APRA thanks the sponsors of the Professional Development Awards for their generosity, and support for emerging Australian music creators.
Street Press Australia
Thanks to our media sponsor, Street Press Australia, for their support. Independent publisher Street Press Australia is the leading choice in reaching Australia’s youth through the street press medium. Dedicated to producing market-leading music and popular culture magazines for over 20 years and with five publications in the group's stable, SPA is not only the largest publisher of free youth titles in the country but is also the first to offer clients the means by which to reach the national youth demographic with a single point of contact. streetpress.com.au
Studios 301
All PDA winners will receive one (1) full day of studio time at Studios 301 including a sound engineer.
Studios 301 is Australia's oldest and largest studio complex, and we're still making great records 80+ years on. With facilities in Sydney and Byron Bay, 301 caters for every stage of the musical process - writing, recording, mixing, mastering - and a superb ping-pong table for taking time out from the hard life of recording music. www.studios301.com
MGM/Leading Edge
Distribution deal (physical product) courtesy MGM and Leading Edge stores (all categories except Jazz and Classical) for a period of 6 months
- 500 CDs, with all costs paid by MGM for the production of 4 page booklet in a jewel case edition (artwork would need to be supplied to MGM by winners)
- 400 of these CDs distributed via Leading Edge Stores and 100 copies provided to winner for promotional purposes
- 100% royalties paid to winners (excluding mechanical royalties payable to AMCOS for other copyright owners included on the recording)
- $2000 value for each winner, based on calculation 400 copies sold, at the end of the 6 month accounting period, any unsold CDs will be returned to the winners for promotional purpses.
- At the end of 6 month term, winners will be permitted to continue distribution via MGM (under a normal directly negotiated commercial contract) or are free to negotiate distribution with any other Distribution/Record company of their choice.
Digital distribution release for a period of 6 months, courtesy MGM (all categories except Jazz and Classical)
- 100% royalties paid to winners (excluding mechanical royalties payable to AMCOS for other copyright owners included on the recording).
- metadata to be provided by winners; MGM will load and release via iTunes for a period of 6 months.
MGM Distribution began in 1998, and since then we have enabled thousands of Australian artists to release their music, allowing them to combine their artistic freedom with financial and creative control. As an independent music distribution service, MGM offers a unique model for achieving business success in the Australian music industry. A service provider at heart, MGM provides local artists with a mechanism to effectively distribute their music to physical and digital music stores, nationally and internationally. MGM is not, and has never been a record label and does not directly sign artists. www.thegroovemerchants.com
Leading Edge
The Leading Edge Group began life in 1986 as Electronic Enterprises, a buying group set up to help independent retailers achieve a much higher level of purchasing power, and to access training and information more effectively than ever before. Initially focusing on the home theatre market, it soon became apparent that the business model that had been applied so successfully to one market could quite easily be delivered to other vertical markets.
Without sacrificing their unique identity, business style or culture, members of the Leading Edge family are able to achieve more than could otherwise be done by acting alone. In 1997, a diverse range of independently successful buying groups was consolidated under the brand name of the Leading Edge Group, making it one of the largest retail entities in Australia. Our music division has 141 locations across the country & the broader Leading Edge Group boasts over 1500 stores nationally.
ABC Music
ABC Music digital distribution release for Jazz and Classical PDA winners.
ABC Music, a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest Australian publishing companies, representing a diverse and growing repertoire of Australian musical works from a strong roster of new and established composers and songwriters, across many music genres. We are both proud and pleased to be able to offer key works from a select mix of the most significant and also emergent orchestral composers represented by ABC Music. www.abcmusicpublishing.com.au
Roland
All APRA PDA winners will receive a microphone and keyboard courtesy of Roland. The Roland Group is a world leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of musical instruments including pianos, keyboards and synthesizers, guitar products, electronic percussion kits, digital recording equipment, amplifiers and audio processing devices. Roland Corporation Australia Pty Limited is the authorised distributor to Australia of Roland products and has a unique place in the Roland Group history – it was the first joint venture to be set-up outside of Japan, back in 1976.
AIM
All PDA winners will receive a semester music course/module of study, of their choice, courtesy of the Australian Institute Music (AIM). The module of study would have to be taken up within semester times and on campus.
The Australian Institute of Music is a Sydney based music school for excellence in education and training for careers in the music industry and performing arts with courses in performance, audio, composition and management. At AIM you'll develop the confidence and skills that will prepare you for the realities of today's music industry. We look forward to seeing you. www.aim.edu.au
The Seed – an art grants fund
3 Winners in the APRA PDA Popular Contemporary category will each receive a place at The Seed Management Workshop.
The Management Workshop offers practical strategies for managing a band or performer in the establishment phase of their career. This initiative has been running for six years and has been extremely successful and inspiring for all who have attended. With the wonderful wealth of knowledge from industry professionals including managers, distributors, radio promoters, radio representatives, publicists, lawyers, grant writers, publishers and artists, it offers strategic advice on ways to enhance performers’ opportunities.
Places are strictly limited and The Seed have kindly extended guaranteed attendance for the 3 popular contemporary winners (if self managed). Value to each winner over $2000! The Seed will provide and arrange transport, accommodation and meals for the 3 winners (winners will only need to get themselves to the closest major airport).
The Seed aims to help Australian artists from any background, creating art and music across any genre, to establish themselves as self-sustained, professional artists. Please contact us at
ASCAP
The winner of the Film & TV PDA award will be invited to attend the ASCAP Film & TV workshop. This is an exclusive annual program open to only 12 composers selected from around the world.
The ASCAP Television and Film Scoring Workshop is an intensive month-long program widely known as a major educational and networking opportunity for aspiring composers. It featured prestigious guest speakers from the highest levels of the film and television music industry. It is largely funded by The ASCAP Foundation Fred Steiner and Nathan East Fund, established thanks to the generosity of ASCAP members Fred Steiner and Nathan East. www.ascap.com