Tani Webb
FN Focus
Roster: FLEWNT, INKABEE, JJ VACANT, TAIJA State/Territory: WA
Listen: Tani’s Manager Of The Month Spotify Playlist
Approach to Management
A defining moment was FLEWNT’s Boorloo Block Party. What started as an idea to platform his music became a space that celebrated culture, community, and connection on a massive scale. Seeing how music could move beyond the stage, creating opportunities, shifting narratives, and empowering young people reshaped my entire approach to management. It reminded me that my role isn’t just about building careers; it’s about building legacies and making sure our artists have ownership of their stories every step of the way.
Key Achievements
1 Co-founding First Nations Focus (FN Focus), a First Nations-owned label and artist development company and building it into a platform for self-determined storytelling. I’m most proud of the team we’ve built .United by a shared vision and common goals. Every win, every new challenge, every show we play, and every opportunity we create feels more meaningful because I get to share that journey with people who inspire and motivate me, and I get the privilege to work alongside them every day. That sense of collective purpose and achievement is the most rewarding part of my career. Some other highlights have included, SXSW Sydney (Chance the Rapper’s reaction when he first saw INKABEE perform), SXSW Austin, The International Indigenous Music Summit in Canada, Playing the Aussie BBQ Stage in New York, FLEWNT and INKABEE’s We Dat Good Triple J Bars of Steel, reaching the quarter finals of America’s Got Talent and playing the Sydney Opera House -
2 - Taking FLEWNT’s Boorloo Block Party from a one-off event to a partnership series featuring national artists, touring it regionally, and now securing its place as a cornerstone event at BIGSOUND. Guiding FLEWNT’s career beyond music ,from being named WA’s Young Achiever of the Year 2024 to being invited to the U.S. for the prestigious International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), recognising his global impact in youth engagement through Hip Hop.
3 - Leading the Perth program for the GRID Series and delivering community-driven workshops across schools, youth centres, and remote communities, creating pathways that break barriers and centre culture at the heart of the music.
Inspiration and Motivation
Meeting FLEWNT was the spark. Hearing his passion for his community and seeing how music was his vessel to advocate and champion change showed me that this work could be so much more than music. As a Papua New Guinean born Australian and woman who has navigated the industry as an artist, I understand firsthand the challenges and barriers marginalised artists here face. I wanted to become the type of manager I needed when I was in their position, someone who not only believes in the music but in the person, their story, and their impact. That purpose keeps me moving forward every day.
Overcoming a recent challenge
As a Black female manager working with First Nations artists, I’ve often had to push back against the industry’s tendency to put my artists in a box — as if being Indigenous is the genre or the aesthetic. That narrow lens can limit opportunity and misrepresent the depth and diversity of their artistry. Out of that challenge, FN Focus was born, a First Nations-owned label where we can self-determine our path, platform our artists on our own terms, and create space that reflects the truth of who we are. It has been our way of navigating an industry that wasn’t necessarily built for us and redesigning it as we go.
Let’s better support managers and artists
We need sustainable pathways not just moments of hype. Too often, funding, opportunities, and support are tied to one-off events or short-term cycles, which can leave managers and artists scrambling to maintain momentum. The industry should invest in long-term development, touring infrastructure, and genuine career pathways that allow artists, especially those from marginalised communities, to build lasting, viable careers. That means recognising the crucial role managers play in that journey and resourcing us accordingly, so we’re not constantly operating on burnout just to keep the wheels turning.