Breakneck Records Long Road Home Mr Black and Blues Blow These Tracks Michael Pollitt

Event Summary

Songwriters Studio, proudly supported by the Campaspe Shire Council Youth Action Group (YAG), the Hon. Peter Walsh MP, and in association with the Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA), EMFM Echuca 104.7 Radio, and the Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival since 2010, provides unrivalled opportunities for aspiring original writer and performer talent. 

 

Since 2010, "Songwriters" has become one of regional Victoria's most successful youth music development programs, providing aspiring songwriters aged 12–25 with intensive mentoring in original songwriting, live performance, music business, copyright, and career development. Delivered in association with APRA, EMFM, The Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival, and leading Australian music professionals, the program culminates in a public concert, this year at the Plaza Theatre Kyabram, showcasing entirely original music written during the three-day workshop. We proud to be the only program of our kind creating and performing original music in workshop format like this nationally.

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The three day intensive workshop is facilitated by Australian/UK independent writer performers Michael Pollitt Kelly Auty and two other prominent industry professionals, focused exclusively on original song composition, all elements of performance, and the business of music in order to succeed, culminates in a live performance concert among the most inspiring experiences an audience member could hope to witness.

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Young musicians, aged 12-25 years, come away with:

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•  Experience of learning from recognised independent international songwriter/performers, with guest speakers from APRA, booking and management professionals, as well as Songwriting Hall of Fame Ambassadors

• APRA membership

• Registered APRA 'works' with the opportunity to get paid for performing these works

• Live performance opportunities on EMFM and as part of the Winter Blues Festival Homegrown program

 

Songwriters Studio has been running since 2010 in various forms addressing stated regional development goals including:

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• Regional development (significant disaster affected zone)

• Disadvantaged youth from this area and surrounds who would not otherwise have access to such a program

• Original multi-genre song writing yielding new APRA members with registered works, as a feeder for other APRA development services

• Live performance concert component – the highlight

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The outcomes from previous events have exceeded anything we could have hoped for. Over the past sixteen years the program has:

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• Provided life-changing transformational opportunities young musicians from regional Victoria Campaspe Shire, including disaster-affected communities.

• Produced hundreds of brand-new original songs, all written and performed by participants.

• Created over 500 of new APRA songwriter members with registered original works, paid for their performances via APRA Performance Reports.

• Supported young people with disabilities and those experiencing social or educational disadvantage.

• Built lasting partnerships with local schools, teachers, community organisations and the Echuca Winter Blues Festival.

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Beyond the numbers, the transformational stories demonstrate the impact of this program. One participant who was effectively non-verbal at school due to learning challenges found her voice through songwriting during the workshop. Three days later she stood on stage performing her own song to a packed theatre. Teachers and parents described the experience as genuinely life-changing.

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We have also seen students with behavioural challenges discover confidence, purpose and lifelong friendships through music, while many former participants continue writing, performing and pursuing careers in the creative industries via performance and development pathways offered via this program. 

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​Breakneck Records takes great pride in developing the next generation of musicians as a cornerstone of our culture of community development. ​​​​​

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2026 Event​

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The 2026 Breakneck Records Songwriters Studio workshops has taken the success of previous years to a new level as an independent event "in association with" the festival.

 

Our cohort of 32 students registered created 22 new original songs from blank pages which were performed live at the concert on Thursday evening at the beautiful Plaza Theatre Kyabram.​ All local schools were represented as well as attendees from as far away as Geelong.

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We had many small break through moments with the participants. The best example of which was a student with disciplinary issues who had a meltdown on day two, but following intervention by the tutor team was able to rejoin the workshop and fully participate and show full gratitude and self awareness throughout the remiander of the program. Parents and teachers came to us afterwards saying they couldn't express how this young persons life has changed in three days. That’s why we do this. None of it would’ve happened without Campaspe Shire Council Youth Action Group (YAG), and the Hon. Peter Walsh MP support. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The event again featured an APRA membership workshop with tutorials on song registration, AI and social media, music licensing, management and booking. Students were invited to attend EMFM on the second and third days for live radio interviews and performances which were a highlight.​​

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Winter Blues Festival Chair Laurelin Berick and Program Booker Jon Howell were invited to speak with our participants about their experiences and pathways with the festival. Our aim is to continue to foster relationships that sustain outcomes for the participants with strong community support.

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The concert was a truly great performance. Participants for the first time took full ownership of stage management, delivered their new material with joy and freedom that was truly inspiring, and left parents and supporters in awe of their talent and passion.

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​2026 Headline numbers

 

• 32 participants (15 male, 16 female, 1 non-binary, 3 special needs)

• 4 tutors (2 male, 2 female, 2 LGBTIQ)

• 5 staff supporters (3 male, 2 female)

• 4 schools including students from Sunshine Coast and Oberon High School from Geelong!

• 10 existing and 30 new APRA writer members

• 22 new original songs written 100% created by the brilliant young minds on the stage (ZERO covers) and all registered by participants (at least 6 of which deserve airplay on JJJ next week!)

• 2 visits to EMFM for live radio interviews

• 2 hours of strictly original music performed at the concert

• 57 paying concert attendees

• 78 very proud and emotional parents, teachers, family and supporters in attendance for the concert​​

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Measures of Success
 

Having delivered posters to a number of venues in days leading up to the workshops days we were surprised by the reach and knowledge among peers of participants about the program and the cache they have told us the program has among their age-groups. Many participants from the previous event listed Songwriters Studio attendance among their top three achievements for VCE in their yearbook profiles - a true measure of impact.

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Once again Oberon High School have sent a cohort of 12 student from over four hours away in Geelong to attend the workshops as a mark of the impact this program continues to have for their students.

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Feedback offered by Schools representatives on the program was wonderful saying they believe it to be a transformative program for their participants which they will do whatever they can to support. 

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Three students with special needs were in attendance this year and each student was able to fully participate in the target minimum five songs. Among them was our stand-out from the last two events with learning disabilities who who was non-verbal at school and who is now an outgoing independent young woman who credits last years event as the catalyst for her new confidence.

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This years cohort also featured a number of students with disciplinary issues who each not only completed the program but their teachers remarked how they were changed by the experience having found new purpose in music and a new tribe of friends with mutual interest.

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Speaking with parents and siblings of participants, as well as participants themselves post event, it is clear from the positivity and awe generated by the concert performance that the event will have lasting community impact not only for participants but for their families and the broader community who so generously supported the concert with their paid attendance. 

 

We are honoured by the overwhelming positive anecdotal feedback and support from schools, parents and participants to run again in 2025.

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Media and Marketing Materials

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• Significant promotion and sponsorship acknowledgement was undertaken on both the Breakneck records Website (www.breakneckrecords.com) and the Breakneck Records social media pages. 

• Three featured guest interviews on EMFM radio, including Saturday live from the festival, where sponsors were repeatedly and gratefully acknowledged (click PLAY button to listen to recordings).

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• We were a featured article in both print and online versions of the Riverine Herald  "Transformative Songwriters Studio Workshop for young musicians". 

• We were also featured article in both print and online versions of the Kyabram Free Press:  "Transformative Songwriters Studio Workshop for young musicians".  

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• A followup Article is also scheduled directly acknowledging and thanking all event sponsors.

• Images from the event are viewable and downloadable on the Breakneck Records 2026 Songwriters Studio “Hall of Fame” Gallery here.

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Budget

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Campaspe Shire Council Youth Action Group (YAG) funding of $3000, as well as a $500 gift from the Hon. Peter Walsh MP, comprised ~36% of the total operating budget of $9,525. The remainder was covered by participation fee's and concert tickets were sold which generated an additional income as a necessary measure to cover operating costs shortfall.

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Campaspe Shire Council Youth Action Group (YAG) funding was directly used to cover Plaza Theatre venue hire fee's, and facilitation and equipment costs of which in the past have been provided "in kind" by the festival.  

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A significant amount of "in kind" support was also necessary for the successful execution of the event which was provided by tutors and the schools which included:

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• Backline: Drumkit, Guitar Amps x 5, Bass Amps x 4, Djembes x 4, Keyboards x 3 (Echuca College)

• Backline: Keyboard, 2 x Art stands for Whiteboards  (Kelly)

• Backline: 4 x guitar Amps, percussion, 2 x bass amps, 4 x guitars, 2 x basses, 2 x drum carpet, 3 x foldback wedges, 4 x stage microphones, 3 x straps, 10 x leads, 2 guitar large stands  (Michael)

• Office Equipment: Laptop, printer, printer ink (Michael)

• Professional Photography: Day 2 (Kyabram Free Press)

• Concert Videography: Day 3 (Echuca College)

• Concert Ticketing / Usher / Venue OH&S Safety Leader (Michael's mother and primary teacher Patti Harrison)

• Backline Collection - 3 hours Monday (Michael and Nick)

• Backline Return - 3 hours Friday (Michael)

• Event Co-ordination: >1000 hours over four months (April to July) to arrange sponsorship, backline co-ordination, schools liaison, working with children checks, event infrastructure build, accounting, payment system setup, venue booking logistics and co-ordination, promotion, radio booking, performance pathways, APRA workshops, guest speakers, facilitation equipment, festival and council liaison and "problem solving" (Michael)

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A detailed financial statement is available upon request.

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Acknowledgements and Thanks

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To the supporting teachers, in particular Alana Rix (Echuca College), and Sam Nicholson (Oberon High School Geelong) we can’t thank you enough for all your wonderful support in getting your participants to the workshops, troubleshooting and supporting all the participants needs, and supporting the entire event with representation from your schools. You were magnificent!

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To Rani Gundry, Belinda and all at Campaspe Shire Council Youth Action Group (YAG) we thank you for all your magnificent support of this program without whom we would not have been able to run this year. We look forward to an ongoing relationship which see this program grow into the future!

 

To the the Hon. Peter Walsh MP we thank you for your contribution.

 

To Chris O'Neill, Caroline McKnight, and in particular Al Parkinson who made the journey to come to speak to participants, and all at APRA we thank you for the continued support.

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To our guest speakers Winter Blues Chair Laurelin Berick and Program Booker Jon Howell we thank you for generously donating your time to provide your perspectives on pathways for participants and for offering your support - we look forward to continuing the good relationships into the future.

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To Lisa and Ray form the Plaza Theatre we thank you for your tireless efforts to accomodate our program.

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And finally to our magnificent tutors, Kelly Auty, Nick Caraffa, and Danni Karmelich you did a power of work and your support, kindness, perceptive interventions, perspective and joyful enthusiasm for the business of creating new music was truly infectious. You empowered a new generation of songwriters to own their performance and to shine on the big stage. And shine they did!

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We are so immensely proud of what we achieved together and we hope to see you again in 2027 - thank you!  

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Michael Pollitt

Songwriters ​Studio Leader

Breakneck Records Director