CUILLIN HEARTY

Cuillin Hearty is an emerging artist manager and active member of Aotearoa’s independent music community, with experience that spans artist development through community programmes, touring, events, and live production. Over the past eight years, they have worked across venues, programming, festivals, and production, roles that have given them a well rounded understanding of how different parts of the music sector connect and rely on one another.

Through their role at Big Fan, Cuillin has had the opportunity to work closely with a wide range of artists at different stages of their careers. This environment has helped them develop a strong sense of the challenges and opportunities artists face, and how important spaces for connection, mentorship, and shared learning are for both artists and their managers.

Cuillin’s work with Banished Music has strengthened their knowledge of national touring and live show logistics. Being actively involved in these processes has given them a broad, real world view of how the live ecosystem operates, including its current pressures, and the opportunities to create more sustainable and supportive pathways for artists and their teams.

Alongside these roles, Cuillin currently manages emerging artists, which keeps them closely connected to the experiences of many MMF members. Across all of their work, they have developed a perspective that spans multiple parts of the industry, while still being at a stage of their career where they directly relate to and represent the MMF’s core audience. This balance allows Cuillin to bring both understanding and relatability to the committee’s discussions and decisions.

Throughout their experience, Cuillin has learned the importance of listening, staying level headed, and engaging constructively, and they aim to bring those same qualities to any group they are part of. They would approach an MMF committee role with curiosity, respect, and a genuine commitment to supporting the community and helping the organisation continue to evolve with its members.

Cuillin would welcome the opportunity to contribute to the MMF and its ongoing work supporting music managers across Aotearoa.