Second round of Levi’s Music Prize offering funding for artists taking the next step

Levi’s has long been a brand synonymous with the Australian and global music scenes, so it wasn’t surprising when it introduced the $25,000 Levi’s Music Prize this year.

With Perth singer-songwriter Stella Donnelly winning the first one as part of her rise to attention, the second round of applications has opened until December 9.

Australian musicians who have played BIGSOUND between 2013 and 2017 (inclusive) are eligible to apply at https://www.bigsound.org.au/levis-music-prize/apply.

“The Levi’s brand has been supporting artists within the music industry for decades both in Australia and globally,” Levi’s Australia’s Marketing Manager Nicky Rowsell tells TMN.

“The brand turns up at festivals around the world and gives back to various music programs and initiatives to support both the industry and the creative community that work within it.

“This assistance extends to building music programs in schools by providing teachers, equipment and instruments at a grassroots level, to helping to promote and support emerging talent take their talent offshore.

“We are about to make an important announcement in the coming few weeks which will see Levi’s contribution to the Australian music industry strengthen and hopefully go a long way in creating ongoing change and support for Australian artists and music industry workers.”

The Prize has two components:

From 2017, an artist applying to showcase at BIGSOUND in Brisbane each year will automatically be in the running for the Prize.

The decision by an international judging panel will be announced on the Friday morning of the conference.

There are some conditions: the artist who wins the Prize is expected to provide a sound business plan which meets approved criteria for how the money will be used to further your career before it can be released to them.

Artists can also apply for one of another 3 x $25,000 prizes, to be judged at the end of the December, March and June quarters each year.

The program will be run in partnership with QMusic and Sounds Australia. They will assist Levi’s with administering the funding and in offering advice and counsel where required.

The Prize is aimed at early to mid-career artists who have achieved a certain amount of juice in the success department themselves, need a financial boost to take the next step.

Since Stella Donnelly’s win following a buzzed-about performance, she’s gone on to be a live drawcard, signed a management deal with Phil Stevens (San Cisco, John Butler, Waifs) and landed an overseas booking agent in Alex Bruford of European agency ATC Live.

Her Thrash Metal EP has gone into further pressings.

Says Levi’s Nicky Rowsell, “Stella’s career progression since her winning the inaugural Levi’s Music Prize at BIGSOUND in September has been amazing and so exciting to watch.

“She is such a talent and it’s been great to see her music resonate on so many levels across important social issues that need a voice and platform right now.”