MusicNSW Expands, Taps Ricky Simandjuntak as Program Manager

Ex-OneFour manager Ricky Simandjuntak resurfaces at MusicNSW, leading a crew of new recruits.

In his new role as program manager, the veteran music professional leads the development of the organisation’s programs and resources to support state-wide artist development and career pathways.

Also, Simandjuntak will oversee a team of newly-appointed coordinators. They are Kelly Hellmrich (Camp Cope, Bad Apples Music for Western Sydney), Maeve Grant (Gumnut Artists for Newcastle) and Cody Munro Moore (Stranded Recording Studio, Dinosaur City Records, Illawarra Folk Festival for Wollongong).

Kelly Hellmrich

“Growing from an existing team of regional coordinators, these new appointments will see MusicNSW further embed our statewide presence with boots on the ground in Newcastle, Wollongong and Western Sydney for the first time in our history,” comments MusicNSW managing director Joe Muller, in a statement issued today, July 17.

The new arrivals will facilitate Sound Advice professional development events, opportunities and networking for local industry and artists, facilitate through one-on-one meetings, and work closely with artists and industry to identify opportunities.

Maeve Grant

“We’ve seen the impact that locally-based coordinators can have on music communities,” adds Muller, “and I have no doubt that the collective knowledge, passion and experience of our incoming team members will be invaluable as they work closely to support artist and industry development in a direct and nuanced way.”

Simandjuntak, founder of When Worlds Collide, has an enviable track record in hip-hop, which includes discovering Sampa the Great, developing The Kid Laroi, representing Becca Hatch, and guiding the notorious collective OneFour, from their origins to the YouTube-busting, APRA Award-winning phenomenon they are today — the story of which is told in Gabriel Gasparinatos’ Netflix documentary Against All Odds.

Cody Munro Moore

For his work in artist management, Simandjuntak collected the Patron’s Gift at the 2023 AAM Awards, held in Sydney.

Simandjuntak, notes Muller, will be a “huge asset” as the trade body continues to strive “towards a thriving contemporary music sector in NSW.”

The latest MusicNSW expansion follows the arrival of former Elefant Traks staffer Sofia Nicotra as marketing & communications coordinator, and the appointment of new board members earlier in the month.