UNIFIED Music Group Announces 2022 Grant Recipients

A tech start-up for touring, a wellbeing resource for creatives, and a mentoring program are among the five recipients of the 2022 UNIFIED Grant, announced today (Nov. 4).

An initiative of UNIFIED Music Group, the initiative was launched in 2016 to help creatives to break into the Australian music industry, and to “foster the next generation.”

The program awards $5,000 in funding to five creative projects from individuals or groups that “influence positive, meaningful, and sustainable change”.

Those sharing in $25,000 are YoWo, a music mentoring program for young women and GNC teens; Sustainable Touring Solutions, a technology startup focusing on sustainable touring; More Mindfulness, a wellbeing resource to assist artists with their mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing; dARTbase, a marketplace for musicians to find creatives; and Tin Camp Studios, a First Nations-led mobile music, healing, recording and storytelling space.

Gemma Colbran

Receiving the grant “has provided us with much-needed capital to launch a marketing campaign for our business,” explains dARTbase founder Gemma Colbran.

“Even more so, it has reaffirmed that we are on the right path and to keep up with our journey.”

Having a relationship with UNIFIED Music Group "more broadly means we have access to artists to trial our service and helps to legitimise our startup," she continues, "which is in the very beginnings of its journey.”

Adds More Mindfulness founder Hugh Cruickshank: “The UNIFIED Grant will make it possible for me to engage wellbeing professionals when developing More Mindfulness.”

The project returns following the 10-year anniversary for the UNIFIED Music Group, and as its Melbourne-based founder and CEO Jaddan Comerford this year celebrates 20 years in the music business.

Hugh Cruickshank

It’s helmed by the UNIFIED Impact Committee, made up of staff and partners, and led by senior partnerships manager, Luke O’Connor, who joined the independent company in October from music industry charity Support Act.

The committee reviewed all submissions that met the criteria to create a shortlist of finalists.

“UNIFIED’s people are united by a commitment to help breathe life into creative ideas that will make our world a better place,” O’Connor explains.

“So, with over 100 applicants, and some incredible applications, we’re all excited to go on the journey with our 2022 recipients.”

Comerford, who recently cracked the Australian Financial Review’s "Young Rich List," announced The UNIFIED Grant during his keynote speech at BIGSOUND 2016.

In its first year, says reps, the UNIFIED Grant had close to 200 applicants.