Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO)

Creative Victoria’s Music Works Grants program is now open! 👀 The program accepts applications from Victorian based contemporary music industry professionals from all genres and career stages to undertake projects and professional development opportunities. This round of Music Works offers grants in two focus areas:   Uncovering Talent ($5,000): is for applicants who have not received Creative Victoria funding before Projects ($10,000-$20,000): is for music industry professionals with a proven track record in the industry.   Both categories have dedicated streams for First Peoples and Deaf and Disabled applicants, alongside the General stream.   Applications for all streams of the program are currently open and will close at 3pm on Thursday, 13 February 2025, supporting activity starting from 1 July 2025.    To learn more and apply visit: https://lnkd.in/ga-2aPpR 📸: Performers at Port Fairy Folk Festival  🎨: Shoelace Creative #VicMusic #CreativeAustralia #VicMusicBiz #CreativeState #CreativeVictoria #VMDO #VictorianCreatives 

Expressions of Interest for A2IM (American Association of Independent Music) Indie Week are now open! 📢 Sounds Australia, AIR (Australian Independent Record Labels Association), ARIA - Australian Recording Industry Association and the PPCA are now seeking expressions of interest from Australian independent labels, publishers and distributors to take part in a delegation to attend Indie Week 2025, an independent music-focused conference hosted by A2IM (American Association of Independent Music) from June 9 – 12, 2025 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Times Square in New York City. A2IM Indie Week is a three-day international conference and networking event aimed at maximising the global impact of Independent music. Featuring keynotes, panels, exclusive networking sessions, and more, the conference has historically drawn an attendance of over 1200 participants from 28 countries. A2IM Indie Week has been running for over 15 years, and is the largest independent music gathering in the world Sounds Australia will be contributing registration costs for successful applicants – up to the value of $599.99 USD. Minimum requirements for your application to be considered: 👉 Attendees will be responsible for booking and funding all flights, transfers, insurance and accommodation themselves. 👉 Must be an associate, full or distributor member of AIR, an independent member of ARIA, or an Australian independent licensor of PPCA.  👉 Must have a catalogue of at least five albums and represent the music of at least three artists. 👉 Be digitally pro-active and be doing business internationally. EOI’s close Wednesday 26 March. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gVPT8kR9 #VMDO #AIR #A2IMIndieWeek #VicBusinesses #VicMusic #VicMusicBiz #VictorianCreatives #CreativeVictoria #CreativeState #SoundsAustralia #ARIA #PPCA 

VMDO are proud to be helping Green Room 360 to represent victorian start ups as they showcase they product at SXSW, Austin. 👏 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gaCAwffy #VMDO #GreenRoom360 #SXSW #SXSWAustin #VictorianCreatives #VicMusicBiz #VicMusic #VicBusinesses

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 🙌 In honour of International Women’s Day, a specific day dedicated to the advancement of women worldwide we want to shine a light on just some of the many incredible women in the Victorian Music Industry who are kicking goals. Rebecca Young - Collective Artists 📚 Taylor James - Lemon Tree Music 🎙️ Jordanne Chant - Dinosaur City Records 💿 Emily York - Penny Drop 🎶 Elinor Williams - The Annex Creative 📱 Maira Troncoso - Casimaria 📸 Juliana Vieira - Yellow Beanie 🎧 Today is the day to acknowledge and celebrate women’s achievements through recognising and appreciating the contributions of women in various fields, highlighting their influence and successes throughout history and in the present day. 👏 #InternationalWomensDay #IWD #WomenInMusic #VMDO #VictorianCreatives #VicMusicBiz #VicMusic #VicBusinesses 

Final Reminder: LEG UP closes on Monday, 3 March at 9am. In line with financial literacy, here are some more options to look into if you are interested in getting across your finances: 👉 Strong Women Strong Business Providing mentoring opportunities and support for women in business. 👉 Digital Solutions Connect with the Digital Solutions program to help grow your business. 👉 ATO Small Business Information Offering a range of tools and services to help small businesses get their tax and superannuation correct. For more information visit: https://lnkd.in/gtjeK-Cp AND OF COURSE DON'T FORGET OUR LEG UP PROGRAM CLOSES THIS ON MONDAY 3 MARCH AT 9AM. To apply visit: https://lnkd.in/ghVhzk8w #VicMusic #VicMusicBiz #Grants #VMDO #VictorianCreatives #CreativeState #CreativeVictoria #LegUp

Applications open for the 2025 Lighthouse Award 🙌 Applications for the 2025 Lighthouse Award are now open to all women and gender diverse artist managers. Managers are invited to apply now until Wednesday 19 March for the chance to receive a $5,000 grant to support their business and professional pursuits. The Lighthouse Award exists to support a forward-thinking manager who is dedicated to Australian music. It was established to encourage women and gender diverse artist managers in memory of pioneering artist manger and mentor, Linda Gebar, who died tragically in 2008 soon after the birth of her second child.    Gebar was one of the few women in artist management in the ‘90s, working with bands like The Killjoys, Frente and The Blackeyed Susans. She also booked the Punters Club, worked at PBS FM 106.7, had a record label and worked at APRA AMCOS. Previous recipients of the award have included Bonnie Dalton, Charlotte Abroms, Jen Cloher, Kristy Gostelow, Lorrae McKenna, Maggie Collins and Simone Ubaldi. Applications are open now until Wednesday 19 March and the recipient will be announced at the Association of Artist Managers (AAM) Australia Awards on Wednesday 30 April in Melbourne.    For more information and to apply, visit apraamcos.com.au. #VMDO #LighthouseAwards #LindaGebar #Grants #VicMusicBiz #VicMusic #WomenInMusic #APRAAMCOS 

A big THANK YOU to all of those who made it to our first VMDO Networking Breakfast since COVID. 🙌 It was a huge success, full house and incredibly insightful. The overwhelming interest in tickets showed the increasing demand from industry to connect with and develop relationships with our nearest neighbours. 🌏 Thank you to all of our panelists, especially the ones that travelled from Vietnam to come and offer their learnings. 👏 Michael Choi Dong Nguyen Esti Zilber Wenona Lok 📸: Incredible photos by Maira Troncoso #VMDO #VMDONetworkingBreakfast #NetworkingBreakfast #VicMusic #CreativeVictoria #CreativeState #VicMusicBiz #VietnamMusic #AsiaTopa #VictorianCreatives  Creative Victoria

A reminder that VMDO have announced LEG UP - a new initiative aiming to increase financial literacy and competence amongst Victoria’s small-to-medium music businesses. Offerings include: 👉 A Grant Stream – VMDO are offering 20 grants of up to $1000 each, specifically to be spent on something that will help you control your finances better. 👉 A Consultation Stream – VMDO have secured a number of one-hour consultations, generously offered by local companies Considered Law, Darkwave, The Gild Group and White Sky Music. Consultations are free. 👉 90% off Xero Subscriptions – VMDO have teamed up with XERO to offer VMDO’s audience 90% off six-month XERO subscriptions for new customers. APPLICATIONS CLOSE AT 9AM ON MARCH 3rd 2025. To learn more and apply visit: https://lnkd.in/ghVhzk8w AND while we are on the subject of finances, Support Act has just announced Money Moves. 📢 Money Moves is a free, self-paced, eLearning program aiming to demystify budgeting, debt, savings, superannuation and tax. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gkz_vAY3 #VMDO #MusicAustralia #VicMusic #CreativeState #Grants #LegUp #ConsideredLaw #Darkwave #TheGuildGroup #WhiteSky #VicMusicBiz #CreativeVictoria #MoneyMoves #SupportAct 

VMDO Networking Breakfast - APAC Exchange is officially SOLD OUT! 📢 If you missed out, you can still jump on the waitlist for the event. Thu, 20 Feb, 8:30am - 11am Waitlist here: https://lnkd.in/gwsCHua6 #VMDO #NetworkingBreakfast #VictorianCreatives #CreativeVictoria #CreativeState #VicMusic #AsiaTopa #VietnamMusic #SoundsAustralia

Our final panel member for the APAC Exchange VMDO Networking Breakfast - Esti Zilber Joining Sounds Australia in 2010, Esti Zilber has played a key role in developing and delivering Sounds Australia’s program across the US, UK and Asia. Her work with inbound buyers across Australia’s domestic music conferences has seen thousands of invaluable connections made between international industry and local artists and managers. During the peak-pandemic years of 2021 and 2022, Esti managed Sounds Australia’s Export Stimulus Program, which saw $1.2 million distributed, across three rounds, to over 320 Australian artists, crew and music professionals. That financial support was used to realize “significant career-defining moments” in global markets and earn much needed income after 18 months of cancelled work due to the impacts of the pandemic. Thu, 20 Feb, 8:30am - 11am RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gwsCHua6 #VMDO #NetworkingBreakfast #VictorianCreatives #CreativeVictoria #CreativeState #VicMusic #AsiaTopa #VietnamMusic #SoundsAustralia