Association of Artist Managers

What Association of Artist Managers does

The Association of Artist Managers (AAM) Australia is the recognized peak body for professional music artist managers in Australia, operating as a not-for-profit membership organization founded in 2007. It serves a 400+ member base of managers collectively representing more than 1,250 Australian artists and songwriters globally, including acts such as Tones & I, Tame Impala, Paul Kelly, and Tash Sultana. The organization is governed by an 11-member Board and operates with a lean paid staff of approximately three led by Executive Director Maggie Collins, supported by volunteer patrons and program partners.

AAM's product and service portfolio is structured around a tiered membership program (Associate at $99, General at $330, Executive at $550 per year) and a layered suite of professional development, export, mental health, and advocacy programs. Flagship programs include the Co-Pilot mentorship (in partnership with Spotify), the Placements paid internship (supported by Sound NSW), MAICC international conference funding (up to $5,000 AUD per manager), Warner First Nations Mentorship, Gimme Shelter mental health support (with Support Act), and the annual AAM Awards. Member-facing infrastructure runs on the Wild Apricot membership management platform, delivering a members-only portal, WhatsApp and Facebook groups, monthly virtual drop-ins, and quarterly briefings.

The business model combines recurring membership dues with core and project funding from Music Australia, Sound NSW, APRA AMCOS, and PPCA, supplemented by sponsor and partner contributions from Spotify, Frontier Touring, White Sky, DMT Law Firm, The Orchard, and others. Distribution is community-led and event-driven: members are recruited via the website, approved by the Board, and engaged through BIGSOUND, SXSW, The Great Escape, and regional in-person activities. AAM monetizes its position as the industry's peak body through advocacy-driven policy influence (e.g., Michael's Rule adopted by the NSW Government in 2025), grant administration, and member benefits partnerships rather than transactional revenue.

Name

Association of Artist Managers

Legal name

Association of Artist Managers (AAM) Australia

Website

https://aam.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Association of Artist Managers (AAM) Australia is the national peak body and not-for-profit membership organization serving more than 400 professional music artist managers, who collectively represent over 1,250 Australian artists globally through advocacy, professional development, grant administration, and community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Industry Association Services

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (71141), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (711410), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Artist Management (MPAIAGAA)

Keywords

• Artist management advocacy
• Music industry membership
• Professional development programs
• Music manager networking
• Industry policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Australia

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Primary revenue stream from membership fees at three tiers: Associate ($99/year), General ($330/year), and Executive ($550/year by invitation). Annual renewal on date of first joining.
2. Core Funding: Core funding from Music Australia, Sound NSW, APRA AMCOS, and PPCA to support organizational operations and programs.
3. Project Funding: Project-specific funding for programs such as Co-Pilot (in partnership with Spotify), Placements (supported by Sound NSW), and MAICC (Music Australia International Conference Contribution).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Association of Artist Managers (AAM) is a not-for-profit peak body for professional artist managers in Australia. It sells tiered annual memberships (Associate, General, Executive) and delivers professional development programs, advocacy, grant administration, networking events, and resources to support artist managers and the artists they represent.

Product overview

The Association of Artist Managers (AAM) is a not-for-profit membership organization serving as Australia's peak body for artist managers. The organization offers a tiered membership program (Associate, General, Executive) providing peer support, advocacy, and professional resources. Its core service portfolio includes multiple professional development programs such as Co-Pilot (in partnership with Spotify), Placements internship, MAICC international conference funding, First Nations Mentorship, and mental health support through Gimme Shelter. The AAM also delivers regular member engagement through virtual drop-ins, quarterly briefings, and IRL activities including the annual AAM Awards. The organization provides advocacy services for policy reform and administers grant funding in partnership with government bodies. A members-only portal on Wild Apricot provides access to resources, recorded content, and networking communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AAM Membership Program
• Co-Pilot Mentorship Program
• Placements Program
• MAICC (Music Australia International Conference Contribution)
• Warner First Nations Mentorship
• Gimme Shelter
• AAM Awards
• Members Portal
• Advocacy Services
• Grant Administration
• BOOST Program
• Music Passport

Quantifiable outcome

• 47 managers funded to attend international conferences in 2025 alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major, key, program, strategic and member benefit.

• SpotifyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Spotify to deliver Co-Pilot, AAM's flagship mentoring program designed to strengthen the management sector and promote sustainable career growth for the next generation of artist managers.
• International Music Managers Forum (IMMF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAM is a current member of IMMF, providing international networks, problem-solving, and advocacy connections for Australian managers globally.
• European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAM is an affiliate of EMMA, connecting Australian managers with European counterparts for networking, problem-solving, and advocacy.
• White SkymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of AAM Awards and Manager of the Year category. Australia's leading music business managers providing specialized accounting and financial services. Staff member Tom Harris serves as AAM Treasurer.
• DMT Law FirmkeyGTM or Marketing PartnerBreakthrough Manager of the Year sponsor. Los Angeles-based music immigration boutique filing O-1B and O-2 petitions for artists, crew, and management.
• Frontier TouringkeyGTM or Marketing PartnerLegacy Award sponsor. One of the most respected concert promoters in Australasia, founded 1979 by Michael Gudinski.
• The OrchardkeyGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Engagement Award sponsor. Music distribution company empowering creators to grow in the global industry.
• Support ActprogramStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity established by the music industry to provide a safety net for artists and music workers in crisis. Partnered with AAM on Gimme Shelter mental health program.
• MMF UK (Music Managers Forum UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Manager Buddies initiative and joint breakfast events at The Great Escape. International manager networking program.
• MMF CanadaprogramStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Manager Buddies initiative for international manager connections at major conferences.
• MMF AotearoaprogramStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Manager Buddies initiative connecting Australian managers with New Zealand counterparts.
• Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO)programStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched BOOST program with AAM to financially support Victorian managers attending SXSW, The Great Escape, or BIGSOUND with showcasing artists.
• Warner Music AustraliaprogramStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Warner First Nations Mentorship program supporting Indigenous artist managers through mentorship, workshops, and networking since 2014.
• Compton SchoolprogramStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivered the Revive professional development program in 2022, working alongside AAM to develop program format and materials for mid-to-established managers.
• ARIAstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ARIA on 'ARIA Collab' and co-hosted ARIA Talks and ARIA Innovator events. AAM contributes to ARIA's Hip Hop & RnB Advisory Group.
• Virgin Australia Business Flyermember benefitGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership launched 2025 providing AAM members who are ABN holders with 2x Gold Pilot memberships without the usual $2k minimum spend requirement.
• Vibe LabprogramImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnered with Vibe Lab in developing the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan using their interactive and collaborative process, previously experienced through Vote Music campaign.
• Vote Music Campaign Partners (19 national music organisations)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of leading music organisations that developed joint policy statement for the 2025 federal election, resulting in unprecedented engagement with politicians.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Featured Artists Coalition (FAC): UK-based trade body representing artists and creators, with a mission overlap to AAM in advocating for talent-side interests. While it represents artists directly rather than managers, it competes for the same policy influence and partnership attention from collecting societies and government.

Others

• Music Australia: Australian Government's national music development agency and one of AAM's core funding partners. Shares a remit to grow and professionalize the Australian music sector, and collaborates with AAM on the MAICC international conference contribution program.
• APRA AMCOS: Australasian performing rights and mechanical copyright collecting society that is also AAM's largest core funding partner. Not a peer in a competitive sense but a closely linked ecosystem participant whose funding decisions directly shape AAM's sustainability.

Direct peers

• International Music Managers Forum (IMMF): Global federation of national music manager bodies of which AAM is a current member. IMMF coordinates international advocacy, problem-solving, and convening across member organizations, making it the parent/peer network for AAM's international activities.
• Music Victoria: Australian state-level industry body for the contemporary music sector, which AAM collaborates with through the BOOST program. While broader in scope (entire music ecosystem rather than just managers), it is a comparable trade/advocacy body in the same Australian market.
• MMF Aotearoa (Music Managers Forum New Zealand): New Zealand's national body for music artist managers, partnered with AAM on Manager Buddies and joint international activities. Comparable structure: small staff, member-funded, focused on advocacy and professional development in a single national market.
• MMF Canada (Music Managers Forum Canada): Canada's national trade body for artist managers, partnered with AAM in the Manager Buddies program. Like AAM, it represents professional artist managers through advocacy, education, and peer networking within a single national territory.
• Music Managers Forum UK (MMF UK): The UK's national trade body for artist managers, MMF UK is AAM's closest international counterpart and an active partner on the Manager Buddies initiative. It serves the same advocacy, professional development, and community function for UK managers that AAM serves for Australian managers.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Music Centre: Australia's national service organization for jazz, classical, and contemporary art music. Shares a peak-body function with AAM and is led by Cath Haridy, AAM board member and former AAM Executive Director, providing deep governance overlap.

Regional players

• European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA): Alliance representing European music manager organizations, of which AAM is an affiliate. Comparable mission (advocacy, networking, professional development) but operating at a regional rather than national level across Europe.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ausaam
• Facebookfacebook.com/associationofartistmanagersaustralia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-of-artist-managers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Association of Artist Managers