Sounds Australia offers a unique service supporting australian artists and music businesses to reach global audiences
OUR HISTORY
Sounds Australia is the only national organisation solely dedicated to music export, with over 15 years of experience building knowledge and fostering influential networks across international music market events.
In 2009, the Australia Council for the Arts (now Creative Australia) created an International Music Market Development Initiative, with the intention of advancing Australian music export. APRA AMCOS, as a peak music industry body, partnered with the Australia Council and took on custodianship, providing the strategic, administrative and management support required to deliver the export project.
Named Sounds Australia, it was established to provide a cohesive and strategic platform to assist the Australian music industry in accessing international business opportunities at key showcase conference events.
Sounds Australia has expedited the artist discovery process and catapulted multiple acts into the consciousness of the world’s most influential music industry, ensuring that from their very first export outing, Australian artists are connected with key industry leaders and decision makers, resulting in increased professional and commercial outcomes.
GOVERNANCE & STAKEHOLDERS
Sounds Australia exemplifies a whole-of-government, whole-of-industry partnership made up of federal and state agencies.
In addition to Creative Australia (formerly Australia Council for the Arts) and APRA AMCOS, varying degrees of investment have been made over the years by the Department of Communications and the Arts, DFAT, Creative Victoria, Government of South Australia, Arts Queensland and Create NSW, whilst the industry peak organisations have included Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Limited (PPCA), the Australasian Music Publishers Association (AMPAL) and Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN).
In addition, Sounds Australia has established and maintained non-financial strategic partnerships with key contemporary stakeholders including the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR), Association of Artist Managers (AAM), Australian Music Centre (AMC), Folk Alliance Australia and Americana Music Australia (AMA). The value of these partnership engagements provides artists and music businesses strengthened support and further in-market infrastructure.
Sounds Australia‘s principle funding partners Music Australia, APRA AMCOS, ARIA, PPCA and the Office For The Arts meet throughout the year to review Sounds Australia’s strategic direction.
Sounds Australia continues to consult with its multifarious stakeholders through both formal and informal engagements, including but not limited to: key domestic industry conferences, videoconferencing, email surveys and face-to-face meetings.
APRA AMCOS, as custodian of Sounds Australia, is well equipped to provide the administrative and managerial support required to deliver the agreed program of activity. The APRA Board and Board Committees provide high level governance and the Sounds Australia team reports directly to the CEO Dean Ormston.
