Jeremy Furze was named Manager of the Year at the 2024 AAM Awards in Sydney on Wednesday, May 1, in recognition of his behind-the-scenes work guiding Teskey Brothers' stellar year.
Furze took top honors at the third annual AAM Awards, following a year in which the Teskeys could do no wrong.
The Teskeys, Josh and Sam, hail from Warrandyte, Victoria and had the touring world at their feet, selling 15,000 tickets in London, 12,000 tickets in Amsterdam and 6,000 tickets in Los Angeles. their third studio album The Winding Way opened at No. 1 on the ARIA chart. and the band won ARIA and Rolling Stone Awards. Just hours after the AAM Awards wrapped up, another silverware for the Teskeys as they scooped Songwriters of the Year at the 2024 APRA Music Awards.
Furze, founder of Applejack Music, is “a dedicated member of the artist management community, recognizing the importance of mentorship and shared knowledge,” according to a statement from the Association of Artist Managers, the trade body that produces the annual awards. “He has mentored under the Co-Pilot program for the past two years and often opens his door to independent artists and managers for informal career support and advice.”
As the festivals end, the spaces are closing and Australian artists struggling to make an impact on the national sales charts, Furze told his peers from the stage: “We're in a pretty deep crisis. It's going to be up to all the people around this room to keep us on track in the coming years and we need support … we have to do it for each other.”
Other winners at the AAM Awards were Megan Rasmussen and Harry White (Future Classic) for top manager of the year. Kerry Kennell, Head of Kennell & Co, for the Community Engagement Award. Golden Friend's Lorrae McKenna Our Golden Friend's Lorrae McKenna for Patron's Gift – an initiative of the late Michael McMartin. and Hayley-Jane Ayres, 360 Artist Logistics won the APRA AMCOS Lighthouse Award, which includes a cash prize of A$5,000 to support her business and professional pursuits.
As previously announced, Tame Impala's manager Jodie Regan, founder of Spinning Top Music, won the Legacy Award. Presenting the award, Damien Trotter, managing director of Sony Music Publishing Australia, noted that Regan, who is based in the remote Western Australian capital of Perth, led with “faith, trust and integrity” and did her job “without hint of arrogance”.
AAM executive director Maggie Collins made the quote of the day when she told the house that AI “will never replace artist managers, because even robots wouldn't want to do our jobs.” Guest speakers to a packed Sydney Crowbar included Special Secretary of State John Graham, the Roads Minister, the Arts Minister for Music and the Nightlife Economy and the Jobs and Tourism Minister. and performances by Folk Bitch Trio and Miss Kaninna.
AAM is the trade association for Australian music industry managers, representing over 300 active managers, who in turn represent over 1,000 contemporary music artists.
AAM 2024 Award Winners:
Manager of the Year (Presented by Oztix)
Jeremy Furze, Applejack Music
Breakthrough Manager of the Year (Presented by DMT Law Firm)
Megan Rasmussen and Harry White, Future Classic
Community Engagement Award (presented by Live Event Logistics)
Kerry Kennell, Kennell & Co
Legacy Award (presented by Sony Music Publishing)
Jodie Regan, Spinning Top Music
Patron's Gift (Presented by the AAM Patrons)
Lorrae McKenna, our golden friend
APRA/AMCOS Lighthouse Award
Hayley-Jane Ayres, 360 Artist Logistics
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/teskey-brothers-manager-jeremy-furze-2024-aam-awards-1235671456/
