Contemporary Music Development Grants FAQs

Artist refers to any musician, performer or producer who is recording or performing new and original contemporary music.

Act refers to two or more artists working together to record or perform new and original contemporary music (eg a band or group).

Industry professional refers to an individual working in contemporary music. This includes managers, producers, programmers, presenters, venue owners, technical support, label staff, publishers, publicists, journalists, radio hosts, content creators, as well as staff in music businesses and organisations. 

Music business refers to a business that works with artists and acts performing new and original contemporary music.

If you don’t want to manage the funding yourself, you can engage an external organisation to do it for you. A funds administrator or auspice is a body/third party (such as a manager, label or organisation) that can receive and administer funds on your behalf. You may be asked for a fee for this service, and it is recommended that you include that fee in your activity budget.

Regional NSW is defined as the areas outside Greater Sydney. 

Sound NSW defines Greater Sydney as including the local government areas of the Northern Beaches and Hornsby Shire to the North, Hawkesbury City to the North-West,  City of Blue Mountains to the West, Wollondilly Shire to the South-West and Sutherland Shire to the South.

Western Sydney encompasses the thirteen local government areas: 

• Blacktown City 
• Blue Mountains City 
• Camden Council
• Campbelltown City
• The City of Canterbury Bankstown
• Cumberland Council
• Fairfield City
• Hawkesbury City 
• Liverpool City
• The City of Parramatta
• Penrith City
• The Hills Shire 
• Wollondilly Shire

Artists, acts, industry professionals and organisations with a primary focus in the below artforms are not supported through Sound NSW:

• experimental music and sound art
• contemporary classical, opera, choral and ensembles
• music theatre
• working in and with community music groups.

These applicants should refer to Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP) guidelines. 

Grants may be considered part of your income and may be subject to tax. You must determine your own taxation responsibilities.

We suggest you consult your financial adviser or contact the Australian Taxation Office on 13 28 66.

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring artists are paid fairly for live performance. If you are employing artists to perform live as any part of your grant, Sound NSW expects all artists to receive a $250 minimum payment for each artist. You can read more about this minimum fee for government funded shows at Musicians Australia.

No. You are limited to one application per round.

At least 50% of the members need to currently live in NSW (for a minimum of 12 months) to be eligible to apply.

We can't cover costs for activity that has occurred before the 12 May 2025. But you could apply for costs and parts of the project happening after 12 May. 

Yes. You can apply for promotional costs as a stand alone activity. Sound NSW won't be able to retrospectively fund the recording costs. 

There are no set requirements about how much of the activity needs to take place in NSW, but we are interested in seeing funding support the broader music sector in NSW and encourage you to consider this in your planning.

If you are recording outside NSW, or using industry professionals outside NSW, please note in your application why they are essential to the project.

Previously recorded music that is publicly available, including online platforms like Spotify, Youtube, Bandcamp, Soundcloud. Live videos published online do not count.

As long as you can demonstrate a track record of recording and releasing music, even if under a different name, you will be eligible. 

Yes. You should allocate yourself a producer fee in the budget.

Yes, funding can cover a fee for songwriting and creative development. 

No. Touring activity should come through the Touring and Travel Fund.

We can only fund the purchase of equipment through the First Nations Creative and Professional Development Grants, up to a maximum of $5,000.

Yes.

The grant is for supporting new and original recordings, so the focus of the recording project would need to be songs you have written or had written for you.

You are limited to one application per round. If successful, you cannot apply in the next available Contemporary Music Development Grants funding round.

Sound NSW may consider supporting additional applications from organisations delivering significant benefit to the NSW music industry. Please speak to Sound NSW staff for further advice. 

No. This program won't support costs towards concerts, festivals and live music events. 

We can only fund the purchase of equipment through the First Nations Industry Development Grants, up to a maximum of $20,000.

Eligibility for the First Nations Industry Development Grants is restricted to First Nations led organisations, with a governing body that is majority First Nations people.

You should apply to Industry Development Grants. We also encourage you to provide letters of support from the community you are working with.