Justin Cosby, Inertia Music Co-Founder, Remembered With Scholarship, Prize

The memory of beloved indie music professional Justin Cosby lives on through a new, annual scholarship and separate prize carrying his name.

Details are unveiled today (Oct. 26) of The Justin Cosby Scholarship, jointly funded by the Australian Institute of Music (AIM) and an endowment made possible by the late executive’s friends, family and colleagues.

The scholarship will support one student each year for the Bachelor of Arts and Entertainment Management degree, valued at around $45,000 and encompassing the full three-year program.

This “substantial support underscores our commitment to fostering future pioneers of the music business and pays homage to Justin Cosby’s enduring legacy in music,” reads a joint statement.

The Justin Cosby Scholarship honors Cosby, the co-founder and A&R director of Inertia Music, who died in June 2021, aged 50, and is a tribute to his “boundless love for music and his commitment to nurturing emerging talents,” the statement continues.

Also, the successful candidates will be empowered with Cosby’s “steadfast dedication to collaboration, integrity and the art of music exploration.”

Comments Ashley Sellers, Inertia Music co-founder, comments, “Like many of those who knew Justin, I think about him every day and dearly miss his presence. It’s therefore a proud and emotional moment for me to be part of a team announcing a scholarship honouring his name.”

Ed St John, chair of AIM, adds: “The Australian music industry needs dedicated professionals like Justin Cosby, and we’re proud to support this scholarship.”

With his infectious enthusiasm for music and engaging personality, Cosby formed Inertia Music with Sellers back in 2000. In those early days, Inertia operated out of a living room in Sydney, but it would grow to become one of the leading independent record labels and distributor in Australia.

Cosby worked with the likes of Sia, Bjork, Bon Iver, Ben Lee, Asgeir, M83, Grizzly Bear, Robyn and Big Scary, and was “highly regarded by the Australian Independent community,” read a tribute from AIM following his passing.

“I’m delighted to be working with Justin Cosby’s family to launch this incredible scholarship,” comments Tim Kelly, a former colleague of Cosby who now runs AIM’s Arts & Entertainment Management degree.

“Justin’s attributes included a profound love of music, collegial support, and putting the artist at the heart of decision-making. Skill sets AIM seeks to encourage in our students.”

Separately, SXSW Sydney has awarded the first annual Justin Cosby Music Prize.

The Prize is awarded in two categories, with Miss Kaninna winning best emerging artist, and Otoboke Beaver taking out best performance, based their onstage efforts last week at the first SXSW Sydney.

Cosby was “a passionate supporter and defender of independent music and new talent with an encyclopaedic, genre-defying knowledge of music,” reads a statement from SXSW Sydney organisers, announcing the prize.

“He was a regular attendee at SXSW and his meticulously-organised spreadsheet planner was shared widely among Australian industry making the journey to Austin each year.”

For more details on The Justin Cosby Scholarship, read here and here.