About
Behind every successful artist is a hardworking manager. Artist managers have a collective voice, are connected and more equipped to face challenges, and are recognised as valued core drivers of the music industry. They are crucial to the success of current and future Australian artists.
BUILDING STRONG FOUNDATIONS
SUPPORTING MANAGERS
The Association of Artist Managers (AAM) is a 350+ strong membership based community of Australian artist managers working globally. We protect, promote and develop managers through shared knowledge, resources and professional development. Managers support their artists. We support the managers.
MORE SUPPORT = STRONGER MANAGERS
Skilled artist managers create immediate, positive impacts on their artists’ careers. Ensuring skilled artist managers increases the overall standard of professionalism and business practices for all of the Australian music industry. We support music managers to build the foundations they need to succeed.
WE PROTECT, PROMOTE AND DEVELOP ARTIST MANAGERS
WHY WE DO IT
AAM exists to develop, protect and promote the reputation and interests of music managers and their artists. Founded and led by artist managers, for artist managers the AAM alone understands best practices for artist managers and how to support, develop and nurture sustainable careers in artist management.
HOW WE OPERATE
As a not-for-profit organisation we are primarily resourced through membership fees with some additional program and limited core funding from APRA AMCOS and PPCA. An engaged and experienced 12-member board, with an Executive Director and Professional Development and Community Manager, to ensure AAM members value the organisation.
The AAM supports artist managers through:
Advocating for managers rights
Professional Development activities and programs
Manager community connectivity
Peer to Peer Networking
Masterclass Programs
Access to research, resources, artistic and funding opportunities
Member Benefits Discount partner program
Protecting managers health & wellbeing
Building resilience for long term sustainable careers
Increasing industry retention of skilled artist managers
AAM Board
Alastair Burns - Co-Chair
Alastair Burns is the Director of Heartstop Music, a Melbourne based artist management company that currently represents Marlon Williams and Folk Bitch Trio, and has previously managed the careers of Julia Jacklin, The Weather Station, Phantastic Ferniture and Merk. Burns began his career promoting shows, and releasing local singer/songwriter compilations while studying law at the University of Otago, funding these endeavours by performing popular songs at the university bars. Moving to Melbourne in 2009, he founded BalconyTV Melbourne and The Melbourne Folk Club, and gradually shifted focus to artist management, setting up Heartstop Music in 2012 as a boutique company that focuses on building long term, global touring and recording careers.
Jess Keeley - Co-Chair
Beginning her music industry career in front of the microphone as a radio and television presenter Jess Keeley has been working in the music industry for the past 20 years. After gaining experience in publicity and record label marketing Jess made the decision in 2010 to relocate to London and after working on campaigns through Europe and the US her close relationships with artists led a natural progression to artist management. In 2011 she began management of her first client, Lykke Li, in partnership with Scott Rodger (Quest/Maverick). Since then Jess has been instrumental in the management of developing artists, established names and absolute icons including Shania Twain, MARINA and Arcade Fire. Her international industry experience in London and LA has given Jess an extensive knowledge of developing and maintaining a global career. The next phase of her career has seen a return to Sydney to focus on building sustainable international careers for Australian talent - with a roster including Jaguar Jonze, Isabella Manfredi and The Paper Kites. Jess has recently partnered with Wonderlick Entertainment as their new Director of Artist Management.
Cath Haridy
From Warner Music Australia to Festival Mushroom Records, Cath has signed, and project managed some of Australia’s most successful artists. Moving into Artist Management, she founded Catherine Haridy Management (CHM) which currently represents Artists and Producer/Writers. In 2021, Cath was appointed to the role of CEO of the Australian Music Centre (AMC) which is the national service organisation dedicated to the promotion and support of art music in Australia. Previously, she sat in the Executive Director chair at the Association of Artist Managers (AAM): a peak body that represents, promotes and protects Artist Managers and their clients. Catherine actively contributed to designing and implementing a dynamic strategic direction for the AAM, as well as being a former Chairperson and now, Board Member. Previously, Catherine has been a board member of Music Victoria, the Community Broadcasting Foundation where she Chaired the Australian Music Airplay Grants Committee as well as participated in the Online Grants Committee and was a contributor to the Foundations’s Strategic and Governance Review completed in 2015. Catherine was also member of the board of Support Act: a registered charity established by the music industry to provide a safety net for artists and music workers in crisis, ending three terms of service at the end of 2019. She’s also an APRA Ambassador, a Patron of the Australian Music Prize as well as a respected Speaker and Advocate within the Australian Music industry.
Ash Hills
Ash Hills is the General Manager of UNIFIED Artist Management AU/NZ at UNIFIED Music Group. UNIFIED Artist Management (UAM) is made up of 17 managers, with 14 based in Australia and 3 in the company’s North American office. Together the division manages the likes of Vance Joy, The Amity Affliction, Ocean Alley, Jack River and Dashboard Confessional.
Dave Batty
Over more than two decades, Dave Batty has established himself as one of Australia’s most experienced and well-regarded artist managers. As Director and founder of Custom-Made Artist Representation, Batty is responsible for guiding the careers of Bud Rokesky, CIVIC, producer/writer Oscar Dawson, Slowly Slowly and ARIA-winners & gold selling C.W. Stoneking & The Jezabels, both locally and internationally. The diversity of Batty’s roster speaks of a manager with an aptitude for working in whatever context and model best suits each artist. He has done deals directly in each territory and worldwide deals with a label group, based on each artist’s needs.
Before opting to focus solely on management in 2015, Batty had a long history in touring and booking. He founded Custom-Made Touring and Artist Representation in 1998, bringing acts as diverse as Tegan and Sara and Mariachi El Bronx to Australia, and in 2011 he merged the agency side of the business with Sydney based talent agency Artist Voice, where he represented acts such as Neil Finn, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Sarah Blasko. This experience has helped Batty strategically develop national and global audiences around his artists.
Marcus Walkom
A partner at leading music/entertainment law firm Media Arts Lawyers, Marcus also runs independent label and management company We Are Golden. With over a decades experience in the industry, Marcus has a detailed knowledge of all facets of the industry and of those issues most pertinent to managers. Currently managing Beckah Amani, Slow Dancer and BANFF.
Stu McCullough
Amplifire is an artist management and label services company based in Brisbane, Australia. Established in 2004 by owner and director Stu McCullough, who is proud to manage the careers of The Jungle Giants and COLLAR. In the past, Stu managed the hugely successful career of multi-platinum singer songwriter Pete Murray; the multiple ARIA award winning roots act The Audreys; globetrotting electronic dance act Confidence Man and indie rock band The Last Dinosaurs. Before establishing Amplifire Music, Stu was A&R Manager at Sony Music Australia and has over 10 years major label experience in A&R, marketing and artist relations. Stu is a highly respected senior manager with a high-profile in industry circles both at home and abroad. Most importantly, he believes strongly in the AAM and the advocacy it brings to the field of artist management in the face of a challenging and changing global industry.
Fiona Duncan
With more than 30 years of diverse experience in artist management, event coordination, tour management, publicity and industry advisory roles, Fiona brings extensive expertise within the contemporary music landscape. Her career as an artist manager alongside a more recent role focusing on Music Development and Major Events in Local Government has equipped Fiona with proven skills in strategic management, advocacy and policy development and implementation. Working closely with various government levels - local, state and federal - has provided Fiona with understanding of the influence and interplay of policies and strategies within the music industry. Her work in Local Government is focussed on music development and advocacy , working closely with First Nation and CALD communities. Spiderbait, Fiona’s long-term artist, have achieved multi-platinum sales, winning ARIAs, a no.1 record, a no.1 hottest 100 position, international and national tours. She is a vocal advocate for regional representation and empowerment of Women and gender-diverse people within our industry.
Jade Nazareth
Jade Nazareth, an artist manager with extensive experience in London, Los Angeles, and Sydney, boasts a career working with musical icons such as Paul McCartney, Arcade Fire, FKA twigs, Lykke Li, and Foals. Her extensive background involves executing Grammy and BRIT Award-winning campaigns, orchestrating global tours, curating special events, strategizing cross-market initiatives, and negotiating talent-brand partnerships. Combining cultural expertise with data-driven insight, she has a track record of transforming ideas into growth opportunities for artists. Returning to Australia, she's partnered with Bill Cullen at One Louder Entertainment, focusing on nurturing local talents like GRAACE, Alex The Astronaut, Phebe Starr, and Mikayla Pasterfield, reflecting her commitment to elevating Australian artists onto the global stage.
Mike Landers - Treasurer
Mike Landers is a Partner and Senior Business Manager at White Sky Music, Australia’s largest Music business management firm.
Mike’s career in the music industry began in the mid 2000’s in Melbourne’s clubs and bandrooms, as a musician. He has since worked with countless Australian artists and music businesses, showing a commitment to integrity, education and financial savviness.
Staff
Maggie Collins - Executive Director
Maggie Collins is a Brisbane-based professional, who has been working in the music industry in a diverse range of roles over the past 14 years. With her radio hat on, she was a presenter and producer at the triple j network for 10 years. She’s the founder and director of Morning Belle, an artist management company representing ARIA Award winners DZ Deathrays and Gold Record accredited artist Odette. She was Executive Programmer of Brisbane showcase festival and music conference BIGSOUND from 2016-2019, but after 7 years on the board of the Association of Artist Managers, she took on the Executive Director role in 2021 where she remains. In 2020 she received The Lighthouse Award, an honour given to Australian female managers who exhibit passion, creativity, integrity and commitment to the community. It’s these virtues that Maggie carries with her in her everyday work, as she strives to educate the world on the important role of managers in the music ecosystem and how pivotal it is to the wellbeing of artists that those managers are invested in and supported.
Kate Adams - Professional Development & Community Manager
As Professional Development and Community Manager at the Association of Artist Managers, Kate oversees the AAM’s professional development and export market programs, and AAM memberships and engagement.
After graduating from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Creative Arts, she worked roles in the arts, administration and customer relations management, before pursuing her passion for music and those who make it, launching Fresh Air Artist Management in 2016. Between 2019 - 2021 Kate also worked as Marketing Manager at Heartstop Music.
AAM Code of Conduct
This Code of Conduct is a tool to guide Association of Artist Managers (AAM) members through their management career, to promote and encourage the utmost ethical, professional and innovative artist management in Australia.
Members of the Association of Artist Managers shall aspire at all times and use their best endeavours to achieve each point outlined in the code. As a condition of membership in the AAM you agree to adhere to and to promote the AAM Code of Conduct to others.
Devote sufficient time to fulfil the agreed responsibilities of management in the interests of the artists as both parties understand them;
Possess and obtain the knowledge and skills to carry out the required duties of management as agreed and understood with the artists they represent;
Communicate and negotiate with the artist their responsibilities, obligations, duties and remuneration as a manager of the artist and have those preferably notated in a written agreement.
Seek support where required and commit to expanding their knowledge base and skills to assist in representing the artist’s career with diligence in all phases of the artist’s career;
Operate and conduct their own management business and the artist’s business in a professional, transparent, accountable & ethical manner;
Ensure relevant financial and legal matters are communicated to the artist and where relevant refer the artist to an independent, third party advisor specialising in such financial and legal matters;
Uphold client confidentiality, ensuring appropriate use of information whilst exercising diligence and duty of care;
Declare and fully disclose to an artist any conflict of interest whether it is actual, perceived or potential, including any income or other consideration earned by the manager directly or indirectly in conjunction with their artists’ performance or services.
Ensure the commission rate agreed with the artist is in line with standard industry norms;
Be aware of and operate within the parameters of any relevant State and Federal legislative requirements;
Be culturally aware and act respectfully toward all the nationalities, religious, gender and ethnic groups;
To not engage in any acts of sexual harassment including unwanted, unwelcome or uninvited behaviour of a sexual nature, which makes a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated.