Music Australia Announces New Funding for Independent Labels at Indie-Con

August 1, 2025 397 11 5

Music Australia has announced a major boost for the country’s independent music sector, unveiling two new funding programs at the sold-out AIR Indie-Con Australia conference in Adelaide. The government-backed music agency introduced the second round of its Record Label Development Scheme (RLDS) alongside a brand-new Marketing and Manufacturing (M&M) Grants program. Both initiatives employ a matched-funding model to support Australian record labels – from tiny local indies to the Australian subsidiaries of major labels – in developing homegrown artists. The dual announcement, delivered by Music Australia’s director Millie Millgate at Indie-Con, marks a significant investment in the indie music ecosystem and a vote of confidence in the role of record labels in nurturing Australian talent.

Bolstering Indie Labels: Announcement at Indie-Con

Indie-Con Australia, hosted by the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR), provided an apt stage for Music Australia’s funding reveal. The 2025 conference – combined this year with the first-ever A2IM Indie Week Australian Edition – drew industry leaders from around the world for panels on catalog monetization, global expansion, AI in music, and innovation in the independent sector. It was against this backdrop of international collaboration and knowledge-sharing that Music Australia announced it would “co-invest” with Australian labels via two funding opportunities.

“The record label landscape is ever evolving, and the role labels of all sizes play in the development and growth of Australian artists is critical,” said Millie Millgate, Director of Music Australia, in her Indie-Con address. She explained that the new programs allow Music Australia to “co-invest alongside the commercial sector through a matched funding model – bolstering the terrific work that is already being undertaken by our Australian record labels.”

The announcement was met with enthusiasm from attendees, as it directly addresses long-standing challenges faced by independent labels in Australia’s music industry.

Record Label Development Scheme – Round 2

The Record Label Development Scheme (RLDS) is a cornerstone of Music Australia’s strategy to strengthen the recorded music pipeline. First introduced in 2024, the scheme’s inaugural round invested $1.7 million in 23 record labels, ranging from DIY imprints to large label offshoots, to finance new recordings, marketing campaigns, physical production, and artist development. That first round supported at least 83 Australian artists, providing both financial backing and a dedicated non-recoupable artist creation fee that directly benefited the musicians involved.

Round 2 of the RLDS, launched at Indie-Con 2025, comes with updates aimed at making support more equitable and accessible. The program continues to offer sizable matched grants, now ranging from A$15,000 up to A$125,000 per label, but with a streamlined application process and relaxed criteria. Notably, Music Australia removed the initial Expression of Interest stage and previous requirements for audience analytics and minimum revenue, lowering barriers to apply. This means eligible labels can go straight to a full application without proving a certain social media reach or turnover – a change designed to open the door to more labels that have been operating for at least three years and are actively developing Australian talent for local and global markets.

Eligibility: To qualify for RLDS Round 2 funding, an applicant must be an Australian record label (including indie companies or local branches of majors) that has been in operation for three or more years and has a roster of at least three active Australian artists. Labels must have released a minimum of five new Australian recordings in the past two years, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to releasing local music.

Supported activities: The RLDS takes a holistic approach, offering co-investment across nearly all aspects of a record label’s work. Labels awarded an RLDS grant can use the funds (matched by their own expenditure) for projects such as:

Recording and production of new music, including studio time and mixing/mastering by Australian producers and engineers.
Visual content and artwork creation such as music videos, social media assets, and album artwork.
Marketing and promotional campaigns to grow artist brands and audiences, including digital marketing, PR, and radio campaigns.
Physical manufacturing and distribution of vinyl, CDs, or cassettes, preferably using local and sustainable production methods.
Artist development initiatives, including mentoring, training, or hiring new team members such as digital marketing or data specialists.

This broad scope means labels can fund everything from producing a debut album to devising an international marketing push for a breakout single. Music Australia has emphasized that this scheme is designed to share the financial risk that labels take when signing and developing new talent, helping ensure that local artists can compete on the global stage.

New Marketing & Manufacturing Grants

Launched in tandem with RLDS Round 2, the Marketing & Manufacturing Grants (often referred to as M&M Grants) are a new initiative targeting smaller independent labels that may not yet meet the RLDS scale or track record. This program offers matched funding between A$2,000 and A$10,000 per grant to support the “crucial areas of marketing, promotion, manufacturing, and distribution” for new releases.

Eligibility: The M&M Grants are open to Australian record labels with an ABN and at least two active Australian artists on their roster. Unlike RLDS, there is no minimum years-in-operation requirement, making this scheme accessible to newer indie startups. Labels can submit only one application in this round and cannot apply for both the RLDS and M&M Grants simultaneously.

Use of funds: M&M grant recipients must match the funding dollar-for-dollar. Eligible expenses include:

Physical manufacturing of music products such as vinyl, CDs, or cassettes, plus distribution and shipping costs.
Digital distribution and marketing, including social media campaigns, publicity, and hiring radio pluggers or digital marketers.
Artwork, design, and merchandise, such as album covers, packaging, or promotional materials made by Australian creatives.
Video content creation, including lyric videos, music videos, and live performance visuals.
Accessibility and inclusion measures, such as captions, translations, or adaptive materials for marketing and releases.

In addition, the program encourages environmentally sustainable practices by reimbursing up to $2,000 in additional costs for eco-friendly production methods, like recycled vinyl or sustainable packaging. The aim is to help boutique labels release high-quality, well-promoted music without compromising financial stability.

Supporting a Resilient Music Ecosystem in 2025

These funding initiatives arrive at a pivotal moment for the Australian music industry. Independent labels and artists continue to face significant headwinds even as opportunities grow. The streaming-dominated landscape means new music is competing with hundreds of millions of tracks online, making discovery challenging and marketing costly. The economics of recorded music have shifted dramatically, with physical sales declining while production and promotion costs rise. For small and medium labels, this squeeze often threatens their ability to take risks on new talent.

At the same time, there are new opportunities for Australian music. Global streaming platforms, social media, and international collaborations provide unprecedented reach for local artists. A resurgence in vinyl and merchandise sales offers niche revenue streams, and domestic audiences are increasingly hungry for Australian content that reflects their own stories.

In this environment, Music Australia’s funding programs act as both a protective measure and a catalyst. They support the development of local talent while empowering labels to remain commercially viable. The co-investment model ensures that both the public sector and the music industry share the risk and reward of developing the next generation of Australian artists.

Industry leaders have praised the initiative as a practical and forward-thinking approach to supporting the indie ecosystem. By funding everything from artist development to marketing and manufacturing, these programs help create a domino effect of benefits: labels thrive, artists have greater opportunities to be heard, and audiences gain access to a richer diversity of Australian music.

Applications and How to Learn More

Both the Record Label Development Scheme (Round 2) and the Marketing & Manufacturing Grants are now open for applications, with submissions closing on Tuesday, 14 October 2025 at 3pm AEDT. Funded projects are expected to take place in 2026, with RLDS activities running up to 18 months in duration.

Interested record labels can learn more and apply via Music Australia’s official website:

Record Label Development Scheme: creativaustralia.com.au/music/rlds
Marketing & Manufacturing Grants: creativaustralia.com.au/music/mmgrants

Music Australia encourages all eligible independent labels to apply, emphasizing that these programs are designed to amplify the efforts already being made by Australia’s indie music community. As Millie Millgate said at Indie-Con, this initiative is about “bolstering the terrific work” happening on the ground – ensuring that the nation’s independent labels and artists can thrive in 2025 and beyond.