Community Music Victoria

What Community Music Victoria does

Community Music Victoria (CMVic) is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization operating as the recognized peak body for community music in Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1994 and incorporated in 2013, the organization supports and promotes community music making across the state, serving music group leaders, choir directors, music professionals, music participants, schools in underserved areas, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. CMVic curates a network of over 1,000 community music groups and runs inclusive programs including Growing Community Music (GCM) with regional hubs in Mildura/Sunraysia/Mallee and Inner Western Victoria, the Dream Big Youth Music Festival (a preventative mental health initiative originated by the Royal Children's Hospital), Make Music Day, and the Choir-Leader-Choir leader wellbeing initiative.

CMVic's core technology is a WordPress-based website platform (cmvic.org.au) that provides a searchable directory of community music groups and choirs, a What's On events calendar, an online store for songbooks and merchandise, member-only resource libraries, and downloadable music scores. Content distribution channels include the Shout! monthly eNewsletter (2,000+ readers), a separate WordPress blog, Instagram, and in-person events at venues such as Ashburton Community Centre, Box Hill Community Arts Centre, and the School of Loving Music in North Melbourne. There is no mobile app, public API, or disclosed third-party integrations.

The revenue model blends five streams: (1) annual and multi-year membership subscriptions (A$48/year regular or A$24/year concession; three-year options at A$130/A$65) that unlock 20% event/merchandise discounts and resource access; (2) tax-deductible donations including matched-donation campaigns; (3) event revenue from festivals and masterclasses (e.g., Boroondara Uke Festival 2026 priced at A$35–A$75); (4) merchandise sales; and (5) government and trust grants from the City of Melbourne, Creative Victoria, the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, and The Re Ross Trust. The organization operates with a lean staff of five employees and is governed as an independent membership-based non-profit with no parent company or external equity holders.

Name

Community Music Victoria

Legal name

Community Music Victoria

Website

https://cmvic.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Community Music Victoria is a not-for-profit membership organization that supports community music making across Victoria, Australia through a searchable directory of 1,000+ groups, festivals, training programs, and inclusive initiatives serving music leaders, participants, schools, and CALD communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Music Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building) (BPAGAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Community Music & Dance Festivals (Non-Commercial/Local) (MPAGAEAH)

Keywords

• Community music programs
• Arts membership services
• Choir leader resources
• Community music groups
• Music education outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual and multi-year membership subscriptions providing access to resources, group listings, event discounts, and member-only content. Membership tiers include regular ($48/year) and concession ($24/year) options.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting community music programs, including the Dream Big Youth Music Festival and general operations.
3. Event Revenue: Fees from workshops, music camps, festivals (Boroondara Uke Festival, Big Cosy Sing), and masterclasses offered to the community.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of songbooks and CMVic merchandise through the online store, with 20% discount for members.
5. Government Grants: Funding support from Victorian Government, City of Melbourne, Creative Victoria, and trust foundations (Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, The Re Ross Trust).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community Music Victoria operates a membership-based community music support network, providing a searchable online directory of 1,000+ community music groups across Victoria, Australia. It delivers programs and events including the Growing Community Music initiative, the Dream Big Youth Music Festival, Make Music Day, the Choir-Leader-Choir initiative, and the annual Boroondara Uke Festival. Members receive access to downloadable music resources, scores, group profile management tools, and event discounts.

Product overview

Community Music Victoria (CMVic) operates as a membership-based not-for-profit organization that provides a comprehensive ecosystem of programs, resources, and events supporting community music making throughout Victoria. The core offerings include the Growing Community Music (GCM) initiative with regional programs, the Dream Big Youth Music Festival mental health program, Make Music Day celebrations, and the Choir-Leader-Choir support initiative. CMVic also operates a Groups Directory (searchable database of music groups), an Online Store for merchandise and songbooks, publishes the Shout! eNewsletter and CMVic Blog, and maintains a What's On Events Calendar. The membership program provides access to resources, discounts, and group profile management tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CMVic Membership
• Growing Community Music (GCM) Program
• Dream Big Youth Music Festival
• Make Music Day
• Choir-Leader-Choir
• Boroondara Uke Festival (BUF)
• Big Cosy Sing
• CMVic Online Store

Quantifiable outcome

• GCM2 project engaged 12,000+ participants including 7,500+ in regional areas and 3,200+ from CALD backgrounds
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Royal Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dream Big Youth Music Festival was originally developed by the Royal Children's Hospital as a preventative mental health program. CMVic is continuing this vital program.
• APRA AMCOSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMVic provides resources for community music groups regarding APRA AMCOS licensing and permissions for music use.
• Arts Centre MelbourneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts Centre Melbourne's Australian Music Vault Choir Project offers arrangements of Australian music for school and community choirs, with CMVic facilitating access for its members.
• Statewide Vision Resource CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteers at the Statewide Vision Resource Centre produced a Braille version of the 'Just Sing Rounds' songbook, making it accessible for visually impaired singers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Community Music Center of San Francisco: Community Music Center of San Francisco is a community music school offering classes, ensembles, and performance opportunities in the Bay Area. It is comparable to CMVic as a long-standing community-music organization providing participatory music-making.

Emerging players

• Sistema Scotland: Sistema Scotland runs community music programs for children in disadvantaged areas, with an emphasis on wellbeing and inclusion. It parallels CMVic's Dream Big program, which uses music for mental health outcomes in underserved schools.
• Music Generation (Ireland): Music Generation is Ireland's national music education programme creating local music hubs for children and young people. It is comparable as a community-music-making program with regional hubs, similar to CMVic's GCM regional programs.

Direct peers

• Live Music Australia: Live Music Australia is a national peak body advocating for live music venues, musicians, and audiences. It is comparable to CMVic as a membership-based music advocacy and capacity-building organization.
• Music Victoria: Music Victoria is the state peak body for the contemporary music industry in Victoria, providing advocacy, resources, and member services. It is the closest direct peer to CMVic as another Victorian state-level music peak body.
• Music NSW: Music NSW is the state peak body for contemporary music in New South Wales, offering resources, advocacy, and member services for musicians and the music industry. It mirrors CMVic's role at the state level.
• The Boite: The Boite is a Melbourne-based community music organization supporting multicultural and community choirs and ensembles. It is directly comparable to CMVic in facilitating community music participation.

Broad incumbents

• Regional Arts Victoria: Regional Arts Victoria supports arts and cultural activity across regional Victoria, including community-based programming. It overlaps with CMVic's regional GCM2 work in regional areas of Victoria.
• Victorian Music Teachers' Association: VMTA is a Victoria-based membership association supporting music teachers and music education. It overlaps with CMVic's educational and resource support role for music leaders.
• Australia Council for the Arts: The Australia Council is the Australian Government's arts funding and advisory body. It is comparable as a funder and capacity-builder in the Australian arts ecosystem, in which CMVic operates and receives grants.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/cmvic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-music-victoria

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Music Victoria