The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) today announced five new members of its HipHop and R&B Advisory Group, following the group’s first membership renewal process since itsestablishment in March 2024.
Tani Webb (FN Focus), Alexander Franco (Liquorice Music), Neda Rahmani, Kieran “KIZ” Lonergan(Seventhree), and Peter Sabbagh (Bodega Collective) join the Advisory Group as it enters its next two-year term.
The Hip Hop and R&B Advisory Group has been instrumental in driving change for one of Australia's fastest growing and most influential genres. Its contributions have included engaging members in the national AI and copyright debate; opening dialogue with Victoria Police on knife crime and community safety; and making a submission to the 2026 consultation on Australia's next National Cultural Policy.
The committee’s members have helped shape three iterations of the YouTube Hip Hop and R&B Showcase and supported ARIA Collab, a collaborative production program that has delivered at least 10 new tracks for release. The group has strengthened industry knowledge through sessions with Spotify, Sounds Australia and IFPI, covering playlisting, export pathways and global market data. It helped deliver a standout 50 Years of Hip Hop performance at the 2023 ARIA Awards, as well as the first ever all-nominee collaborative performance for the R&B category at the 2024 ARIA Awards.Member feedback has also informed ARIA Awards criteria for the R&B and Dance categories, contributing to ARIA’s Chart Surveys for Hip Hop and R&B genre categorisation.
The new appointments follow an expression of interest process carried out by the Advisory Groupmembers:
• Tani Webb is an award-winning artist manager, creative producer and co-founder, director of FN Focus, a platform dedicated to building opportunities and culturally safe spaces for First Nations artists. Based in Boorloo (Perth), Tani has guided the development of artists including INKABEE, FLEWNT, TAIJA and JJ VACANT, and in 2026 was recognised with the Australian Association of Artist Managers' Community Engagement Award.
• Alexander Franco is the Founder of Liquorice Music, an artist development company specialising in management, publishing and records. Across his two decades in the industry, he's held senior roles at Sony Music, EMI and Future Classic, where he's worked with ONEFOUR, Flume, G Flip and Alison Wonderland, while simultaneously managing the careers of B Wise, Chandler Jewels, Dylan Atlantis, Chanel Loren and THEODORE.
• Neda Rahmani is an independent artist, writer, and multi-percussionist with decades of extensive touring experience across World, Pop, Hip Hop, and R&B, spanning stage collaborations with Mantra, Marcia Hines, N'fa, and Sensible J, alongside recording andinternational touring with The Cat Empire. As Deputy Chair of Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV), she brings deep expertise in cultural access, equity and collaborative community building. An advocate committed to closing systemic gaps in music business and championing diverse perspectives, Rahmani shapes a forward-thinking blueprint focused on long-term sustainability and success for all Australian artists.
• Kieran “KIZ” Lonergan is a proud Palawa artist, creative producer and cultural leader from Lutruwita/Tasmania. Founder of Seventhree, a creative hub supporting emerging artists as well as promoting and booking them across Lutruwita, and You're Write, a youth hip-hop and creative writing program. He currently serves as Tasmanian Aboriginal Youth Programs Officer with Music Tasmania and as Programmer and Curator of The Gathering, Dark Mofo'sFirst Nations opening night event.
• Peter Sabbagh is a Western Sydney-based music executive, artist manager and cultural producer with 15+ years’ experience across artist development, touring, events and partnerships. Founder of Bodega Collective and co-founder of Bodega Studios, he created Pass The Mic, which has presented 600+ emerging artists, and is developing Australia–Indonesia pathways through Nuanu Creative City.
ARIA CEO, Annabelle Herd, said: “When we established the Hip Hop and R&B Advisory Group two years ago, we made a clear commitment to listen more closely, work more collaboratively and help build stronger pathways for these communities within the Australian music industry. Since then, the group has played an important role in shaping ARIA’s work across representation, showcase opportunities, AI and copyright, and broader industry consultation. Welcoming Tani, Alexander, Neda, Kieran and Peter brings valuable new perspective and expertise to that work at an important point in the group’s evolution.”
Tani, Alexander, Neda, Kieran and Peter join the below members on the Advisory Group:
Mohamed Komba (co-chair)
Julia Robinson (co-chair)
Aćol Agaar Apollo (Pookie)
Ali Tomoana
Austin Benjamin
Ben Martin
N'Fa Jones
Hau Latukefu
Jelal Edmonds
Kween G
Matthew Craig
Nina Agzarian
Petrina Convey
Sosefina Faumoli
Vyvienne Abla
ARIA also thanks the members completing their term on the Advisory Group for their contribution since the group's formation, from shaping ARIA's advocacy and showcase priorities to guiding the strategy now carried forward by the incoming cohort. Their input has helped build the foundation the group continues to work from, and ARIA looks forward to their continued involvement in the Hip Hop and RnB community.
For more information, please contact:
Andrew Knowles
M: 0449 510 357
ARIA Hall of Fame
