In an unexpected honour, Northern Territory Indigenous music label Skinnyfish Music's founders Michael Hohnen and Mark Grose were announced as NT finalists today in the 2013 Australian of the Year awards
For 14 years Hohnen and Grose have mentored bands through business development, connected the most remote communities with mainstream music markets and made an outstanding contribution to the preservation of lndigenous language and culture. Their work with artists including Nabarlek, Saltwater Band, George Rrurrambu, Tom E Lewis and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu has brought a new generation and genre of performers to the world's attention.
"I look at the list of most of the other nominees and I see a large group of people contributing to the community."Said Michael Hohnen. " That's what we are trying to do too- to help support and sustain a greater community. It feels rewarding and it's something we will always do. It's an honour that our contribution is now acknowledged."
"Music is the key to unlocking potential," said Mark Grose. "It has the power to motivate a new generation to pursue careers that offer economic independence, benefitting individuals, their families and the communities of remote Northern Australia. Our business is established on a platform of building long term relationships with remote musicians and a business philosophy based on a community development approach. A social as well as an economic agenda are of equal importance to Skinnyfish Music. This nomination is a great honor and we are privileged to work with the artists and communities we work with."
