Levi’s Music Prize extends to New Zealand acts

The Levi’s Music Prize – which awards cash from an annual $100,000 pool to help emerging Australian acts performing at BIGSOUND further their international careers – is extended to include New Zealand acts that play the Brisbane event.

Levi’s marketing manager for Australia & New Zealand Nicky Rowsell said, “In order to keep the prize evolving and growing; we’d like to extend the opportunity to New Zealand artists that have played BIGSOUND dating back to 2014.

“Hopefully this encourages more New Zealand artists to participate in BIGSOUND and I look forward to seeing the healthy competition created from our close neighbours.”

The Prize was launched in 2017, and has awarded $125,000 to Aussie names.

Stella Donnelly, Alex Lahey, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Hatchie and Emerson Snowe have been awarded $25,000 each, to help them achieve their export goals.

The prize provides funding towards recording or touring equipment, video production, touring and promotion or a new album or EP.

It is specifically to support artists that have built significant initial career momentum via their BIGSOUND appearance but need a financial leg-up to keep moving forward on the international stage.

In effect, the Prize provides an increased value to performers showcasing at BIGSOUND.

This year, BIGSOUND’s official travel partner, Stage & Screen, began contributing an additional $5,000 to each winning artist in travel.

The Prize is administered by Queensland peak music association QMusic in conjunction with music export body Sounds Australia.

“It’s impossible to overstate how the generosity of the Levi’s Music Prize has impacted the lives of our winners so far,” says BIGSOUND executive producer, Joel Edmondson.

“Every year we welcome a number of New Zealand acts to BIGSOUND and it’s great that they can now also benefit from the possibility of winning this career-changing prize.”

Applications are now open for Round 2, 2018/19 and will close December 9, 2018.

Australian and New Zealand artists who have performed on the official BIGSOUND line up in the past 5 years – between 2014 – 2018 – are invited to apply via the BIGSOUND website.

Winners are announced in January 2019.