Indie Awards Announce $50,000 Artist Grant

A cash prize of $50,000 will be offered to one of the nominees in the Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards as part of a new career development grant.

A joint venture between the Australian Independent Record Labels Association and sponsors Carlton Dry, but an initiative of the latter, the inaugural Carlton Dry Global Music Grant will be announced at the award ceremony in October.

The grant is specifically designed to break an artist overseas, so the judging committee – which will be set up in the coming days – will likely look at artists who haven't yet established an international audience.

In the coming days nominated artists, who this year include Big Scary, Dick Diver, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, RUFUS, Baylou, Kingswood and Collarbones, amongst others, will be asked to outline what the money would ideally do for them. Facilitators AIR are expecting to receive responses ranging from overseas tour and showcase plans to international recording sessions and relocation plans.

AIR's General Manager Nick O'Byrne told theMusic.com.au today that the committee will be made up of a individuals who have a strong knowledge of how local artists are developing internationally and that a decision will be made through discussion, rather than a popular vote.

The nominees for this year's awards were announced earlier this week, with two acts signed to the Future Classic label – Flume and Jagwar Ma – recieving five each. The full list is available here.