Sahara Beck wins Carol Lloyd Award
Sahara Beck has been named as the recipient of the $15,000 Carol Lloyd Award for 2019, the announcement taking place at the launch of this year's Queensland Music Festival.
Support Act Launch Hotline
Last September, the music industry’s top minds met for the Mental Health Summit at BIGSOUND to discuss options to proactively address the rampant mental health issues within our community.
Less than 12 months later, Support Act have announced the launch of their Wellbeing Helpline specifically tailored to assist with the unique mental health problems that research has found to impact music industry workers.
The free and confidential helpline will be staffed by professional counsellors, offering expert advice in all areas related to the music industry and mental health.
The growing mental health crisis within the music community has become a pressing issue, with musicians more the five times more likely to suffer from depression and ten times more likely to present symptoms of anxiety.
Low or unstable income combined with other factors including a high-stress working environment, lack of fiscal and emotional safety nets and long stretches of time spent away from friends and family have contributed to the rise of mental illness within the industry.
“The launch of this service is in direct response to requests from our colleagues working in music to help improve overall mental health and wellbeing. Based on our consultations and research, we believe that a specialised service specifically tailored to the unique challenges faced by artists and music workers will be of enormous benefit to all people working in our industry.”
Clive Miller
CEO, Support Act
Two industry leaders have partnered up to support the helpline, with The Tony Foundation and Levi's® providing valuable seed funding and expertise for the project.
Emily Alert, Executive Officer at The Tony Foundation, praised the quick turnaround for the much-needed service.
“We are thrilled to see this idea brought to fruition in less than 12 months. We have gone from initial conversations at the BIGSOUND Mental Health Summit last September around how to best support wellbeing in the music industry, to the helpline being made available this week.
Levi's® marketing manager Nicky Rowsell commented on the potential life-saving aspect of the helpline.
“This is a critical first step in a longer journey that Levi’s is heavily invested in; to really give back to the music (and wider) creative community in a meaningful way that we hope will make a real difference. If this work can help to save lives, then I think we all need to make it a priority to protect the future of the music industry itself.”
The Support Act Wellbeing Helpline will be accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from Monday 18 June by calling 1800 959 500 within Australia.
QMF Unveils Huge 20th Anniversary Program
Queensland Music Festival has launched its massive 2019 program. The state-wide program for the festival's 20th anniversary will run 5 July through to 28 July and bring "the gift of music to all corners of the state". Find out what's on and how you can get involved!
Chill with Paces: In The Studio with Paris Irwin
Last fortnight Paris Irwin, winner of the Industry Connect ‘Chill with Paces’ mentoring session spent an afternoon at Alchemix Recording Studios with Paces to gain some priceless industry insight, feedback on her songs and whip up a groovy new tune with the Gold Coast based producer.
AMPLIFY Songwriting Retreat 2019
Tucked away in the mountains of the Sunshine Coast is the picturesque Heliport Studios where for the second year, eight Industry Connect participants will spend four days co-writing and collaborating on new music with the guidance of industry experts.
APRA Professional Development Awards
APRA AMCOS have announced the return of the biennial APRA Professional Development Awards offering nine individual winners $15,000 each. The Smugglers of Light initiative will also return in 2019, providing a promising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music or media practitioner with a grant of $12,000.
Music Industry Jobs
Want a sweet gig in the music industry? Stay up to date with the latest positions available across Queensland!