Artists will have a rare opportunity to connect with the music industry’s heavy hitters at the launch of a new collective, which is focused on supercharging the local music industry.

The official launch party for the Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective at NightQuarter on June 16 will see artists, bands and musicians unite with record labels, managers, promoters, and venue owners to build a stronger music industry.

SCMIC committee member Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson said the event was a wonderful chance for upcoming and established artists, practitioners and venue owners.

“We are hoping everyone, from someone who has just picked up a guitar in the past six months to a band that has been around for 10 years, comes along and explores the possibilities you are afforded when you really start to collaborate with people in a meaningful sense,” he said.

“Those in the music industry have every reason to come along and get themselves known to the industry’s professionals.”

Representatives for QMusic, Premier Artists, Mushroom Records and Live Nation will be among crowd members at the free event.

Dicko said the launch of the collective would see the Sunshine Coast established as a “safe place to develop and prosper in the music industry”.

“Over the past 20 years the Sunshine Coast has potentially suffered a bit of a brain drain and musicians and creatives have felt the need to move to the big city to develop what they do, but we want to try and reverse that,” he said.

“The Sunshine Coast is growing, there are exciting things happening in music here, there is a fantastic course at the Sunshine Coast University and great new venues.’’

He said the Sunshine Coast could become the “new Manchester, Liverpool or Seattle”.

“We want to supercharge the music industry and encourage creatives, practitioners, promoters, venue owners and people who see music as a part of what they are and what they do,” he said.

Get more stories like this direct to your inbox by subscribing to our FREE daily news feed: Go to SUBSCRIBE button at top of this article to register.

NightQuarter co-owner Ian Van der Woude said becoming a member of SCMIC would help give the Sunshine Coast music industry a strong voice.

He said the collective could leverage ideas, collaborate and build a “healthier and stronger” industry.

“It’s been tough on the industry in the last couple of years with COVID and it’s important we are aligned because when you speak with one voice you get more done,” he said.

“I believe the Sunshine Coast can be the leading region in Australia for live music.”

Local artists, including The Dreggs and Taylah J, will play at the event.

Attendees will be given the opportunity to join the SCMIC movement as members at the free launch party and they can attend an Industry Development Session between 10am and 12pm on June 17.

To secure your tickets for the NightQuarter event go to Moshtix. and see Facebook – Sunshine Coast MIC.