For Artists

Building a career in the music industry can be tough. We're here to help.

#Opportunities and programs

QMusic’s events and programs support the professional development of emerging and established artists, and connects them with an international music industry network.

The Queensland Music Awards is a platform for unearthing the best new songwriters from Queensland, and also recognises the contribution of established artists. Every entrant gets their song heard by industry judges from around the world. Finalists and winners benefit from significant exposure across our media partner platforms.

QMusic Connect is our professional development program for emerging Queensland artists. The masterclass program takes participants through the process of setting up a music industry business and releasing a song into market. And it’s free!

QMusic also administers grants for recording projects (The Billy Thorpe Scholarship, Carol Lloyd Award and Dennis 'Mop' Conlon Scholarship) and songwriting (The Grant McLennan Fellowship).

Our signature event, BIGSOUND, offers the opportunity for 150 of Australia’s best new acts to play to an audience of music industry influencers and a public audience looking for their new favourite band.

#QMUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS

Grant Mclennan Fellowship

$15,000 grant

Carol Lloyd Award

$15,000 grant

Billy Thorpe Scholarship

$15,000 grant

Dennis 'Mop' Conlon Scholarship

$15,000 grant

#Resources

AMIN Legal Pack Resources

This Music Industry Legal Pack includes fact sheets and checklists that explain some of the common agreements you might need to enter into as a music professional.

Fundraising Support

Creative Australia’s fundraising programs and services aim to build the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of artists and organisations, supporting financially sustainable creative careers and business models.

Social Checklist

Formulate your brand and social strategy with the best go-to tips from our friends at GYROstream.

Gyrostream Release Checklist

A comprehensive list of everything you need to think about when you're releasing!

QMusic Concert Care

Safer spaces in live music so everyone can have a top night out.

Fact Sheet Music & Copyright

This fact sheet provides an overview of the music copyright issues for songwriters and composers.

Understanding Fan Analytics: Luminate Execs Weigh In

The entertainment data company’s Helena Kosinski and Jaime Marconette give tips on using the power of numbers to build your fan base.

#Grants Guide

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Development Fund

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Development Fund (the Fund) provides one-off grants to support the development and presentation of new creative performing arts work by Queensland-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, arts companies, groups and organisations. It also seeks to connect exceptional visual artists and fashion and textile artists and their work to national and international audiences and markets.

The Fund will support the delivery of the Queensland’s Time to Shine: A 10-year arts and cultural strategy priorities including maximising economic opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives.

Applications close 29 Monday June 2026 at 2pm.

Music Australia Core Contribution Fund

Two-year funding for Australian music industry representative organisations whose primary activity is providing services to key areas of the contemporary Australian music industry.

Applications close Tuesday 23 June 2026, 3pm AEST

Emerging Artist Grants

The Emerging Artist Grants program offers grants of up to $15,000 to assist talented emerging and early-career artists in taking up professional development opportunities, usually overseas.

Professional development opportunities allow emerging artists to gain experience, develop networks and learn skills from the world's best. We believe these experiences are invaluable for individual artists and the ongoing development of Australia's vibrant arts sector.

Applications close Tuesday 23 June 2026

Queensland Major Commissioning Fund

The Queensland Major Commissioning Fund (the Fund) provides funding to support the production and presentation of impactful, large-scale creative work. The Fund will co-invest in major new work that showcases Queensland artists, organisations and stories, and has significant public outcomes attracting large audiences and premiering in Queensland.

The Fund supports delivery of Queensland's Time to Shine: a 10-year strategy for arts and culture 2025-2035 including its priority of Transformational Arts and Culture for Brisbane 2032. It also contributes to the outcomes of Destination 2045 and its ambition to make Queensland the events capital of Australia.

Applications close 20 July 2026

Regional Arts Fund Quick Response Grants

Quick Response Grants aim to support small arts or cultural projects that cannot be funded by other means because of their nature or timing. For example, you may wish to attend a workshop or complete a project within a certain time frame and cannot access appropriate funding through any other means.

This is a rolling fund.

Australian Cultural Fund

The Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) is a fundraising platform for Australian artists.

Through the ACF, artists upload their project, start their fundraising campaign and invite art lovers and supporters to donate with 100% of donations going directly towards artists’ creative projects.

The ACF has helped raise millions of dollars for Australian artists, enabling a wide range of projects to come to life and offering support to Australia’s cultural sector.

This is a rolling fund.

The Voices Rising Fund

The Voices Rising Fund is a major new initiative from the Awesome Black Foundation, designed to elevate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices by supporting the creation of publishable works across literature and music of all styles and genres. A maximum of $60,000 is available each year to be distributed to selected projects.

This is a rolling fund.