Music Passport 2021: New York & Los Angeles

This June (12th - 24th) the AAM will lead an Export Market Development Trip to North America; the 2022 Music Passport Program. This program will serve as a comprehensive research mission, enabling two early-mid career managers to create pathways and build professional networks in the North American market. The program will provide these managers an opportunity to pursue and develop in roads on behalf of their artists, before significant investment is made in US touring or release set-up.

Guided by senior manager Jess Keeley, 2 early-mid career managers will travel to New York (June 12 - 19) and Los Angeles (June 19 - 24), attending A2IM Indie Week, the Libera Awards and Sounds Australia’s Aussie BBQ SummerStage (including the VIP pre-showcase mixer), as well as undertaking self-directed activities including meetings, attendance at industry events and other networking activities.

This program is delivered thanks to the generous support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Creative Victoria and Sounds Australia. 

PROGRAM FUNDING WILL COVER the cost of: flights, accommodation, per diems and conference tickets / event access to Indie Week, Libera Awards and Summerstage. Participants will also receive a $500 bursary towards program expenses. Recipients will be required to cover any other costs, such as food and beverage expenses outside of the per diems, ground transportation (inc. buses, trains, Ubers) etc. The AAM highly recommends all participants take out comprehensive travel insurance for this trip, and the AAM will provide a reimbursement of up to $300 towards this expense. Successful applicants can contact kate@aam.org.au to discuss.

Upon return to Australia, participants will be part of a virtual panel and Q&A presentation set up via the AAM, where they will report back to the AAM membership and program partners, sharing their experiences and learnings. This virtual panel provides a valuable opportunity for information exchange, whereby program participants can discuss their findings with other AAM members who are also planning to - or in the process of - exporting to North America.

This program will be available to 2 early-mid career managers (up to 7 years working as an artist manager) who represent artists whose music is making an early impact in North America, thereby supporting managers to begin building in-roads for their artists in this region. Understanding the US market through a post-pandemic lens, connecting with relevant industry, forming US music industry networks and effectively planning market penetration ahead of artist activity in the region is a crucial first step for managers working with artists who are preparing to export. Such rich preparation, which includes the opportunity for managers to actually immerse themselves in the New York and Los Angeles scene, will prove invaluable in; helping build international teams to support their artists; planning and executing successful release campaigns; and in generating short and long term career opportunities; yielding a greater ROI for the artist.

The trip will be prefaced by a virtual managers roundtable, where participants will have the opportunity to connect with Australian managers/industry currently based and working out of NYC & LA. These people will provide valuable insight and guidance for our emerging managers ahead of navigating the North American market. We envisage this roundtable will lead to introductions for our participants to other US industry, invitations to attend upcoming activities during their time in the US (ie. live shows, album launches, in-stores, other activities) and more. US industry introductions for our emerging managers will further be facilitated by the AAM, senior leading manager Jess Keeley, Sounds Australia and the AAM board.

Music Passport 2022 follows on from the successful 2019 pilot Music Passport program, which was delivered by the AAM with support from Creative Victoria.