Not many people get to see behind the scenes of Australia’s biggest bands, but if you dis chances are you might find former Tamworth man Kurt Bailey. The former musician turned manager has acts such as ARIA Award winners Gang of Youths and Middle Kids in his stable, and was recently awarded the Industry Observer Manager of The Year Award.
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IF YOU asked Kurt Bailey ten years ago where he’d be right now, he would not have imagined the success he has had.
The former Tamworth man is at the top of the Australian music game after being awarded the Industry Observer honour for Manager of the Year.
Mr Bailey is the director of Mirror Music Group and has managed successful bands including 2017 Aria Award winners Gang of Youths along with Middle Kids and Sloan Peterson, just to name a few.
The Industry Observer Awards were created to recognise the “incredible industry figures” in Australasia with Mr Bailey stoked to be named among them.
“It was pretty amazing, I was on a plane back to Sydney when the awards were taking place and found out the news,” he told The Leader.
“I was pretty blown away.
“It’s a really nice achievement to be backed by a room full of peers.”
Every day when I get up or every night when I go to sleep I want to know that I have helped someone else’s dream come true.
- Kurt Bailey
Mr Bailey is well known in local circles for his involvement in the groups The Baileys and Tiger Town where he performed alongside his musical siblings.
He said even from a young age he knew the “business side” of the music business was the right path for him and had the support of industry mentors along the way.
“It’s been an amazing transition,” he said.
“From a very young age I was always quite into the business side of thing.
“A lot of it came from growing up and watching Nash Chambers and how he operated with his sister Kasey.
“It was pretty inspiring for me to see what he has done and this was the dream for me.
“I could not have done it without the help of a lot of good people around me like Nash and other mentors along the way.
“Joan Douglas managed our first band and her guidance and support over the years helped me a lot.”
But the dream almost didn’t become a reality for Mr Bailey.
A cancer diagnosis about nine years ago prompted him to question many aspects of his life.
He moved from Tamworth to Sydney to enroll in a bible college which attributes the “pastoral” aspects with helping him with his management career today.
It wasn’t long until he immersed himself into the Sydney music scene and he was inspired to change people’s lives through music.
“Now being a manager, the biggest thriving factor and motivation for me is every day when I get up or every night when I go to sleep I want to know that I have helped someone else’s dream come true and that’s what I love about it,” he said.
