Looking to take your songwriting or production career to the next level? APRA AMCOS’s 23% mentorship is back, with 14 spots open to women and gender-diverse members across all genres.
Since launching in 2018, APRA AMCOS’ 23% Mentorship Programme—a dedicated initiative for women and gender-diverse music creators — has been a steady companion for emerging songwriters and producers at defining moments in their careers. More than just guidance, it’s become a space for connection, confidence, and career-shaping conversations.
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To date, the programme has supported 84 talented musicians, including Angeline Armstrong (Telenova), Annie Hamilton, BVT, CLEWS, dameeeela, Eliza Hull, Issy Grist (GRID), Sophie McComish (Body Type), and Victoria Pham. On the mentor side, the roster features some of the industry’s most respected figures — Claire Collins, Imogen Clark, Kristy Lee Peters (KLP), Nat Dunn, and Ngaiire, to name a few.
For Issy Grist (aka GRID), who joined the 2024 round with KLP as her mentor, the experience was a game-changer.
“Being selected for the programme was an amazing confidence boost for me,” says GRID.
“I feel like I have achieved so much in the past few months, and I don’t think it would have all been possible without Kristy’s initial guidance and encouragement.”
Following the success of previous seasons, APRA AMCOS is officially opening applications for the 2025 edition with 14 spots available for women and gender-diverse members — across all musical styles — with each mentee matched to a mentor based on their goals, priorities, and where they’re at in their career journey. Each participant also receives $3,000 to support a project, cover travel, or invest in creative growth.
The programme’s name, 23%, reflects the percentage of APRA AMCOS members who identified as women or gender diverse at the time it launched. It’s one part of a broader commitment to equity, including a 40/40/20 policy to ensure at least 40% representation of women across all organisational programmes and judging panels.
“We are committed to implementing the 40/40/20 recommendation from the Raising Their Voices report across all of our programmes and hope that mentorships like 23% are just one small step in the right direction to achieve gender parity in our industry through an investment in talent, career guidance, network building, pairing mentors and mentees in a meaningful way to create lasting relationships, and more sustainable careers in music,” says Karen Don, Head of Membership at APRA AMCOS.
Dean Ormston, APRA AMCOS CEO, echoes that commitment: “As an employer, member-based organisation, and leader within the music industry, we take this very seriously and believe that the investment in programmes like 23% will help drive the change we all want to see.”
Applications are open now through Saturday, 10 May. For more info or to apply, head to apraamcos.com.au/mentorships. For more info or to apply, head to apraamcos.com.au/mentorships.
