About
The Association of Artist Managers (AAM), in partnership with Sounds Australia is thrilled to announce Round 2 of MICC - the Manager's International Conference Contribution.
This second 2023 edition of the MICC program will follow Round 1, which centres around Reeperbahn, Germany this September, and will see 15 managers each receive $5000 AUD of funding support to attend the conference. MICC funding aims to help managers overcome the financial difficulties of getting to market and build important international export pathways for Australian artists.
This new MICC Round 2 will provide funding support for selected AAM manager members to attend either ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) - which takes place in Amsterdam, Netherlands from Oct 18-22 - or WOMEX (Worldwide Music Expo) taking place in Galicia, Spain from Oct 25-29.
ABOUT ADE
OCT 18 - 22
ADE - Amsterdam Dance Event - is the most upfront, influential and educational gathering for electronic music and its industry. With its conference, festival and educational breeding ground, ADE is able to create a solid foundation for future generations of electronic music professionals. The event attracts a total of more than 1,000 events in nearly 200 locations across its multidisciplinary program; for five days and nights, the city of Amsterdam truly breathes electronic music.
ABOUT WOMEX
OCT 25 - 29
WOMEX – Worldwide Music Expo – is the most international, culturally diverse music meeting in the world, and the biggest conference of the global music scene, featuring a trade fair, talks, films and showcase concerts.
Over 2,600 professionals (including 260 performing artists) come together every October from 90 countries. Its diverse musical spectrum embraces folk, roots, jazz, local and diaspora cultures as much as urban and electronic sounds from all over the globe. WOMEX hosts 7 stages, around 700 exhibiting companies, 100+ speakers, films, an opening concert and an award ceremony across five packed networking days and rather short nights.
WHAT DO FUNDED RECIPIENTS RECEIVE?
MICC: ADE + WOMEX Edition 2023 will see selected AAM artist manager members who wish to attend ADE or WOMEX - with or without a showcasing artist - each receive $5000 AUD, to contribute to costs associated with their international activity at the event, including their flights, accommodation, ticketing or admission and other associated costs.
Centering around select key global music events like ADE or WOMEX, MICC funding is designed to ease the financial burden for selected artist manager funding recipients, so they have the capacity to undertake a reconnaissance trip to either Amsterdam (ADE) or Spain (WOMEX), to build international industry networks, export in-roads and learn more about international markets, leveraging the activities, networking and professional development opportunities of ADE or WOMEX.
Please note:
For this round of MICC funding, all artist managers will need to submit an EOI - regardless of whether or not they have a confirmed showcasing act performing at ADE and/or WOMEX, or have already purchased a delegate registration badge - if they wish to be considered for MICC funding.
Only a limited number of applicants will be selected via the EOI process and all successful applicants must meet the eligibility criteria.
Applications are now closed for this round.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome between September 11-15, 2023.
Please ensure you have read the eligibility criteria and T&C’s below before applying.
Eligibility
Criteria
and T&Cs
Who Is Eligible To Apply For This Program?
You are eligible to apply for MICC: ADE + WOMEX Edition 2023 if:
You are a current AAM member and practicing artist manager
You are an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident
You hold a current valid passport
You submit an application by the due date, Sunday 10th September, 2023 at midnight (AEST)
Only a limited number of applicants will be selected via the EOI process and all successful applicants must meet the eligibility criteria.
Criteria
Applicants should be able to demonstrate:
A commitment to a career in artist management, and that they are recognised by the industry, and their peers, as a professional music manager
A comprehensive plan of activities they will undertake during their time at ADE or WOMEX, demonstrating why the Netherlands (ADE) or Spain (WOMEX) - and/or Europe, more broadly - is a priority territory for themselves and their artist/s at this time
Clear goals for their artists and themselves in the European market, as well as demonstrating the potential for growth in this region
A plan for how they intend to maximise the opportunities in the European market [notably the Netherlands (ADE) or Spain (WOMEX)] during and after the program
A clear outline of their short and long term plans for 2022-24 which is both detailed and realistic, but demonstrates potential growth
Letters of support from up to 3 industry professionals / peers (optional)
T&Cs:
AAM will pay selected funding recipients (Activity Participants) AU$5,000 (excluding GST) as a lump sum upon receipt of an (a) fully executed Agreement and (b) a valid Tax Invoice. Agreements will be distributed to confirmed Activity Participants promptly upon confirmation of their involvement in MICC.
The Grant Funds shall be exclusively used by Activity Participants to contribute toward their costs of attending ADE (Amsterdam, Netherlands) or WOMEX (Galicia, Spain) [as relevant to their application], including their flights, accommodation, ticketing or admission and other associated costs.
No later than 60 days from the last day of ADE or WOMEX, Activity Participants must provide AAM with an Activity Report that details the activity they undertook with regard to the grant, including achievements, goals (including those not met), industry outcomes and benefits, and a breakdown of how the funds were spent.
Travel Permissions: The Activity Participant has, or will obtain prior to the Activity, all visas, permissions, valid documentation and any other permits or exemptions required to travel to ADE (Amsterdam, Netherlands) or WOMEX (Galicia, Spain).
As a condition of receiving the Manager Grant, the Activity Participant gives their permission to allow AAM and Sounds Australia to use, without compensation, the participant’s name, professional information and likeness for advertising and publicity purposes in connection with the Grant, including on websites or social media channels controlled by the AAM or Sounds Australia.
For this round of MICC funding, all artist managers will need to submit an EOI - regardless of whether or not they have a confirmed showcasing act performing at ADE and/or WOMEX, or have already purchased a delegate registration badge - if they wish to be considered for MICC funding.
“Go before you show” is a mantra the Sounds Australia team has been preaching for years - even more so during the last few weeks as we’ve presented our Export Masterclass in Adelaide, Melbourne, Darwin and Brisbane. We truly appreciate though that this is easier said than done, especially with respect to the monetary commitment required. To help ease the burden and ensure Australian career managers have the chance to experience some of the world’s premier international conference events, we’re continuing to financially invest to firm up their attendance at both ADE and WOMEX this October.”
Millie Millgate, Executive Producer at Sounds Australia