Industry Access

Unlock Real Industry Momentum with OCA’s 'Industry Access' Series

Are you an active local musician looking for high-value networking and upskilling opportunities? Want an educational "sneak peek" into the exact hands-on, real-world experience Oxford Creative Academy (OCA) students get every single day?

Oxford Art Factory and Oxford Creative Academy are proud to present Industry Access, a new monthly event series, featuring active professionals from across the music industry.

With alternating online webinars and face-to-face sessions right here at the Oxford Art Factory, speakers will share their personal career journeys, break down real-world case studies, and give honest advice on how to progress your career in the music business.

This series is your chance to step inside our community, expand your network, and experience what it takes to build real industry momentum firsthand.

September’s Face to face Session with EMILY COPELAND (SEPT 16th, 6:00pm - 8:o0Pm)

Emily Copeland is a senior executive specialising in marketing, strategy and partnerships across the Australian music and media sectors. With a proven ability to build businesses and brands that connect with audiences, she bridges creative and commercial with a particular passion for music, culture and content.

Currently Campaign Lead at Music Australia, Emily has previously held senior leadership roles at the ABC (Head of Music) and ARN (Director of Audience Innovation and Partnerships). She spearheaded the launch of CADA as General Manager, and is the founder of strategic partnerships agency Good Authority.

Emily sits on the board of Heaps Decent, and is a board advisor for the Centre for Arts Sport and Technology (CAST). She is the former Vice Chair of FBi radio, and a Chief Executive Women Hansen Scholar.

In this session, we will be diving into these key themes to help you navigate the modern industry:

You’re planning a local community showcase or a DIY warehouse gig. You have a zero-dollar budget and must rely entirely on a team of volunteers and local creatives to handle bump-in, run the site, and keep the event moving. You need to keep them motivated, aligned, and actually showing up; without any financial incentive.
You want to fund a 3-date regional tour or pay for professional mixing and mastering of your debut single. You need a fast cash injection of $1,500 to $3,000, but you don't know where to look or how to ask.
Emily knows exactly what makes a funding proposal stand out; and the single biggest mistakes grassroots artists make in their pitches.

Please Note: Emily will be sharing her personal, independent professional insights and general industry best practices, and will not be representing any official funding bodies during this session.
Moving far beyond basic "marketing", Emily will detail how to cultivate a safe, inclusive, and positive community connection from scratch. She will use FBi Radio (the ultimate community-funded music hub) and CADA (the youth-focused hip-hop/R&B platform) as blueprint case studies to show how grassroots trust is built and maintained.

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Check out our list of guests coming up:

AlistaIr Hayes

19/08/26 - Online Webinar
Sydney-based producer, drummer, and ARIA-nominated songwriter Alistair Hayes blends organic soundscapes with pop writing. With a degree in jazz performance, he is the creator behind the solo project Daphnie and co-founder of the duo youproblem. He has collaborated with a wide range of notable artists, including The Veronicas, Lastlings, and The Buoys.

Leah Harris

21/10/26 - OAF Gallery Bar
Leah Harris leads Artist & Label Partnerships at Spotify Australia and New Zealand, working to connect Spotify meaningfully to artists, labels, and the wider ANZ music community through programs, partnerships, product engagement, and industry advocacy. Her earlier career spans music, live events, and entertainment production across Australia and London, working with major festivals, broadcasters, and cultural institutions.

EMILY COPELAND

16/09/26 - OAF Gallery Bar
Emily is a senior music and media executive who has led major projects across Music Australia, ABC, ARN and CADA, with a focus on strategy, partnerships, audience growth and culture.

LiVE EXCerpt

In this live event excerpt, music industry professional Luke Byatt breaks down the core pillars of long-term sustainability for emerging artists. You'll learn why owning your data through a direct connection is crucial, how to maintain a consistent sonic and visual brand identity, and the best ways to network by providing value and showing your skill.

The Student view from our last Industry Access Event with Joel Farland

Lessons taken from Industry Access #4 with SARAH HAMILTON

The Concept: Recognising organic growth signals and leveraging success in one area to build overall momentum
Actionable Insight: Look for clear market signals; like growing live show attendance, social engagement, or Triple J Unearthed reviews, and use the momentum from one successful activation to catalyse growth in others.
The Concept: Hiring team members based on artist readiness and the importance of finding honest industry partners.
Actionable Insight: Hold off on spending your budget on publicists or booking agents until you have genuine organic traction. Valuable industry partners will prioritise long-term success over quick fees.
The Concept: Using peers for periodic career reviews and actively seeking out localised grant opportunities.
Actionable Insight: Form peer-to-peer accountability groups to honestly review your career progress without needing management. Guide them to actively seek out regional funding opportunities to support their growth.
The Concept: Breaking down career objectives and balancing quantifiable metrics with personally meaningful milestones.
Actionable Insight: Implement bi-annual check-ins where they assess their progress against both hard metrics (like streams or ticket sales) and qualitative, personal milestones that protect their mental health and creative joy.

Lessons taken from Industry Access #2 with Jono Harrison

The "Founder Mentality" & Embracing Rejection

Jono stressed that artists and managers need to treat themselves like business founders. This means expecting to hear "no" when pitching to radio or negotiating deals, and using that rejection as valuable feedback to improve.

Finding Your Tribe & Building Local Fans

Jono advised that an artist's first fans and collaborators will likely come from grassroots communities. He recommended volunteering at community radio stations (noting their huge economic impact on local venues), physically going to local studios like Kiln Studios in Leichhardt, regularly attending Music Makers Club or using the "Vampr" app to find collaborators.

Networking by Adding Value (The 51/49 Rule)

Drawing from his time at Spotify, Universal, and Triple J, Jono shared that the most effective networking strategy is to ask, "How can I help?" before pitching your own projects. He refers to this as the 51/49 rule—giving more than you take.

Longevity & Mental Health in the Industry

Jono was incredibly transparent about his own struggles with burnout early in his career, which even caused him to develop beard alopecia. He emphasised the importance of a 10-year long-term view, listening to your body, and using resources like Support Act for mental health.

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and register for the next event.

Your Questions, Answered