Generating new music business models
15 March 2012
CIIC news
National
The GENERATE pilot program aims to develop good business plans, business capabilities and industry concepts by focusing on supporting small to medium sized music related enterprises in the Australian music industry seeking to grow and attract investment.
The pilot is led by the Creative Industries Innovation Centre (CIIC) in partnership with the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and supported by the Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN) and the Commonwealth Office for the Arts.
The Stage 1 GENERATE workshop was facilitated by Anthony Merrillees, a CIIC Business Adviser, a former drummer, trained solicitor with a background in creative business consulting and intellectual property, and Adam Blake, CIIC's National Programs and Partnerships Director.
Perth was the first city to host the GENERATE Stage 1 workshops, followed by Adelaide, Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The program sparked widespread interest, receiving a total of 253 applications, from which 139 successful candidates were invited to attend the one-day workshop in their national city.
CIIC National Programs and Partnerships Director, Adam Blake, said, “For participants, the Stage 1 workshops provided accessible business building knowledge and tools through which they themselves could question their own ideas in terms of valuable and viable business propositions. For funders of cultural creative enterprise GENERATE has instigated a new industry-led program through which to find, filter and support the best business ideas rather than grant applications."
National Manager of Writer Services at Australian Performing Right Association (APRA), Kirsty Rivers said, ”GENERATE is a testament to APRA's confidence in the next generation of music business entrepreneurs. Participants were able to meet the program partners face-to-face and gain a thorough grounding in valuable business planning skills."
Comments from participants:
"The workshop helped me to clarify exactly what my business is and also think about possible growth avenues."
- SA workshop participant
"This was a great chance to get an idea that has been gathering momentum down on paper. Thanks!"
- WA workshop participant
"Really made me think about the fundamentals of my business. Very valuable information."
- QLD workshop participant
The GENERATE program is a three-stage business program, running from December 2011 – May 2012. Please note, applications for Stage 2 of the program have now closed. The Stage 2 masterclass in Sydney will be held on 29th - 31st March 2012 for selected finalists only.
GENERATE is one of four CIIC pilot programs which aim to identify new business models, opportunities, networks and markets.