13/08/2024
What many of you will know from my presence here on socials, is that I'm really big on community. Celebrating it. Building it. Being a part of it. Watching people support each other and elevate each other. "A rising tide lifts all boats" etc.
What many will also know is that I'm into year 4 of my time as a CMAA - Country Music Association of Australia Board Member. This not for profit, unpaid, group of people work tirelessly behind the scenes, agitating and planning and pushing to try to make our Australian Country music industry thrive and grow and be celebrated.
Over the last few years, I've been vocal within the board, and found a kinship among board members, to find more ways to add value to membership of the CMAA. And this week, a major initiative has been announced. The CMAA Affiliate Program has gone live. The idea behind it is to ultimately have a whole range of services available at the website below. Kinda like a 'country music service database'. These services are also offering small value adds and discounts for CMAA members.
We already have a broad range of guitar repairers, publicists, video makers, recording services, radio pluggers, photography, singing and guitar teachers listed, with the list growing every day.
If you are a CMAA member, check your emails for the nuts and bolts of how it works. It's pretty simple... approach one of the listed services, give them your active CMAA membership number and the service will apply their discount/offer to what they charge.
If you're not a member, you may want to do the maths on the economics of becoming one. A small investment in your membership will save you much bigger money in the things you need to do.
AND, if you're a service that charges money for a country music artist's need, please consider getting in touch with the CMAA and becoming part of the program? Hair and makeup? Travel? Session musicians? Graphic design? The list goes on! We're not asking service providers to give up much.. just a little to help elevate and support our artists.
This may seem like a small thing, but to us, we believe it's a massive step in bringing our community closer together. Providing a central place where new and established artists can peruse the services out there in the community. And trying to make it easy for us all to create and grow.
I'm pretty proud of our board members, in general, but in particular over the last 4 years I've been a part of it. It tends to be a thankless role at times, but this is a good initiative for our whole community. And we have other great things to support our members to announce really soon.
Thanks for reading. Check out the link below.
https://www.country.com.au/membership/affiliates
