We are proud to announce Lorrae McKenna of Our Golden Friend as this year's recipient of The Lighthouse Award. Established in memory of Linda Gebar, The Lighthouse Award grants $5,000 to a Victoria-based female music manager or self-managed artist who exhibits passion, creativity and integrity.
Lorrae joins a list of highly accomplished previous honourees including Charlotte Abroms, Jen Cloher, Bonnie Dalton, Bernadette Ryan, and 2018's recipient Sabrina Robertson.
Since founding the Melbourne-based artist management company Our Golden Friend in 2015, Lorrae has helped guide the careers of artists including Jade Imagine, Jess Riberio, Poppongene, RVG and Elizabeth. In 2017, McKenna expanded Our Golden Friend with the announcement of a joint venture deal with Island Records and Universal Music Australia.
With 14 years experience in the local music industry in previous roles across media, record labels and artist management, Lorrae said: "I feel completely overwhelmed with emotion to receive this award. Not only because of the financial impact that the grant's funds will have on the trajectory of my career, and the career of the artists that I manage, but mainly because of the award’s connection to Linda and everything she stood for within the music industry."
"I feel particularly lucky to have found myself in Melbourne and to be a part of the incredibly rich and diverse music community that we have in this city, I have learned and gained so much from the artists and musicians in this town and feel incredibly lucky to work with and alongside such an amazing roster of talented creatives everyday."
"Lorrae is tireless in her pursuit for equal representation and inclusion (in all its forms), passionate beyond hours in the day for the acts she represents, and endlessly generous with her time to help and support others. We as a music industry are better for her being in it," commented independent artist, CHANGES programmer, and Lighthouse Award judge Emily Ulman.
Linda Gebar died tragically in October 2008 soon after the birth of her second child. She was one of the few female managers in the 90s, and worked with The Killjoys, Frente and The Blackeyed Susans. She also booked the Punters Club, worked at PBS FM, had a record label and worked at APRA AMCOS.
Linda was a truly passionate believer in local music and the community that surrounded it, and was a mentor and colleague to many. This memorial award exists to continue Linda’s work, and support a forward-thinking manager who is dedicated to Australian music.
The Lighthouse Award represents APRA AMCOS’ commitment to addressing the gender imbalance within the music industry and encouraging women to pursue a career in music.