About The Backing Group

Michael McMartin OAM

mm

Born in Canada. Gained his BA (Political Science) at Loyola College in Montreal. He moved to Australia in 1971 and started Trafalgar Records, an iconic independent recording and publishing entity.

In 1985 he formed Melody Management and signed as his first clients the Hoodoo Gurus, whom he manages to this day.

Michael was a founding member of the Music Managers’ Forum in Australia He served as Chairman and then Executive Director of the International Music Managers’ Forum (IMMF), the umbrella organisation for managers from some 24 countries which has NGO status at WIPO, the United Nations agency dealing with worldwide copyright issues.

Over the years he has been invited to work with the music industries in China and Egypt, has spoken at many international events and forums in Canada, the US, the UK, Europe , Tunisia and Brazil plus at countless local forums in Australia. For 19 years he was a board member of Support Act, a music industry benevolent organisation.

Recognition awards include Lifetime membership of the Music Managers Forum Australia and Patron of Association of Artist Managers (Aust);

Received the 2007 APRA Ted Albert Award for his lifetime contribution to Australian Music; elected to the ARIA Hall of Fame as part of the induction of the Hoodoo Gurus in 2009. In 2015 was awarded the Medal of the Order Of Australia (OAM) for ‘services to the performing arts, especially music.’

He has 18 years experience in mediation and conflict management. He is a member of the mediation association LEADR.

michael@thebackinggroup.com.au

Keith Welsh

Keith-Welsh-2013

Keith began his career in the music industry as a founding member of Australian international success story ICEHOUSE.

He has a Master of Dispute Resolution degree from the Law School of UTS in Sydney and is a fully qualified, certified and practicing Mediator and Facilitator.

His background in creating, running and selling SME businesses gave him insight into the issues in the workplace including inter-personal relationships and disputes, corporate structure and training, intellectual property issues and succession planning.

He served as Chair of AMPAL (Australasian Music Publishers Association Limited) and on the Board of AMCOS (Australasian Music Copyright Owners Society) plus is a former Deputy Chair on the Board of MusicNSW.

His career has led him to work extensively in the US, Canadian and UK markets as well as throughout Australia and New Zealand.

keith@thebackinggroup.com.au

sculpture_circle_small

Michael McMartin OAM

mm

Born in Canada. Gained his BA (Political Science) at Loyola College in Montreal. He moved to Australia in 1971 and started Trafalgar Records, an iconic independent recording and publishing entity.

In 1985 he formed Melody Management and signed as his first clients the Hoodoo Gurus, whom he manages to this day.

Michael was a founding member of the Music Managers’ Forum in Australia He served as Chairman and then Executive Director of the International Music Managers’ Forum (IMMF), the umbrella organisation for managers from some 24 countries which has NGO status at WIPO, the United Nations agency dealing with worldwide copyright issues.

Over the years he has been invited to work with the music industries in China and Egypt, has spoken at many international events and forums in Canada, the US, the UK, Europe , Tunisia and Brazil plus at countless local forums in Australia. For 19 years he was a board member of Support Act, a music industry benevolent organisation.

Recognition awards include Lifetime membership of the Music Managers Forum Australia and Patron of Association of Artist Managers (Aust);

Received the 2007 APRA Ted Albert Award for his lifetime contribution to Australian Music; elected to the ARIA Hall of Fame as part of the induction of the Hoodoo Gurus in 2009. In 2015 was awarded the Medal of the Order Of Australia (OAM) for ‘services to the performing arts, especially music.’

He has 18 years experience in mediation and conflict management. He is a member of the mediation association LEADR.

michael@thebackinggroup.com.au

Keith Welsh

Keith-Welsh-2013

Keith began his career in the music industry as a founding member of Australian international success story ICEHOUSE.

He has a Master of Dispute Resolution degree from the Law School of UTS in Sydney and is a fully qualified, certified and practicing Mediator and Facilitator.

His background in creating, running and selling SME businesses gave him insight into the issues in the workplace including inter-personal relationships and disputes, corporate structure and training, intellectual property issues and succession planning.

He served as Chair of AMPAL (Australasian Music Publishers Association Limited) and on the Board of AMCOS (Australasian Music Copyright Owners Society) plus is a former Deputy Chair on the Board of MusicNSW.

His career has led him to work extensively in the US, Canadian and UK markets as well as throughout Australia and New Zealand.

keith@thebackinggroup.com.au

sculpture_circle_small