Submissions are open now for this year's UpStart Award, with entries closing August 31, 2022. Funded by a music-loving family in Melbourne, the UpStart Award is an annual round of grants given to emerging Victorian singer-songwriters. Winners are chosen by a panel of local music experts.
And in 2022, UpStart has increased it's commitment. 1st place will receive $10,000, and for the first time this year the 2nd placed artist will receive $3,000, and the 3rd placed artist will receive $2,000. Plus, the remaining seven artists in the top ten will receive $1,000 each!
All songwriters are welcome to enter - you might still be busking, you may have recorded a few tracks or you might be playing pub gigs; but you’re not on the map yet. Judges' definition of an emerging artist means you are not signed to a major record company and you have not played major venues regularly.
Entrants for the UpStart Award must be individual songwriters; no bands. If you are in a band, the application may be submitted (and therefore awarded to) the band’s songwriter.
If you're in the development stage of your music career and looking for a boost to get to the next level, head to upstart.org.au and apply!
Previous winners of the UpStart Award include Georgia Delves (Georgia State Line), Chitra, Gena Rose Bruce and Jade McInally (Jade Imagine).
