Elefant Traks, Hub, Spunk Receive Aus Council Grants

The Australia Council For The Arts has identified the successful applicants of the 2013 Recording Initiative, with six independent labels receiving a share of $253,660.

Outlined in the Assessment Meeting Report, the Council received 65 applications from labels with a total of $2,656,764 requested. They decided on providing grants to 4-4-2 Music, Elefant Traks, Hub Artist Services, Siberia Records, Skinnyfish Music and Spunk Records.

Five of the labels are from New South Wales, with the Northern Territory's Skinnyfish the only other state represented.

Today Elefant Traks founder Tim Levinson told theMusic.com.au, “We have been rejected so many times for grant applications that to be approved for something this important is fantastic.

“It is an injection of funds that is very important to be able to take more risks with some of the artists – which is something we take very seriously. We work on very tight budgets and some of the artist could use that extra support, Jimblah is one of those.”

Elefant Traks will receive $50,000 as part of the grant and Levinson stated that they are yet to determine where that money will be spent.

“We have to sit down and work out the best way to use the money in a playing for keeps way. We don't want to go out and spend a whole heap of money on a video, but find out the best way to use it to develop the artists… I'm looking forward to getting the most out of each dollar.”

The grants were awarded on the basis of artistic merit, track record of the organisation and strength of planning. The full financial details include:

4-4-2 Music: $17,660 (for Genlevel, Loopsnake, Karoshi and Telafonica)
Elefant Traks Pty Ltd $50,000 (for Jimblah, Horrorshow, Joelistics, Sietta, Hermitude, Jane Tyrrell and Sky'High, and a remix compilation album)
Hub Artist Services Pty Ltd $50,000 (for Dappled Cities, South Seas, Glass Towers, Phebe Starr and Zeahorse)
Siberia Records $38,000 (for Kirin J Callinan, Midnight Juggernauts, FORCES and Erik Omen)
Skinnyfish Music $50,000 (for Ego Lemos, Manuel Dhurrkay, B2M, Worldfly, Tom E Lewis, Dewayne Everettsmith, Narbalek and Gurrumul Yunupingu)
Spunk Records Pty Ltd $48,000 (for Emma Russack, Firekites, Wagons, Bearhug, Bored Nothing and Holly Throsby)

Levinson added, “We don't take for granted that in receiving this grant there are a number of labels who are also deserving of it. When you go for a grant you inevitably look to see who got it and make a comparison. It's unfortunate, but it's inevitable.”