Sounds Australia & the Association of Artist Managers (AAM) are thrilled to announce MICC – the Manager’s International Conference Contribution.

The first ever MICC manager’s delegation will centre around Reeperbahn Festival 2023, taking place September 20-23, 2023. Held annually in Hamburg, Germany, Reeperbahn Festival is one of Europe’s premier music festivals and conference events for the discovery of new music from around the world.

MICC: Reeperbahn Festival Edition 2023 will see AAM member artist manager members who are attending Reeperbahn Festival with a showcasing artist automatically receive $5000 AUD, to contribute to costs associated with their international activity at the event.

In addition, EOI’s are now open to AAM member artist managers who wish to attend Reeperbahn Festival 2023 without a showcasing artist, using the event as a valuable reconnaissance opportunity to build international industry networks, export in-roads and learn more about the German market – each successful EOI applicant also receiving $5000 AUD. [Please note that only a limited number of applicants will be selected via the EOI process and all successful applicants must meet the eligibility criteria.]

“Earlier this year when announcing the AAM’s Manager of the Year Awards, I spoke of the essential role Australian managers play in our ecosystem and that more than ever they require direct support to sustain and build their careers. Sounds Australia are pleased to announce that following the release of the new National Cultural Policy by the Albanese Government and with it the commitment to recurrent and uplifted funding to the nations’ export initiative – our first targeted financial support has been earmarked for Australian artist managers to attend The Reeperbahn Festival and Conference in Hamburg.

“As the fourth biggest music market in the world, the opportunity to learn, network and grow vital connections in Germany will be extremely valuable for Australian Managers seeking to develop and maintain international careers for themselves and their artist clients.” – Millie Millgate, Executive Producer at Sounds Australia

We will once again host THE AUSSIE BBQ as part of this year’s festival, and the manager’s trade mission, led by the AAM’s Executive Director, Maggie Collins, will include networking and industry-specific activities and support for these AAM managers.

This year THE AUSSIE BBQ will showcase the talent of artists including Annie Hamilton, Bobby Alu, Gena Rose Bruce, Lime Cordiale, Telenova and more!

“In 2022, the AAM commissioned research that showed that each $1 invested in artist managers returns $19.94 to stakeholders; a Social Return On Investment that speaks to the pivotal role managers play in the music ecosystem. This figure shows how a well-supported, resourced, educated, and experienced manager will have much larger and long-lasting effects over multiple artists’ careers.

“if anyone understands this, and has witnessed it first-hand, it’s the team at Sounds Australia. Together, our organisations ultimately exist to do one thing; support those who are elevating Australian contemporary artists at a global level. The AAM and Sounds Australia have collaborated on many projects to achieve this, but none so forward-thinking and on-point as the first ever Manager’s International Conference Contribution – an initiative that provides direct financial and peer-to-peer support to assist managers who are attending global music events, as they develop and execute critical export strategies for their artists.

“This investment in Australian Managers today, will see a return for artists and the wider industry tomorrow; nearly 20 times over. We’re so excited!” – Maggie Collins, Executive Director at Association of Artist Managers (AAM) Australia

Applications are now open, and will close SUNDAY AUGUST 20, MIDNIGHT AEST.
Please visit AAM.ORG.AU/MICC2023 for full information including eligibility criteria.

 

For almost 15 years, Sounds Australia has been assisting and supporting Australian artists and music businesses as they take their first steps into overseas markets.

Now the team are taking that knowledge on the road, as they announce the Export Masterclass series. At events around the country this August, you’ll find out what Sounds Australia does, why they exist, and how you can use their showcases and networking events to further your international career.

Plus, you’ll get expert advice on how to best prepare for showcasing internationally, as well as learning about all the funding opportunities available to you.

There will also be plenty of time for questions, so if you’d like to ask the Sounds Australia team anything about performing or working overseas, this is your chance.

Head here to register for tickets, as well as for details on how to book a one-on-one meeting* in your city. 

*If you are unfamiliar with Sounds Australia, it is highly recommended you attend the masterclass prior to your meeting.

 

Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage and Sounds Australia are thrilled to present the return of THE AUSSIE BBQ SummerStage in Central Park, New York City on Saturday 17 June, in association with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

An unmissable mini-festival celebrating Australian music, THE AUSSIE BBQ SummerStage features iconic and rising acts ranging from pop, soul, alt-rock and cutting-edge hip hop. Now in its third year, the free event annually attracts thousands of New Yorkers keen to experience the breadth, diversity and history of Australian sounds.

This year’s lineup features 1300, Amy Shark, Budjerah, L-FRESH The LION, Peach PRC and Spiderbait.

Now in its third year, the event annually attracts thousands of New Yorkers keen to experience the breadth, diversity and history of Australian sounds. At the inaugural showcase in 2019, almost 5000 people came to THE AUSSIE BBQ SummerStage to see A.B. Original, Hermitude, The Teskey Brothers, Tkay Maidza, San Cisco and WAAX perform.

After a hiatus enforced by COVID lockdowns and international travel restrictions, THE AUSSIE BBQ SummerStage returned last year with a stellar lineup which featured Baker Boy, Electric Fields, G Flip, Haiku Hands, Peking Duk and You Am I.

2023 is set to be just as exciting for so many reasons. 1300, L-FRESH The LION and Peach PRC will all make their US debuts at THE AUSSIE BBQ SummerStage. It will be one of Amy Shark‘s first performances outside of Australia since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic – and her stint as a judge on Australian Idol.

Having supported Vance Joy across the world in 2022, and fresh from supporting Ed Sheeran on his recent Australian tour, Budjerah has set himself up for a massive year. And with their cover of Ram Jam’s ‘Black Betty’ going viral on TikTok, many in New York will be thrilled for the long-awaited return of cult heroes Spiderbait.

“We are so excited to host THE AUSSIE BBQ at SummerStage once again this year. This key partnership allows us to support and showcase some of the best new artists from Australia, furthering our mission to bring the world to New Yorkers’ for free.” Erika Elliott, Executive Artistic Director, SummerStage

THE AUSSIE BBQ SummerStage is a free event, with gates opening at 4pm. Set times will be announced closer to the day. For more information on the artists showcasing, head to soundsaustralia.com.au/summerstage2023.

A $3000 travel bursary is available for music writers to attend international showcases and write about Australian artists performing.

The Australia Council For The Arts is offering four travel bursaries in 2023, in partnership with Sounds Australia, supporting the creation of more content on Australian music becoming discoverable into the global market.

Priority will be given to events that are supported by Sounds Australia, and those with confirmed media content. To see which events we’ll be attending in 2023, head to our Upcoming Events page.

Travel must be completed in 2023 and the Australia Council expects all other costs including insurance, visas and travel costs to be covered by the recipient. Deadline for submission is 17 April 2023 – recipients will be notified as soon as possible after the assessment.

APPLY FOR THE MUSIC WRITERS TRAVEL BURSARY

Applicants must be over 18 years old at the time of submission with a valid passport. No more than one recipient from any one organisation. The Australia Council will not be liable for any other costs, visas or insurances and this bursary is a contribution towards travel and accommodation. For profit organisations are eligible.

If you have any questions, please contact hopadmin@australiacouncil.gov.au.

Sounds Australia, AIR, ARIA and the PPCA are now seeking expressions of interest from Australian independent labels to take part in an Australian delegation to attend Indie Week 2023, an independent label focused conference hosted by A2IM (American Association of Independent Music) from June 12 – 15, 2023 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Times Square in New York City.

A2IM Indie Week is a four-day international conference and networking event aimed at maximising the global impact of Independent music. Featuring keynotes, panels, exclusive networking sessions, and more, A2IM Indie Week has historically drawn an attendance of over 1200 participants from over 30 countries. 

Indie Week is a member-only conference for record labels and service providers with a strong focus on the exploitation of master recordings, licensing, networking and digital. AIR & Sounds Australia have led Australian delegations to Indie Week since 2013 and we have again been extended an invitation to lead a delegation to Indie Week in 2023.

Sounds Australia will be covering registration costs for successful applicants – valued at $549.99 USD.

Sounds Australia will also host THE AUSSIE BBQ showcase in New York on Saturday June 17, 2023. All Australian Indie Week delegates will be invited as VIP guests to THE AUSSIE BBQ which will also include an exclusive network luncheon with key New York music industry before the showcase performance.

Due to limited capacity, we ask all interested parties to show an expression of interest by filling out this survey BY TUESDAY MARCH 28 2023 – it shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes to complete.

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE SURVEY


In trying to ensure that attendees get the most benefit from the conference, we have set some minimum requirements. You will need to satisfy these requirements for your application to be considered. They are as follows:

• Australian attendees are responsible for booking and funding all flights, transfers, insurance and accommodation themselves.

• To apply a label must be an associate, full or distributor member of AIR, an independent member of ARIA, or an Australian independent licensor of PPCA. Due to limited capacity and the small number of invitations, all attending Australian labels must have a catalogue of at least five albums and represent the music of at least three artists. It is expected that they are digitally pro-active and are doing business internationally.

If you have any questions regarding your eligibility please contact Maria Amato via email maria@air.org.au

The Australian delegation to Indie Week will be co-ordinated by AIR and supported by Sounds Australia, ARIA and PPCA.

South Australian act Tkay Maidza showcasing with Sounds Australia at THE AUSSIE BBQ SummerStage in New York City in 2019.

South Australian musicians will have access to an Australia-first initiative to support their journey to specific international music events throughout 2023.
 
Through an Export Contribution Fund, the South Australian Government’s Music Development Office and Sounds Australia will provide a non-competitive $3,000 contribution to travel costs for eligible artists who receive an official invitation to showcase at Folk Alliance International (Kansas, USA), SXSW (Austin, USA), The Great Escape Festival (Brighton, UK), Americanafest (Nashville, USA) and The Reeperbahn Festival (Hamburg, Germany).
 
This partnership recognises the increasing barriers to market entry for South Australian export-ready artists and is aimed at easing their financial burden, allowing them to make the most of their international opportunities.
 
The inaugural beneficiaries of the SA Export Contribution Fund include Dean Forever, Germein, MANE, PINES, Teenage Joans and TUSHAR, who have all been invited to officially showcase at SXSW in Austin, Texas this March.
 
“One of the best ways to grow the profile of our many talented musicians here in South Australia is to assist with music export.” says Andrea Michaels, South Australian Minister for Small and Family Business, Consumer and Business Affairs, and Arts. “It is great to see that five South Australian acts have already been invited to be showcased at SXSW – the most we have ever had from our state – and they will benefit from this initiative.

“The South Australian Government – through the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science’s Music Development Office – is proud to partner with Sounds Australia on the Export Contribution Fund to help showcase our talented South Australian musicians all over the world. We want to continue to build on Adelaide’s status as Australia’s only UNESCO City of Music and being able to perform at these events will work towards this goal.
 
Sounds Australia’s Executive Producer, Millie Millgate, says: “The creation of a dedicated Export Contribution Fund is the first of its kind in Australia and we are inspired by the South Australian Music Development Office who have seriously thought about where their artists need tangible support and have strategically created such a simple and effective program. Sounds Australia is proud to partner in its delivery and look forward to working with the South Australian acts and industry in their forthcoming export endeavours.”

More information on the fund and the application process is available here: https://soundsaustralia.com.au/funding/sa/

January 30th 2023 is a date we will not forget.

The announcement on Monday by Minister For The Arts Tony Burke MP and the Albanese Government to inject $69 million into the music industry, with the creation of Music Australia, is unprecedented and truly celebrated.

The very fact that the Labor Government recognises that “one of the best ways you can support artist incomes is to help them gain an international following, which includes helping Australian artists share the stage at festivals around the globe” is inspiring.

It’s also extremely refreshing to hear the Arts Minister recognise the value of “investing in strategies to support creatives with the ambition of landing commercial hits”.

We welcome the continued and increased funding for Sounds Australia by the Department for the Arts and look forward to seeing Australian music grow worldwide in the coming years through targeted investment and tailored export initiatives via Music Australia.

YOU CAN READ THE NATIONAL CULTURAL POLICY HERE

The third and final round of Sounds Australia’s Export Stimulus (SAES) package has been awarded to more of Australia’s local music industry made up of artists, producers, songwriters, composers, managers, publishers and crew. The funds will support wide-ranging international activity including touring, songwriting, producing, industry meetings and tour/technical support.

Over $369,000 was awarded to 27 successful applicants, made up of 104 individuals.

“With the help of the SAES grant, Psycroptic has been able to restart International touring activities within the North & South American markets. After 2 years of complete shutdown of the music industry, the SAES grant has helped reopen a door to international markets that was firmly shut – allowing us to resume our career within the industry.” – Dave Haley, Psycroptic

The SAES program was created in 2021, during a time of national lockdowns and international border closures. With the support of the Australian Government, APRA AMCOS, ARIA, PPCA and the Australia Council for the Arts, the SAES grant has assisted established artists and industry professionals in re-entering the international music market, playing a significant role in presenting Australia as a nation of sought-after talent, reigniting foreign trade networks and triggering much-needed income for these important Australian music businesses.

Across three rounds, $1,213,609.32 has been awarded to 90 successful applicants, made up of 328 individuals. The targeted funding aimed to specifically counter the increased costs associated with exporting in a time of COVID-19, including increased insurance premiums, COVID-19 compliance consumables and expediting US visas.

“Sounds Australia’s Export Stimulus grants were born out of a need to provide urgent and much needed financial support to exporting artists and professionals during COVID-19. This was critical during a time of enforced borders and significantly increased pandemic costs.

“What is now clear, however, is that the international appetite for Australian acts is huge and growing. The time is now ripe for the establishment of a dedicated and ongoing Commonwealth Music Export Development Fund that supports artists and industry professionals at all levels of their exporting careers.” – Millie Millgate, Executive Producer, Sounds Australia

The extremely high quality and increased quantity of submissions was again judged by an external panel of experienced assessors made up of Cameron Adams, Leanne de Souza, Paul Mason, Sam Cook and Sosefina Fuamoli.

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS FOR SAES ROUND 3 CAN BE FOUND HERE

 

Following the resounding success of the first two editions in 2020 and 2021, Global Music Match returns for a third year.

The groundbreaking initiative was recognised by the international music industry at WOMEX last October, receiving their prestigious Professional Excellence Award. The latest iteration of Global Music Match will feature 58 artists from 16 countries and four continents in an export academy for developing artists. Participants from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Catalonia, Chile, Denmark, England, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Scotland, Taiwan, USA and Wales are set to collaborate over the coming three months, in what is widely considered to be the world’s largest online musical collaboration program.

Five Australian artists will take part in this year’s Global Music Match:
Camille Trail
Hannah Acfield
Kelly Brouhaha
Kim Yang
Mickey & Michelle
 
Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and created by founding partners Sounds Australia, Showcase Scotland Expo, English Folk Expo and Canada’s East Coast Music Association (ECMA) as a unique and direct response to the sudden limitations imposed on the worldwide music industry and, in particular, international showcasing, Global Music Match has become a valuable artist development program. 

The Australians taking part in Global Music Match: (L-R) Camille Trail, Hannah Acfield, Kelly Brouhaha, Kim Yang, Mickey & Michelle

The third iteration of Global Music Match has evolved to focus on emerging artists who are just starting to explore and embark on their international careers. The 59 selected artists will develop their social media skills, learn about new markets, interact and collaborate with fellow musicians online all while creating new and engaging content.

Participating artists are grouped into international teams of six, from different countries, and over the coming 14 weeks will collaborate with each other online. Each act has an assigned ten-day Spotlight period, during which time their five teammates will introduce them to five new international audiences – an invaluable opportunity, given that many of these artists haven’t yet had the opportunity to tour internationally.

Each team is led by an international coach – all of whom are leading festival directors, programmers and publicity managers within the folk/roots genres. Artists will be coached throughout the project by respected figureheads from events including Glastonbury Festival (England), New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (USA), Knockengorroch Festival (Scotland), Manchester Folk Festival (England), Montelago Celtic Festival (Italy), AmericanaFest UK (England), Vancouver Island Music Fest (Canada) and World Music Festival (Chile). 

Participating organisations for 2022 include the founding partners (Sounds Australia, Showcase Scotland Expo, English Folk Expo and Canada’s East Coast Music Association (ECMA), alongside returning export music offices (EMOs): the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA), Catalan Arts (Catalonia), Chile Música, Export Music Sweden, FOCUS Wales, Folk Alliance International (USA), Iceland Music, LUCfest (Taiwan), Music Finland, Music Norway and Tempi (Denmark). In addition two new EMOs have joined in 2022: Brasil Música & Artes (BM&A) and Why Portugal. 

The inaugural Global Music Match program culminated in a four-hour-long online broadcast at Folk Unlocked, the acclaimed digital edition of the Folk Alliance International conference in the USA in February 2021. Following on from the WOMEX award, the success and popularity of Global Music Match continues to grow and gain worldwide recognition. Discussions are now underway to hold a live showcase event at Showcase Scotland 2023 as part of Celtic Connections festival, where artists from previous editions of Global Music Match will feature.

To see all the artists participating in this year’s edition, head to globalmusicmatch.com and follow the #globalmusicmatch hashtag on socials for the next couple of months to discover the amazing collaborations and content being created.

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In May this year, 24 Australian artists travelled to Brighton, UK to showcase at The Great Escape Festival. It was TGE’s first festival since 2019 – and for many acts, it was their first showcase since the end of COVID-enforced restrictions.

For the next Sounds Sessions virtual panel, at 10am AEST on Tuesday July 12, you’ll hear from managers who were on the ground at The Great Escape Festival as well as for shows in Europe and the UK.

Find out what the experience was like, and what you need to be prepared for if you’re thinking of touring in that part of the world. What are the current opportunities for Australian artists and industry professionals in the UK and Europe, and what are the challenges amid rising costs around the world?

Moderated by Sounds Australia’s Dom Alessio, the panel will feature the following managers:

Dan Crannitch (Flowerkid, Wonderlick Entertainment)
Elise Naismith (Budjerah, Lemon Tree Music)
Jade Nazareth (Alex The Astronaut, One Louder)
Nathan Farrell (Telenova, Calibre Artist Management)
Phil Stevens (Stella Donnelly, Phil Stevens Management)

The panel is free, but registration through Eventbrite is essential.

REGISTER FOR THE PANEL HERE