Kristy Gostelow wins 2021 Lighthouse Award

Kristy Gostelow is the 2021 recipient of The Lighthouse Award, a $5,000 cash prize that rewards artist managers who display the right stuff.

The Lighthouse Award is annually bestowed to a woman or non-binary person in artist management who “exhibits passion, creativity and integrity.”

Gostelow, the Mackay, Queensland-based director of boutique music services company Kadence Group and managing director of Lovely Records, is just that person.

At Kadence Group, Gostelow offers artist management services, music business mentoring and grant writing assistance, and currently guides the careers of Aodhan, Busby Marou, Colin Lillie and Tia Gostelow.

Also, Gostelow has held senior management positions across multiple fields and is a winner of the Australia Day Award for Community Development and a nominee for Young Business Person of the Year at Queensland’s AIM Awards.

The Lighthouse Award was established in memory of late artist manager Linda Gebar, who worked with The Killjoys, Frente and The Blackeyed Susans and who died in October 2008 soon after the birth of her second child.

“Being selected as the 2021 Lighthouse Award recipient and to be associated with Linda Gebar and the incredible recipients over the years is such an honour. Also, a little overwhelming but I am incredibly grateful,” comments Gostelow in a statement issued Monday (May 31).

She continues, “thank you to APRA AMCOS for facilitating this award that celebrates women and non-binary artist managers. As an artist manager, I’m always happy to stay under the radar and revel in the success of my artists, so this is a really lovely award to be recognised for. I’m looking forward to using the award towards expanding my knowledge and business, that will in turn have a positive impact on both my roster and the wider music community.

“A huge shoutout to my family, business partner Graham Ashton and artists who have entrusted me with their careers and businesses.”

With her win, Gostelow joins the list of honourees that includes Lorrae McKenna, Charlotte Abroms, Jen Cloher, Bonnie Dalton, Bernadette Ryan, Sabrina Robertson and 2020’s winner Maggie Collins.

APRA AMCOS says the accolade represents the society’s commitment to addressing the gender imbalance within the music industry and encouraging women to pursue a career in music.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.