Applications Open for VMDO White Sky Music Incubator Program
Published 4 March, 2019
L-R: Nathan Bird, Sabrina Robertson, Katie Besgrove, Coco Eke
Source: VMDO; Photographer: Sianne van Abkoude
VMDO announces White Sky Music Incubator Program
A new seed incubator in Melbourne offers access to the proven benefits of working within a specialised music co-working environment to early stage music businesses.
Identifying a need for music businesses ready to take that next step to find a way in with less risk and more support, the Victorian Music Development Office and White Sky Music have teamed up to present the White Sky Incubator. The initiative will offer a subsidised desk in the White Sky Hub for 6 months for up to 10 music professionals per year.
The White Sky Hub in Collingwood boasts an enviable list of music business tenants including the management teams of Look Out Kid (Courtney Barnett, Sarah Blasko, Jen Cloher), Catherine Haridy Management (Bob Evans, Eskimo Joe, Jebediah), Hear Hear (Gretta Ray, Angie McMahon, Ainslie Wills), Heartstop Music (Marlon Williams, Julia Jacklin, The Weather Station), Hear Them Holler (Husky, Jazz Party), Wind & Birds (Ben Whiting, KO KO MO), Fresh Air Artists (Luluc, Ryan Downey), Penney & Logan (Alice Skye). As well as promoters Penny Drop, distributors Ditto Music and Bandcamp, and PR’s Positive Feedback and Penny & Logan. There’s also an alumni list that further proves the benefits of working in such a vibrant and connected space as they’re all very well established music companies: Laneway Festival, BLSTR, Native Tongue Music Publishing, Little Giant to name a few.
White Sky Founder/Director, Tom Harris describes the impetus for the hub, “When I started White Sky I was working out of my bedroom. I eventually moved into a shared office space with other budding music businesses which changed everything. Having other likeminded people around is an invaluable resource for building a business, but it’s also a lot more fun. We launched the White Sky Hub in 2011 to try to emulate that environment and create opportunities to the next generation to share resources, collaborate, learn from one another, and ultimately build stronger music businesses faster.”
The shared space has been reserved exclusively for music businesses to ensure connections between businesses is relevant and mutually beneficial. The space itself has recently been expanded and re-designed to include a listening room, two breakout areas and a stage for live music performances and presentation-style events, including the VMDO's monthly Networking Breakfasts. These events also bring in guest speakers and other music businesses, artists and entrepreneurs to network and foster new ideas.
"The sense of community created by the music-specific shared work space at co-working locations like White Sky Hub, can be invaluable for micro/small businesses. As well as important social connections, the benefits to business are many, from shared networks, opportunities and collaborations to economies of scale and the incubation of ideas, both formally in meeting rooms and incidentally around the office. The VMDO is proud to be a part of this new initiate to help early stage music businesses take that important step in development", Bonnie Dalton, General Manager, Victorian Music Development Office.
Applications now open to all Victorian-based music professionals (artist managers and other music businesses) in the early stages of their growth.
To apply, simply send your name, business name, brief list of highlights/achievements related to your business, contact details and a short description of why you like to be considered for a subsidised desk in the White Sky Hub to info@vmdo.com.au