Sounds Australia
SYDNEY, Australia — Sounds Australia stalwart Esti Zilber will take the reins at the national music export body, succeeding Millie Millgate as executive producer.
With effect from Monday, Nov. 20, Zilber, currently creative producer, will lead a team that includes Glenn Dickie (export music producer), Dom Alessio (digital export producer) and Larry Heath (associate producer).
“Esti has been such an integral part of the growth of Sounds Australia over the last 13 years,” comments Millgate, who leaves the organization to lead Music Australia as its inaugural director, “and I’m truly excited for the future of the program knowing what a compassionate and formidable leader she will be. Sounds Australia is in extremely safe hands.”
Joining Sounds Australia in 2010, Zilber has played a key role in developing and delivering Sounds Australia’s program around the world. “Her work with inbound buyers across Australia’s domestic music conferences has seen thousands of invaluable connections made between international industry and local artists and managers,” reads a statement announcing her promotion.
During the peak-pandemic years of 2021 and 2022, Zilber managed Sounds Australia’s Export Stimulus Program, which saw $1.2 million distributed, across three rounds, to over 320 Australian artists, crew and music professionals. That financial support was used to realize “significant career-defining moments” in global markets and earn much needed income after 18 months of cancelled work due to the impacts of the pandemic.
Prior to working at Sounds Australia, she was the executive assistant to legendary concert promoter Michael Chugg and managed the offices of Chugg Entertainment and, before that, worked in book publishing in New York and was the executive producer arts and culture at FBi Radio, the Sydney community radio station.
Sounds Australia will next year celebrate its 15th anniversary. Since its launch in 2009, Sounds Australia has managed the presentation of over 2,200 Australian artists on global show stages, covering 86 different international events, in 75 cities, across 26 countries. Its presence can be felt at the Aussie BBQ and Australia House at SXSW, and, for its 10th anniversary in 2019, the Central Park SummerStage with Australian artists San Cisco, Hermitude, The Teskey Brothers, WAAX, Tkay Maidza Australian Music Prize winning Indigenous hip-hop act A.B. Original.
Sounds Australia will “imminently” kick start a recruitment process for Zilber’s replacement, reads a statement.
SYDNEY, Australia — Veteran Sounds Australia executive producer Millie Millgate will lead Music Australia as its founding director.
Following a months-long recruitment process, Millgate joins Music Australia, which is established to support and promote the Australian contemporary music industry, with a remit to increase discoverability and develop markets and audiences.
With Millgate at the helm, Music Australia will be expected to invest in and stimulate a vibrant and sustainable music industry ecosystem.
The Music Australia gig is a “once in a generation opportunity,” admits Millgate in a statement, “and I am truly honored, excited, and ready to embrace the challenges and lead the change required to shape and grow a flourishing and sustainable industry.”
Music Australia sits under Creative Australia – formerly the Australia Council for the Arts – and was established under the Creative Australia Act 2023, which was enshrined into law in June.
Through her tireless work leading Sounds Australia, and the countless airmiles clocked up in its mission to build bridges for Australian artists globally, Millgate “is a well-known and highly respected figure in the Australian contemporary music industry,” comments Adrian Collette, CEO of Creative Australia.
Together with the “exceptional skills and experience of the Music Australia Council,” he continues, “we will create a bright future for artists and the music industry in Australia.”
During her nearly-15 years with Sounds Australia, Millgate managed the presentation of over 2,200 Australian artists on global show stages since 2009, covering 86 different international events, in 75 cities, across 26 countries.
Prior to taking the reins at Sounds Australia, Millgate held executive posts with the Association of Artists Managers and as creative director for MusicNSW, and she has served on several boards and committees, and including a current position as director on the board of music industry charity Support Act.
Australia’s music industry warmly welcomed Millgate’s appointment.
Comments ARIA and PPCA CEO Annabelle Herd, “Her storied career and rich experience promoting Australian artists on the global stage through Sounds Australia are exactly what is needed to lead Music Australia toward a focused plan that helps deliver more Australian music to more people, wherever they may be.”
Australia is “already a top 10 music market globally, and we’re growing,” Herd explains. “Our industry can and should operate as an export economy in the same way markets like Sweden and South Korea have already proved possible. We will rally behind Millie in any way we can, and I urge everyone with a vested interest in Australian music to do the same. Her success will be the industry’s success.”
Adds Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS: “I’m so excited for Millie, and for the industry, that she’ll be heading up Music Australia. Millie has big ideas, a big heart, the respect of the industry, and the drive and determination to make big things happen. Millie’s appointment as the inaugural head of the agency is a testament to her dedication and vision over many years.”
Music Australia is an Australian Government initiative of the National Cultural Policy: Revive, launched in January of this year by the prime minister Anthony Albanese.
The Music Australia Council, effectively the Music Australia board, which includes legendary concert promoter Michael Chugg and Future Classics founder and CEO Nathan McLay, gathered Sept. 20 for its first meeting.
The Sounds Australia team salutes its outgoing leader. “It’s been an honor and privilege to work with her, and she’s inspired us every day with her passion, leadership and unwavering belief that Australian artists are truly some of the best in the world,” the industry organization comments. “The future of our industry is bright and we are so excited to see what she will do with Music Australia.”
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