AUSTRALIA¡¯S LEADING MUSIC MANAGERS JOIN FACE THE MUSIC 2011
18 & 19 November, 2011 ¨C the Arts Centre, Melbourne

Over 70 expert presenters including some of Australia¡¯s leading artist managers will be descending on Melbourne for the annual non-profit music summit Face The Music on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 November at the Arts Centre.

Now in its fourth year, Face The Music provides the Victorian music community with a platform for professional and creative career development through presentations, discussions, networking and practical workshops.

This year, the Association of Artist Managers (AAM) will partner with Face The Music to present informative sessions for music managers by some of the industry¡¯s most respected managers, including Bill Cullen (Paul Kelly, Sarah Blasko, Seeker Lover Keeper, Clare Bowditch), Catherine Haridy (Eskimo Joe, Jebediah, Bob Evans), Correne Wilkie (The Cat Empire) and Mark Richardson (Bertie Blackman, Kimbra).

Nicole B-Z, the Executive Director of AAM, who will be facilitating the Face The Music AAM sessions says: ¡°On behalf of AAM, our members and board, I am honoured to not only endorse Face the Music as a stand-out skills development opportunity, where musician and industry alike can learn from and inspire each other, but to also be a partner in the 2011 program is a double whammy. The attending panelists, discussion topics and artist presentations enable the earliest beginner and the seasoned veteran to re-think and re-discover their love for the business of music.¡±

The Cat Empire¡¯s manager Correne Wilkie explains: ¡°10 years ago, I walked away from a high paid professional career, into the great unknown of the music industry. I wasn¡¯t handed a black book of industry contacts and a leather jacket. No one took me under their wing. I was told more than once, ¡®Sweetheart, you and your band are going nowhere fast¡¯, by men wearing black leather jackets and carrying black books; but I was deeply passionate about the fact that The Cat Empire was unique enough to be a worldwide sensation, and that it was critical that audiences all around the world should get to enjoy this great Australian act. Mine is a story about how passion, talent, determination and a shared vision can combine to create a whole lot of what some people might call luck.¡±

AAM is a peak Australian body for the industry¡¯s leading music managers to address the issues facing managers and their artists. AAM works alongside other organisations through education and mentoring in the hope that these partnerships will help strengthen the management industry in Australia for the benefit of all Australian artists.

Face The Music 2011 is presented by some of Australia¡¯s key music industry agencies; The Push, Music Victoria, Melbourne Music Week, APRA|AMCOS, the Arts Centre, Arts Victoria, AIR, AAM, AWME and media partners 3RRR, Mess+Noise, Street Press Australia, Shout Out Loud Print, Plakkit and d.tail Noisemakers.

Face The Music 2011 CONFERENCE REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN via facethemusic.org.au. For more information head to the website or phone (03) 9380 1277.