Open Call: Community Radio Music Hubs Grant Program (Australia)

The Community Radio Music Hubs Grant provides up to $50,000 to eligible Australian community radio stations to deliver live music activities that connect local artists with audiences. The program supports stations that already operate as active music hubs and can deliver at least six in-person music events or activities promoting contemporary Australian music.

What Is the Community Radio Music Hubs Grant?

The Community Radio Music Hubs Grant is an initiative of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) and Music Australia designed to strengthen community radio’s role in Australia’s local music ecosystem.

The program supports community radio stations that actively connect artists, audiences, venues, and music communities through live and in-person activities.

Rather than focusing only on radio broadcasting, the grant encourages stations to create physical opportunities for artists and audiences to meet, perform, collaborate, and engage with contemporary Australian music.

What Does the Grant Support?

Funding can support a diverse range of live music activities and events, including:

• Live music showcases
• Studio takeovers
• Record store performances
• Artist interviews
• Pop-up broadcasts
• Other community-based live music activities

Projects should demonstrate how the station will strengthen its role as a local music hub and create meaningful connections between musicians and audiences.

How Much Funding Is Available?

Eligible high-intensity music stations can receive up to $50,000.

Funding can contribute to costs such as:

• Artist fees
• Project coordinator costs
• Venue expenses
• Event production
• Local marketing and promotion
• Content creation
• Outside broadcast equipment
• Relevant licences
• Insurance

Successful applicants must deliver a minimum of six music activities.

Who Is Eligible?

The grant is aimed at Australian community radio stations that are already operating as active music hubs.

Eligible stations should demonstrate:

• Existing involvement in music programming and activities
• A commitment to contemporary Australian music
• Strong connections with local artists and audiences
• Capacity to deliver live, in-person music activities
• A clear plan for strengthening the local music ecosystem

The program is particularly relevant to high-intensity music stations with an established role in supporting music communities.

What Makes a Strong Project?

A strong proposal should clearly demonstrate how the project will bring together different parts of the local music ecosystem.

Applicants should explain how their activities will connect:

• Local musicians
• Emerging and established artists
• Community radio audiences
• Music venues
• Record stores
• Local music organisations
• Broader creative communities

Projects should go beyond simply broadcasting music and demonstrate meaningful community engagement and live participation.

Why the Community Radio Music Hubs Grant Matters

Community radio stations can play an important role in discovering and promoting Australian musicians, particularly artists who may have limited access to mainstream media.

The grant helps stations expand this role by supporting live experiences where artists can directly engage with audiences.

The program can contribute to:

• Greater visibility for Australian artists
• New opportunities for live performance
• Stronger local music networks
• Audience development
• Collaboration between radio and music venues
• Increased community participation in music
• Stronger connections between artists and local audiences

How the Grant Works

Step 1: Confirm Station Eligibility

Check that your community radio station:

1. Operates in Australia.
2. Is actively involved in music.
3. Functions as an established local music hub.
4. Supports contemporary Australian music.
5. Has the capacity to deliver live music activities.

Step 2: Develop a Music Hub Plan

Create a clear plan for at least six music activities.

Consider a combination of events such as:

• Artist showcases
• Live studio sessions
• Pop-up broadcasts
• Venue collaborations
• Record store performances
• Artist interviews and community events

Step 3: Build Local Partnerships

Identify relevant artists, venues, businesses, music organisations, and community partners that can participate.

Strong partnerships can demonstrate that the project will create benefits beyond the radio station itself.

Step 4: Prepare the Budget

Develop a realistic budget covering eligible project expenses.

Potential costs include:

• Artist payments
• Coordination
• Venues
• Production
• Promotion
• Content creation
• Outside broadcast equipment
• Licences and insurance

Step 5: Demonstrate Community Impact

Explain how the proposed activities will benefit the local music community.

Include measurable outcomes where possible, such as the number of:

• Artists supported
• Events delivered
• Audience members reached
• Venues involved
• New partnerships created
• Pieces of promotional or broadcast content produced

Step 6: Submit the Application

Ensure the application clearly connects the proposed activities with the objectives of the Community Radio Music Hubs Grant and demonstrates the station’s existing capacity as a music hub.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Show your existing music activity: Demonstrate that the station is already an active participant in the local music community.
• Plan six or more meaningful activities: Make sure activities are achievable and clearly defined.
• Prioritise Australian music: Explain how contemporary Australian artists will benefit.
• Build partnerships: Include venues, artists, record stores, music organisations, or other relevant community partners.
• Demonstrate audience engagement: Explain how audiences will discover and participate in the activities.
• Provide a realistic budget: Connect each major expense to a specific project activity.
• Measure results: Establish clear outputs and outcomes rather than relying on general statements about community benefit.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Proposing only traditional radio programming without live, in-person activities.
• Failing to meet the minimum requirement of six music activities.
• Providing insufficient evidence that the station already functions as a music hub.
• Focusing on the station alone instead of the wider local music community.
• Failing to explain how Australian artists and audiences will benefit.
• Including costs that are not clearly connected to the proposed activities.
• Providing vague outcomes without measurable indicators.

Key Grant Details

• Grant: Community Radio Music Hubs Grant
• Maximum funding: $50,000
• Country: Australia
• Applicant: Eligible community radio stations
• Focus: Live music and community engagement
• Minimum activities: Six music activities
• Target beneficiaries: Australian artists, audiences, venues, and music communities
• Eligible costs: Artist fees, coordination, venues, production, promotion, content creation, outside broadcast equipment, licences, and insurance
• Priority: High-intensity music stations already operating as active music hubs

Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding can a community radio station receive?

Eligible stations can apply for up to $50,000 to deliver their proposed music hub activities.

How many music activities must be delivered?

Funded high-intensity music stations must deliver a minimum of six music activities.

What types of activities can be supported?

Examples include music showcases, studio takeovers, record store performances, artist interviews, and pop-up broadcasts, along with other live, in-person music activities.

Who can apply for the grant?

The program is intended for Australian community radio stations that are already active music hubs and have a demonstrated commitment to contemporary Australian music.

What expenses can the grant cover?

Funding can support artist fees, project coordination, venues, production, local promotion, content creation, outside broadcast equipment, licences, and insurance, where eligible.

Does the project need to support Australian music?

Yes. Applicants should demonstrate a clear commitment to supporting contemporary Australian music and strengthening connections between local artists and audiences.

Why is the program focused on live music?

The grant aims to expand community radio’s role beyond broadcasting by helping stations create direct, in-person connections between artists, audiences, venues, and the wider music community.

Conclusion

The Community Radio Music Hubs Grant offers up to $50,000 for Australian community radio stations to expand their role as local music hubs. Stations with established music programming, strong community connections, and the capacity to deliver at least six live music activities can use the funding to support artists, engage audiences, build partnerships, and strengthen the contemporary Australian music ecosystem.