Placements 2026

This initiative is supported by the NSW Government through Sound NSW

✹

This initiative is supported by the NSW Government through Sound NSW ✹

Why Placements? The Background:

In 2025, thanks to the support of the NSW Government through Sound NSW, the AAM launched it’s pilot paid internship program, Placements. The origins of this program came from the AAM’s desire to address 2 intrinsic problems that Australian artist management businesses faced regarding their sustainability; insufficient revenue and excessive workload.

Whilst these challenges could apply to a business in any field, where the business manager or owner has not been able to find a solution to these two problems, what makes the issue prevalent in the profession of artist management is the market it operates within, and the unique environmental and commercial factors within it.

Strategies to address the first problem - insufficient revenue - are being explored by University of Melbourne academic Guy Morrow, in partnership with the AAM, in his latest book Music Artist Managers’ Remuneration and Retention in the Popular Music Business. There’s further work to be done in this space, which the AAM is exploring. And it is the second problem - excessive workload - where Placements comes in.

Managers are working beyond their capacity. Hiring more staff and refining the role is easier said than done. It requires capital, an understanding of (and capacity to) scale a business, timing and resources. Scaling any business is hard enough at the best of times, but it’s extra difficult in music management due to multiple factors, not least the intrinsic personal relationships necessary to do the job. As a result, business-owner artist managers often fall into the trap of trying solve problem one (insufficient revenue) by increasing their client base, which exacerbates problem 2 (excessive workload), especially as it takes time to see financial returns on new artists signed. A recipe for burnout and unsustainable practice.

Proposing A New Alternative

The AAM believes in developing the skills of arts workers and small business owners in an ethical manner, whilst removing unnecessary obstacles to genuine career pathways. Placements is a non-tertiary-connected, artist management paid internship program that endeavours to provide a realistic and sustainable training pathway for developing the next generation of Australian artist managers.

Program Aims

Placements breaks away from traditional training structures and acknowledges that the music services industry (managers, labels, agents and others) don’t require paper qualifications. Similarly to a trade profession or small-business enterprise, Placements recognises real-life, proactive, initiative-led industry experience as essential to entering a career in music artist management and increasing the overall knowledge-base of workers in this vital sector. Placements acknowledges that advanced, specialised skills in this career are gained primarily through experience, on-the-job training, professional development and vocational courses.

The goal of Placements is to create a successful internship model that operates as a two-way street, benefitting both interns and host companies, to service both parties and the broader Australia artist management sector.

Through this 6-month paid internship, interns gain a deeper understanding of artist management, increase their confidence, and gain tangible industry experience that can lead to employment and/or support next steps in their career trajectory. Host companies experience genuine operational benefit, increased capacity, and improved well-being and morale, due to reduced workload pressures and team support.

Pictured: 2025 Placements pilot program interns and hosts, and AAM team.

How It Works

The 2026 Placements program will match 4 NSW-based early-career or aspiring manager interns with 4 for-profit NSW-based artist management host companies.

The interns will work as a paid employee of their host management company for 4 x days per week, for a 6 month period (January - June 2026) under Clerk Award Level 2 ($28.12/hour + super). In addition interns will receive annual leave, sick pay and other entitlements as applicable. (Please note that interns will need to provide their own computer for the duration of the internship). Host companies will be provided with a financial contribution from the AAM, which covers the total cost of salary and entitlements for their intern. The host company will then pay their intern directly, for the duration of their time working together.

Each host company will be paid a contract services fee of $8500 + GST (inc super) so they can provide desk space, pay for subscriptions, software and/or other essential things needed to support the paid intern position. The senior staff and managers of the company will guide and teach the intern on the real-life process of managing commercially viable artists, using the only appropriate way to learn this particular field; on-the-job training.

The 4 host companies and 4 interns for this program will be selected through a competitive application process. Please read further down this webpage for details on how to apply.

Program Outcomes

Some of the outcomes interns and host companies may see through this program include, but aren’t limited to:

Host Companies:

  • Benefit from extra hands-on-deck where “lack of time and money” is one of the core issues facing modern artist management, providing the host company the opportunity to scale and/or attain sustainability.

  • After a period of training, the host-company’s workload eases to a certain degree, supporting a healthier work-life balance and potentially alleviating mental health issues.

  • In addition, the artists on the management roster benefit from the extra services and attention on their project, and any contractors that the management company works with benefit from the extra assistance as well.

Interns:

  • Learn on-the-job what they cannot learn in a class room (and they don’t have to pay for it).

  • Increased skill set, knowledge-base and employability.

  • Increased confidence.

  • Increased understanding of industry etiquette and communication skills.

  • Expanded professional network and relationships.

  • In cases where a host company is also operating as a record label, publishing company, touring company etc, the intern gains experience in these additional fields (provided it’s structured and applicable to their internship and career development in the field of management specifically)

  • There exists the potential for the intern to continue working at the host company after the Placements program finishes. (Please note this is not a guaranteed outcome.)

Host & Intern Expectations

    • Interns and hosts must understand their unique role in this program, which is a relatively new concept and unlike other professional development programs delivered by the AAM.

    • All hosts and interns are required to attend and/or complete (as applicable) all activities outlined under the ‘Key Dates’ section below.

    • This internship is intended to be an IRL experience for all parties involved. We highly encourage interns be working on-site within the business environment within their host company.

    • Interns and hosts are expected to correspond with AAM staff on a regular basis throughout the program.

    • Hosts are expected to have at least one senior manager within the company willing to train the intern, assigning them junior artist manager tasks in the realm of administration, coordination and assistant management. It is acceptable for the senior manager to assign some training duties to another manager of authority within the company, as long as the senior manager remains regularly involved.

    • Hosts are expected to demonstrate patience, flexibility, fairness and a willingness to teach their intern the in’s and out’s of the role of an artist manager.

    • Host companies will be selected before interns. If you are selected to be a host company, you must be able to undertake interviews with potential interns during the week commencing September 22nd, 2025. (The AAM will liaise with you about suitable times for you and the shortlist intern candidates to meet virtually). Host companies are required to notify the AAM of their chosen intern by COB on Friday 26th September, 2025.

    • In accordance with the law, the host company will need their own employment agreement with the intern directly. This means that the AAM will provide funding to the host company for both the host company services and the intern services (the host company to distribute the intern payment directly to them).

    • The host company will need to sign an agreement with the AAM laying out the terms of the engagement.

    • The host company, intern and AAM will all sign a Code of Conduct at the beginning of the internship.

    • Hosts are expected to have a central, IRL hub where work is usually conducted between two or more members of the company (Sydney is preferred, but elsewhere is acceptable). They must be able to provide desk space, wifi, all required software, and any relevant insurance to host an intern for 4 days per week for 6 months.

    • Hosts are expected to keep a regular diary of their experience, recording the challenges, ideas, tasks assigned, staff structures, items delegated, successes, failures, etc., which is available to AAM staff for their knowledge to help improve any elements of the program. Hosts must have a drive to want to find the most efficient operational processes for a growing management company and be willing to diligently capture those details in their diary.

    • Interns do not require any tertiary qualifications, but must demonstrate a commitment to a career in artist management.

    • Interns must also be able to display ways in which they’ve proven themselves as a self-starter, and proactively created opportunities for themselves in the field already, no matter how big or small.

    • Interns please note: In accordance with the law, the host company will arrange their own employment agreement with the intern directly. The host company will distribute payments directly to the intern. The host company, intern and AAM will all sign a Code of Conduct at the beginning of the internship.

Eligibility Criteria

  • To apply to be a host company, you must be:

    • A NSW-based company/business

    • Have an ABN and/or ACN

    • Please note you must be an Executive or General level AAM member to apply as a Host Company

    • You must submit an application by the due date to be considered for this program

  • To apply for an intern position, you must be:

    • An early-career - or aspiring - NSW-based artist manager

    • 18+ years old

    • An Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident

    • You must submit an application by the due date to be considered for this program

    • You do not need to be an AAM member to apply as an intern for this program

Conflict of Interest Policy

  • The Association of Artist Managers believes in good governance and ethical practice. We are committed to ensuring that our processes are transparent and that a clear conflict of interest policy is practiced with each decision on funding and opportunities. In particular, we are committed to transparency on the decision-making process when it comes to active artist managers and AAM members who may also contribute to the organisation in the following capacities:

    • The AAM is governed by a Board of senior artist managers and music industry practitioners, most of whom volunteer their time. While still actively working in the industry, they offer their advice and expertise at a macro level, helping to steer the overall strategy of the organisation.

    • In addition, there may be times when we engage contractors to work with us in delivering AAM projects, programs or other activities, who are also active artist managers and AAM members.

    • Finally, the organisation benefits from the leadership of its Patrons, many of whom were the founders of the organisation, or who otherwise served at least two full terms on the board. Many of these Patrons are also still practicing artist managers.

    Anyone from these categories who is an AAM member, and meets the other criteria of AAM-provided opportunities, are eligible to apply for funding and opportunities offered by the organisation, however the judgement of their application is kept at an arms-length. No internal staff, Board members or Patrons have a say in the outcome of their applications. The job is instead outsourced where necessary to either third party expert(s) or affiliated organisation(s) involved in the funding or opportunity, to make the final decision.

    Should you want to know more, you are more than welcome to contact the organisation with any questions about this conflict of interest process.

How To Apply - Interns

Applications open in August 2025 for those wishing to apply to be an intern for the 2026 Placements program. To be considered, applicants must submit an application form by the deadline of September 9, 2025 (3pm AEST). New and aspiring NSW-based artist managers who wish to be considered for one of 4 available intern positions can apply via the link below. Please note that only 4 applicants will be selected to participate in this program. If you have any questions about this program or the application please contact kate@aam.org.au

To be considered, applicants must meet the eligibility criteria and submit an application form by the deadline of September 9, 2025 (3pm AEST).

Applications have now closed for this round.

How To Apply - Host Companies

Applications open in August 2025 for those wishing to apply to be a host company for the 2026 Placements program. To be considered, applicants must submit an application form by the deadline of September 9, 2025 (3pm AEST). NSW-based artist management companies/businesses who wish to be considered for one of 4 available host positions can apply via the link below. Please note that only 4 hosts will be selected to participate in this program. If you have any questions about this program or the application please contact kate@aam.org.au.

To be considered, applicants must meet the eligibility criteria and submit an application form by the deadline of September 9, 2025 (3pm AEST).

Applications have now closed for this round.

Key Program Dates

Update: Due to an overwhelming number of applications received, we wish to advise that there has been a slight change to the timeline previously outlined here, notably in regards to the applications review and interview period. Please see revised timeline below. We thank you for your understanding. 

2025:

  • AUG 12, 2025: EOIs Open for Hosts and Interns

  • SEPT 9, 2025: EOIs Close for Hosts and Interns (3pm AEST)

  • SEPT 9 - OCT 14, 2025: Applications Assessment and Shortlist Candidate Interview Period. (Host companies will be selected before Interns. If you are selected to be a Host company, you must be able to undertake interviews with potential Interns during the period of Oct 9 - Oct 14, 2025. Host companies who were not successful in being selected for this year’s program will be notified between Sept 9 - Oct 14, 2025.)

  • OCT 20, 2025: All Intern applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application (successful or unsuccessful)

  • OCT 21, 2025 onwards: Preparation & Onboarding for successful Hosts and Interns

2026:

  • JAN 6 - JUNE 26, 2026: INTERNSHIP PERIOD (Hosts and interns will also be required to keep regular diaries - written or video, whichever is preferred - on their experience)

  • JAN 28, 2026: First IRL Professional Development Workshop + Interviews

  • JUNE 17, 2026: Second IRL Professional Development Workshop + Interviews

  • JUNE 26, 2026: Program End

  • NOV 2026: 6 months following the internship, hosts and interns will complete a brief survey regarding the long-term impact of the Placements program on their career trajectories