Applications Open For Carlton Dry Global Music Grant

The second-ever iteration of the Carlton Dry Global Music Grant, created in collaboration with the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR), is officially open for applications.

The $50,000 grant was established last year in order to assist an emerging Aussie artist or band in getting overseas in an effort to raise their profile and publicity beyond our shores, with the first such prize being bestowed upon hard-rockin' stalwarts King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard.

Grant applicants must be an Australian artist or band who is self-released, or released via an independent label.

Carlton Dry brand manager Rob Elder said of the competition: “There is so much talent in Australian music right now, and the grant is a way we can support young artists and give them the opportunity to take their music overseas.

“We can't wait to see the entries that come in this year.”

AIR board chairman David Vodicka echoed Elder's sentiments in a statement of his own: “This Grant is something that AIR is very proud of,” he said. “We can't think of a more direct way to help a great emerging artist in their career.

“The fact that the whole thing was instigated by Carlton Dry shows the value of our partnership with them.”

Being afforded the grant honour saw King Giz jet to the United States to perform in Dallas, Chicago and Washington, nab themselves a residency with the renowned Austin Psychfest in New York City, and even take the time to travel northwards to Canada, aka “Nice America”. Leftover money was used to help rent a ranch in upstate New York for a month-long recording stint.

That's just how one band saw fit to spend their newfound wealth, and there are no limits on how you or your band could use the grant for yourself, outside of Carlton Dry's pretty reasonable request that the money be used exclusively for career-furthering touring, showcase, recording or relocation purposes.

Artists or bands interested in applying for the Carlton Dry Global Music Grant can head to the relevant section of the AIR website to lodge their application as well as get themselves across all the relevant entry conditions and selection criteria before doing so.

Applications close September 1. Entries will be judged by a panel of industry experts, with the winner to be announced at this year's Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards in October.

See AIR's home page for more information.