Power 50 - #12: Millie Millgate

When it comes to representing the Australian music industry overseas, few have played as crucial a role as Millie Millgate in the past nine years. In her position as Sounds Australia’s Executive Producer, she has been tasked with putting Australia’s best foot forward at major international industry events like South By Southwest, AmericanaFest and Reeperbahn Festivals and has succeeded at every turn.

Her previous experience as an artist manager and venue booker, plus time with MusicNSW, the Association Of Artist Managers and FBi Radio, has seen her grow Sounds Australia exponentially since its 2009 beginnings, now including events in 56 cities across 20 countries.

Towards the end of 2016, Minister For The Arts Mitch Fifield announced the reversal of his government’s decision to the strip the music export development body she overseas of its funding, instead guaranteeing $1.16 million over four years for the further development.

Hitting the ground running in 2017, Sounds Australia partnered with Blundstone for their AmericanaFest and Reeperbahn events, with the shoe company presenting the famous Aussie BBQ. These included performances from the likes of All Our Exes Live in Texas, Andy Golledge, Colin Hay, Falls, Grizzlee Train, Kasey Chambers, Larissa Tandy, Shane Nicholson, Taasha Coates and Tim Wheatley in Nashville, while Alex The Astronaut, Client Liaison,

Dean Lewis, Geowulf, Gold Class, Joel Havea, Lisa Mitchell, PINES, Steve Smyth, Teischa, The Lazy’s and Tinpan Orange took to stages in Germany.

As well as their vital annual showcase events, Sounds Australia also ran their second ever Trade Mission to South America throughout November and December, taking Ali Barter, DZ Deathrays and The Kite String Tangle to audiences in Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

2018 is shaping up to be a big one for Millgate and her team, with secure funding in place and the applauded addition of former triple j host Dom Alessio as Digital Export Producer.