The Jimmy Little Managers Fund is being lanched in Darwin on Friday, which aims to to invest in and empower Indigenous operators in the music industry.
It will include a mentor program, membership to the Association of Artist Managers (AAM) for ongoing support, resources and advice as well as a travel fund and regional workshops.
The fund is endowed by Warner Music Australia, who worked closely with Jimmy Little releasing his albums on Festival Records, and supported and advised by AAM board member Graham “Buzz” Bidstrup – Uncle Jimmy’s long time manager and now CEO of the Jimmy Little Foundation.
“Jimmy Little was a truly remarkable man,” said Buzz. “Throughout his life he was always helping those less fortunate than himself and the establishment of the Jimmy Little Foundation and our nutrition education program called Uncle Jimmy Thumbs up! was just one of the many ways he gave back to the community.”
“But music was his life; he called it the universal language of love and we had talked many times about how fantastic it would be if there could be a fund like this available to mentor Indigenous managers and to help bring Indigenous musicians and their music into the mainstream. Thanks to Warner Music and the AAM I’m proud to be able to help make Jimmy’s dream a reality.”
The program launch will happen at Darwin’s iNTune conference on Friday June 21 and shortly after that will open applications for the Indigenous managers mentor program. More information is available at the AAM website.
The Jimmy Little Managers Fund is funded by Warners, supported by the Jimmy Little Foundation and facilitated by the Association of Artist Managers.
