ABOUT

Welcome to The UNIFIED Grant, an initiative to help kickstart the dreams of five creative young Australian’s each year. Through this scheme we are empowering the next generation of the music industry by providing support for those who want to work behind the scenes.

In our first year, The UNIFIED Grant helped fund five different creative visions with $5000 to put towards making their dreams become a reality. Now in it’s second year The UNIFIED Grant is doing it all over again with applications opening on 4 September 2017.

The UNIFIED Grant is open to all those people who want to be a part of the creative industry that supports and builds musicians careers. Whether your specialty is photography, A&R, moving image, web or app development, graphic design, journalism, data analysis or one of the other disciplines that haven’t yet come into focus, it can help you pursue your unique vision.

To read the 2016 UNIFIED Grant Press Release, please click here.

To read the 2017 UNIFIED Grant Press Release, please click here.

To watch the 2016 UNIFIED Grant Documentary, please click here.

FAQ

Who is behind the UNIFIED Grant?

UNIFIED Music Group is an Australian based music company that provides a varied range of services, including Artist Management, Recorded Music, Merchandise Services, Touring and Events.

As a company, we lead professional, passionate and motivated people to achieve extraordinary results.

You can find more about us at www.unifiedmusicgroup.com.

Who won The Unified Grant in 2016?

The winners of The UNIFIED Grant were announced on November 21, 2016. The winners and their ideas are listed below. To watch the video about the winners, please click here.

Georgia Beach, Office Gossip Design. Office Gossip Design bridges the gap between creators and their community through graphic design. Located in Darwin, Office Gossip Design works out of the Skinnyfish creative hub and travels to remote parts of the Territory to help indigenous and Northern Territory creatives share their work with a broader audience.

Neal Walters, Photography. Neal Walters is a professional music photographer who captures musicians at their most candid. He is currently working on a photography book that will feature portraits of people in the music industry alongside photos of the subject in their happy place.

Aaron Dobos, Producer/Engineer/Mixer. Aaron Dobos has been working in studios around Melbourne for over seven years and has set up his own space which will allow him to work with up and coming Australian bands with limited budgets to produce a world-class sound that previously may have been out of reach.

Ashleigh Hills, Tram Sessions. Tram Sessions is a Melbourne initiative that takes the joy of live music and seats it next to unsuspecting commuters. Since launching in 2010, Tram sessions has hosted over 100 artists including Paul Kelly, Josh Pyke, Paul Dempsey and Hands Like Houses and recently pulled into Adelaide.

Michelle Grace Hunder & Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore, Her Sound, Her Story: Her Sound, Her Story is a collaborative art project that contributes to the very important narrative about women in the Australian Music Industry through photography and film. Her Sound, Her Story documents the experiences of women of all ages, genres, sexuality and ethnicity within the industry with the hope to challenge stereotypes and break down stigmas.

When will applications open for The UNIFIED Grant 2017?

Applications for The UNIFIED Grant will open on September 4, 2017 to all original ideas behind the scenes of the music industry.

I don’t have an ABN for my business / work – can I still apply?

You will need an ABN to accept the grant, and to do business within Australia. It’s really easy to obtain one, simply head to abr.gov.au and follow the prompts.

Can I employ a grant writer for my application or will that decline my chance of winning?

You’re welcome to employ a grant writer, although we don’t feel it is necessary for you to do so. Our questions are purposely simplified so that you should be able to tell your story without needing assistance.

How long will the process take before I know the results?

Applications will close on the September 29, 2017 the winners will be annouced in November. All winners will be notified by November 1, 2017.

Who are the judges on the panel?

The UNIFIED grant will be judged by key staff from UNIFIED, with final approval from Jaddan Comerford, our founder and CEO.

I have a question, who do I speak to?

If your question is not answered in this FAQ, you can find our contact details on the contact page.

Who is eligible to apply?

Anyone who has an idea, a solid plan and a strong vision for how they want to do business in the music industry can apply for The UNIFIED Grant.

I submitted an application last year, am I able to apply again this year?

Yes definitely! You are able to reapply with a further developed version of your original idea or a completely new idea regardless of the outcome of your 2016 application.

Can I submit applications for multiple business ideas e.g. Photography AND Videography or should I include both in the one application?

Feel free to pitch different business ideas, but we are open to including your fully formed vision all in the one application.

Is there an age limit for applications?

Anyone under the age of 18 will need a Parent or Guardian overseeing their business and proposal.

All applicants must be at least 16 years of age as of September 4, 2017.

Do I need prior experience in the music industry to apply?

No, as long as you’re well researched, and have a strong plan for growth, you don’t necessarily need any prior experience.

Are applications open to Australian Residents only?

No, we are open to receiving applications from anywhere in the world.

After the 500-word application, will I be asked to provide other documentation?

We will ask you for supporting materials – which can be budgets, extended plans, graphs, or examples of your work. Send whatever you feel is useful and will support your application in the best way possible.

Can I attach other documentation to my application?

See Above

What format do I need to supply my application in?

You will have an opportunity to attach support materials in any format, although we prefer the more widely used file types – PDF, DOC, XLS, JPG etc.

Can I amend my application once it’s been submitted?

You can still submit extra supporting material right up to the end of September, but the application will remain the same.

Will I need references for my application?

If you feel you have strong references that will influence your application, feel free to include them. It’s not something we require, but if it supports your application than you should include them.

How will I know if my application has been rejected?

Once our winners have been decided we will send an email to all applicants that were not successful. Make sure you add our email domain – unifiedmusicgroup.com – to your address book in case the email goes to “Junk”.

I have a business partner, can we both apply separately for the same idea?

We suggest you both apply at once to avoid confusion.

Can I have an extension past the application deadline?

No, applications strictly close September 29, 2017.

CONTACT

For information regarding grant applications, UNIFIED Music Group or general enquires, please contact info[at]unifiedmusicgroup.com

For media related enquires, please contact Amy Simmons – amy[at]unifiedmusicgroup.com