ATHANASIA Selected As First Artist For Ground Floor, UNIFIED Music Group’s Accelerator Program

Just under two months since the official launch of Ground Floor, UNIFIED Music Group has revealed the first act to be chosen for the burgeoning program.

First announced in early September, Ground Floor is a new accelerator program powered by the Community Music ecosystem and focused on empowering independent Australian artists who are "ready to take the next step in their careers."

Utilising Community Music's myriad resources, Ground Floor seeks to provide a six months of hands-on support, mentorship and release guidance for rising acts. With a number of of Community Music's team members offering vital skills through educational workshops, the end goal is for these emerging names to be release-ready, with a live performance opportunity also waiting for them.

Now, Sydney artist ATHANASIA has been announced as the first act to be selected for the program, with mentoring and support set to come her way in the coming months.

Citing artists such as Amy Winehouse and Olivia Dean as inspiration, ATHANASIA is a versatile vocalist, songwriter, and producer with co-writing credits with Tigerlily and KLP, syncs on JBL campaigns and Roblox, and even performances at the likes of SXSW and BIGSOUND.

“I’m so excited and honoured to be part of the Ground Floor Program,” she explains. “It means a lot to have the chance to learn and grow alongside incredible industry professionals I’ve looked up to for so long.

“As an independent artist, having access to one-on-one guidance and support is such a valuable opportunity for my growth. I’m excited to learn from this experience, refine my craft, and apply those insights to take the next big steps in my career!”

Needless to say, ATHANASIA’s future is looking bright, with her drive and ambition representing Ground Floor’s purpose of helping provide infrastructure, mentorship and a release strategy to artists wanting to take the next step without losing independence.

“Ground Floor isn’t about discovery for discovery’s sake. It’s about building stable, long-term careers,” explains Community Music CEO & Founder, Jaddan Comerford. “The response so far has been incredible, with so many talented artists applying in just the first few weeks.

“ATHANASIA is proof of what’s possible when an artist has a clear vision, a defined voice, and finally, the right support system.”

Over the coming six months, ATHANASIA is set to receive strategic mentorship from senior leaders at Community Music, UNIFIED Artist Management, Lonely Lands Agency, The Annex, and more; along with practical training across media, touring, DSP, sync, legal, and finance; and release and marketing support, with a guaranteed live performance slot at a UNIFIED or Community Live event.

Applications for Ground Floor remain open now, with submissions continuing to be reviewed on a rolling basis. Further participants will be announced in the coming months.