A diary from Bush Bands 2026
We, Jo Perjanik (Director of Business Transformation) and Blair Nixon (Deputy Chief Financial Officer), flew out to get involved in Bush Bands in the Northern Territory, a music industry initiative hosted by MusicNT. Now in its 22nd year, the 2026 Bush Bands program brought together 11 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from remote communities across Australia – Tiwi Islands, Yarralin Community and Gunyaŋara, Galiwin'ku and Northeast Arnhem Land, NT, Mirlirrtjarra/Warburton Community, WA and Amata Community in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, SA - for five days of talent development, career support and mentoring with industry professionals. Our role was to meet the artists, learn about their story, their challenges and opportunities and take this back to APRA AMCOS to help improve the products and services we deliver to our members living in remote communities.
The week started with Bush Bands Business at Ross River Resort located in the East MacDonnell Ranges on Arrernte Country, an idyllic location in a valley surrounded by luscious bushlands, rolling mountain ranges and ancient rock formations with the very dry but peaceful Ross River running through the middle. During three days of Bush Bands Business, the artists took part in mentoring, rehearsing, as well as vocal and instrument coaching. Mentoring focussed on music management, public relations, copyright and royalties, legal and contracts and music in community.
We were joined by the hugely impressive trio of Georgia Ginnivan (Marketing Executive), Phillip Eaton (Writer Representative, NT) and Hannah Karkkainen (Strategic Planning Lead). Georgia worked with the artists on public relations including establishing their biographies and organising their social media accounts. Phillip and Hannah educated the performers on APRA and AMCOS membership and explained the importance of registering their songs and submitting live performance returns after each gig. 14 applications for membership were received over the three days, with 52 new musical works registered.
We also got to spend time with Warren H Williams, a stalwart of the music industry, advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and community, and an advisor to Alyelhentye Nawu and APRA AMCOS. What an honour to meet and learn from a legend we had heard so much about. Warren shared some of his knowledge around communal ownership in music and ATSI Intellectual Property. We wish we had more time to learn more from Warren and soak up more of his cheeky sense of humour.
The last night of Bush Bands Business was a full-dress rehearsal where we got to see all 11 acts deliver their final product. Watching these incredibly talented artists perform up close, surrounded only by their peers and mentors in such stunning surrounds, was completely breathtaking. We feel absolutely privileged to be included in this program and witness first-hand these artists from across Australia telling their story through music and dance, including singing in language, highlighting a vibrant and growing bush bands industry.
After three full days of Bush Bands Business it was back to Telegraph Station in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) for sound check and a smoking ceremony before Bush Bands Bash was open to the public. People travelled far and wide - we met family of one of the bands that had travelled six hours from Amata Community - to come and see all the artists perform their songs. We knew from the three days of rehearsals that they were in for a special treat. 11 acts starting with Alice Kings, a young Arrernte trio, two female solo artists from the Desert Diva’s program, one solo rapper, two duos and five bands from across various countries performed into the night to a very appreciative crowd.
Bush Bands Bash was an epic line up of musical talent from across many remote communities and put on by the incredible team at MusicNT. A massive shout out to Zoe Curren (Program Coordinator) and Mark Smith (Executive Director) and the rest of the MusicNT team for running such a professional event and making us all feel welcome and supported. Bush Bands 2026 was an unforgettable experience which has left us with new friends, new experiences to share and lots of ideas to take back and consider how APRA AMCOS can further support these artists and the vibrant bush band community.
You can watch the full show on MusicNT’s YouTube.
Check out some of the bands and artists we saw:
Philip Eaton and Blair Nixon at the APRA AMCOS workshops
Vocal warmups
See you next time!
