Some of Australia (and New Zealand’s biggest names) have won big recently, sharing in over $20,000 thanks to the Levi’s® Music Relief Fund in partnership with BIGSOUND.
For a number of years now, the Levi’s® Music Prize has served as the largest single music prize in Australasia, awarding cash prizes to up-and-coming artists based upon their BIGSOUND experience, offering a financial leg-up to ensure they keep up their forward momentum as they head towards the international stage.
Previous winners of the Levi’s® Music Prize have included world-beating luminaries such as G Flip, Ecca Vandal, The Teskey Brothers, Amyl & The Sniffers, Stella Donnelly, Alex Lahey, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Hatchie, and much more.
However, with COVID-19 having stripped almost all artists of the chance to earn a living due to the absence of live gigs, the prize has been redesigned in order to shift the focus from international touring plans to more local projects, skills development, and supporting the well-being of artists.
Now, in partnership with BIGSOUND, the Levi’s® Music Relief Fund has awarded $4,500 to five winners, with the funds heading to Tkay Maidza (SA), Miiesha (QLD), Haiku Hands (NSW), Jaguar Jonze (QLD), and New Zealand outfit The Beths.
“Levi’s® is deeply connected to the music industry, and over the past four years we’ve seen Australian music legends make it big overseas through the support of the Levi’s® Music Prize,” explained Trent Bos, Head of Marketing at Levi’s® Australia and New Zealand. “Today we celebrate the passion, creativity and music of our first five winners of the newly created Levi’s® Music Relief Fund.
“Our people at Levi’s® and BIGSOUND understand how hard the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the music industry and its artists, so together we created the idea to support more Australian and New Zealand musicians to get through this challenging period by going beyond just funding, and investing in their professional and emotional needs.”
“Congratulations to The Beths, Tkay Maidza, Miiesha, Haiku Hands and Jaguar Jonze,” added QMusic CEO and BIGSOUND Executive Producer, Angela Samut.
“And thank you to Levi’s® for continuing to invest in our Australian and New Zealand artists. Levi’s® support of our industry through BIGSOUND has seen almost $300,000 go towards 10 artists who have gone on to become great Australian music exports.
“We are also thankful to our other supporters coming on board to provide upskilling and wellbeing support for this creative and tenacious group of musicians.”
Applications for the final Levi’s® Music Relief Fund round are open now, and are set to close at 11;59pm AEST on Sunday, July 5th.
