Melbourne Accelerator Program partners with Universal Music Group

The Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) has announced it will be the first Australian start-up accelerator to join Universal Music Group’s (UMG) Accelerator Engagement Network. With this new relationship, MAP and UMG will work together to develop a new generation of digital music start-ups.

Stephen Hunt and Campbell Walshe
Campbell Walshe and Stephen Hunt.

MAP is the eighth member to join UMG’s global Accelerator Network and the inaugural member in Australia. To date, 28 digital music start-ups have been accelerated by UMG Accelerator Network members.

“We’re very proud to have been selected as Universal Music Group’s partner of choice in Australia,” said MAP Director Campbell Walshe.

“The opportunity to access the expertise, mentorship, industry insights and networks of a global entertainment-leader like UMG will be invaluable for any music-related start-ups looking to accelerate their growth, and we’re confident this will help us attract the very best start-up talent within this space.”

It is a major boost for the program, which launched in 2012 as the first University-aligned accelerator in Australia and has since supported over 100 start-ups that have raised more than $70 million in funding, generated over $100 million in revenue, and created over 1000 new jobs.

Stephen Hunt, Universal Music Australia’s Managing Director of Emerging Technology and Media, said, “UMG Australia is delighted to work with MAP as the first Australian member of the UMG Accelerator Network and we are looking forward to engaging with both the Melbourne and larger Australian start-up ecosystem to foster the next generation of music-related start-ups.”