QMusic CEO Angela Samut said: “During this extremely difficult time for our industry, and with international borders closed, it is important for us to pivot to the needs of our local artists. We spoke to Grant’s sister Sally about reallocating these funds and she agreed that what Grant would want right now is to help local artists create new music when they are not receiving income.”
With the postponement of the 2020 award, the 2019 winner Jack Bratt has been given an extra 12 months to take his Fellowship. His pre-COVID-19 plans were to travel to New York and be inspired by the city's musical significance to write songs for a new album.
The prestigious Grant McLennan Fellowship offers the recipient an opportunity to travel to New York, London or Berlin for up to six months and use the experience of being immersed in a foreign and vibrant music culture to further develop their own artistic skills.
2018 recipient, Danny Harley, aka The Kite String Tangle, used his Fellowship to travel to Berlin and London, where he wrote songs for his recent album, C()D3X, which has gone on to win two 2020 Queensland Music Awards (Best Dance/Electronic Award and Best Video Award).
Previous winners include: 2019 - Jack Bratt, 2018 - Danny Harley (The Kite String Tangle), 2017 - Jeremy Neale, 2016 - Hannah Macklin (MKO Sun), 2015 - Timothy Steward (WE ALL WANT TO, Screamfeeder), 2014 - Thomas Calder (The Trouble With Templeton), 2013 - Seja Vogel, 2012 - Louise O'Reilly and Paul Hannan (Laneway), 2011 - Scott Spark, 2010 - Danny Widdicombe and Andrew Morris, 2009 - Hannah Franzmann (McKisko), 2008 - Josh Busby and Chris Dale (Halfway), 2007 - Greg Charles.