03/20/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/19/2024 21:30
Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) today announced the appointment of Jen Cloher to the Board, and the selection of Kristin Churley and Rae Leigh as participants in the 2024 PPCA Board Observership Program, the first time PPCA has appointed two Observers as part of its program.
Jen Cloher is a songwriter, performer, and strong advocate for artist rights and the empowerment of First Nations, POC and LGBTIQ+ voices in music culture. She is co-founder of Milk! Records, along with Grammy-nominated artist Courtney Barnett. The label is home to many women and non-binary artists in Australia and around the world. For the past decade she has also facilitated I Manage My Music, a masterclass series for self-managed artists.
Her most recent album, I Am The River, The River Is Me, released last year, was nominated for an ARIA Award, shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize and won Best Solo Artist at the Music Victoria Awards.
New Observer Kristin Churley is a passionate music lawyer and a proud part of the UNIFIED Music Group team. After commencing her career at a corporate top tier law firm, Kristin pursued her passion for music. Previously a Lawyers Weekly Top 30 Under 30 Finalist, Kristin now uses her litigious and transactional legal experience to support her team and their artists to decode and solve complex legal issues.
Kristin is passionate about improving legal literacy and access to legal representation in the Australian music industry and mentoring law students seeking to pursue a career in the music industry or other creative industries.
Observer Rae Leigh, is an active collaborator, having worked with songwriters both in Australia and Nashville, Tennessee. The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) grant was awarded to Rae in 2021 for the development of her new single Love Me which was produced by Nashville based Australian producer Michael Flanders and mastered by the Grammy-winning Brad Blackwood.
The PPCA Observership Program was established last year in partnership with The Observership Program, which was founded in 2014 to facilitate practical experience and ongoing networking opportunities to create a passionate and motivated community of future leaders.
PPCA's program builds capability by exposing talented individuals to the decision-making and operations of the PPCA Board and aligns with the Board's goal to contribute to the growth of the Australian music community and the enhancement of inclusivity within Australian music boards.