches also took to the stage with a dynamic performance to cap off a stellar weekend for the band, winning Rock Album of the Year the previous night as well.
Two other performers went home with JUNO Awards this evening, TALK with Breakthrough Artist of the Year Presented by FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters and Charlotte Cardin won Album of the Year Presented by Music Canada for her hit album “99 nights.” Charlotte also went home with Pop Album of the Year the previous night.
Canadians were given the option to vote for the TikTok JUNO Fan Choice, which was awarded to Karan Aujla.
The evening’s broadcast included the induction of Maestro Fresh Wes to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, his Induction was Presented by JUNOS Premier Sponsor, TD. The honour was presented to him by Kardinal Offishall who also introduced Maestro Fresh Wes ahead of his incredible performance.
The MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by Anthem Entertainment, was awarded to, Stephen Richardson (École St. Joseph School, Yellowknife, NT) not only for his impact on students in kindergarten through to grade 12 but also his dedication to the Yellowknife community and the music education field. He is the first educator from the Northwest Territories to win this award and has been nominated for this award three times before.
The 2024 JUNO Awards Broadcast featured additional performances from some of Canada’s brightest stars. Host Nelly Furtado took to the stage to wow the crowd with her performance followed by Karan Aujla (2024 Breakthrough Artist of the Year Presented by FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters nominee) and Ikky who impressed the audience with their performance. A powerful performance from Jeremy Dutcher & 2024 JUNO Award winner Elisapie ft. the fiery Mi’kmaq fiddler Morgan Toney and artistic creator Sarah Prosper. A double award winner from the JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada, Songwriter of the Year Presented by SOCAN and Alternative Album of the Year, Aysanabee joined Alexandra Stréliski and Allison Russell, winner of the 2024 JUNO Award for Music Video of the Year. Country artist Josh Ross took to the stage to put on an exhilarating performance.
The evening’s star-studded roster of presenters included CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Best in Miniature host, Aba Amuquandoh, Two-Spirit nurse practitioner and talented drag artist Anita LandBack, Canadian music legend Jim Cuddy, co-founder and executive director of the Wabanaki Two-Spirit Alliance John R Sylliboy, actor/comedian Jonny Harris from CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries and Still Standing, 2024 Single of the Year an Breakthrough Artist of the Year Presented by FACTOR, the Government of Canada and Canada’s private Radio broadcasters nominee and pop singer/songwriter LU KALA, R&B/dancehall fusion and 2024 Reggae Recording of the Year nominee Omega Mighty, Minister of Canadian Heritage The Honourable Pascale St-Onge and JUNO Award winner and 2024 nominee William Prince. Crash Adams were the 2024 TikTok JUNO Fan Choice Award presenters and CBC Music’s Odario Williams brought this Afterdark groove to the JUNO party as the Broadcast announcer.
Cage The Elephant Announce 45-Date North American Summer Tour
Today, Cage The Elephant, the GRAMMY Award winning rock band mark their return and announce both the release of their forthcoming sixth studio album, Neon Pill (May 17, RCA Records) and their 45-date North American summer tour. The new album finds the Kentucky-bred six piece—brothers Matthew Shultz [vocals] and Brad Shultz [guitar], Daniel Tichenor [bass], Jared Champion [drums], Nick Bockrath [lead guitar], and Matthan Minster [guitar, keys, backing vocals]— forging new musical ground, while maintaining their uncompromising creativity and wildly cathartic performances. “To me, Neon Pill is the first record where we were consistently uninfluenced, and I mean that in a positive way,” observes Matthew. “Everything is undoubtedly expressed through having settled into finding our own voice. We’ve always drawn inspiration from artists we love, and at times we’ve even emulated some of them to a certain degree. With this album, having gone through so much, life had almost forced us into becoming more and more comfortable with ourselves. We weren’t reaching for much outside of the pure experience of self expression, and simultaneously not necessarily settling either. We just found a uniqueness in simply existing.”
From their humble beginnings in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Cage The Elephant have gone on to become one of the generation’s premier rock bands. They have earned dozens of Gold, Platinum, and Multiplatinum certifications, tallied over 5 billion streams, and notched ten #1 records on Alternative Radio and 5 #1 records on Triple A Radio. Their previous two albums Tell Me I’m Pretty [2015] and Social Cues [2019] garnered consecutive Best Rock Album GRAMMY Awards. They are maybe most celebrated for their live show. The stage is their home turf, where they are most comfortable, and their performances, ecstatic and unchained, as well as cathartic and soul bearing are what Neon Pill achieves in documenting.
Neon Pill, produced by John Hill, materialized during sessions at Sonic Ranch in El Paso, Electric Lady in New York, Sound Emporium in Nashville, Echo Mountain in North Carolina, and at Hill’s own studio in Los Angeles, and alchemized a season of tragedy and turbulence into the twelve tracks on their sixth full-length album. Nine months into the pandemic, Matthew and Brad lost their father. The band weathered the back-to-back deaths of friends, while Matthew experience depression and a mental breakdown, culminating in hospitalization. Coming out on the other side, he learned quite a bit about himself, and gained a whole lot of strength and wisdom. Neon Pill came to life in the eye of the storm.
Today, the band share their new song, “Out Loud” the emotional centerpiece of Neon Pill. Backed by stark piano, Matthew’s bare delivery quakes as he sings, “Man, I really messed up now.” “Maybe it’s so straightforward and honest, because I didn’t know if it would see the light of day,” he admits. “‘Out Loud’ is very connected to my father. My dad’s the reason we discovered music in the first place. When he died, ‘Out Loud’ just poured out of me. My efforts towards the song were deeply rooted in paying honor to him, and I knew it meant a lot to Brad too,” he remarks. That, also in connection with the difficulties that I was dealing with at that time. It was almost a subconscious apology of sorts before I was fully capable of grasping the gravity of it all. Subconsciously working through it while channeling all of the adversity my family faced growing up coming full circle into my adult life in this one song.” The release of this song follows the latest single, “Neon Pill.”
Since forming in 2006, Cage The Elephant have quietly bloomed as one of this generation’s premier rock bands buoyed by uncompromising creativity and wildly cathartic performances. Thus far, they have earned dozens of Gold, Platinum, and Multi Platinum certifications, tallied 5 billion streams and counting, and notched ten #1 records on Alternative Radio and 5 #1 records on Triple A Radio. The guys consecutively garnered two GRAMMY Awards in the category of “Best Rock Album” for both Tell Me I’m Pretty [2015] and Social Cues [2019]. Of the latter, Entertainment Weekly raved, “The album’s introspection paired with its urgent energy make Cage The Elephant sound more passionate than ever.” In the meantime, their music has also surged through popular culture as “Cigarette Daydreams” graced the soundtrack of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 blockbuster video game, “Goodbye” appeared in The Summer I Turned Pretty, and “Trouble” powered a global campaign for Amazon Prime. Plus, they’re the rare force of nature who can inspire millions of TikTok creates or hold their own on stage with Dave Grohl and duet with Iggy Pop and Beck. The Kentucky-bred six-piece instinctually lean on their enduring bond as both musicians and friends to get through anything and everything. Together, the band members make sense of life’s unpredictability and uncertainty via music. Moments of elation might take the form of sticky hooks, swaggering rhythms, or upbeat guitars, while tense riffs and jittery grooves could give shape to feelings of anxiety, doubt, or instability. As such, the group fearlessly alchemize a season of tragedy and turbulence into the twelve tracks on their sixth full-length album, Neon Pill [RCA Records].
Cage The Elephant Tour Dates
June 20 – West Valley City, UT at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre^
June 22 – Seattle, WA at Climate Pledge Arena^
June 23 – Ridgefield, WA at RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater^
June 24 – Bend, OR at Hayden Homes Amphitheater^
June 26 – Vancouver, BC at Rogers Arena^
June 28 – Edmonton, AB at Rogers Place^
June 30 – Spokane, WA at BECU Live at Northern Quest^
July 2 – San Francisco, CA at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium*
July 3 – Santa Barbara, CA at Santa Barbara Bowl^
July 5 – Phoenix, AZ at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre^
July 6 – San Diego, CA at Viejas Arena^
July 7 – Los Angeles, CA at Kia Forum^
July 9 – Albuquerque, NM at Isleta Amphitheater^
July 11 – Austin, TX at Moody Center^
July 12 – Houston, TX at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman^
July 13 – Fort Worth, TX at Dickies Arena^
July 15 – Rogers, AR at Walmart AMP^
Aug 2 – Alpharetta, GA at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre*
Aug 3 – Raleigh, NC at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek^
Aug 4 – Charlotte, NC at PNC Music Pavilion*
Aug 7 – Noblesville, IN at Ruoff Music Center^
Aug 8 – Madison, WI at Breese Stevens Field^
Aug 10 – Winnipeg, MB at Canada Life Centre^
Aug 12 – Minneapolis, MN at Target Center^
Aug 14 – Chicago, IL at Credit Union 1 Arena at UIC^
Aug 16 – Grand Rapids, MI at Van Andel Arena^
Aug 18 – Saratoga Springs, NY at Broadview Stage at SPAC^
Aug 19 – Bridgeport, CT at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater^
Aug 21 – Gilford, NH at BankNH Pavilion^
Aug 22 – Mansfield, MA at Xfinity Center*
Aug 24 – Holmdel, NJ at PNC Bank Arts Center^
Aug 26 – Montreal, QC at Centre Bell^
Aug 27 – Toronto, ON at Budweiser Stage^
Aug 29 – Burgettstown, PA at The Pavilion at Star Lake^
Aug 30 – Cincinnati, OH at Riverbend Music Center^
Sept 5 – New York, NY at Madison Square Garden^
Sept 6 – Philadelphia, PA at TD Pavilion at the Mann^
Sept 7 – Lewiston, NY at Artpark Mainstage Theater^
Sept 9 – Cleveland, OH at Blossom Music Center^
Sept 10 – Detroit, MI at Pine Knob Music Theatre^
Sept 12 – St. Louis, MO at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre^
Sept 13 – Des Moines, IA at Wells Fargo Arena^
Sept 14 – Kansas City, MO at Starlight Theatre^
Sept 16 – Omaha, NE at CHI Health Center Omaha^
Sept 18 – Denver, CO at Red Rocks Amphitheatre*
^with Young The Giant and Bakar
* with Bakar
IU Announces First-Ever North American Run On 2024 ‘HER World Tour’
Today, singer-songwriter, composer and actress IU announced North America dates on her upcoming 2024 HER World Tour. Produced by Live Nation and FPC Live, the 6-date outing marks IU’s first outing across the continent, kicking off on Monday, July 15 in Newark, NJ at Prudential Center, with stops across the U.S. in Atlanta, GA, Washington, DC, Rosemont, IL, and Oakland, CA, before wrapping up on Friday, August 2 in Los Angeles, CA at The Kia Forum.
In addition to the tour, IU will star in the upcoming romantic Netflix K-drama ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines,’ which will release later this year.
Since her debut in 2008, IU has solidified her position as a top artist in the Korean music industry, thanks to her remarkable vocal talent and creative endeavors. Continuously refining her music production skills, IU has explored various musical avenues, earning praise for musical diversity and emotional depth, consistently topping music charts. Her iconic tracks include
On February 20th, after a hiatus of about 2 years and 2 months, IU released her 6th mini album
IU HER WORLD TOUR 2024 – NORTH AMERICA DATES:
Mon Jul 15 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
Fri Jul 19 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Mon Jul 22 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
Thu Jul 25 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
Tue Jul 30 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
Fri Aug 02 – Los Angeles, CA – The Kia Forum
From Ashes To New Announce Headlining U.S. Tour “The Blackout Tour Pt. 2”
Alt-metal vanguards FROM ASHES TO NEW today, February 27, announce a headlining U.S. tour this spring with direct support from California-based rockers Point North in addition to special guests including heart-hop rapper Ekoh, emo rapper Phix, and hip-hop/rock artist elijah. Produced by Live Nation, “The Blackout Tour Pt. 2” will kick off Tuesday, April 30 in Albany, NY and run through Thursday, June 13 in Lincoln, NE.
“We are beyond excited to unveil our highly anticipated Blackout Tour Part 2,” says vocalist DANNY CASE. “The response to Part 1 was so overwhelmingly positive that we knew we had to bring our most exciting show yet to new cities that missed out on the first round. Once again, we are pulling all the stops and bringing along our brothers in Point North, Ekoh, Phix, and Elijah to make each show a night to remember. Lastly, this tour is not just about music; it’s about creating unforgettable experiences and connecting with fans old and new. Get ready to join us on this incredible journey!”
“We are stoked to get out there this spring with From Ashes To New,” shares POINT NORTH vocalist Jon Lundin. “We can’t wait to perform some new songs from our new album, as well as a few old favorites for our long time Point North fans. This will be unforgettable, and we look forward to hearing everyone singing along!”
FROM ASHES TO NEW’s blend of hard rock, hip-hop, electronic, and alternative music has built them a diverse and dedicated fanbase across the globe. “There’s an exciting immediacy to their sound that recalls the music renaissance of the late 90s and early 2000s… It’s that sweet spot of mass appeal where there’s a little something for everyone, be it From Ashes to New’s hip-hop side, their heavier metallic side, or their arena-sized choruses.” (KNOTFEST)
2023 saw FROM ASHES TO NEW achieve their fifth-ever Top 10-charting rock radio single with “Hate Me Too”—one of “The Most-Played Songs On Rock Radio in 2023” via Loudwire— taken from their critically acclaimed #1-charting concept album BLACKOUT released earlier that year via Better Noise Music. Find BLACKOUT on digital download, CD, vinyl or cassette at https://fatn.ffm.to/blackoutalbum. The group ended the monumental year with album track “Nightmare” peaking at #5 and the completion of a successful U.S. headlining tour with The Word Alive, Catch Your Breath, and Ekoh which concluded with two sold-out shows at their hometown venue, Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, in Harrisburg, PA.
FROM ASHES TO NEW – “THE BLACKOUT TOUR PT. 2”
with Point North, Ekoh, Phix and elijah
4/30 Albany, NY – Empire Live
5/1 Huntington, NY – The Paramount
5/2 Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
5/4 New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
5/5 Philadelphia, PA – TLA
5/6 New York, NY – The Gramercy Theatre
5/8 Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
5/9 Orlando, FL – House of Blues *
5/10 Mobile, AL – Soul Kitchen
5/12 Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre
5/13 Chattanooga, TN – The Signal
5/15 Jacksonville, NC – Hooligans
5/16 Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819
5/18 Rochester, NY – Water St. Music Hall
5/19 Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Event Center
5/20 Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
5/21 Madison, WI – The Sylvee
5/23 Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theatre
5/24 Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom
5/25 Davenport, IA – Capitol Theatre
5/27 Houston, TX – House of Blues
5/28 Austin, TX – Emo’s
5/29 Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall *
5/30 San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theater
6/2 Wichita, KS – Cotillion Ballroom
6/3 Springfield, MO – Gillioz ~
6/5 Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
6/6 San Diego, CA – House of Blues
6/7 Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
6/8 Santa Ana, CA – Observatory OC
6/11 Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
6/12 Denver, CO – Summit
6/13 Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre
7/19 Caddott, WI – Rock Fest ^
7/20 Grand Rapids, MI – Upheaval Fest ^
7/21 Mansfield, OH – Inkcarceration ^
9/27 Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life ^
^ festival appearance (FATN only)
* no Point North
Alexander Stewart Announces ‘The Bleeding Hearts’ Tour
Today, Alexander Stewart announced the bleeding hearts tour. Produced by Live Nation, the 19-city tour kicks off on May 7 at House of Blues Bronze Peacock in Houston making stops across North America in Toronto, New York, Seattle and more before wrapping up in San Francisco at Cafe Du Nord on June 9.
Fans attending the bleeding hearts tour will get to see Alexander perform his recently announced single “broken by you,” due out March 8, as well as tracks from his latest EP if you only knew. Previously, Alexander has toured with artists including Charlie Puth, Benson Boone, Eric Nam and for his international headlining Blame’s On Me Tour.
Last December, Alexander released if you only knew, receiving praise from the likes of Rolling Stone who named the title track one of their “Songs You Need To Know.” The EP also features his massive hit “i wish you cheated,” which launched with a viral TikTok campaign that saw over 45 million views and led to his late-night TV debut performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Following his performance, the single became a Top 20 radio hit and broke into Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in Canada.
With over half a billion streams to his name, Alexander Stewart’s skyscraping pop sound and heartbreaking anthems have cut an impressive figure, making him one of Spotify’s Pop Rising Artists to Watch in 2024 and the second most viewed artist on TikTok in Canada last year. The Toronto-born singer-songwriter’s new EP if you only knew features his breakout hit “i wish you cheated,” which has gained over 50 million global streams, become a Top 20 radio hit in Canada and launched with a viral TikTok campaign that has amassed over 45 million views. Alexander made his late-night TV debut performing the track on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and recently performed “if you only knew,” which was named one of Rolling Stone’s Songs You Need To Know, on Late Night With Seth Meyers. Last year, Alexander toured across North America with Charlie Puth, Benson Boone, Eric Nam and for his international headlining Blame’s On Me Tour, performing in front of his rapidly growing fan base that has expanded to over 500 million global streams, 300 million views on YouTube and 125 million likes on TikTok.
the bleeding hearts tour DATES:
Tue May 07 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Bronze Peacock
Wed May 08 – Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
Sat May 11 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In
Sun May 12 – Atlanta, GA – Vinyl
Mon May 13 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground
Thu May 16 – Washington, DC – The Atlantis
Fri May 17 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House
Sat May 18 – Montreal, QC – Théâtre Beanfield
Tue May 21 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
Wed May 22 – Somerville, MA – Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre
Tue May 28 – Chicago, IL – Schubas Tavern
Wed May 29 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
Fri May 31 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater
Sat Jun 01 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
Mon Jun 03 – Calgary, AB – Commonwealth Bar & Stage
Wed Jun 05 – Vancouver, BC – Fortune Sound Club
Thu Jun 06 – Seattle, WA – Barboza
Sat Jun 08 – Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex
Sun Jun 09 – San Francisco, CA – Cafe Du Nord
ABOUT ALEXANDER STEWART
Will The City To Airport Rail Link Kill Car Parking Businesses At Tullamarine Airport ?
By Mitch Rice
Last year, the Deputy Premier of Victoria spoke at length about the issue of car parking at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport. There have been inordinate delays in the project, and the situation hasn’t been made easier by the dispute between the airport and the federal government. The tussle over the airport rail link has reached a stalemate with the airport authorities pushing for a below ground solution while the government prefers what it sees as a more feasible option above ground.
This is the main bone of contention that has delayed the project for years.
What’s Better: Above or Below Ground?
The $10 billion project that’s slated to be completed in 2029 involves several factors. The land that the airport stands on is owned by the Commonwealth and any structural plans that are proposed by the airport authorities have to be first vetted and cleared by the minister for federal infrastructure.
Some sources report that the airport authorities may be deliberately creating a stalemate so that they can rake in the humongous profits generated by airport car parking on the premises.
Airport spokespersons opine that there are several issues that make an above ground project not viable, including technical problems, safety issues, the need for complete weather-proofing, and difficulties in passenger access.
The government’s contention is that an above ground solution is much cheaper and faster to complete. Tunnel boring machines are already in use on other rail links nearby and it would be convenient to shift them, saving time and money. This is being countered by the Tulla authorities who say it is ugly and it would inconvenience passengers who have to traverse the windswept Tullamarine Airport grounds to reach their respective terminals.
Successive governments have put the project on the back burner, recommending that it wait till there is adequate passenger demand. Currently, the return on investment is not enough to justify such a major expense.
On the other hand, Tullamarine is now the second busiest airport in the country. Perth, Sydney and Brisbane have their own rail links similar to other big cities across the world. In opposition, it must be noted that Victoria currently faces a massive debt problem, and this may not be the right time for big ticket infrastructure projects. Construction prices are at an all time high and it makes more economic sense to pull back on big spending right now till prices become more stable.
Benefits of Rail Link
As Melbourne continues to expand and push existing boundaries, planning for the future is crucial. Sunshine station is proposed to be the transport hub that links other important rail, metro and regional train services.
Enhanced station facilities, better connectivity with bus and road services, improved pavements, improvement in road and pedestrian access, open spaces for future developments and more are among the big benefits that are pegged to the city to airport rail link project.
Travel time from the Central Business District in Melbourne can be reduced to under 30 minutes with no change of trains required midway. Connectivity across Melbourne will also be enhanced. Less cars will be used to get to the airport, resulting in less traffic congestion and vehicular pollution.
The project could boost employment in the local area (an estimated 8000 jobs during construction) and offer more opportunities for commercial and residential real estate development.
Airport Rail Link and Car Parking Businesses
It’s the car parking businesses that kept many airports functional and profitable during the Covid 19 pandemic. With aviation operations coming to an almost complete halt, car parking fees were one of the few sources of income for major airports across the country.
Airport parking has always been more attractive to travelers, especially international ones. Negotiating public transport with heavy luggage, children and seniors, or persons who use wheelchairs is not easy. Driving straight to the airport in the comfort of your own car, pre-booking your parking, and leaving your vehicle there in safe custody makes the travel experience hassle free and pleasant.
Many off-site parking facilities around Tullamarine offer attractive rates and advanced security facilities. They also provide loyalty programs for frequent use of the parking and this helps to save money that you can use elsewhere on your travels.
One of the sticking points in the project is the potential demise of the airport car parking business. Recent estimates show that the airport collects between $400,000 to $1 million a day from car parking fees. This figure far outstrips collections from any other airport in the country.
Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport is the only international airport that does not have rail link services. There is widespread speculation that originally there was a master plan to include rail link infrastructure when the airport was first constructed. This information remains unconfirmed.
Unfortunately, the rail link issue has turned into a political tinderbox over the decades, and no political party wants to take a firm stand on it.
Advocates of the rail link cite reasons of the enormous reduction in vehicular pollution when the link becomes operational. However, they forget that a massive project such as this would create its own environmental pollution hazards. The cost of running such a major electrical network would also be huge, both in financial and economic terms.
Many experts opine that the cost of the rail link may outweigh the benefits. Travelers may use it only a few times in a year, and this would make the whole exercise unviable.
Currently thousands of car parks may be out of operation while a major road project begins this year and will be completed only in 2026. A large number of them will be re-purposed for pick up and drop off, while some would be removed from the value parking zone while construction is underway.
As things stand, the rail link project could impact the car parking businesses at Tullamarine Airport like https://www.unitedairportparking.com.au, but it remains to be seen how much of a hit this will be. Rail links the world over have proved beneficial for some travelers but not all. If your flight timings don’t sync with the train timings, you would prefer to drive into the airport and park rather than risk missing your flight. Rail services usually have several stops en route, and that could increase travel time. The rail link service should be designed so that the coaches have adequate luggage stowing areas. The design must service multiple terminals to ensure quick and efficient movement of passengers.
Melbourne’s rail network is not among the most efficient of public transportation services. Regional services are given higher priority than metropolitan ones, and this creates blocks that could increase your stress as you race to catch your flight at the airport.
The car parking business is a mature and well-organized sector, but it will have to modify and evolve to face the undoubted impact if and when the airport rail link becomes a reality.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.