Meet the mentees! Introducing our first cohort of Music Industry Mentoring program participants
Meet the first cohort for 2024
Music Industry Mentoring is a structured workplace learning program for young people in the early stages of their music career.
With support from The Ian Potter Foundation, over the next three years The Push will give 60 young people the opportunity to be placed and mentored in some of Australia’s biggest music companies to develop skills, confidence and networks across a range of streams including event management, technical production, business operations and marketing and promotions.
In the first round, The Push received more than 650 applications from young people across Australia applying to be involved in the program. Nine young people were selected to participate in workplace learning opportunities with Ableton, Live Nation, Moshtix, Secret Sounds, Select Music and Unified Music Group.
Applications for the next round of Music Industry Mentoring will open in April. Make sure to register your interest and be amongst the first to apply for the next round.
Charlotte Poynton
Mentoring Opportunity: Moshtix - Business Operations, Brisbane
Pronouns: She/They
Age: 18
Who are you currently listening to?
Heaps of Hope D, Teen Jesus & the Jean Teasers, G Flip, and a lot more Aus indie queer or female fronted acts!
First live gig?
Tia Gostelow doing an afternoon set in 2019! Followed by three acoustic G Flip sets in one week!
What are you currently doing in music?
Many different things! Reviewing live music and albums for The Live Wire, selling merch at gigs, working and volunteering across festivals and events in Meanjin, and getting around to as many awesome gigs as possible!
What are you looking forward to about the Music Industry Mentoring program?
I am really looking forward to developing an insight into all of the moving parts that contribute to the behind the scenes of the ticketing process, as well as being able to play my part in supporting an event from launch to the opening hour.
Emma Mannix
Mentoring Opportunity: Live Nation - Technical Production (Tour), Nationwide
Pronouns: They/Them
Age: 21
Who are you currently listening to?
Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers
First live gig?
Ed Sheeran X tour
What are you currently doing in music?
Studying audio at uni, my main thing is mixing live music, working with other queer artists, and enjoy a bit of recording every now and then!
What are you looking forward to about the Music Industry Mentoring program?
Learning the roles of a MASSIVE touring team, gaining heaps more skills and knowledge of touring, especially audio on such a large scale, just being on P!NK’s tour with Live Nation and being mentored by Nik Tischler is so wild I still don’t know how to describe anything!!
Emmah Hellings
Mentoring Opportunity: Live Nation - Business Operations (Venues), Melbourne or Sydney
Pronouns: She/Her
Age: 24
Who are you currently listening to?
Top 10 atm and always:
Jamie Lena, Sons of Zöku, Winter McQuinn, Velvet Bloom, Jay Jerome, Spacetime Worms, Ruby Jackson, The Moving Stills, Wild Gloriosa, Pacific Avenue
First live gig?
The Hooley Dooleys? An early memorable one was 2018, The Grogans 'Grogan Grove' Launch. It was my first taste of music community. I only knew a few people there but now when I look back at photos of that gig, many in that room have since become my mates.
What are you currently doing in music?
Trying to keep up with all the stellar local music releases!! Loving improv jamming with mates and lots of songwriting. I've just finished recording backing vocals for Inanna Indigo's upcoming album. I also find moments to freelance at events and festivals.
What are you looking forward to about the Music Industry Mentoring program?
Meeting industry mentors and learning some practicalities behind larger scale event management. Being an advocate for regional music, my aspiration is to start a music business / events platform within Gippsland/GunaiKurnai Country, for local artists and touring musicians. I hope to gain skills to bring this vision to life.
Jade McKentish
Mentoring Opportunity: Unified Music Group - Business Operations, Melbourne
Pronouns: She/They
Age: 21
Who are you currently listening to?
Music I'm listening to at the moment includes some Stella Donnelly, King Krule and Nai Palm.
First live gig?
The first ever gig I went to was Pete Murray when I was six or seven.
What are you currently doing in music?
I perform in two bands and I manage one of them as well.
What are you looking forward to about the Music Industry Mentoring program?
I'm absolutely thrilled to be a part of this opportunity through The Push just to grow my understanding of the music industry and propel myself into a career.
I’m really, really excited!
Jazabel Longworth (Jazz)
Mentoring Opportunity: Live Nation - Event Management (Tour), Nationwide
Pronouns: She/Her
Age: 19
Who are you currently listening to?
Jungle, Genesis Owusu & Kings of Leon
First live gig?
Mumford & Sons @ Qudos Bank Arena
What are you currently doing in music?
I just finished my Bachelor of Entertainment Business Management and am now exploring career options in Live Music.
What are you looking forward to about the Music Industry Mentoring program?
I am keen to learn from industry professionals and put my theory learnings from uni into context. I am excited to develop my networking, event management and touring skills as well as get the opportunity to work on a production the size that I have always dreamt of.
Matthew Tran
Mentoring Opportunity: Live Nation - Business Operations (Head Office), Melbourne or Sydney
Pronouns: He/Him
Age: 20
Who are you currently listening to?
I’ve been listening to a lot of grentperez! He’s Filipino-Australian and such a talented songwriter and performer!
First live gig?
I got into the live music scene a bit late and after the pandemic – my first show was Kehlani with Destin Conrad, and they are two of my favourite artists!!
What are you currently doing in music?
I’m always busy singing, playing the guitar and song writing. I’m currently building a small TikTok page as a hobby (@mattmiso) and aiming to release my first song!
What are you looking forward to about the Music Industry Mentoring program?
I’m so excited to meet likeminded people and music lovers! I look forward to learning from music industry experts and building a lasting network. Importantly, I love music, but I have grown to especially love live music so I’m particularly excited to work with the team at Live Nation!
Ruby Wyant
Mentoring Opportunity: Ableton - Marketing and Promotions, Melbourne
Pronouns: She/Her
Age: 18
Who are you currently listening to?
Julia Jacklin and Adrianne Lenker
First live gig?
Katy Perry’s Prism Tour
What are you currently doing in music?
About to begin studying Music Industry at RMIT!
What are you looking forward to about the Music Industry Mentoring program?
Getting hands-on experience within a huge music company (wow!) in the coolest suburb in Melbourne (WOW!!!)
Ryan Mahony
Mentoring Opportunity: Secret Sounds - Event Management, Sydney
Pronouns: He/Him
Age: 24
Who are you currently listening to?
I have currently been listening to a lot of Joni Mitchell's 1972 record for the Roses and specifically the title track from that record.
First live gig?
The first live show that I went to was Paramore’s Enmore Theatre show in 2013, in February, and I just turned 13.
What are you currently doing in music?
I'm currently a musician. I play guitar, I play piano, I sing and write songs sometimes. And I've been lucky enough to play around Newcastle for the last ten years.
What are you looking forward to about the Music Industry Mentoring program?
I'm super excited to be a mentee with The Push this year within event management. I'm super excited to be able to get hands on industry experience and get to know what it takes to run a serious event. I’m really excited to get to network, to meet everyone and have a great time.
Click to watch Ryan’s introduction!
Tara Duncan
Mentoring Opportunity: Select Music - Business Operations, Sydney
Pronouns: They/Them
Age: 22
Who are you currently listening to?
Halsey is always on rotation. Keeping them company in my “on repeat” playlist lately are Alpha Wolf, Windwaker, Lights, Stand Atlantic and Terminal Sleep.
First live gig?
Katy Perry – Prismatic World Tour, Qudos Bank Arena, 22/11/2014
What are you currently doing in music?
I’ve been planning to study Entertainment Business Management or Music Business in the second semester of this year, even before I heard about this program.
To support my local scene and my talented friends, I’ve been attending as many live shows as possible.
What are you looking forward to about the Music Industry Mentoring program?
I’m eager to learn from one of the best about what it takes to make shows happen, grow my network in this industry, and hopefully become good friends with other mentees.
Want to join this group of legends? Make sure you’re amongst it for the next round!
Applications for the next round will open soon, so be sure you’re ready and be amongst the first to know when applications open. Join the list by registering your interest here.
The Music Industry Mentoring Program is delivered with support from The Ian Potter Foundation - one of Australia’s major philanthropic foundations, delivering grants to support charitable organisations working to benefit the community.