Melba Recordings, a not-for-profit Melbourne-based record company – established by Greek Australian Maria Vandamme – has been told by the Australia Council that public funding made to its Melba Foundation will be completely cut on June 30.
The company which claims to have lifted the prestige of the Australian music industry through international distribution of CDs by local classical musicians and artists, has received $7.2 million of federal funding since 2004.
Melba Recordings have been subject to scrutiny and criticism in the industry when it allegedly asked for a further $3 million in funding.
The record company’s managing director and Melba Foundation CEO Maria Vandamme told The Age critics’ comments are fuelled by jealousy, and the record label has an important role to promote “brand Australia” and the quality of Australian musicianship to the world.
Melba Foundation Chairman Barry Tuckwell said the future of Melba Recordings is “at grave risk” without the funding.
