The first TMN 30 Under 30 Awards entries are here – have a peek!
Entries for the TMN 30 Under 30 Awards are already flooding in.
If you’ve not yet submitted yours though, there’s still plenty of time, with early entries open until 11:59pm (AEST) on April 5.
To get the creative juices flowing, here’s a sneak peek at some of the first entries which have come through the door – well, the portal.
To enter, visit the Take 2 Media awards platform and start your submission (you can start it now, and finish it later). It’s free to submit your entry until 11:59pm (AEST) on April 5.
Then, from April 6 – for the late-comers and stragglers – there is a one-off entry fee of $49 until entries officially close at 11:59pm (AEST) on April 18.
The national awards program is supported by APRA AMCOS, MTV, Radio Today, Sony Music Australia, TikTok and Universal Music Australia, and offers future industry leaders the chance to showcase their achievements and propel their careers forward.
Above all, TMN is searching for fresh voices with a clear vision for the future of the music industry and the challenges it faces in the decade ahead.
SUBMIT YOUR 30 UNDER 30 ENTRY HERE
Catherine Burton, label manager/ digital and social media manager, Mushroom Group (27)
Catherine Burton started out her career the way many do – with lots of internships and volunteer positions – but has now been working at Mushroom Group for almost five years.
In that time, she’s climbed to be label manager for Liberator Music, Bloodlines and Reclusive, as well as digital and social media manager for Liberator Music, Bloodlines, Ivy League and Liberation Records.
Despite a raft of #1 records, she said her greatest achievement (so far) is the release of the Music From The Home Front CD and vinyl, which raised funds for Support Act.
“I feel very proud to have been able to play a role in achieving such a fantastic donation to a very worth charity,” she said.
But what does professional success look like to Catherine?
“Both professional and personal success to me is happiness. I want to continue to feel enriched and challenged, and to be constantly learning and growing. I don’t believe that there’s any one point where you’re ‘successful’ and should stop trying to be the best you can possibly be.
“I find a lot of joy in helping the artists I work with share their music and message to an audience. I love seeing the reaction of fans at a concert, singing the words to music which I’ve had the honour of helping to share to them. And when working with artists who have an important message to share, it’s fantastic to see that message connect and bring about change in the world.
“Awards, accolades and #1 albums mean a lot, but as long as I am excited to arrive at work and feeling accomplished at the end of the working day, I consider myself to be successful.”
SUBMIT YOUR 30 UNDER 30 ENTRY HERE
Max Shand, founder, Serenade (25)
Max Shand may only be 25, but he’s already got some notable talking points on his resume.
He was the first employee of Australian fintech Afterpay and is the vice president of FBi Radio. Plus, he’s the founder of Serenade, a platform for personalised music performances.
“I spend every day working with the music industry – artists, managers, agents, record label execs and fans – to unlock new opportunities for artists to perform with work with integrity while rewarding them financially,” he said.
But what does professional success look like to Max?
“Building a platform that intimately and honestly connects artists with their most adoring fans, that celebrates artistry and the beautiful love that fans have for artists. Success is nurturing this wholesome relationship and scaling it to the wider music industry around the world.”
SUBMIT YOUR 30 UNDER 30 ENTRY HERE
Geordie Gray, news editor, The Brag Media (23)
When Geordie Gray started at The Brag Media, she was at quite the crossroads.
She was 20, working in a shithouse cafe (her words, not ours), and raking in $17 an hour.
“It was really abject and miserable and my hands were getting super fucking ugly, so I decided to give media a crack,” she said.
So far, her greatest achievement – or swindle – she said, is being able to pay rent via a full-time writing gig.
But what does professional success look like to Geordie?
“Having fun literally every single day. Linking up with cool people that are passionate about what it is that they do. The weird adrenaline that comes with overworking, undersleeping and teetering on the edge of burnout. Taking advantage of schmancy dinners thrown by big corporations.”
SUBMIT YOUR 30 UNDER 30 ENTRY HERE
A reminder that for early (ie free) entries, you have until 11:59pm on April 5 (AEST).
Entrants must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen living and working in Australia. They must be under the age of 30 at midnight on May 20, 2021 – so if you are born after May 21, 1991, you are eligible to enter.
This year, to open up to as wider selection of industry professionals as possible, TMN is ditching the rules about having a set number of winners from each segment of the industry.
People working in sales & marketing, accounting & legal, artist/ label services, brands & agency, labels & publishing, live & touring, and media & journalism, will all still be eligible to enter, however we won’t be putting numbers on how many must fall within each category.
This will enable more music superstars to enter from across the music landscape, with the best entries from any segment of the industry having a chance to join the exclusive list.
Finalists who didn’t make the Class of 2020 are also welcome to enter again this year, provided they still meet the entry requirements.
Winners will be selected from an all-star judging panel comprised of a mix of peers and those from in and around the value chain, to make sure the final decisions are informed and considered from all relevant sides of the industry.
The awards will again include a Readers’ Choice Award, which will be selected by TMN’s readers from the shortlisted applications.