UMA, local producers partner with Budweiser for career-boosting project

Universal Music Australia has partnered with lager brand Budweiser and music producers The Aston Shuffle and Uberjak’d for a project to launch the careers of up-and-coming bedroom producers.

Launching on October 1, the Budweiser Made For Music project encourages artists to upload their music here for a chance to win a support slot for The Aston Shuffle, workshop sessions led by The Aston Shuffle and Uberjak’d, a voucher for for studio equipment, a private listening session with Universal Music Australia’s A&R team, and insights from UMA MD Michael Taylor, Head of A&R at EMI Scott Horscroft (who owns Grove Studios in Somersby) and Island Records A&R Manager Chris White.

Four artists will travel to Sydney to support The Aston Shuffle on December 16, and in 2015 will attend an exclusive two-day studio workshop session led by The Aston Shuffle and Uberjak’d; the overall winner will perform in front of UMA’s A&R team and take home a voucher for $5000-worth of studio equipment with Store DJ.

UMA’s Michael Taylor, who oversees the creative focus for the major label’s roster, said: “Universal Music Australia’s lifeblood is new artists and creating the next Australian stars so we’re very excited by this partnership. The Budweiser Made For Music program is a great way to encourage, discover and reward budding musicians, giving them access and guidance via A&R and a launchpad via the website and competitions.”

Made For Music follows Budweiser’s People’s Choice platform, which crowned Melbourne brothers Thankyou City late last year, and the Producer/DJ of the Year Award, which went to Jono Fernandez in 2013. In the US, the beermaker was behind 2013 documentary Half Of Me, which chronicled Rihanna and her UK and US fanbase, and Budweiser parent company Anheuser-Busch was dubbed the largest sponsor of music festivals, events and tours by IEG, having spent an estimated $335.5 million on music in 2013.