Arts Minister Peter Garrett has announced the five indigenous music groups to recieve funding to record a ‘high quality’ and ‘broadcast standard’ EP or CDÂ to be used to target commerical radio. NSW artist Microwave Jenny (Wagga Wagga), Street Warriors (Newcastle) and the Stiff Gins from Sydney were amongst the five named through the pilot iniaitive ‘Breakthrough’ from the Cultural Ministers Council.
Brekthrough is a pilot initiative of the Cultural Ministers Council, which provides each of the 5 successful applicants up to $25,000 to record a EP/CD fit for radio. The target is to ‘break’ this artists ‘through’ to the commerical realm via high quality recordings. The grants were judged by a panel that includes Christine Anu, Rhoda Roberts, and Rob Collins for the CMC headed by Arts Minister Peter Garret “Breakthrough funding is a terrific opportunity for those upcoming musicians, because a high quality recording can greatly assist acts get airplay and reach new listening audiences. The opportunity to produce and market the recording will also provide invaluable experience of the music industry ” Mr Garret said.
The funds are provided to cover costs including; production and engineering fees, mixing mastering, deisgn and printing, as well as publicity and media costs. The breakthrough pilot initiative will be evaluated over the next 12 months. Here we will also be monitoring the artists and how their music evolves.
You can check out The Stiff Gins here
The Street Warriors here
and Microwave Jenny here