MusicNSW is thrilled to announce a $48,000 commitment from Industry and Investment NSW (IINSW) to supporting export opportunities through the South By Southwest Conference held in Austin, Texas this month.

Distributed to artists and industry through support and funding, this money will assist in developing the profile and opportunity for NSW artists and industry in an international marketplace.

As part of this funding 11 grants of $3,000 each will be distributed to the following applicants to support their activities at what is arguably the world’s largest music industry event. Bird Music, Dappled Cities, Hello Pavement, Hub Artist Services, Jack Ladder, One Louder Entertainment, Parallel Management, Pivot, Sally Seltmann, Spunk and Winterman & Goldstein will each receive support for their attendance at SXSW.

These successful applicants represent a diverse cross section of the contemporary music industry in NSW and, for the first time, MusicNSW has been able to extend funding opportunities to industry individuals and organisations actively engaging in international markets and bringing economic and creative activity back to NSW.

“Music is a fantastic export for Australia, it obviously generates revenues for the country and NSW, but it also plays a very strong ‘ambassadorial’ role,” said Kylie Hargreaves, Executive Director of International Markets and Trade at Industry and Investment NSW upon the announcement of this funding.

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Last month the Federal Court of Australia found that the 1979 and 1981 recordings of Men At Work’s iconic Australiana anthem Down Under infringed the copyright of children’s classic Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree when they allegedly reproduced a couple of bars for a flute line. While EMI and Men At Work are appealing the decision the ruling establishes an interesting precedent for sampling and copyright in music in Australia.

What’s that mean for you, the music maker?

Arts Law and the Music Council of Australia (MCA) are teaming up to deliver a seminar on what this decision means for the musicians and the arts community in Australia.

A panel of leading lawyers will explain the recent court decision involving the Kookaburra song and Men At Work’s Down Under and its impact on musicians, followed by a Q&A session.

Speakers: Barrister Stephen Burley SC, Kate Haddock (Partner of Banki Haddock Fiora) and Andrew Wiseman (Partner at Allens Arthur Robinson, and director of Arts Law)

When: Thursday 18 March at 6.00pm – Registration from 5.30pm
Where: The Gunnery Building 43-51 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo

Reservations required: $15/$10 concession – FREE for subscribers/members of Arts Law or MCA

Click HERE for registration form – please email or fax to artslaw@artslaw.com.au or fax 02 9358 6475