Yamaha Music Australia has reopened applications for its Main Stage Grant, with three Australian music creators to receive $5,000 cash and $5,000 worth of Yamaha equipment.
by Paul Cashmere
Yamaha Music Australia has reopened applications for the 2026 Main Stage Grant, a national initiative supporting emerging Australian musicians across three categories: bands, songwriters and artists, and studio or music producers. One recipient in each category will receive $5,000 in cash and $5,000 worth of Yamaha gear, providing a combined $30,000 in direct support to three music creators.
Applications close at 10am AEST on Tuesday 6 October, with finalists to be announced on Tuesday 27 October. The three recipients will be revealed on Tuesday 17 November following assessment by a panel of industry experts and tastemakers working with Yamaha Music Australia.
The programme was launched in 2025, when more than 500 applications were received from across Australia. Sydney art-folk band Beryl won the Band category, while multi-instrumentalist Dylan Atlantis was selected as the songwriter recipient and electronic artist Moss received the producer grant.
For Beryl, the funding has had a practical impact on the band’s work. “It genuinely helped move our career forward,” the band said. “The grant helped us record our upcoming third album, and it also provided us with some great Yamaha gear to take on tour.”
Yamaha Music Australia’s Mitch Kelly said the first year demonstrated both demand for financial assistance and the depth of talent applying for the programme.
“The response to Main Stage last year was incredible, and confirmed there was a real demand for a program like this,” Kelly said. He said Yamaha was now looking to develop the initiative beyond the grant itself, citing additional support including product assistance, content creation and tour announcements.
A significant addition to the 2026 programme is Yamaha Music Australia’s partnership with Support Act. For every Main Stage Grant application received, Yamaha will donate $5 to the music industry’s welfare organisation, linking participation in the programme with broader support for people working across the Australian music sector.
The Main Stage Grant forms part of Yamaha Music Australia’s wider artist and education initiatives. The company has previously operated Share Your Moment, which invited musicians to document stories connected to their musical development, and the Great Start Grant, supporting music education in schools.
The programme also sits within Yamaha’s broader history in music technology, production, education and performance. The company traces its origins to 1887 and has developed products spanning musical instruments, audio equipment and production technology.
The 2026 Main Stage Grant is now accepting applications from eligible Australian artists. The three categories are bands, songwriters/artists, and studio/music producers. Each category will produce one recipient, with the final grants combining financial assistance and Yamaha equipment.
Applications close at 10am AEST on Tuesday 6 October. Finalists will be announced on Tuesday 27 October, with the three Main Stage Grant recipients announced on Tuesday 17 November.
https://au.yamaha.com/en/main-stage/2026/index.html
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