Funded by Music Australia. Delivered in partnership with Sounds Australia.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

About

The Association of Artist Managers (AAM) in partnership with Sounds Australia presents the Music Australia International Conference Contribution - Managers program.

Designed to ease the financial burden for selected managers who are attending major international music conferences in 2024, ICC funding will financially support selected managers who represent artists with demonstrated potential in a specific international market, so the manager can undertake an invaluable reconnaissance trip - and/or be present on-ground to maximise outcomes for their showcasing artists - at a major international music conference, during a critical moment in their artists' international career.

Applications for events occurring throughout 2024 will be divided into 3 rounds of opening and closing dates:

ROUND 1: Applications open for SXSW and Jazzahead 2024

ROUND 2: Applications open for conferences taking place between April 1, 2024 and June 30, 2024

ROUND 3: Applications open for conferences taking place between July 1, 2024 and December 30, 2024

The game-changing Music Australia ICC funding initiative is an evolved and expanded version of the 2023 Managers International Conference Contribution (MICC), which was delivered by the AAM and Sounds Australia and supported a total of 30 artist managers to attend a major international music conference last year; Reeperbahn Festival (Germany), Amsterdam Dance Event (Netherlands) or WOMEX (Spain). (Learn about the 2023 MICC program here).

Surrounded by their Australian manager peers, selected ICC funding recipients are provided with an invaluable opportunity to build export in-roads and learn more about a selected international market, whilst leveraging the formal and informal activities, networking and professional development opportunities that surround the international music conference that they are attending - all the while being elevated by the sense of community and camaraderie from their fellow Australian managers who are also in attendance as part of the ICC program. 

For select events, an AAM staff or Board Member will also join the manager's delegation, providing additional on-ground support for the participating managers.

Please see below for a list of international music conference events that applicants can apply to receive funding for for 2024.

Program and Structure

WHAT DO FUNDING RECIPIENTS RECEIVE?

Contributions of up to $5000 AUD will be awarded to selected professional artist managers who have worked in the Australian music industry for a minimum of 2 years. Funding will help cover essential costs associated with their attendance and international activity at their chosen event, such as travel expenses, accommodation and event registration costs.

Whilst we realise the majority of managers attending these events will be flying in and out of Australia, we understand some managers may be flying into events from different locations around the world - or already be based near the event location - and therefore they may not require the maximum $5000 AUD of funding to attend the event. We therefore ask applicants to specify the funding amount they require to attend the event, and only ask for funds required.

HOW MANY APPLICANTS WILL BE FUNDED?

There is no predetermined number of funding recipients. The number of applicants who receive funding will depend on how much funding is available per round, and the strength of applications received.

WHAT EVENTS CAN I APPLY FOR?

For the 2024 Music Australia International Conference Contribution - Managers program, artist manager applicants (AAM members) will be able to select which event they hope to attend from the following list. In addition, applicants also have the option to specify an alternative event that they wish to attend, should they receive funding, that is not listed. If this applies to you, please specify the name of the event on your application and explain why this event would be valuable for you. If suggesting an event not already listed, it must fall within the relevant time period for your round. (If you have any questions, please contact kate@aam.org.au).

For 2024, there will be 3 seperate ICC funding rounds. Please refer to the application opening and closing dates below as relevant to your chosen event and its associated round, and ensure you submit your application before the specified deadline for your round:

ROUND 1, 2024:

Round 1 applications open Feb 8 and close Feb 18, 2024

ROUND 2, 2024:

Round 2 applications open Feb 13 and close March 1, 2024

ROUND 3, 2024:

Round 3 applications open April 15, and close May 12, 2024.

Wish to apply for a conference not listed above? As mentioned above, applicants also have the option to specify an alternative event that they wish to attend, should they receive funding, that is not listed above. If this applies to you, please specify the name of the event on your application and explain why this event would be valuable for you.

WHEN DO APPLICATIONS OPEN AND CLOSE?

ROUND 1: Applications open for SXSW and Jazzahead 2024

Applications open: February 8, 2024

Applications close: February 18, 2024

ROUND 2: Applications open for conferences taking place between April 1, 2024 and June 30, 2024:

Applications open: February 13, 2024

Applications close: March 1, 2024 

ROUND 3: Applications open for conferences taking place between July 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024:

Applications open: April 15, 2024

Applications close: May 12, 2024

WHEN WILL I KNOW IF I AM SUCCESSFUL OR UNSUCCESSFUL IN RECEIVING ICC FUNDING?

Round 1 Applicants: Notifications to go out approximately Thursday 22 February, 2024

Round 2 Applicants: Notifications to go out week commencing Monday 18 March, 2024

Round 3 Applicants: Notifications to go out week commencing Monday 27 May, 2024

Eligibility Criteria and T&Cs

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR FUNDING?

You are eligible to apply for the current MAICC funding round if:

  • You are a current AAM member

  • You are currently working as an artist manager

  • You have a minimum of 2 years experience working in artist management

  • You are an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident

  • You hold a current valid passport

  • You submit an application by the due date

  • You have not already received MAICC (or MICC) funding in the last 12 months. (Applicants are only eligible to apply for funding once within a 12 month period).

Ensure you have read the criteria and T&C’s before applying.

You do not need to be attending your event with a showcasing artist to be eligible to apply (although we will ask you to specify on your application whether or not you are attending with a showcasing artist).

Please note that you must be applying as an artist manager - ie. a lead manager or co-manager - for the artist/s you are representing during this activity (not as a day-to-day manager, tour manager, or other role only).

Only 1 manager per business/company can receive funding to attend the same conference in the same year. (For example, if 2 managers from the same company wish to attend ADE 2024, only one will be eligible for funding. However if 2 managers from the same company wish to attend different conferences - ie. one attending ADE 2024, one attending Reeperbahn 2024 - both managers are eligible to apply.) If you and another manager from within your business/company are planning to attend different conferences - whether it be within the same funding round, or different funding rounds - you are permitted to apply, providing you meet the other eligibility criteria.

If you are unsure of your eligibility, please email kate@aam.org.au to discuss.

If you are not a current AAM member and wish to apply, please visit https://www.aam.org.au/become-a-member.

Please refer to this webpage when Round 3 applications open (April 15) for any updates on eligibility criteria that may apply to this upcoming third round.

SELECTION 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 their specified event, demonstrating why this event - and that particular international market - is a priority territory for themselves and their artist/s at this time

  • Clear goals for their artists and themselves in the international market, as well as demonstrating the potential for growth in this region

  • A plan for how they intend to maximise the opportunities in the international market before, during and after the program

  • A clear outline of their career plans for the next 12 months, which is both detailed and realistic, but demonstrates potential growth

  • Letters of support from up to 3 industry professionals / peers. (Whilst letters of support are optional, we highly encouraging all managers of all levels to include letters of support with their applications. These funding rounds are proving very competitive, and our suggestion moving forward is that applicants include letters of support, viewing these as key support material to boost the strength of your application. We encourage applicants to include letters from people outside of their own company/business.)

Please note that not all applicants will receive funding, and only a selected number of applicants will be successful in receiving funding per round.

In instances where an AAM Board Member applies for funding, the AAM will withdraw from assessing these applications, and refer to the Sounds Australia team to assess.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

The Association of Artist Managers (AAM) will pay selected funding recipients (Activity Participants) up to AU$5,000 (excluding GST) as a lump sum upon receipt of a (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 this program.

  • The Grant Funds shall be exclusively used by Activity Participants to contribute toward their costs of attending their specified event, including their flights, accommodation, event ticketing or admission and other similar associated costs.

  • No later than 60 days from the last day of the event, Activity Participants must provide AAM with an Activity Report that provides details about the activities they undertook with regard to this program, 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 the region where their specified event takes place.

  • As a condition of receiving the Manager Grant, the Activity Participant gives their permission to allow AAM, Sounds Australia and Creative Australia / Music 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, Sounds Australia and Creative Australia / Music Australia.

  • It is a requirement that you inform us of any co-funding for this activity, whether it is confirmed before submitting your MAICC application; while waiting for the result; or after (and if) your application for MAICC has been successful.

    Please note it is the responsibility of all participants to arrange and pay for any insurance that they require to undertake this Activity. (If you wish to use some of your MAICC funding towards insurance costs, this is permitted.)

Round 3 EOIs are now open, and will close May 12, 2024 (11:59pm AEST).

Please note: The EOI form does not provide the option to save your progress and return to it later. As such, we suggest drafting your responses separately, then entering them into the form once you’re ready to submit, if this is helpful for you. You can preview the Round 3 EOI form below, but you must submit your application online via the expression of interest form link:

PREVIEW THE ROUND 3 (2024) EOI FORM HERE

Your EOI will be submitted when you click the 'Submit' button. If you require a copy of your application, please email kate@aam.org.au.

Quotes from 2023 MICC Funding Recipients

“The MICC Reeperbahn Festival Program, orchestrated by Sounds Australia and the AAM, has been a true catalyst for the advancement of my artist management career and the growth potential of my artist roster. This program offered me invaluable opportunities to acquire knowledge, expand my professional network, and forge meaningful connections across diverse segments of the music industry within Germany and Greater Europe. An additional significant benefit was the establishment of strong and enduring relationships with my Australian management colleagues who also participated in the program. I wholeheartedly endorse this program to any manager seeking to establish pathways in Germany, Europe, and beyond." 

- Matthew Day, Pistol MGMT

“The MICC program is one of the most valuable uses of funding in the Australian music industry. State and federal funding bodies don't always recognise the value in supporting artist managers, making it almost impossible to access funding for this kind of activity elsewhere.  Attending Reeperbahn ahead of our 2024 EU touring had such a huge impact on my career and I'm so grateful to the AAM & Sounds Australia for making it happen.” 

- Kelsie Miller, Across The Road Music

“Moving together as Australian managers was very helpful, both in the intel we were able to provide each other around the event but also in making deeper connections with the people you should be working with much more closely at home. With the global music industry experiencing so much change, it's very important for us as Australian managers to be very present in the international music conversation, these face to face opportunities build relationships that last far into the future. It is a very worthwhile investment”.

- Ricky Simandjuntak, When Worlds Collide

“Attending Reeperbahn was an incredible experience. The conference provided a strong platform to build extensive industry networks in the German music industry, a burgeoning market currently for Australian artists. The excellent on the ground support I received from Sounds Australia and AAM as part of the MICC program, directly contributed to yielding amazing results for Future Static and The Omnific, which will be crucial to their long term success and longevity in this market.” 

- Eli Chamravi, Wild Thing Music Group

“The MICC program was an unbelievable success, opening doors to so many Australian managers to enter a less obvious market with incredible opportunities for Australian artists. The international relationships created were done so in such a unique way, led by the AAM and Sounds Australia, allowing Aussie's to band together, lean on each others network and connect particularly to the EU and UK industry in a meaningful way.” 

- Jamie-Rose Fowler, Powerhouse Management

“Reeperbahn is truly a world-class showcasing and networking event, the value of in-person performances and meetings can not be understated. The SA and AAM showcasing and meeting events were standouts providing perfect opportunities for Australian attendees to get maximum value from the week” 

- Darcy O’Brien, Wildfire Music

“As an early-career artist manager, having the opportunity to go to Reeperbahn without a showcasing artist to connect with the European market and get my head around the opportunities this festival presents, before bringing my artists over has been so truly valuable. It wouldn't have happened without the support of the MICC program, thank you Sounds Australia and AAM!” 

- Shauna Upton, I RATE MGMT

“Attending these conferences can be game changing for emerging Australian bands and artists. However it can come at an extreme cost, the MICC program is providing managers with a generous and welcomed relief in assisting financing their trip to these magical events.”

- Hugh Cruickshank, More To Come

“The MICC program is a really invaluable helping hand for managers who want to get their acts and themselves into international markets, which is always a prohibitively expensive exercise. Market familiarity is incredibly important and Europe is a key region for my acts, so it was a great help”. 

- Heath Brady, Fidelity Corporation

“MICC program is an incredible experience, and Sounds Australia and AAM's commitment to Australian managers, artists and industry is palpable - there is an incredible level of care and support they put into these programs and I feel very privileged to be a part of it.” 

- Lauren Mikkor, Post Modern Collective

“Going forward, the MICC could become an essential initiative not only assisting Australian managers that do not yet have experience at genre specific international conference events like ADE, but managers like myself to broaden the outcomes we can achieve with artists already working in international markets.” 

- Ant Celestino, Onelove

“The MICC Program was such a massive boost to my artist, general roster, and business overall. It helped grow and develop relationships that had predominantly been online for several years, and the benefits have been incredible already and it seems that 2024 will be a key year for my act in the UK/EU because of this. ADE is a massive event and I was lucky to be able to bump into people I'd not have the chance to meet normally. Thank you to Sounds Australia for valuing electronic music, and providing me the opportunity!” 

- Rick Bridgman, Good Intent

“At a time where the cost of travel, inflation and the Australian dollar is making it extremely difficult to get overseas to create opportunities for Australian artists, the MICC program, AAM and Sounds Australia teams have provided a lifeline to ensure the continuation and growth of managers and artists in the Australia. ADE was an incredible event presenting unlimited opportunities, made better even better knowing that the costs to get there were covered!” 

- Luke Jamieson, LEVARIA

“Finances and workload are the two biggest factors stopping us from attending a valuable overseas event like WOMEX from a remote area of Australia. So to have been successful in our application for financial support and to have Sounds Australia on the ground to support artists and managers on site was crucial in our attendance and success at WOMEX.” 

- Anthony Gray, Bapa Gajah

“Attending Womex has allowed me to build relationships across Europe, secure opportunities for our artists and has provided a solid foundation for connection, growth, ongoing dialogue, increased visibility and scope to undertake new projects that speak to audience development, cultural exchange and soft diplomacy across continents.” 

- Tanya McLaine, Sona Productions

“Attending WOMEX to represent my artists has been an invaluable experience. The networking and building of solid bridges with other countries will enable us to understand how we create, plan, strategise, develop, and implement touring, showcasing, and releasing music to the world. It's a long game, but the seeds we sow now should lead to fruitful outcomes in the future.” 

- Greg Dodge, Oxygen 42 Management