Power 50 - #37: Kirsty Rivers

After 17 years as National Writer Services Manager with APRA AMCOS, Rivers became the head of the Victorian state government’s Music Works program for Creative Victoria in 2015.

Throughout 2017, Rivers advised on Music Works grants (together with Dean Linguey) as part of the Victorian Government’s four-year $22.2 million contemporary music funding and support program, providing grants for real opportunities. The Music Victoria Regional Bus Crawl was also launched, with two of the three crawls – the first taking in Ballarat, Castlemaine, Bendigo and Echuca; the second navigating the Mornington Peninsula - taking place in 2017. This Victorian Government initiative was an Australian first that aimed to build connections between Melbourne and regionally based artists, venues and music industry leaders.

This initiative saw an over $3 return for every $1 invested as well as a new sense of exploration and engagement with regional gigs. Just one example of the many outcomes from these Regional Bus Crawls so far is A Hitch To The Sticks, a world-first festival that will take place in March and was launched by Dallas Frasca who was a passenger on the first bus.

Also as part of the Music Works initiative, Creative Victoria partnered with Association of Artist Managers (AAM) and AIR to deliver Fast Track Fellowships to send two Victorian artist managers overseas (Charlotte Abroms will head to London and Guy Blackman is LA-bound in 2018) to gain valuable experience at music companies. Tom Fraser of Pieater and Amy Chapman of Wantok Music also received Fellowships and will work with AIR to expand opportunities for their growing artist rosters internationally.

In 2017, Rivers represented Melbourne at the Memphis Music Cities Convention and also pitched and brought the Music Cities Convention to Melbourne. Her input was instrumental on the Live Music Roundtable and the taskforce addressing sexual harassment and assault of women in licensed venues and festivals.

In a volunteer capacity, just some of Rivers’ 2017 accomplishments include mentoring the One Of One team to present the inaugural International Women’s Day breakfast and helping to reinstate the Lighthouse Award.