How the inaugural moshtix, Music SA, female music business scholarship made a profound change

The inaugural Female Music Business Scholarship was fully funded by ticketing agency moshtix and administered by South Australian peak music association Music SA.

The idea of the scholarship was to address the issues of barriers for women trying to forge a career in the music industry, and give one woman the chance to gain a nationally accredited Certificate IV in Music Business at Music SA.

Last December, performer Elli Cleary aka Elli Belle was announced as the first recipient.

This week as the course hit its six-month mark, and as the music industry gathered in Adelaide for the indie awards and Indie-Con, moshtx’s owner Harley Evans caught up with Cleary to find out how life had changed in the last six months.

Best advice given as part of the scholarship: “Ask questions, ask for help, be authentic, be willing to learn from your mistakes, don’t stop enjoying the music, keep your receipts!”

On her studies: “ [A] great part is the volunteer and work experience opportunities that I’ve been exposed to.

“I’ve been able to mentor at songwriting programs as well as assist at industry events and festivals in both Adelaide and Darwin.”

Barriers facing women in the biz: “lack of representation and self-confidence.

“As a female, when you’re constantly exposed to predominantly males playing in bands, presenting on the radio, speaking on panels, running labels, managing artists, engineering sound at gigs or in the studio (to name a few), it’s harder to envision yourself in these roles – and then if you do, it can be daunting to challenge the status quo!”

Where the industry was heading in terms of diversity, equality and workplace health and safety: “It’s improving and will continue to do so, but change takes time.

“Discussions have started in all of my circles about gender roles and equality.

“Artists and bands are speaking up about gig etiquette, women are claiming space and others are creating space for them to step into, our stories and experiences and perspectives are being listened to, festivals are putting more females on their lineups…

“Women are definitely in the spotlight at the moment.

“But diversity and inclusion go way beyond that to the representation of different ethnic groups, Indigenous people, transgender people, people with varying disabilities and more.

“We’ve got more work to do.”

As an artist, Elli Cleary has opened for Thelma Plum, Justice Crew, and James Morrison.

She released a single Weight Of The World this month, written on a day of heavy news a few years ago including “the Bali Nine executions, Nepali earthquake and forced closure of Indigenous communities,”

She’ll be recording and releasing new singles.

Once she completes her certificate one of her plans is, “joining the core team of women in Adelaide who are starting GirlsRock! a program that empowers young females, trans and gender-diverse people through music education and mentoring.”