Kirsty Rivers Reflects on Music Victoria Hall of Fame Honour, Next Venture

The music industry is anything but dull. Kirsty Rivers knows all about it.

Across a decades-long career, advocating, building routes for Australian artists to shine, Rivers is set to be inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame, proof that the good guys do finish first.

And, in a strange twist of timing, Rivers will leave Creative Australia before year’s end, completing a three-and-a-half-year stint heading up the organisation’s sector development and advocacy team.

Never a dull moment.

Rivers has enjoyed a “monumental career,” notes a statement from Music Victoria, announcing her elevation, during which she led Creative Victoria’s contemporary music division, overseen the Victorian state government’s Music Works program, formed a number of awards and fellowships for music professionals, and completed “a remarkable 17-year tenure” as national manager for writer services at APRA AMCOS.

At Creative Victoria, Rivers guided the Victorian state government’s Music Works program, carrying out ground-breaking policy development of music programs that responded to sector need and new opportunities.

Additionally, she had a big hand in the formation of the Australian Music Vault and the Music Market at Collingwood Yards, the establishment of the Victorian Music Development Office, and delivering the first southern hemisphere Music Cities convention in 2018.

Cutting her teeth in retail and the independent music sector, Rivers has been acknowledged as one of the top 50 “most influential people in music” on several occasions.

She’ll back in the business before long. More on that to come. But first Rivers can enjoy a drink or three Tuesday, Oct. 31 at Music Victoria’s annual ceremony at The Edge, on Melbourne’s Federation Square.

The Music Network caught up with Rivers on the eve of the 2023 awards ceremony.

Congrats and what does it mean to be a Hall of Famer?

It’s both excruciating and completely humbling. I am the person who skips a photo wall so the idea of being a focus for the award is something I will need to get used to.

Induction into that special place should create an opportunity to consider the runs you’ve put on the board. What are some of your proudest achievements?

It is both terrifying and reassuring to look back over some of the worlds I have walked through in music. There are a few proud moments and a lot of things I would rather forget. But there is always the people and the music.

A random selection of numbers of ones:

Having random times when people I know come up and tell me about something they were able to do because I’d helped them. Never gets old.

Getting my first Employee of the Month at Brashs in a time before CDs.

Creating The Lighthouse Award in honour of my dear friend Linda Gebar. The award was generously invested in by APRA AMCOS and shine light on the role of managers and the impact of dynamic women like Linda.

Bring a Trojan Horse for music in the establishment and public service. There are so many faces from music working in policy and public services now and it is fabulous. I am not the first in, but I think the first with a big policy commitment. So much is about bringing worlds together and translating to each other.

Being able to bring people together through the One of One Breakfast, the Songwriter Speaks program (my very first one with Jimmy Webb was at the Continental), Connect, the start of serious consideration about the art of music composition in games, the Social Club.

Seeing the community come together and realise their power from the SLAM group and signing the Live Music Accord on behalf of music in Victoria. but never forget that music is from the local. It’s grassroots, It’s about people, it’s art and it’s everywhere.

Taking the work “rocking” out of the Music Works program – every project was “rocking” but the absolute privilege to be able to create The Music Market, the Australian Music Vault, the Fast track Fellowships, The Music and Games Benchmark, the Live Music Professional Program, the VMDO – turning Music Works from a promise and a budget into reality.

Still seeing so many people I have worked with or employed in positions of power.

Finally recognising that instinct with experience should always be followed and trying to follow the immortal code of Meredith – Don’t be a Dickhead.

You announced your departure last week from Creative Australia. What’s next?

A very long slow summer. I am really looking forward to taking time off. I have continuously worked since I was 15 so the house will glow, and I will be working on my crochet squares, smashing the patriarchy and bingeing Netflix.

I’ve been overwhelmed by people’s interest and kindness on my leaving. Surprisingly even coming up with several ideas for working together in the future.

We have unfinished business in music, and I would like to ensure I do my bit to support artists to make music, tell stories, generate income and work in safe generous places.

We need all hands to work to ensure our first people really do come first, that music is expanding, finding new listeners and providing a soundtrack and experience of our times.

I don’t think this apple will fall too far from its music tree. I am a hopeless case and it’s probably too late to change my spots.

In the words of my mentor, Arnie, I will be back.