Music Australia has co-invested $1.77 million with Australian record labels to support the manufacturing and development of new recordings, digital content, marketing campaigns, and artist development initiatives.
The funding, awarded through the Record Label Development Scheme and the inaugural Marketing & Manufacturing Grants, aims to strengthen the production and promotion of Australian recorded music.
In a news release, Music Australia said the investment will assist 36 record labels, covering costs related to professional recordings, artwork, marketing, promotional campaigns, production, manufacturing, and freight.
Music Australia is also encouraging environmentally sustainable manufacturing practices, offering reimbursement for labels that follow Green Music Australia’s guidelines for physical music products.
Eligible labels can receive up to $5,000 for sustainable production under the Record Label Development Scheme and $2,000 under the Marketing & Manufacturing Grants.
A mandatory 10 per cent artist creation fee will be added to the Record Label Development Scheme grants to support creative contributions from recording artists, including recording activities and video production.
First launched in 2024, the Record Label Development Scheme recognises the crucial role of labels in discovering and promoting Australian talent. Following industry consultation, the program returned in 2025 alongside the Marketing & Manufacturing Grants, which provide smaller labels with targeted support for marketing, promotion, and physical product manufacturing.
“Together, the Record Label Development Scheme and Marketing & Manufacturing Grants will ensure Australian labels can continue to compete effectively, support their artists, and contribute to a thriving music ecosystem in Australia,” Music Australia said in a statement.
The 2026 recipients of the Record Label Development Scheme include Blossom Rot, Bodega Collective, Butter Sessions, Central Station Records, Civilians, Earshift Music, Forever Ever Records, Gallery Recordings, Hopestreet Recordings, Medium Rare Recordings, Mushroom Music, New Levels, NLV Records, One Day Recordings, OURNESS, Psychedelic Salad Records, Red Rebel Music, Sweat It Out, TMRW Music, UNIFIED, and Wonderlick.
Marketing & Manufacturing Grants recipients include Cheatin’ Hearts Records, Dune Castle Records, Efficient Space, Elations Recordings, Feral Media, Flaming Heart Recordings, Hy-Lo Creative Studios, Impressed Recordings, Keeper Recordings, Low Key Source, Music in Exile, Oomycota, Pure Space, TRACKWORK, Transmitter Records, Wantok Musik Foundation, and Wild Thing Records.
Music Australia operates under the Australian Government’s National Cultural Policy, Revive, as a dedicated body within Creative Australia, supporting investment in the contemporary music industry.
