Association of Artist Managers Names 2026 Legacy Award Recipient

The Association of Artist Managers has revealed the recipient of the 2026 AAM Awards Legacy Award.

The Legacy Award, presented by Frontier Touring, honours an individual whose enduring contributions have shaped the Australian music industry and artist management landscape. It recognises a person's vision, dedication, and influence, and the mark they leave on the career of artists and the broader creative community.

Six Boroughs Management's founder and co-owner Melita Hodge has been awarded the winner. Hodge guides the careers of Kasey Chambers, Andy Golledge, and Denvah, as well as chefs/television personalities Adam Liaw and Analiese Gregory. In partnership with her co-founder Andy Bryan, her roster also includes Ball Park Music, Boy Soda, North East Party House, and Ruby Jackson.

“Managing people in the creative landscape for over 25 years has afforded me extraordinary experiences, opportunities and relationships," Hodge said.

"This business, for me, is about trust and partnership and a driving desire to see artists achieve their creative goals. I'm enormously proud of our management company, the long term successes and creative journeys I've been a part of. To be recognised in this manner by the AAM in receiving the Legacy Award for 2026 is an absolute honour.”

A cornerstone of Hodge's career has been her 25 years managing Kasey Chambers, helping shape the career of one of Australia’s most enduring and influential music artists. Alongside Nash Chambers, Hodge has led the release of 13 albums, achieving 5 ARIA number No. 1s, 15 ARIA Awards, including ARIA Hall of Fame induction in 2018, 27 CMAA Golden Guitars and the Roll of Reknown honour, and 10 APRA songwriting Awards.

Having managed Chambers through the halcyon days of CD sales, they secured 7 x platinum on Barricades & Brickwalls, simultaneously holding No.1 positions for the album and single "Not Pretty Enough", while establishing her in the American market. This resulted in numerous North American tours, key TV moments with David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Conan O'Brien, and collaborations with her peers, including Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Keith Urban, Paul Kelly, and Bernard Fanning to name a few.

Previous Legacy Award winners include John Watson, who has represented the careers of Cold Chisel, Missy Higgins, Midnight Oil and many more; Jodie Regan, who steered Tame Impala, Pond, and Haiku Hands among others; Michael McMartin, who managed The Hoodoo Gurus for 41 years and was the impetus for the AAM-led “Michaels Rule” campaign; and Correne Wilkie, who managed The Cat Empire for over 20 years and continues to give back by generously funding the Legacy Award trophy.