breaking news: ‘generate’ - funding for new music enterprises

Published 9 December 2011

Music SA is pleased to be working with state and territory organisations via AMIN (Australian Music Industry Network) on a new project to boost creative enterprises, called ‘GENERATE.’ 

Arts Minister Simon Crean today announced funding for the project that will test new and innovative business models for supporting creative enterprises.

GENERATE: An Australian music enterprise investment pilot will offer business development knowledge and skills, expert mentoring support and access to financial investment to help music businesses grow.

Speaking at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School 2011 Graduation Ceremony in Sydney, Mr Crean announced that the project will support new and creative business ideas, particularly those that facilitate collaboration between music and other creative industries, including film, online games and publishing.

“We need to develop new models and strategies which will promote sustainable growth of the creative economy,” Mr Crean said.

“Australia is home to world-class creative and cultural talent, but small creative enterprises face a number of barriers that can limit their growth – challenges we are addressing through the development of the National Cultural Policy.

“The GENERATE pilot seeks to establish effective methods of encouraging and distributing private investment to support creative enterprises in the music industry.

“The Australian Government will also examine whether innovative models emerge to encourage investment in other creative industries.

“We must have a rigorous approach to developing programs for the National Cultural Policy that increase the dividends of our investment in the arts and creative industries.

“GENERATE will help artists, producers, business and government to understand how best to connect creative ideas with business acumen.”

The Australian Government has allocated $250,000 to the Creative Industries Innovation Centre (CIIC) to set up the pilot. The CIIC supports the business of creative enterprise by providing business advisory services across 13 sub-sectors of the creative industries. It is part of the Australian Government’s Enterprise Connect program and supported by the University of Technology, Sydney

The Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and the Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN) — a network of the state and territory music industry associations — are partners in the pilot, with APRA contributing $150,000. These partners will also bring significant music industry expertise to the project.

The pilot will be delivered in three stages. The first stage will be based on national business model workshops, following which up to 15 enterprises or ideas will be selected to attend an intensive master class on business strategy and market development. Those enterprises can then submit a proposal for investment of up to $30,000 each.

Expressions of interest and nominations to participate in GENERATE are now open. Business model workshops will commence in February 2012.

The ADELAIDE workshop, hosted by Music SA, will be on 14th February (venue TBA).

For more information, download the GENERATE info pack (pdf), or visit www.amin.org.au.

About AMIN

AMIN is the national network of State and Territory music industry associations - Contemporary Music Services Tasmania (CMST), Music NSW, Music NT, Music Victoria, Q Music, and the West Australian Music Industry Association (WAM).

AMIN broadly represents the music industry across genres and sectors, and its members provide services to musicians and music businesses throughout their careers right across the country. AMIN is supported by the Australia Council for the Arts.