Maggie Collins wins Lighthouse Award, collects $10k prize

APRA AMCOS has unveiled Maggie Collins as the 2020 recipient of The Lighthouse Award, an honour established in memory of pioneering artist manager Linda Gebar.

Awarded to a woman in artist management who exhibits passion, creativity and integrity, the former triple j presenter and producer joins a list of highly accomplished honourees.

As the owner of music services company Morning Belle, Collins is a programmer of BIGSOUND and manages the party-thrash band DZ Deathrays and crowd favourite, Donny Benét.

The Brisbane-based executive said the accolade was a privilege she wouldn’t take for granted after heading into the year feeling apprehensive about what was to come next.

“To receive The Lighthouse Award at such a time is so beyond exciting and humbling for me,” she said on receiving the award, established to spotlight gender imbalance within the industry.

This year the cash prize doubled to $10,000 and marked the first time it was open to applicants outside of the late Gebar’s home state of Victoria.

Collins also recently co-founded Sound of Silence, the music industry’s unified response to COVID-19, a public-facing campaign to show fans how they can support the sector.

Lighthouse Award judge, Rebecca Young, said Collins couldn’t be more deserving.

“She is a natural leader who is always willing to share her knowledge and expertise with others, whilst also pushing herself to continue to learn and grow professionally,” said Young.

Gebar, a pioneering artist manager, former APRA AMCOS employee and record label owner, died tragically in 2008 soon after the birth of her second child.

The memorial award introduced by the PRO exists to continue her work, and support a forward-thinking manager who is dedicated to Australian music.