Daily Telegraph (Australia)
Sunday Telegraph
Savage song you won't hear
By Peter Holmes
September 17th, 2006

THE man who launched multi-million-selling pop duo Savage Garden has refused to allow one of their songs to be used on a new CD marking 20 years of the ARIA Awards.

Savage Garden's Daniel Jones and Darren Hayes broke records in 1997 when they won 10 ARIAs for their self-titled debut album, a feat that has not been bettered.

It made Savage Garden a natural choice for the anniversary CD, but manager John Woodruff has denied the Australian Recording Industry Association access to the band's songs.

"We were asked to join in and we declined,'' says Woodruff, who mortgaged his house to pay for Savage Gardens debut album in the mid-1990s.

"I usually decline the sort of albums where there are about 40 songs, because the artist only gets one-fortieth of the royalties. It's pennies (per CD) for the artists, while the record labels still make the same amount of money...

"The band is not shunning the ARIAs - it was my decision.''

ARIA's 20th anniversary double-album contains 31 songs from acts including Powderfinger, Icehouse, Missy Higgins, Kylie Minogue, The Cruel Sea, Midnight Oil and Crowded House.

It was launched at the ARIA Awards nomination event at the Art Gallery of NSW on Wednesday.

Hoodoo Gurus manager Michael McMartin said he licensed Gurus' songs to about 10 compilations a year, but only with the approval of singer Dave Faulkner.

"It keeps the back catalogue turning over,'' McMartin said.

"If each compilation sells between 20,000 and 50,000 copies, it's not retirement money, but it's handy superannuation.''

Some acts, such as AC/DC, never allow their songs to appear on compilation albums.

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