The Robert Stigwood Fellowship Program provides mentorship and professional development to local musicians and industry entrepreneurs.
The annual program, named after South Australian expat Robert Stigwood, provides local musicians and industry entrepreneurs with mentoring and personalised professional development from project deliverers Stu MacQueen and Dan Crannitch of Wonderlick (behind some of the industry’s big names including Amy Shark, DMA's and The Paper Kites).
Applications for 2026 Fellowships.
The program offers intensive 12-month mentorship and professional development to South Australian artists and music industry entrepreneurs with the intent to raise the profile of, and build capacity in, the local music industry.
Applications for the 2026 Fellowship are now closed.
Applications for the 2027 Fellowship are due to open in late 2027.
About the Fellowships
Tailored to the needs of participating artists, mentoring may include songwriting, production, business skills, marketing and public relations, and attendance at conferences and high-level industry meetings.
The arrangement is akin to a surrogate record label/management team.
Offers mentoring for emerging South Australian music industry entrepreneurs who are working in music management or other areas of artist representation.
Focus areas include identifying strengths, weaknesses and ambitions for the future.
Each fellow will receive one on-one help developing and achieving a business plan for the following 12 months.
Through the service the fellowship provides to the local music community, Stigwood alumni are well on their way to long and fruitful careers in the industry.
All applications are assessed by an industry formed panel. Successful Artist Fellowship recipients receive up to $25,000 in grants with Industry Fellowship recipients receiving up to $5,000 in grants to use during the mentorship.
Established in 2014, the program has played a significant role in helping South Australian artists develop both creatively and professionally, with many securing recording, publishing and management deals.
Previous Stigwood Fellows include: Tkay Maidza, Electric Fields, Teenage Joans, aleksiah, West Thebarton, Bad Dreems, the Tullamarines and many more.
This program is a key initiative from the South Australian Government’s Music Development Office.
Congratulations to the 2025 Robert Stigwood Fellows
- Divebar Youth – Solo alternative pop
- Ella Ion – Solo alternative folk rock
- Purée – Emotive indie pop
- Swapmeet – Indie punk rock
- Sunsick Daisy – Shoegaze dream pop
- Songbird Society – Inclusive artist mentoring and development agency
