VMDO Links - Neighbouring Rights
Apr
11

VMDO Links - Neighbouring Rights

On April 11th we'll be joined by Susan Cotchin of Good Neighbour as she tells us everything we need to know about the current state of Neighbouring Rights. With an annual global value estimated to be around $2.7bn, you'd think Neighbouring Rights would be a revenue stream everyone was over. And if it was, Susan Cotchin would have a lot more time on her hands. Instead, she has spent the last couple of decades tirelessly advocating both for a broader understanding within the industry and changes at the governmental level.

Come to Music Market and hear her in conversation on several issues, from how best to protect your rights and collect for you or your artist, to why Australians are missing out on millions compared to acts from other countries.

Following the discussion, you're welcome to hang around and we'll shout you a drink while you catch up with your industry colleagues.

Date: Thursday, April 11th

Time: Doors at 4.30pm with the event starting at 5pm sharp.

Place: Music Market Event Space, Collingwood Yards (Find us HERE)

Food and drinks will be provided.

GET YOUR FREE TICKET BELOW

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2023 Victorian BIGSOUND Pre-Party
Aug
30

2023 Victorian BIGSOUND Pre-Party

Join us for the Victorian Pre-BIGSOUND Party presented by VMDO & Brunswick Ballroom on August 30th! There's a panel featuring Tom Larkin of BIGSOUND in discussion with manager Cara Williams on how to get the most from your BIGSOUND experience, followed by live performances from Charm of Finches, Sophisticated Dingo, IZY, Porpoise Spit and Rebel Yell, each playing their 30 minute BIGSOUND showcase set.

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VMDO links - Sounds Australia Export Masterclass
Aug
7

VMDO links - Sounds Australia Export Masterclass

In this masterclass, you’ll find out what Sounds Australia does, why they exist, and how you can use their showcases and networking events to further your international career. Plus, you’ll get expert advice on how to best prepare for showcasing internationally, as well as learning about all the funding and grant opportunities available to you

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VMDO links - Negotiating Success
Jul
27

VMDO links - Negotiating Success

Join us as award-winning commercial mediator and negotiation trainer Nicole Davidson guides Tim Janes, Managing Director of Virgin Music Australia, and manager Lorrae McKenna (RVG, Good Morning, Georgia Maq and more) through a tense, high-stakes contract negotiation

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VMDO LINKS - The State Of Streaming: The current landscape and how to navigate it
Apr
18

VMDO LINKS - The State Of Streaming: The current landscape and how to navigate it

Do you know your monthlies from your followers? What is streaming best practice? How do you turn passive listeners into engaged fans? How can you benefit from marketing your music catalogue? Whether you’re an artist, manager or independent label, these are challenges you’re likely to be facing every day.

The State of Streaming: The Current Landscape and How to Navigate It will attempt to demystify the world of streaming by answering some of these questions and querying what the right ones to be asking even are. Sarah Hamilton, DSP Consultant for The Annex and Former Region Head of Ditto, will be joined by streaming specialist and former Spotify Senior Editor & Strategy Lead Peter Stevens, bringing their insight to the Music Market for a discussion regarding the current state of streaming, how best to utilise the platforms and what the immediate future might hold. Following this you can have the opportunity to ask your questions as we open the floor for a Q&A.

The event will be held at the Music Market Event Space at Collingwood Yards. Tickets are free but booking is essential. 

More info & RSVP

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CLOCK Your Skills 2023 - Skills Discovery Workshops (Copy)
Mar
26

CLOCK Your Skills 2023 - Skills Discovery Workshops (Copy)

The Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO) and CLOCK Your Skills are offering Victorian music professionals the chance to discover, recognise and validate their skills with formal qualification credits.

We understand that there are highly skilled people working in the Victorian contemporary music community who may not recognise the significance of their experience acquired throughout their professional working lives.

The CLOCK Your Skills program aims to help music business professionals identify and consolidate their strengths and transferable skills as well as contribute to formalised qualifications. Their programs are open to professional creatives who want to validate their skills at a master’s level, irrespective of any previous formal qualifications.

The sessions will take place in-person at Music Market in Collingwood, VIC from March 22nd.

VMDO previously introduced CLOCK Your Skills to Australia through a program in 2020 and again in 2022

CLOCK Skills Discovery Workshop

Do you want to better understand your skills and where they might take you?

As creatives we can take for granted or miss the value in the many integrated and transferable skills we acquire throughout a career.

The 3-hour CLOCK Skills Discovery Workshop is a space where our team of CLOCK mentors help you:

  1. Uncover your sector-specific and transferable skills

  2. Recognise, appreciate, and value all the skills you have learned and developed in any context

  3. Gain a deeper understanding of your strengths and use that insight to move forward with your creative projects and ideas with renewed confidence and belief

The CLOCK Skills Discovery Workshop is suitable for anyone at any stage of their career. Whether you work in the Victorian music industry as an employee, freelancer, volunteer, trainee, intern, senior manager, or entrepreneur, come join us!

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CLOCK Your Skills 2023 - Skills Discovery Workshops
Mar
22

CLOCK Your Skills 2023 - Skills Discovery Workshops

The Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO) and CLOCK Your Skills are offering Victorian music professionals the chance to discover, recognise and validate their skills with formal qualification credits.

We understand that there are highly skilled people working in the Victorian contemporary music community who may not recognise the significance of their experience acquired throughout their professional working lives.

The CLOCK Your Skills program aims to help music business professionals identify and consolidate their strengths and transferable skills as well as contribute to formalised qualifications. Their programs are open to professional creatives who want to validate their skills at a master’s level, irrespective of any previous formal qualifications.

The sessions will take place in-person at Music Market in Collingwood, VIC from March 22nd.

VMDO previously introduced CLOCK Your Skills to Australia through a program in 2020 and again in 2022

CLOCK Skills Discovery Workshop

Do you want to better understand your skills and where they might take you?

As creatives we can take for granted or miss the value in the many integrated and transferable skills we acquire throughout a career.

The 3-hour CLOCK Skills Discovery Workshop is a space where our team of CLOCK mentors help you:

  1. Uncover your sector-specific and transferable skills

  2. Recognise, appreciate, and value all the skills you have learned and developed in any context

  3. Gain a deeper understanding of your strengths and use that insight to move forward with your creative projects and ideas with renewed confidence and belief

The CLOCK Skills Discovery Workshop is suitable for anyone at any stage of their career. Whether you work in the Victorian music industry as an employee, freelancer, volunteer, trainee, intern, senior manager, or entrepreneur, come join us!

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VMDO Links - What's Metadata got to do with me?
Nov
3

VMDO Links - What's Metadata got to do with me?

Do you know what an ISRC is? Do you know how metadata relates to making money from your music? Do you know the difference between a publisher, a distributor, an aggregator and a digital service provider? Did you know that every year $US2.5 billion is not paid out to artists and rights holders due to inaccurate and incomplete metadata?

Many in the music industry answer no to some, if not all, of these questions. A place full of confusion, opaque practices, and inconsistent language.

As an artist, then a record label owner and now a technology company with Envoke Network, Merida Sussex has always tried to reconnect and re-engage artists with their music and their music business, and one of the direct ways to do this is re-connecting artists to their metadata, as artists are the source of information about their music.

Over the pandemic, Prof Ellie Rennie (RMIT University) and Merida have interviewed artists, labels, publishers and managers all over the world about their processes of creating and communicating metadata. This research and subsequent development was partly funded by the ARC Cooperation through Code research project, the Australia Council, and the VMDO.

At our next VMDO Links session, Ellie and Merida will discuss some of their findings and some of the practical tools and practices people can do to ensure that their metadata is accurate and complete. They will also be joined by one of the artist's they interviewed - N'fa Forster-Jones.

Join us at Music Market on Thursday 3rd November, 5pm – 7pm. 

Doors open from 5pm, panel starts at 5:30pm. The session will be followed by a music industry mixer. Drinks & nibbles will be provided.

This is a free event hosted by VMDO, and RSVP is required to attend. 

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Gold Sounds Networking Lunch
Oct
15

Gold Sounds Networking Lunch

Join the VMDO for a networking lunch as part of this year’s Gold Sounds Music Conference in Castlemaine this October.

Attending Gold Sounds? We invite you to catch up with your fellow delegates and participants over a locally catered lunch in the foyer of the Phee Broadway Theatre.

Saturday 15 October, 1:05pm - 2:15pm.

Phee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine.

No need to RSVP, simply turn up.

More info about Gold Sounds Music Conference here.

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VMDO Links: Strategise Your Music Release
Sep
21

VMDO Links: Strategise Your Music Release

Victorian music industry professionals are invited to join Marion Briand (YouTube Music ANZ) to discuss how to best strategise your next music release.

Marion will walk participants through different stages in a release cycle, providing best practices for each stage and demonstrating these in detail through case studies. Attendees learn the fundamentals of releasing music on YouTube and get support and insights first-hand through the Q&A session after the presentation. All participants will be provided with a release checklist at the end of the workshop.

Please note: the session can only be attended in person and will not be recorded.

More info & RSVP

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Victorian Meanjin Mixer
Sep
8

Victorian Meanjin Mixer

Music Victoria and VMDO are delighted to invite you to the Victorian Meanjin Mixer at BIGSOUND 2022. 
Come down for lunch (on us!) and connect with your fellow BIGSOUND Conference attendees and Victorians artists who are in town for the occasion.

 The event will feature live performances from Forest Claudette, BIG WETT and Kee'ahn

We look forward to seeing you there!

More info & RSVP

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VMDO Links - Make Your Skills Count
Aug
29

VMDO Links - Make Your Skills Count

Have you ever considered how many different skills you’ve picked up while working in the music industry, yet don't have the credentials to show for it?

We understand that there are highly skilled people working in the Victorian contemporary music community who may not recognise the significance of their experience acquired throughout their professional working lives. 

CLOCK is an international organisation providing learning and professional development programs designed to help everyone, regardless of background, recognise and accredit skills needed to work in different roles across the Creative Industries. 

For the next instalment of VMDO Links, join us for a panel discussion with international guests Denise Stanley, Michelle Escoffery, Claudia Matera and Ximo Peris from CLOCK, in conversation with N’fa Forster Jones, lecturer at Box Hill Institute. The team will be sharing more info about their work and mission to make invisible skills visible and valued.

More info & RSVP

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VMDO Links - Music Export in 2022
Aug
22

VMDO Links - Music Export in 2022

The VMDO are partnering with Sounds Australia to present you with a week-long program, ‘Music Export in 2022’, which consists of an in-person VMDO Links networking event, followed by one-on-one meeting opportunities with a Sounds Australia export expert.

Connect with Sounds Australia’s Esti Zilber, Millie Millgate and Dom Alessio in person and hear about what the international export landscape looks like right now. If you’re looking to play internationally for the first time, or you’re restarting your export activity, this is the session for you. 

The session will be followed by a music industry mixer. Drinks & catering will be provided.

This is a free event. More info and RSVP.

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Music Startup Amplifier: Online Info Session
Jul
18

Music Startup Amplifier: Online Info Session

If you have a business that is changing the way we create, consume, distribute or share the profits of music, we'd love to hear from you!

VMDO and Australian Institute of Music’s iHUB have launched a new initiative, the Music Startup Amplifier, which will offer new music startups access to knowledge, experience, industry expertise and opportunities during a 2-day bootcamp at Music Market this August.

Join us for an online info session about the program on Monday 18th July.

Hosts will walk you through how the program will work, selection criteria and answer any questions you might have regarding the application process.

Monday 18th July, 12pm - 1pm on Zoom.

More info & RSVP

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VMDO Links: MUS3 Mixer
Jun
22

VMDO Links: MUS3 Mixer

MUS3 is a new educational initiative between VMDO and Reggie Ba-Pe from CLUB MEDIA, funded by Creative Victoria with additional support from Australia Council for the Arts, to share knowledge and introduce Web3 concepts to the music industry.

To kick things off, we’d like to invite the Victorian music industry to gather and discuss all things music and Web3 at our next VMDO Links networking event – MUS3 Mixer.

This is a casual meetup open to everyone interested in exploring the convergence of blockchain and music.

Whether you are a musician, manager, lawyer, graphic designer, label manager, publisher, filmmaker, developer, student or entrepreneur, this is the perfect opportunity to find and connect with like-minded people who share your vision and curiosity about Web3 in music. You’ll get to hear about the forthcoming MUS3 program and join our dedicated Music Web3 community in Victoria!

There will be free drinks, snacks, music and NFTs on display from Victorian artists. Bring your friends and prepare for some fun and inspiring conversations!

More info & RSVP

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VMDO Links: Emerging Entrepreneurs
May
25

VMDO Links: Emerging Entrepreneurs

Have you ever had a great business idea and not known what to do next? 

There are smart ways to go about building a new business that will increase your chances of success. Teaching us some of the secrets will be Tristonne Forbes from Pathwize and co-founder of AIM iHub. Tristonne will present a 30-minute entrepreneur masterclass, talking through music startup need-to-knows and what it takes to foster innovative ideas. 

Following the masterclass, Tristonne will facilitate an in-conversation with Matt Allen, CEO and co-founder of Tractor Ventures. Matt recently co-founded Side Stage Ventures, a new investment syndicate backed by several high-profile entrepreneurs including Jaddan Comerford of UNIFIED Music, Linktree co-founders Alex and Anthony Zaccaria and Emily Casey, founder of What the Health?

Join us for an informative session aimed to shine a spotlight on music startups and inspire the next wave of entrepreneurs. 

More info & RSVP

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Anti Racism Workplace Training: Presented by Hue
May
17

Anti Racism Workplace Training: Presented by Hue

VMDO are partnering with Hue to deliver three anti racism workshops, aimed at professionals and businesses working in the Victorian music industry.

1). Understanding Race and Racism:  Tuesday 17th May 9:00am - 12:30pm 

2). Deconstructing Whiteness: Tuesday 31st May 9:00am - 12:30pm

3). Allyship in Your Workplace: Tuesday 14th June 9:00am - 12:30pm

It is highly recommended you sign up for all three workshops in the series.

All sessions will take place in-person at Music Market.

More info & register.

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VMDO Links: Mastering Merch
Apr
12

VMDO Links: Mastering Merch

Presented by the Victorian Music Development Office and Association of Artist Managers (AAM)

Tuesday 12th April, 4pm - 6pm AEST

What comes to mind when you think of music merchandise? In the modern day, we've come a long way from the trusty black t-shirt (and yet it remains a staple). Merchandise has traditionally sat hand in hand with touring and has since evolved to involve sophisticated e-commerce, digital marketing strategy and virtual goods. 

Now that touring has returned, how can the artist (and their team) balance traditional sale opportunities while serving a market well beyond the merch desk? Join us for a panel discussion with Jack Dowling McDonald (Sound Merch), Paige X. Cho (Bolster) and Ashleigh Hills (UNIFIED) as we examine how the market has changed, crunch the numbers and discuss the opportunities for merch in 2022. 

Speakers: Jack Dowling McDonald (Sound Merch), Paige X.Cho (Bolster) and Ashleigh Hills (UNIFIED)

More info and RSVP

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Empowered! Inspired Business Planning with Kez and Megz
Mar
26

Empowered! Inspired Business Planning with Kez and Megz

VMDO are proud to be partnering with Kerry Kennel, Meagan Lea Waters and Ngarrimili for this exciting face-to-face workshop around personal empowerment within your business.

The workshop will explore:

  • Through meditation, visualising future goals & how you want to feel when you get there

  • Defining self-worth and self-confidence

  • Tips & advice for confidence building around affirmations, understanding core values, and celebrating your successes

  • Learn how to put all this workshop goodness into your business

  • Know how to choose work that is values-aligned, and how to say NO!

  • Celebrating your milestones

This workshop will take place Saturday 26th March, 11-2pm at Music Market and also be live streamed for those who cannot make it. The event will be followed by networking and light drinks.

This event is free for all First Nations businesses and creatives. Childcare provided for the workshop.

Artwork by Sophie Co. Creative Agency

More info and RSVP

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VMDO Links: Modern Day Music Careers
Mar
9

VMDO Links: Modern Day Music Careers

In 2022, what does it mean to navigate a modern day music career?

VMDO Links returns Wednesday 9th March, in-person at Music Market.

Join us for a panel conversation followed by networking, drinks and nibbles.

Leading the discussion is music strategist Amber Horsburgh.

Amber will be joined by Ben Dennis (Myriad Management) and artists beatrice and Jade Empress.

We'll be taking a deep dive into what alternative revenue streams are grabbing their attention and discuss what a sustainable music career looks like.

4pm - 6pm, Wednesday 9th March. In-person at Music Market, and streamed online via YouTube.

More info and RSVP

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Hit Different Podcast - LIVE from Music Market
Dec
10

Hit Different Podcast - LIVE from Music Market

Welcome to the first ever Hit Different LIVE Podcast celebrating the opening of Music Market!

Hit Different is hosted by Mikey CahillSose Fuamoli & Marcus Teague and this very special live from Music Market episode will feature very special guests:

Tony Di Blasi (The Avalanches) • Soju Gang • Maple Glider • Genneah Turner and a live performance by Kee’ahn, plus a few surprises during and after the panels. Hint: b2b

We'll be opening the doors at 4.00pm to start at 4.30pm sharp. After the live podcast, please stick around for DJs, drinks and dancing.

Refreshments will be served including delicious beverages from our supporters: Blackhearts & Sparrows, Brick Lane Brewery, Capi, Grainshaker, Heaps Normal and Lyre's.

RSVP is essential and will be based on first in best dressed, due to limited places. 

More info and RSVP.

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VMDO Links: Top Music Industry Trends of 2021
Nov
10

VMDO Links: Top Music Industry Trends of 2021

VMDO Links is a new networking event, connecting the Victorian music industry to key topics locally and globally.

Music Ally has spent 2021 covering a blizzard of music business news: market data, deals, new startups and (sometimes!) heated rows about what it all means for the future of this industry.

In this session, we'll be joined by Stuart Dredge, Head of Insight at Music Ally (UK) who will be taking a step back to talk about the bigger picture in some of the key trends. Streaming's growth and the artist activism that goes with it, for example, or the excitement around high-potential markets like China, India and Africa.

In this session we'll also explore how livestreaming is evolving; TikTok and the wider short-video space; what the podcasts and live audio boom means for artists and labels; and music creation for non-musicians. Plus, we'll dig below the hype around the metaverse and NFTs to offer our views on what potential these technologies *really* have for the music industry. The session will focus on our observations, questions and predictions on these trends, as well as some recommendations for how you can explore them yourself in the coming months.

Wednesday 10th November, 5pm AEDT. Spots are limited and session is live only.

More info & register: bit.ly/TopTrends21

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Alternative Platforms for Music Marketing
Oct
13

Alternative Platforms for Music Marketing

VMDO Links is a new networking event, connecting the Victorian music industry to key topics locally and globally.

You may feel confident using Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, but what about Discord, Moj or VKontake?

Managers and marketers with global ambitions, or those who understand the need to engage authentically with international audiences, need to know how to use a wider range of platforms than ever before – and understand local user expectations. 

For our next VMDO Links virtual event we’ve partnered with global music marketing experts Music Ally to present Alternative Platforms for Music Marketing, a 101 session on how to engage correctly with some of the unfamiliar – but huge – apps & platforms around the world.

Wednesday 13th October, 5pm AEDT. Spots are limited and session won’t be recorded.

More info & bit.ly/AltPlatformsForMusic

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Game Plan: Exploring In-Game Music Experiences
Oct
4

Game Plan: Exploring In-Game Music Experiences

Presented by the Victorian Music Development Office and Music Ally

As people have spent more and more time socialising and interacting with the key gaming metaverses during the Covid-19 pandemic, opportunities for non-gaming entertainment brands – and music artists – have mushroomed.

However, from blockbuster titles like Fortnite and user-generated gaming platforms like Roblox through to mobile games and virtual reality, the gaming world is complex and diverse. For artists and labels wanting to get involved, it can seem a daunting ecosystem.

In this webinar, we will explore the opportunities in games for artists and music companies to create engaging gaming content and experiences; introduce the companies who are already helping our industry to create engaging gaming content and experiences; and analyse some of the most inventive examples of artist campaigns in that space.

More info & RSVP: bit.ly/GamePlanTalk

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VMDO Links - An Introduction to Music & NFTs
Sep
20

VMDO Links - An Introduction to Music & NFTs

Interest in NFT's (Non-Fungible Tokens) is surging in 2021 and musicians across the globe are taking to this relatively new innovation. 

The Times describe NFT's as '...virtual tokens that use blockchain technology to record proof of ownership of pretty much anything unique or scarce – such as collectible playing cards to digital artwork.' But what does this mean for the music industry?

Join our new VMDO Links event with Reggie Ba-Pe III from Club Media, who'll be presenting an Introduction to Music & NFT's.

More info and RSVP: bit.ly/NFTsIntro

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