The Lighthouse Award: Bernadette Ryan takes top honours
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Bernadette Ryan has been awarded The Lighthouse Award, proudly sponsored by APRA|AMCOS and supported by the Association of Artist Managers (AAM) . The award is specifically directed to a Victorian music manager and is worth $5000.
From a strong list of nominees, the final decision from the panel was unanimous. All the nominees represented the values and commitment to music that this award represents but Bernadette’s application reflected her understanding for the music community; her forward direction; her commitment to study and the potential for the music community to share in these skills.
Bernadette will be using her $5000 to help set up a new music company "Mary and Jean - Friends of Music". In essence it will be an extension of her management company, however more projected based, tailoring its service to meet individual needs. This will include mentoring, consultancy, live booking agency, public relations, label and event management. In addition, part of the prize money will be used to set up a skills based business coaching course.
About The Lighthouse Award
Proudly sponsored by APRA|AMCOS, The Lighthouse Award is a new award specifically directed to a Victorian music manager to the tune of $5000.
The nominees were carefully selected by our panel and represent the following values:
- A person who exhibits integrity and passion in their work
- Who has shown that they are in the music community for the long haul
- Who is a passionate supporter of Australian Music
- Who would benefit from this support to further their career aspirations
- Who looks to the future and is willing to mentor and embrace their music community
The panel:
- Linda Bosidis (Director of A&R Mushroom Music Publishing);
- Jo Roberts (Editor The EG Guide);
- Tom Lanarch Jones (The Toff in Town and Revolver);
- Scott Murphy (Director The Australian Music Prize);
- Bernard Galbally (Mana Music, Manager Rob Forster);
- Catherine Haridy (Manager Eskimo Jo, The Chemist and Bob Evans);
- Kirsty Rivers (National Manager Writer Services APRA | AMCOS)
Background:
The award is in memoriam of Victorian music manager Linda Gebar. The Lighthouse Award has been created to continue Linda’s work as a supporter and lover of good Australian music and designed to give the recipient an opportunity to facilitate an educational or professional aspiration to further their understanding of the music business.
It is called the Lighthouse Award because Linda loved lighthouses and they represent a fitting symbol of the spirit of this grant. We are looking for someone who will lead the next generation of managers and provide a beacon of integrity and professionalism in our industry.
Linda Gebar died tragically in October 2008 following the birth of her second child. Linda had been a booker, a manager and a co-worker to many within the music industry. She was a mentor to many, a colleague and a truly passionate believer in local music and all the people around it.
Linda worked at 3PBS, booked the Punter’s Club, managed The Killjoys, Frente and The Blackeyed Susans, had a record label on MDS and worked at APRA. She was one of the few female managers in the 1990’s and mentored many women and female musicians along the way.
The Lighthouse Award recipient: Bernadette Ryan (Photo by Ryley Brown)
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