AMPAL’s 2025 Round 2 MAICC Funding Recipients Announced!

We are thrilled to announce the recipients of AMPAL’s 2025 Round 2 Music Australia International Conference Contribution (MAICC) – Music Publishers program!   

This game-changing initiative is designed to empower Australian music publishers by providing critical financial support to attend major international music conferences, helping them build global networks, expand market knowledge and maximise opportunities for their songwriters.  

Through MAICC funding, these incredible publishers will be representing Australian talent on the world stage, attending industry-defining conferences across the USA, Spain, India, the Netherlands, Singapore and Finland.   

Congratulations to AMPAL’s 2025 Round 2 MAICC recipients!   

📌 Fergus Jenkins – Dew Process Publishing – LA Sync Summit, USA   
📌 Rachel Kelly – Unified Music Group – A2IM Indie Week, USA   
📌 Mathew Tanner – Concord Music Publishing – All About Music, India   
📌 Charlton Hill – Uncanny Valley – Americana Fest, USA   
📌 Alvin Pandey – Gaan Baksho Music – All That Matters, Singapore   
📌 Art Phillips – 101 Music Publishing – Production Music Association Conference, USA   
📌 Linda Bosidis – Mushroom Music Publishing – IMPF Conference, Spain   
📌 Matthew Donlevy – Cooking Vinyl Publishing – IMPF Conference, Spain  
📌 Karen Hamilton – 120 Publishing – ADE, Netherlands   
📌 Tess Nicolaou – peermusic – ADE, Netherlands   
📌 Adam Dunning – Sunset Club – WOMEX (Worldwide Music Expo), Finland   
📌 Briese Abbott – Kobalt Music Publishing – Music Tectonics, USA   

Charlton Hill (Uncanny Valley), one of our newest AMPAL members and a first-time MAICC recipient, shared:  

“Just a note to say that we are delighted to hear news of our successful MAICC grant application! The timing could not be better for this support, and our plans for Nashville are already in full swing… thank you again for your support in helping us as a publisher to keep building a stronger international pipeline for our current and emerging songwriters.”  

We can’t wait to see the impact these publishers will make on the global stage!  

For more information about MAICC funding and future rounds, visit https://www.ampal.com.au/maicc-2025 or contact maicc@ampal.com.au.  

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia.  

Kylie Martin announced as AMPAL Communications & Development Officer

Kylie Martin AMPAL Communications & Development Officer

AMPAL (Australasian Music Publishers’ Association Limited) is delighted to announce that Kylie Martin has been appointed to the newly created position of AMPAL Communications & Development Officer, effective immediately.  This new consultancy position was made possible through Music Australia’s Core Contribution Funding scheme, and will see Kylie drive AMPAL’s efforts in areas as diverse as communications; website & social media management; grants, funding and sponsorship; membership; and event coordination. 

Kylie brings 30 years of expertise in communications, publicity and brand strategy to AMPAL. As Director of Martini Media, she has led high-impact campaigns, orchestrated red carpet events and built strong industry relationships. Her work with top-tier talent - including Kylie Minogue, Emma Watkins and the ARIA Awards - has cemented her as a leader in PR, talent management and media relations. With a sharp focus on sponsorships, stakeholder engagement and audience growth, Kylie is dedicated to championing music publishers and strengthening the wider industry. 

AMPAL CEO, Damian Rinaldi said of the appointment:  

“We feel incredibly fortunate to have someone of Kylie’s remarkable pedigree ready to energise AMPAL. Many in the Australasian music community will have seen Kylie’s extraordinary work ethic during her label years with EMI/Virgin, Festival Mushroom, and Warner Music, and we look forward to Kylie now having the same impact for the music publishing industry.  Kudos also to Music Australia, whose Core Contribution Funding is a game-changer for organisations like AMPAL as they go to the next level for their constituents.” 

Kylie Martin, AMPAL Communications & Development Officer said:  

“After 30 years working in the Australian music industry across Comms, Events and Management, the opportunity to join the superstars in the music publishing arena has finally become a reality with the planets aligning to join the small but mighty team at AMPAL. Huge thanks to the legends at Music Australia for making this dream role a reality!” 

AMPAL is assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia. 

Charley wins prestigious AMPAL Unpublished Australasian Songwriter Award ... for the second year running!

Who says lightning never strikes twice?! London-based Australian singer-songwriter Charley has taken out the 2024 Unpublished Australasian Songwriter Award, having also won it in 2023. This time, Charley emerged victorious with her song Timebomb, co-written with Anton Engdahl (SE) and Kristin Carpenter (SE), and produced by Anton Engdahl.

On winning this Award (also known colloquially as “the AMPAL Prize”) for the second year running, Charley said, "Winning this award again feels surreal. Timebomb captured the heartache of long-distance love, and knowing it resonates with so many means the world to me. This recognition makes pursuing music a little easier - it’s not easy, especially early on. Right now, I’m in London writing my debut album, and I can’t wait to share it with you."

“Australian and New Zealand songwriters are the lifeblood of AMPAL publisher members, who work tirelessly to sign, nurture and advance the careers of songwriters from this incredibly vibrant part of the world”, said Damian Rinaldi, Chief Executive Officer of AMPAL, on sponsoring the award. “AMPAL is pleased to sponsor the Unpublished Australasian Songwriter Award, which creates a fantastic platform for talented unsigned songwriters who are primed to rise to the next level of their professional songwriting careers.”

As winner of the AMPAL Prize, Charley receives $5,000 proudly presented by AMPAL, as well as a Gibson Guitars Ebony Les Paul Special Tribute (valued at $2,999) with thanks to Australis.

The AMPAL Prize forms part of the prestigious Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, which has once again celebrated some of the world’s most exceptional songwriting talent, with over 3,500 entries from 52 countries. A total of AU$85,000 has been awarded across 15 prizes, with entry fees supporting Noro Music Therapy, an organisation dedicated to transforming lives through music.

Belinda Leonard, CEO of Noro Music Therapy said: “The incredible talent showcased in this year's Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition has done more than impress – it has directly funded vital music therapy services for thousands in need. Noro's programs serve 2,500 weekly clients of all ages – from young children to centenarians – improving clinical outcomes and community engagement. A huge thanks to all the songwriters, sponsors and supporters for making these vital services accessible."

Since its inception, the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition has raised over AU$2million in support of Noro Music Therapy.