The second round of Sounds Australia’s Export Stimulus (SAES) package has been awarded to more of Australia’s local music industry made up of artists, producers, songwriters, composers, managers, publishers and crew. The funds will support wide-ranging international activity including touring, songwriting, producing, industry meetings and tour/technical support.

32 Applicants were awarded AU $434,878.35.

“After such a brutal 2+ years of rescheduled tours, show cancellations, lockdowns and border closures, it feels unbelievable that we are able to actually tour internationally. This funding gives us support in what is really a super fragile economic arrangement for us. We’re playing some of the biggest shows of our careers, nominated for Grammys, yet it could all fall over at any second with no Covid insurance policies out there! We depend on groups like Sounds Australia to have our backs and am grateful for the support they have granted us.” – Si Jay Gould, Wondercore Island (Manager, Hiatus Kiayote).

The SAES program has been explicitly designed to assist established artists and industry professionals in re-entering the international music market, playing a significant role in presenting Australia as a nation of sought-after talent, reigniting foreign trade networks and triggering much-needed income for these important Australian music businesses.

The targeted funding aims to specifically counter the increased costs associated with exporting in a time of COVID-19, including increased insurance premiums, COVID-19 compliance consumables and expediting visas.

“Once again, we have been overwhelmed with the amount of international activity scheduled for Australians in the coming months – a time when the competition for opportunities, performance dates and venues has never been fiercer. It’s imperative that after a 2-year absence our top talent is able to re-engage audiences by returning to international studios and stages.” – Millie Millgate, Executive Producer, Sounds Australia.

Round 2 of the Sounds Australia Export Stimulus Grant has been made possible with the support of the Australian Government, APRA AMCOS, ARIA, PPCA, the Australia Council for the Arts, and Creative Victoria. 

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cites and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the package, under the first two rounds, has supported 224 Australian music industry professionals to return to international touring and business, and maximise the opportunities this brings. 

“The Morrison Government is proud to be supporting the Sounds Australia Export Stimulus program to get our talented artists, crew and music professionals back on the global stage to reaffirm our position in the international music market, and to bolster foreign trade and income for broader Australian music businesses,” Minister Fletcher said.

The extremely high quality and increased quantity of submissions was again judged by an external panel of experienced assessors made up of Cameron Adams, Leanne de Souza, Paul Mason, Sam Cook and Sosefina Fuamoli.

Round 3 for the SAES Grants will open on Monday 13th June 2022 for activity taking place internationally from 1st August 2022.

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS FOR SAES ROUND 2 can be found HERE  

The first round of Sounds Australia’s Export Stimulus (SAES) package has been awarded to a diverse cross section of local music industry made up of artists, producers, songwriters, composers, managers and crew. The funds will support a broad range of international activity encompassing touring, song writing, producing, sound design and tour/technical support.

31 Applicants were awarded a collective total of AU $408,936.28

“With the support from this fund I will be able to continue my international travel over the next 12 months, allowing me to practice my craft as a professional mix-engineer. This funding is vital in assisting me to offset the high flight costs, quarantine requirements, and higher travel insurance premiums that have been a reality due to the on-going effects of COVID-19 Pandemic. The ability to continue my international touring work, with the support of the SAES program will mean my live sound engineering business has the first real opportunity to return to some form of regular work for nearly 18 months.” – Jared Daley

First announced in June at AIR Indie Con, with the support of Sounds Australia’s lead funding partners – APRA AMCOS, ARIA, PPCA, the Australia Council for the Arts and the Office for the Arts – the program has been designed to bolster Australia’s music export activity and assist the industry as they return to global stages and studios for the first time after an 18-month long absence.

Judged by an external panel of highly experienced assessors – Cameron Adams, Leanne de Souza, Paul Mason, Sam Cook and Sosefina Fuamoli – priority was always to be given for activity undertaken by established talent re-entering the international music market. These successful applicants will play a significant role in presenting Australia as an incomparable nation of sought after artists and skilled music industry professionals, and reignite foreign trade and income for broader Australian music businesses.

“We have been so heartened to discover the incredible amount of international activity slated for Australians as the world reopens. It’s very clear that Australian artists and crew are still in high demand and we are pleased to be able to assist in just a small way with the SAES Program. The calibre and quantity of submissions forces me to defer to the cliche of unfunded excellence, however there is no question that is the situation our judges faced.” – Millie Millgate, Executive Producer, Sounds Australia

The next round of funding will open on the 10th January 2022 for activity taking place from 1st March. Guidelines, criteria and further details can be found on Sounds Australia’s website.

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS FOR SAES ROUND 1 can be found  HERE