Labor turns the volume up on Aussie music announcing a $28m music policy

30 Nov

Today federal Labor announced a comprehensive music policy that will see significant investment in contemporary music.

The party stated: “From encouraging more Australian children to learn and play music, to assisting young bands reach overseas markets, to more support for live music and ensuring fans aren’t being ripped off when they buy tickets – Labor says they want to see more Australians making music, listening to music, and seeing music live.”

The policy will see $28 million delivered over three years:

• $10 million going to the new Sounds Australia, helping them remove barriers for Australian live music venues and help more emerging Australian artists break into overseas markets.
• $7.6 million in extra support for youth music education and music teachers.
• $5 million in grant funding to establish and grow music hubs around the country.
• $4.2 million for mental health charities Nordoff Robbins and Support Act.
• $750,000 in funding for the Association of Artists Managers to train new and emerging managers.
• $300,000 for the New Recordings program to help more artists into recording.
• Plus, they’ll also include measures to crack down on ticket scalping sites like Viagogo, and consult on any changes to copyright reform to ensure artists are properly paid for their work.

WAM highly commends Tony Burke and federal Labor for having a specific music policy, and appreciates the opportunity to have contributed to the development of this.

“It is fantastic to see music front and centre in cultural policy making,” said WAM CEO Mike Harris.

“It is a testament to the power of music that sees it hold this position at a state level, and now federally.”

“All parties should develop such a policy given the participation rates for music, the contribution to the economy, and importantly the impact music has on social inclusivity and community wellbeing. As well as Australian music being recognised globally for its high quality, music has an enormous effect on the physical and mental well-being of millions and millions of Australians.”

“We look forward to working with whomever is in power to deliver on outcomes that benefit music and musicians; especially working on how that benefits WA and WA artists.”

“That said I call on all other parties to come forward with their music policies and enter into a national debate on how best to support Australia’s music industry. In the meantime well done federal labor.”

The music industry contributes nearly $6 billion to the Australian economy each year, and according to ARIA the Australian music industry will be worth $100 billion globally within a decade. Live music alone supports around 64,000 jobs in Australia. And there are even more Australians attending live music than sport!

Read more about how federal Labor’s music policy aims to help our thriving industry grow here.