Homegrown hits: Musicians land $9.3m in state grants to fuel next wave of Aussie music

Powerful new voices, bold ideas and collaborative projects are coming to life, fuelled by NSW government grants aimed at helping musicians survive the streaming onslaught of American music.

NSW music grants: The Aussie artists who have received government funding include The Rubens, Skegss, Dan Sultan and Kita Alexander.

Dozens of Aussie bands preparing to tour the world and record new albums have picked up millions of dollars from the Minns government in the largest round of grant funding designed to support NSW artists.

Around $9.3 million in government grants have been handed out to local artists to assist them to record albums in the coming year and help fund national and international tours, the biggest round of grant funding since the initiative began.

Sydney artist Josh Pyke is one of 144 musicians to receive funding for his national ‘Feeding the Wolves’ tour in November. Funding also went to local singer Kita Alexander for a national support tour with Dua Lipa in March this year.

Australian metal band Battlesnake and Sydney-based DJ Young Franco will also receive grants to tour overseas, while rock trio Skegss will be funded to play at Laneway Festival Australia next year.

Sydney-based DJ Young Franco.

Singer songwriter Josh Pyke. Picture: Supplied.

More than 70 artists received $4.2m to develop new music in the coming year, including alternative rock band The Rubens as well as vocalists Jack River and MAY-A.

Additionally, two new funds have been introduced to support Indigenous artists, with 21 musicians receiving more than $575,000 to create music, including guitarist Dan Sultan.

Bands from the bush have also been given a financial nudge this grant round with 29 per cent of contemporary music development grants and 30 per cent of touring and travel funding going towards regional artists.

Minister for the Arts John Graham wants to make sure the local music industry survives. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The major grants from Sound NSW are part of a move from the Minns government to back Aussie stars and get them touring around the state. This comes during a time in which local music festivals were canned due to poor ticket sales and lack of funding. Local artists have also reported struggling to make headway in a global industry saturated by streaming platforms prioritising American music.

Arts Minister John Graham said the money was necessary to make sure the local music industry in NSW could survive.

“If we want to keep our homegrown sound and have music that reflects who we are, we have to back our artists to make music and take it on the road, not just here but overseas where they can find new audiences,” he said.

“You actually can’t overstate it – if we don’t support our local artists, they will struggle to survive the onslaught of American music on the streaming platforms.”

Head of Sound NSW, Emily Collins said the funding would bring out a new cohort of emerging artists. “The funding outcomes show the depth and breadth of the state’s creative potential – we’re seeing powerful new voices, bold ideas and collaborative projects come to life thanks to this funding,” Ms Collins said

“From regional tours and international collaborations to strategic initiatives that will drive change, these programs are an investment in the sustainability and long-term success of NSW music.”

Originally published as Homegrown hits: Musicians land $9.3m in state grants to fuel next wave of Aussie music