As part of our ongoing commitment to providing information and skills development for musicians and music businesses in Victoria, Music Victoria will host two free workshops as part of the 2012 Brunswick Music Festival.

Covering popular topics such as social media, online marketing, tour budgeting and bookkeeping, musicians and music industry workers will receive invaluable advice from industry professionals including Carlo Santone (Blue King Brown), Kat Cazanis (Nitty Gritty Digital), Tom Harris (White Sky Music), Ben Strong (GI & Sanicki Lawyers), musician Matt Kulezsa (Rat vs Possum), and Serge Bolzonello (Director, Banks Group).

Both sessions will be held at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute Performing Arts Centre on Sydney Rd Brunswick. These workshops are free but bookings are essential to secure your spot.

Meet Me On Facebook: Building and Engaging With Your Fanbase With Social Media
Date: Monday 19th March 2012
Time: 6.30pm to 9.00pm
RSVP via http://www.trybooking.com/BEZM 

and

Money for Nothing: How to Manage Your Financials and Maximise Your Profits
Date: Tuesday 20^th March 2012
Time: 6.30pm to 9.00pm
RSVP via http://www.trybooking.com/BEZO 

Both sessions will be held at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute Performing Arts Centre, 270 Sydney Rd Brunswick (cnr Glenlyon Rd).



Social media panel slideshow: slideboom.com/presentations/529198/bmf_social2012

• Do you have a new music business concept that you are trying to get off the ground?
• Are you a pioneering small music business which needs investment to get to the next stage of profitability?
• Do you have a great idea for an innovative and enterprising project involving Australian music and games, film, or social media?

If the answer to any of the above is yes, then you should apply to participate in GENERATE - a new pilot program which is looking to invest in up to 15 of the best music-related businesses or business ideas across Australia!

The new program, GENERATE: An Australian music enterprise investment pilot, aims to invest in original, innovative ideas or business models involving Australian music and is a positive step forward in creating a sustainable future for the Australian music industry.

GENERATE will provide business-development knowledge, skills and expert tailored mentoring support as well as access to seed investment of up to $30,000 for up to 15 ground-breaking music enterprises from across Australia.

WHAT IS GENERATE?

GENERATE is a pilot program to support enterprises in the Australian music industry which are seeking to grow and attract investment.

GENERATE is intended to support and develop good music-related business plans and industry concepts. Participants must be able to commit to the program timeline and requirements.

GENERATE will particularly focus on proposals that facilitate new collaborations or business models involving music and other creative professions such as film, online games and publishing.

GENERATE is looking for applications from small to medium-sized music enterprises including songwriters, composers, bands, managers, publishers, promoters, producers and labels.

WHAT ISN’T GENERATE?
GENERATE is NOT a grant program for music production or touring.

PROGRAM STAGES

GENERATE is a three-stage business program which will run from December 2011 to May 2012.

December - February – GENERATE program opens, seeking applications from interested music professionals, entrepreneurs and businesses to register to attend an introductory workshop to be held in February 2012

Register your interest to attend a GENERATE 2012 Workshop here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/N8CJ77T

Melbourne workshop: Wednesday 22nd February 2012

To register your interest in attending a GENERATE 2012 workshop, please go to www.amin.org.au or Victorian artists can contact Music Victoria on (03) 9380 1566 or via info@musicvictoria.com.au

Music Victoria is currently working with music industry bodies and musicians to better understand some of the issues currently facing Australian musicians and is conducting national research on musicians’ access to Centrelink. This data will be used to help formulate a submission to the Federal Government‘s National Cultural Policy.

This survey is focused on Centrelink payments and will assist in gaining an understanding of the impact Centrelink requirements may be having on musicians.  

The survey is short and should take no more than five minutes of your time. Your input is invaluable as it will help shape and guide any future change.  

Your responses will remain strictly anonymous and individual details will not be shared with any other agency.  

We would appreciate you taking the time to complete the survey at
surveymonkey.com/s/CentrelinkMusicians by Wednesday 19^th October.  extended to Wednesday 30th November. 

A new National Cultural Policy for Australia – the first in nearly 20 years – is being developed and you are invited to comment. The discussion paper is a crucial step in the development of a new National Cultural Policy.  

Consultation began on a National Cultural Policy in 2009, and has involved the arts and culture sector, creative industries, the public at large and government. This has informed the development of this discussion paper, which outlines goals and strategies for the new National Cultural Policy. Have your say.