Kogarah's Fifa Riccobono has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours for significant service to the music industry.
Ms Riccobono has devoted her life to fostering Australian music talent, working with some of the most significant performers over the past few decades including legendary songwriters Harry Vanda and George Young, performers Stevie Wright and John Paul Young and bands AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, Choirboys and The Angels.
She started as a secretary with Albert Music, formerly J Albert and Sons, working her way up through promotions, managing artists and finally as chief executive officer.
She was the first female ceo in the music industry in Australia.
She is a former director of the Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA) and the Australiasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS), and the Australian Music Publishers Association (AMPAL).
Her dedication to the music industry saw her receive APRA's Ted Albert Lifetime Achievement Award.
Her glittering career started when she applied for work as a teenager to Albert Music where she was mentored by legendary record producer and entrepreneur Ted Albert.
She stayed for 20 years and then had a break.
"When Ted died I was asked to come back and take on the publishishing and managing side of the business and stayed for 18 years," she said.
Albert Music was sold to BMG about four years ago and Ms Riccobono has remained as a consultant.
"I have a wonderful network and some wonderful friends in the music industry, not just business friends but lifelong friends," Ms Riccobono said.
"I have a great love of music," she said.
This includes being involved in all aspects of the evolution of a song, from beginning to end.
"I love being involved in all aspects of the industry, from creating a song to promoting it to touring with the artists."
She has not lost her interest in music and if she hears a new song on the radio she rings up find out who the artist is.
"If I hear a song that blows my socks off I have to know who it is," she said.
"It's not an easy industry to get into and it takes a lot of hard work.
"You have to live it. I lived and breathed it growing up and it afforded me a lot of travel which I love."
And she has some advice for young people thinking of a career in the music industry.
"If they are in it for the glamour then they are in the wrong industry. There is that aspect but you also need belief and ego.
"The only way you can work with an artist is you have to believe in them.
"And you need ego. You have knockbacks, but if you believe in the artist you keep coming back."