(Feature image, from left: Fifth generation Albert family members Anna, Ingrid, Jane, Emily, Kirsty and David).
140 years after immigrant Swiss watchmaker and violinist Jacques Albert first opened the doors of Alberts in Sydney the family business is still going strong, celebrating its milestone birthday the best way they know how: joining a packed stadium rocking out to AC/DC
Alberts staff, family, friends and partners of the business have gathered in Sydney to celebrate the milestone of 140 years since the business first opened its doors in 1885.
The Alberts team got into the night’s rock ‘n roll spirit.
Timed to coincide with the Australian tour of AC/DC, one of the world’s greatest rock bands and a band Alberts is proud to have partnered with since 1974, the celebrations included a small cocktail reception at Sala in Pyrmont after which guests travelled to Accor Stadium in Homebush to be entertained by AC/DC in their second and final Sydney show.
“Music runs deeply through our history and has been part of our DNA from the very first day that Jacques Albert opened his store in King Street, Newtown in 1885. The music industry is also something I feel incredibly passionate about and proud to be a part of,” said Alberts CEO and fifth generation family member, David Albert.
Alberts recording artist John Paul Young with his grandson.
In acknowledging the extraordinary success that has come from AC/DC’s decades of dogged hard work, unwavering dedication to their own style of music, and prodigious talent, David also paid tribute to the female pioneers in the music industry who paved the way towards a more equitable industry.
Fifa Riccobono, Lynne Small, Vanessa Picken, Jenny Morris, and Millie Millgate were just a handful of the assembled guests David highlighted, alongside the dedicated wives and partners of the bands whose behind the scenes support is crucial to success.
“Every one of these women have broken down barriers, they have been trailblazers in helping shift the industry towards a more level playing field. There’s still a long way to go but we’d be a lot further behind without women like these,” said David.
Guests raised a glass to celebrate the milestone birthday.
Now in its fifth generation of ownership, this proudly family-led business continues to focus on what has always been its driving force: music, contributing towards a thriving society, backing quality people, and building long-term partnerships.
During its 140-year history, Alberts has evolved from its early days as Albert Music in King Street, Sydney, where it sold instruments and sheet music, to becoming a leading sub-publisher of the hit international songs of the day, Boomerang songsters (small, portable books of music and lyrics of popular songs), and the Boomerang mouth organ.
CEO David Albert shared stories of Alberts evolution.
In the late 1920s, Alberts expanded into radio, becoming a founding partner in what would become ABC radio, Australia’s first national radio network, before buying and running its own stable of eight national radio stations for the next 60-plus years. Alberts moved into TV when it launched locally in 1956, becoming a founding director of the newly formed ATN-7.
In the late 1960s and beyond, Alberts was instrumental in helping shape a distinctly Australian pop and rock sound. The Albert Productions record label and recording studios would give rise to some of the most enduring acts from the time: the Easybeats, Ted Mulry, John Paul Young, the Angels, Rose Tattoo and AC/DC, all of them on the Alberts label. This century the roster expanded to include Megan Washington, the Cat Empire, San Cisco, Josh Pyke and Gotye, among others.
(From left) Gabrielle Trainor AO, Chair of Albert Group Services; Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia and former Alberts Board Chair; David Albert, CEO and Emily Albert, Executive Director.
Music has continued to play a role, whether through the soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann’s groundbreaking film Strictly Ballroom, featuring Alberts artists and writers; or through Music Education: Right from the Start, a concerted nation-wide advocacy group Alberts founded that’s striving to ensure every Australian primary school child has access to a quality, sequential, and ongoing music education.
(From left): Mark Robertson of One Vision Productions, and Damon Gameau, co-founder of Regen Studios and director of the feature documentary Future Council.
Then there’s Alberts philanthropic arm, The Tony Foundation, now in its 14th year of partnering with not-for-profit organisations that focus on improving the lives of young people through music. Through Alberts Impact Ventures, Alberts is also proud to be backing more than 20 impact-driven start-ups focussed on tackling some of the world’s most pressing problems through their ingenious new businesses in the environmental, equality, mental health, and creative spaces.
Pure rock ’n’ roll power on display during AC/DC’s second and final Sydney show on their Pwr Up global tour.
Today, the business is run by David, in conjunction with a number of executive directors including fellow members of the fifth generation: Emily Albert (head of impact; head of Music Education: Right from the Start); Ingrid Albert (head of marketing; head of The Tony Foundation), and Kirsty Albert (head of legal & governance; people & culture); non-executive directors Anna Albert, Jane Albert and Katherine Albert; and board chairs Gabrielle Trainor AO, and Ronen Ghosh.
At 140 years young, the story keeps evolving.
