Connecting NT Musicians
iNTune: Music To Our Ears
It has to be said: the iNTune Music Conference went off like the proverbial frog in a sock!!
It really was the biggest Music Conference ever held in the Northern Territory. In total 90 delegates attended - including 30+ speakers - hailing from Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Milingimbi, Maningrida, Darwin, Yirrkala and interstate: Brisbane, Melbourne, WA, Byron Bay and Sydney.
Pictured right, iNTune delegate Day Tonah from 2 Cats 1 Hat
Check out Speakers & Conference Program and Sessions. Send through iNTune feedback online.
Check out iNTune image galleries I, II and archival images from the 2008 Music NT Conference here.
Check out iNTune speaker Noel Mengel's feature article on NT Music in the Brisbane Courier-Mail here.
The Darwin Showbag gigs on Thursday August 20th were also a huge success. The performances of a wide array of local artists bands were specifically programmed to coincide with iNTune, to showcase NT original music to both the Australian music industry, local audiences and the national crowd in town to attend Darwin Festival.
Also held as part of iNTune were the Indigenous Music Expo and the first ever Remote & Regional Music Education Symposium. Both events were also very successful, with organisers extremely happy at the positive outcomes.
And the 6th annual NT Indigenous Music Awards was the biggest yet, with 2000 people attending the ceremony under the stars at the famous Botanic Gardens Amphitheatre, on Friday August 21st. Delegates from all over Australia were blown away by the night, treated to not only great performances by artists as diverse as Gurrumul and Jessica Mauboy, but they got a first-hand glimpse into what makes Territory music the greatest in the land...
Pictured right, 'O' Zee from Pott Street and IMA 'Emerging Act of the Year' Award
iNTune MUSIC CONFERENCE
Music NT manager Mark Smith couldn't be happier with how it all turned out. He says that "all of iNTune's speakers brought great knowledge to the Conference across the different sessions". Some of his highlights include:
- Glenn Dickie from EMI and Nick Crocker from Native Digital giving members from three NT bands an 'intensive' on everything from image, web presence to touring and the all important 'long term vision'.
- Millie Milgate from Sounds Australia giving another intensive - this one on Exports - to three acts that were about to hit the international market.
- The enthusiasm and energetic participation by all of the Speakers and Conference Delegates who attended.
- Having one the best music media panels ever represented at any Music Conference in Australia!!
Another Conference highlight was the very popular Demo Listening Session held on Friday afternoon, whereby a panel of music industry players listened to tracks by local bands. Around twenty-five demos were submitted.
The panel included Clive Hodson (General Manager, Shock Publishing), Glenn
Dickie (A&R Manager EMI Music), Nick O'Byrne (Australian Independent Record Labels Association) and David Vodika (Rubber Records), Dom Alessio (triple j) and Eloise Nolan (Former Head of ABC Music Services & Publishing). Music NT's Phil Eaton who oversaw the session said that it was "incredibly beneficial for all of the bands and artists involved, even 'enlightening' for some!" While feedback was often critical it was always positive and constructive. Phil said that "the young bands especially got much out of the session. Instead of being intimidated by their status as industry experts, he said that "they learned how to approach them as people , taking the 'fear factor' out of the equation". Adds Mark, "the session got through about 25 demos which gave delegates great advice and ideas about where their music sat in the national scene".
From all reports, iNTune struck just the right balance between 'business', 'culture' and 'social'. "The overall feeling was that the Conference was just the right size" says Mark, "with the national people going away knowing almost all of the delegates by name, and developing an actual friendship with them." So much so that Glenn from EMI, Nick from AIR and Julian from Media Arts Lawyers were even spritied away to Berry Springs by a few local musos!
The 'round table' sessions also panned out very well. Led by local musician Kris Keogh (Blastcorp), it was an opportunity for the local delegates to break the ice with the nationals.
And if that's not enough, read what Music NT Forum member and iNTune delegate ZedMajor had to say after only Day I!
DARWIN SHOWBAG
The Darwin Showbag live gigs were also amazing. Specifically programmed
to coincide with iNTune to showcase a wide array of NT original music, 10 bands across 4 venues played on one massive night infront of the 100+ iNTune speakers and delegates. The Showcase was designed to expose some of the best live music the Territory has to offer.
Mark says "the shows were amazing. The Lighthouse show at Darwin Festival with The Bone Collectors and The Aviators was PACKED with the industry guys really enjoying it. Then across the rest of the city, the remaining Showbag acts went really well with the national delegates getting around to all of the venues. The bands played really well on this big night".
National delegates were also keen to check out other gigs that were on in Darwin over the weekend, with Dom Alessio (triple j) and Tim Ritchie (Radio National) first in line at Happy Yess on the Friday night, eager to see The Bone Collectors play again after their Lighthouse Showcase the night before. Rolling Stone music writer Barry Divola went along to see The Tablelands Drifters, who popped up at an impromptu gig at Happy Yess on the Sunday. (They were in town to attend the NT Indigenous Music Awards to be inducted into the 'Hall Of Fame'). So impressed was Barry by their Yess performance he reportedly declared their guitarist Angus was "the Mark Knopfler of the desert!"
INDIGENOUS EMPLOYMENT PARTNERSHIP FOR THE NT MUSIC SECTOR
& INDIGENOUS MUSIC EXPO
The Indigenous Employment Partnership (IEP) was part of the Indigenous Music
Expo held at iNTune. The IEP was launched on Wednesday August 19th at Parliament House, Darwin. The IEP is an initiative between the NT and Australian governments, and the music industry. It is designed to give ongoing vocational opportunities in the music industry to Indigenous students, linking their school training with real jobs.
Music NT brought to Darwin 35 of the Northern Territory's leading Indigenous Musicians to participate in an Indigenous Music Expo and to be a part of the IEP launch. The list included musicians from right across the NT - from south of Alice Springs to the Tiwi Islands - getting first hand information on the launch document and what it can mean for their regions.
Above right, at the Expo: reps from Alice Springs, Tennent Creek, Borroolala, Maningrida, Milingimbi and members of WildWater, Sunrize Band, Sandridge Band, The Tableland Drifters and emerging acts Garrangali and Crazy Boys.
Representatives from the following Government agencies in attendance:
o Sue Spence – Australia Council International Marketing Section
o Millie Millgate – Sounds Australia Australia Council / APRA international marketing
o Paul Mason – Director of Music, Australia Council
o Libby Christie – Executive Director Arts Funding, Australia Council
o Robyn Mellor – Assistant Director Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
Mark says that "the Expo featured 35 musicians from across the NT. Out of that was a great session on the issues they are facing and definite ways that APRA and Music NT can better deliver services and support. They also had the opportunity to participate across the rest of the iNTune panel sessions across the two days." Some of these musicians also attended the NT Remote & Regional Music Education Symposium, held concurrently with iNTune. (See below).
Pictured left, Robbie Collins APRA NT and NT music legend Barry Benning.
Further updates from the Expo are on the way - watch this space! - with Mark Smith currently in Brisbane at another Music Conference to discuss the IEP further.
NT REMOTE & REGIONAL MUSIC EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM
Presented by the NT Department of Education, NT Music School and Music NT.
Also held as part of iNTune, the Symposium was an important and timely forum for Music Education Service Providers and funding organisations from around Australia, that have an interest in Indigenous Music Education in the NT. Andy Mison from NT Music School (the peak body for music education in NT government schools), coordinated the Symposium. He says that the Symposium "was very well attended by representatives of government - both State and Federal - NGOs, funding organisations; teachers, tertiary institutions, private operators, producers and a number of other interested parties." And not only that, "it was very successful with a number of practical outcomes:"
- Agreement to participate in an ongoing Web Forum NTIME Forum (NT Indigenous Music Education) which will be launched September 1st: ntimeforum@ning.co.
- Agreement to meet again in March 2010.
- Agreement that the NT Music School will act as a coordinating body with a secretarial role in the forum.
- Agreement on a number of areas that the forum will continue to develop, with a view to formulating a comprehensive, sustainable and coordinated strategy for Indigenous music education in the NT.
- Agreement to supply information on proposed service delivery in remote & regional NT for a calendar on the web forum to avoid duplication, improve coordination and potential for collaboration and partnerships.
- Agreement on a Vision Statement for the forum (subject to amendment): Indigenous Culture is a music and arts based culture, so meaningful education on Indigenous communities must also be music and arts based.
Symposium quotes:
“Song is embedded in the Aboriginal psyche and world view” - Manduwuy Yunupingu
“Music will help sustain Indigenous culture and two-way learning and should be core business in every school.” - Ray Minniecon
Andy says that "there was an amazing good will towards the Symposium and a genuine desire to improve outcomes for Indigenous students in disadvantaged areas. Thank you to Music NT for helping us make it possible."
Congratulations to the NT Music School and all involved in making the Symposium such a success, and again - watch this space for more information!
THE GOOD OIL
Already some great 'outcomes' from iNTune, the Darwin Showbag gigs and the NT Indigenous Music Awards:
- Warren H. Williams (pictured right in hat with Robbie Collins APRA NT, far left, and producer Allen Murphy, middle ) booked to play at Byron Bay BluesFest by iNTune speaker Peter Noble, Director of the prestigious Byron Bay BluesFest. Peter has also expressed interest in booking 6 other NT for the 2010 BluesFest, so taken was he by their performances during his time in Darwin! Updates on the way!
- emDee signs a publishing contract with JL Music Publishing. Helen Page from JL was a speaker at iNTune. Says emDee's Shayote Carter, "JL Music Publishing is South Australia’s leading independent Music Publisher who have extended to the Northern Territory." After being pursued for 3 years, at iNTune "the contract has finally been sealed for an initial three years with the opportunity to extend in the future". It includes "Mark Hoffmann, Lukas Bendel and Shayote Carter." Read more from Shayote's "unofficial press release".
- Channel V to screen highlights of the Indigenous Music Awards.
- Yilila booked to showcase at CMJ Music Marathon in New York.
- Jess Ribeiro & The Bone Collectors EP Pilgrimage scheduled as 'feature CD' on Radio National, beginning the week of September 7th.
- Radio National presenter Tim Ritchie has also added NT acts to his playlist.
- Moses aka En-Rhoda (pictured right) played on triple j Home & Hosed, Wednesday August 27th.
- AIR (Association of Independent Record Labels) featured a blog about the NT music scene.
- An impromptu show from Hall of Fame music award winners ‘The Tableland Drifters’ prompts Rolling Stone journalist Barry Divola to describe guitarist Angus as "the Mark Knopfler of the bush".
- Rolling Stone Australia to run a six-page feature article on the Northern Territory music scene, October issue.
- triple j Unearthed feature a podcast on 5 NT bands.
FINAL WORD...
Mark Smith: "This was an amazing iNTune Music Conference and the outcomes already far outweigh the efforts that went into putting it together. It has honestly blown me away. Thanks to everyone involved for making it such a special event for the NT Music Industry. It was a great team effort. I'm already looking forward to next year!!"
Read more about the 2009 iNTune Music Conference Speakers and Program .
Above photos by Phil Eaton, Pott Street, Mark Smith, Deb Hudson.
iNTune Music Conference: part of NT Music Month.
It really was the biggest Music Conference ever held in the Northern Territory. In total 90 delegates attended - including 30+ speakers - hailing from Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Milingimbi, Maningrida, Darwin, Yirrkala and interstate: Brisbane, Melbourne, WA, Byron Bay and Sydney.Pictured right, iNTune delegate Day Tonah from 2 Cats 1 Hat
Check out Speakers & Conference Program and Sessions. Send through iNTune feedback online.
Check out iNTune image galleries I, II and archival images from the 2008 Music NT Conference here.
Check out iNTune speaker Noel Mengel's feature article on NT Music in the Brisbane Courier-Mail here.
The Darwin Showbag gigs on Thursday August 20th were also a huge success. The performances of a wide array of local artists bands were specifically programmed to coincide with iNTune, to showcase NT original music to both the Australian music industry, local audiences and the national crowd in town to attend Darwin Festival.
Also held as part of iNTune were the Indigenous Music Expo and the first ever Remote & Regional Music Education Symposium. Both events were also very successful, with organisers extremely happy at the positive outcomes.
And the 6th annual NT Indigenous Music Awards was the biggest yet, with 2000 people attending the ceremony under the stars at the famous Botanic Gardens Amphitheatre, on Friday August 21st. Delegates from all over Australia were blown away by the night, treated to not only great performances by artists as diverse as Gurrumul and Jessica Mauboy, but they got a first-hand glimpse into what makes Territory music the greatest in the land...Pictured right, 'O' Zee from Pott Street and IMA 'Emerging Act of the Year' Award
iNTune MUSIC CONFERENCE
Music NT manager Mark Smith couldn't be happier with how it all turned out. He says that "all of iNTune's speakers brought great knowledge to the Conference across the different sessions". Some of his highlights include:
- Glenn Dickie from EMI and Nick Crocker from Native Digital giving members from three NT bands an 'intensive' on everything from image, web presence to touring and the all important 'long term vision'.
- Millie Milgate from Sounds Australia giving another intensive - this one on Exports - to three acts that were about to hit the international market.
- The enthusiasm and energetic participation by all of the Speakers and Conference Delegates who attended.
- Having one the best music media panels ever represented at any Music Conference in Australia!!
Another Conference highlight was the very popular Demo Listening Session held on Friday afternoon, whereby a panel of music industry players listened to tracks by local bands. Around twenty-five demos were submitted.
The panel included Clive Hodson (General Manager, Shock Publishing), Glenn
Dickie (A&R Manager EMI Music), Nick O'Byrne (Australian Independent Record Labels Association) and David Vodika (Rubber Records), Dom Alessio (triple j) and Eloise Nolan (Former Head of ABC Music Services & Publishing). Music NT's Phil Eaton who oversaw the session said that it was "incredibly beneficial for all of the bands and artists involved, even 'enlightening' for some!" While feedback was often critical it was always positive and constructive. Phil said that "the young bands especially got much out of the session. Instead of being intimidated by their status as industry experts, he said that "they learned how to approach them as people , taking the 'fear factor' out of the equation". Adds Mark, "the session got through about 25 demos which gave delegates great advice and ideas about where their music sat in the national scene".From all reports, iNTune struck just the right balance between 'business', 'culture' and 'social'. "The overall feeling was that the Conference was just the right size" says Mark, "with the national people going away knowing almost all of the delegates by name, and developing an actual friendship with them." So much so that Glenn from EMI, Nick from AIR and Julian from Media Arts Lawyers were even spritied away to Berry Springs by a few local musos!
The 'round table' sessions also panned out very well. Led by local musician Kris Keogh (Blastcorp), it was an opportunity for the local delegates to break the ice with the nationals.
And if that's not enough, read what Music NT Forum member and iNTune delegate ZedMajor had to say after only Day I!
DARWIN SHOWBAG
The Darwin Showbag live gigs were also amazing. Specifically programmed
to coincide with iNTune to showcase a wide array of NT original music, 10 bands across 4 venues played on one massive night infront of the 100+ iNTune speakers and delegates. The Showcase was designed to expose some of the best live music the Territory has to offer.Mark says "the shows were amazing. The Lighthouse show at Darwin Festival with The Bone Collectors and The Aviators was PACKED with the industry guys really enjoying it. Then across the rest of the city, the remaining Showbag acts went really well with the national delegates getting around to all of the venues. The bands played really well on this big night".
National delegates were also keen to check out other gigs that were on in Darwin over the weekend, with Dom Alessio (triple j) and Tim Ritchie (Radio National) first in line at Happy Yess on the Friday night, eager to see The Bone Collectors play again after their Lighthouse Showcase the night before. Rolling Stone music writer Barry Divola went along to see The Tablelands Drifters, who popped up at an impromptu gig at Happy Yess on the Sunday. (They were in town to attend the NT Indigenous Music Awards to be inducted into the 'Hall Of Fame'). So impressed was Barry by their Yess performance he reportedly declared their guitarist Angus was "the Mark Knopfler of the desert!"
INDIGENOUS EMPLOYMENT PARTNERSHIP FOR THE NT MUSIC SECTOR
& INDIGENOUS MUSIC EXPO
The Indigenous Employment Partnership (IEP) was part of the Indigenous Music
Expo held at iNTune. The IEP was launched on Wednesday August 19th at Parliament House, Darwin. The IEP is an initiative between the NT and Australian governments, and the music industry. It is designed to give ongoing vocational opportunities in the music industry to Indigenous students, linking their school training with real jobs.Music NT brought to Darwin 35 of the Northern Territory's leading Indigenous Musicians to participate in an Indigenous Music Expo and to be a part of the IEP launch. The list included musicians from right across the NT - from south of Alice Springs to the Tiwi Islands - getting first hand information on the launch document and what it can mean for their regions.
Above right, at the Expo: reps from Alice Springs, Tennent Creek, Borroolala, Maningrida, Milingimbi and members of WildWater, Sunrize Band, Sandridge Band, The Tableland Drifters and emerging acts Garrangali and Crazy Boys.
Representatives from the following Government agencies in attendance:
o Sue Spence – Australia Council International Marketing Section
o Millie Millgate – Sounds Australia Australia Council / APRA international marketing
o Paul Mason – Director of Music, Australia Council
o Libby Christie – Executive Director Arts Funding, Australia Council
o Robyn Mellor – Assistant Director Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
Mark says that "the Expo featured 35 musicians from across the NT. Out of that was a great session on the issues they are facing and definite ways that APRA and Music NT can better deliver services and support. They also had the opportunity to participate across the rest of the iNTune panel sessions across the two days." Some of these musicians also attended the NT Remote & Regional Music Education Symposium, held concurrently with iNTune. (See below).Pictured left, Robbie Collins APRA NT and NT music legend Barry Benning.
Further updates from the Expo are on the way - watch this space! - with Mark Smith currently in Brisbane at another Music Conference to discuss the IEP further.
NT REMOTE & REGIONAL MUSIC EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM
Presented by the NT Department of Education, NT Music School and Music NT.
Also held as part of iNTune, the Symposium was an important and timely forum for Music Education Service Providers and funding organisations from around Australia, that have an interest in Indigenous Music Education in the NT. Andy Mison from NT Music School (the peak body for music education in NT government schools), coordinated the Symposium. He says that the Symposium "was very well attended by representatives of government - both State and Federal - NGOs, funding organisations; teachers, tertiary institutions, private operators, producers and a number of other interested parties." And not only that, "it was very successful with a number of practical outcomes:"
- Agreement to participate in an ongoing Web Forum NTIME Forum (NT Indigenous Music Education) which will be launched September 1st: ntimeforum@ning.co.
- Agreement to meet again in March 2010.
- Agreement that the NT Music School will act as a coordinating body with a secretarial role in the forum.
- Agreement on a number of areas that the forum will continue to develop, with a view to formulating a comprehensive, sustainable and coordinated strategy for Indigenous music education in the NT.
- Agreement to supply information on proposed service delivery in remote & regional NT for a calendar on the web forum to avoid duplication, improve coordination and potential for collaboration and partnerships.
- Agreement on a Vision Statement for the forum (subject to amendment): Indigenous Culture is a music and arts based culture, so meaningful education on Indigenous communities must also be music and arts based.
Symposium quotes:
“Song is embedded in the Aboriginal psyche and world view” - Manduwuy Yunupingu
“Music will help sustain Indigenous culture and two-way learning and should be core business in every school.” - Ray Minniecon
Andy says that "there was an amazing good will towards the Symposium and a genuine desire to improve outcomes for Indigenous students in disadvantaged areas. Thank you to Music NT for helping us make it possible."
Congratulations to the NT Music School and all involved in making the Symposium such a success, and again - watch this space for more information!
THE GOOD OIL
Already some great 'outcomes' from iNTune, the Darwin Showbag gigs and the NT Indigenous Music Awards:
- Warren H. Williams (pictured right in hat with Robbie Collins APRA NT, far left, and producer Allen Murphy, middle ) booked to play at Byron Bay BluesFest by iNTune speaker Peter Noble, Director of the prestigious Byron Bay BluesFest. Peter has also expressed interest in booking 6 other NT for the 2010 BluesFest, so taken was he by their performances during his time in Darwin! Updates on the way!- emDee signs a publishing contract with JL Music Publishing. Helen Page from JL was a speaker at iNTune. Says emDee's Shayote Carter, "JL Music Publishing is South Australia’s leading independent Music Publisher who have extended to the Northern Territory." After being pursued for 3 years, at iNTune "the contract has finally been sealed for an initial three years with the opportunity to extend in the future". It includes "Mark Hoffmann, Lukas Bendel and Shayote Carter." Read more from Shayote's "unofficial press release".
- Channel V to screen highlights of the Indigenous Music Awards.
- Yilila booked to showcase at CMJ Music Marathon in New York.
- Jess Ribeiro & The Bone Collectors EP Pilgrimage scheduled as 'feature CD' on Radio National, beginning the week of September 7th.- Radio National presenter Tim Ritchie has also added NT acts to his playlist.
- Moses aka En-Rhoda (pictured right) played on triple j Home & Hosed, Wednesday August 27th.
- AIR (Association of Independent Record Labels) featured a blog about the NT music scene.
- An impromptu show from Hall of Fame music award winners ‘The Tableland Drifters’ prompts Rolling Stone journalist Barry Divola to describe guitarist Angus as "the Mark Knopfler of the bush".
- Rolling Stone Australia to run a six-page feature article on the Northern Territory music scene, October issue.
- triple j Unearthed feature a podcast on 5 NT bands.
FINAL WORD...
Mark Smith: "This was an amazing iNTune Music Conference and the outcomes already far outweigh the efforts that went into putting it together. It has honestly blown me away. Thanks to everyone involved for making it such a special event for the NT Music Industry. It was a great team effort. I'm already looking forward to next year!!"
Read more about the 2009 iNTune Music Conference Speakers and Program .Above photos by Phil Eaton, Pott Street, Mark Smith, Deb Hudson.
iNTune Music Conference: part of NT Music Month.
Tags: conference, darwin, festival, intune, music, nt, original, showcase
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