The festival director of Byron Bay’s BluesFest will today appear before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts as it continues its public hearings for its inquiry into the Australian live music industry.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 17 October 2024

The festival director of Byron Bay’s BluesFest will today appear before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts as it continues its public hearings for its inquiry into the Australian live music industry. The hearing will host a roundtable with ongoing festivals ranging from small community events to large self-sustaining multi-day festivals. The Committee will also speak with Century, a long-established venue and event management business serving clients in Sydney metro and Newcastle. Mr Paul Mason, a live music industry consultant who has a range of experience in the Australian music sector—both in artist project management, business planning and production, will also front the Committee. The Committee will receive an update from Victorian not-for-profit youth music advocacy organisation ‘The Push’, which supports young Victorians to participate in contemporary Australian music. The Push will appear alongside the Australia Institute to discuss the release of its most recent research report into young Australian music audiences. The hearing will conclude with a youth music and all-ages-event roundtable. The Chair, Mr Brian Mitchell MP, said ‘the Committee looks forward to delving into the issues that have impacted iconic Australian festivals such as BluesFest’. Details of the public hearings are below, with the full programs and terms of reference available on the inquiry webpage. More information about the Committee, including membership, may be found on the Committee’s website. Public hearing details Date: Thursday, 17 October 2024 Time: 9:40 am – 3:00 pm AEDT Location: Australian Parliament House, Committee Room 2R1 This hearing will be broadcast live @AUSParliamentLive . Media inquiries Mr Brian Mitchell MP, Committee Chair Brian.Mitchell.MP@aph.gov.au 03 6398 1115 For background information Committee Secretariat Communication.reps@aph.gov.au 02 6277 2126

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding a public hearing tomorrow for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry, focussing on insurance in the sector.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 10 October 2024

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding a public hearing tomorrow for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry, focussing on insurance in the sector. Since March 2024 the Committee has been investigating the current state-of-play within the Australian live music environment. The Committee has heard that the impact of escalating business costs in the sector—including, but not solely, increasing impediments and costs in obtaining business and event insurance cover—have posed significant challenges. Tomorrow’s hearing will take further evidence from submitters and previous witnesses, the Insurance Council of Australia and the Australian Live Music Business Council who have each considered ways to assist the sector with respect to insurance coverage. The Committee will also meet with an Australian insurance broker, H2 Insurance Solutions, which specialises in offering insurance products to the Australian live music sector. Additionally, the Committee is interested to learn more about the organisation model and activities undertaken by Statewide Mutual. The Mutual body was created in 1993 to help reduce the risk profiles of activities undertaken by member NSW local governments and to obtain best value insurance coverage. The Chair, Mr Brian Mitchell MP, said ‘there has been a perfect storm of escalating costs and compliance for venues and events; higher chances of negative weather impacts; changing audience behaviour and alternative entertainment options. Additionally, digitisation of music and the streaming of it, whilst offering greater choice, has, through algorithms, narrowed audience music selection. This has affected artists’ secondary income streams and reduced the discoverability of new artists.’ ‘The Committee is looking to find some practical ways of assisting the sector in a manner which helps it to be self-sustainable in a new music consumption paradigm.’ Mr Mitchell said. Details of the public hearing are below, with the full program and terms of reference available on the inquiry webpage.   More information about the Committee, including membership, may be found on the Committee’s website. Public hearing detail Date: Friday, 11 October 2024 Time: 9:00 am— ~12 midday Location: Committee Room 1S4, Australian Parliament House, Canberra These hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Media inquiries Mr Brian Mitchell MP, Committee Chair Brian.Mitchell.MP@aph.gov.au 03 6398 1115 For background information Committee Secretariat Communication.reps@aph.gov.au 02 6277 2126

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding a public hearing this week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 10 September 2024

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding a public hearing this week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry. The Committee will be speaking with Mr Robbie Bundle, CEO of Victorian-based Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation about the organisation’s live music initiatives designed to promote contemporary Aboriginal music and to develop cultural and community links, particularly with and for youth. The organisation has been operating a successful model of promoting indigenous music artists since 1994—working collaboratively with municipalities across Victoria. The Chair, Mr Brian Mitchell MP, said ‘the Committee looks forward to discussing Songlines Music’s long-running youth-oriented music programs which include school workshops, school holiday programs and music tutoring.’ ‘The Committee is eager to hear about how the two biggest annual events which Songlines stages—the Share the Spirit Festival (an all-ages event) and the Koorie Pride Youth Festival—are faring in the current Australian live music environment which many in the industry have told the Committee is extremely challenging.’ Mr Bundle has performed as a musician for over 35 years with a focus on telling Aboriginal Australian stories through his songwriting and performing. Australia’s Cultural Policy ‘Revive’ is structured around five interconnected pillars: First Nations First; A Place for Every Story; Centrality of the Artist; Strong Cultural Infrastructure, and Engaging the Audience. The Committee will explore the Songlines model of engagement between artists, audiences and communities and the way it conveys and maintains Australian stories, through First Nations music and artist promotion. Details of the public hearing are below, with the full program and terms of reference available on the inquiry webpage. More information about the Committee, including membership, may be found on the Committee’s website. Public hearing detail Date: Wednesday, 11 September 2024 Time: 12:40 pm—1:20 pm Location: Committee Room 1R6, Australian Parliament House These hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Media inquiries Mr Brian Mitchell MP, Committee Chair Brian.Mitchell.MP@aph.gov.au 03 6398 1115 For background information Committee Secretariat Communication.reps@aph.gov.au 02 6277 2126

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding its final round of interstate public hearings next week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry.

Media release issue date: Friday, 2 August 2024

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding its final round of interstate public hearings next week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry. Hearings will be held in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth, with final hearings to be held in Canberra. The Committee is continuing to speak with industry stakeholders, including state and local organisations, peak bodies and event organisers. It will also host several roundtables with musicians, venues, and youth and community outreach programs. Mr Brian Mitchell, Committee Chair, stated: ‘The Committee wants to ensure live music has a strong and healthy future in Australia so it can continue to contribute to our national story, and provide jobs and viable income streams for performers and support workers. ‘We’ve heard plenty of evidence about live music being part of an ecosystem—everything needs to work in harmony to work at its best. That’s a great way to look at it.’ ‘Just as it has with a host of other sectors, the internet has been a massive disrupter to the music business. Most fans don’t buy records anymore, they stream songs, and artists only get a tiny fraction of the streaming proceeds.’ ‘Performers used to go on tours to help sell records, now they go on tour to earn a living, so that’s really changed the dynamic.’ ‘The streaming platform algorithms also play a key role in what’s called “discoverability”. We want to look at ways to ensure Australian consumers are at least aware of the presence of Australian artists on their streaming apps, so they know they have a choice of discovering the amazing Australian talent that’s on offer.’ ‘Our Committee has heard lots of really valuable evidence from performers, venue owners, labels, festival organisers and others about the challenges facing live music, and just as importantly they’ve proposed ideas for rescuing the sector. I’d like to thank everyone who’s appeared before us and who are yet to appear.’ ‘We’ve got another couple of weeks of hearings and then it’s heads down bums up to prepare a report and recommendations.’ Details of the public hearings are below, with the full programs and terms of reference available on the inquiry webpage. More information about the Committee, including membership, may be found on the Committee’s website. Public hearing details Date:          Monday, 5 August 2024 Time:          9.40am – 4.30pm [AEST] Location:    Legislative Council Committee Rooms, Victorian State Parliament, Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria Date:          Tuesday, 6 August 2024 Time:          9.00am – 10.20am [AEST] Location:    Legislative Council Committee Rooms, Victorian State Parliament, Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria Date:          Wednesday, 7 August 2024 Time:          9.40am – 2.00pm [ACST] Location:    Constitution Room, South Australian State Parliament, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia Date:          Thursday, 8 August 2024 Time:          9.00am – 2.40pm [AWST] Location:    Executive Lounge Room,Doubletree by Hilton, 1 Barrack St, Perth, Western Australia The audio of these hearings will be broadcast live via the Parliament’s YouTube channel. Media inquiries Mr Brian Mitchell MP, Committee Chair Brian.Mitchell.MP@aph.gov.au 03 6398 1115 For background information Committee Secretariat Communication.reps@aph.gov.au 02 6277 2126

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding its final round of interstate public hearings next week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 30 July 2024

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding its final round of interstate public hearings next week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry. The Committee is continuing to speak with industry stakeholders, including state and local organisations, peak bodies, and event organisers. It will also host several roundtables with musicians and venues. Details of the public hearings are below. The inquiry terms of reference are available on the inquiry webpage and full programs for the hearings will be published on the inquiry webpage as finalised. More information about the Committee, including membership, may be found on the Committee’s website. Public hearing details Date:          Monday, 5 August 2024 Time:          9.00am – 4.30pm [AEST] Location:    Melbourne, Victoria Date:          Tuesday, 6 August 2024 Time:          9.00am – 12.00pm [AEST] Location:    Melbourne, Victoria Date:          Wednesday, 7 August 2024 Time:          9.00am – 3.00pm [ACST] Location:    Adelaide, South Australia Date:          Thursday, 8 August 2024 Time:          9.00am – 3.00pm [AWST] Location:    Perth, Western Australia The audio of these hearings will be broadcast live via the Parliament’s YouTube channel. Media inquiries Mr Brian Mitchell MP, Committee Chair Brian.Mitchell.MP@aph.gov.au 03 6398 1115 For background information Committee Secretariat Communication.reps@aph.gov.au 02 6277 2126

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding its first round of interstate public hearings this week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 23 July 2024

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding its first round of interstate public hearings this week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry. The Committee will be speaking with industry stakeholders, including peak bodies, broadcasters and event organisers. It will also host several roundtables with musicians, venues, academic researchers and Commonwealth and State government agencies. The Chair, Mr Brian Mitchell MP, said ‘the Committee looks forward to continuing its deep dive into the operational and regulatory challenges facing the live music event industry’. ‘The Committee is also looking forward to discussions in a roundtable format with the key music-related Commonwealth Arts agencies about how Australian live music is recognised and supported in Australia’s cultural policy Revive’. Mr Mitchell highlighted areas to be explored: ‘The rapidly changing face of the Australian live music industry; changing audience preferences post-pandemic—including new demographic behaviour, and how digitisation is impacting career pathways and business longevity’. The Committee is keen to hear about the opportunities to foster live music as an important way to tell and maintain Australian stories, including through First Nations music. ‘Members particularly hope to gain insights into how musicians are honing their craft, finding performance opportunities and engaging with audiences given discoverability challenges and how the royalties regime is impacting artists’ remuneration,’ Mr Mitchell said. Details of the public hearings are below, with the full programs and terms of reference available on the inquiry webpage. More information about the Committee, including membership, may be found on the Committee’s website. Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 24 July 2024 Time: 9.40am – 4.00pm Location: Bristol Room, Royal on the Park, 152 Alice St, Brisbane Date: Thursday, 25 July 2024 Time: 9.00am – 4.30pm Location: The Map Rooms—The Michael Crouch Room, State Library of NSW, 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney Date: Friday, 26 July 2024 Time: 9.00am – 4.20pm Location: The Map Rooms—The Michael Crouch Room, State Library of NSW, 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney These hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Media inquiries Mr Brian Mitchell MP, Committee Chair Brian.Mitchell.MP@aph.gov.au 03 6398 1115 For background information Committee Secretariat Communication.reps@aph.gov.au 02 6277 2126

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding a second round of public hearings this week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 2 July 2024

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding a second round of public hearings this week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry. This week the Committee will again be speaking with industry stakeholders, including promoters, production specialists, events infrastructure developers, and community organisations. It will also host three case study roundtables on the Cobargo Folk Festival, the Tamworth Country Music Festival and the Port Fairy Folk Festival. The Chair, Mr Brian Mitchell MP, said ‘the Committee looks forward to delving deeper into the operational and regulatory challenges that are facing live music event operators’. ‘The Committee is equally looking forward to discussing how the Cobargo, Tamworth and Port Fairy festivals, all longstanding events, are facing these challenges, and what benefits they bring to their local communities and economies,’ Mr Mitchell said. Details of the public hearings are below, with the full programs and terms of reference available on the inquiry webpage. More information about the Committee, including membership, may be found on the Committee’s website. Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 3 July 2024 Time: 12.45pm – 1.30pm Location: Committee Room 1R6, Parliament House, Canberra Date: Friday, 5 July 2024 Time: 9.00am – 3.10pm Location: Committee Room 1R2, Parliament House, Canberra These hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Media inquiries Mr Brian Mitchell MP, Committee Chair Brian.Mitchell.MP@aph.gov.au 03 6398 1115 For background information Committee Secretariat Communication.reps@aph.gov.au 02 6277 2126

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding hearings this week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 25 June 2024

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding hearings this week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry. Industry stakeholders, including peak bodies, government agencies and statutory authorities, have been invited to speak with the Committee. The Chair, Mr Brian Mitchell MP, said ‘live music has significant cultural, social, and economic value, and so the Committee looks forward to discussing the operational and regulatory challenges that have been raised in the many submissions to the inquiry’. ‘The Committee hopes to gain insights into what uniquely frames the current Australian live music environment—beyond post-COVID-19 supply chain issues and inflationary pressures which do continue to significantly impact the sector; but also challenge most sectors of the economy,’ Mr Mitchell said. Some of the key challenges offered by contributors include exponentially high increases in insurance premiums relative to the quantum of increase in other inputs; costs and impediments in meeting state, territory and local government regulatory requirements, and changing audience preferences and behaviour. The Committee has also received evidence about the changing modes of discoverability of artists, the current royalties regime and the revolution in production and dissemination of recorded music which impacts the livelihood of live music professionals. Details of the public hearings are below, with the full programs and terms of reference available on the inquiry webpage. More information about the Committee, including membership, may be found on the Committee’s website. Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 26 June 2024 Time: 12.45pm – 1.30pm Location: Committee Room 1R6, Parliament House, Canberra Date: Friday, 28 June 2024 Time: 9.00am – 1.20pm Location: Committee Room 1R2, Parliament House, Canberra These hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Media inquiries Mr Brian Mitchell MP, Committee Chair Brian.Mitchell.MP@aph.gov.au 03 6398 1115 For background information Committee Secretariat Communication.reps@aph.gov.au 02 6277 2126

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts will inquire into and report on the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 28 March 2024

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts will inquire into and report on the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry. The Australian Government committed to initiatives in The National Cultural Policy, Revive, to revitalise Australia’s live music industry following the impacts of COVID-19. However, in the wake of numerous venues closing and cancellations of some of Australia’s most established and successful music festivals in recent years, it is timely the Committee considers the industry-wide issues facing the sector. Chair of the Committee, Mr Brian Mitchell MP, said ‘Australia’s live music industry is currently facing considerable operational challenges. In the last couple of years, after the reopening of live music venues and festivals post COVID lockdowns, we have seen the sector face new and unprecedented issues.’ Mr Mitchell explained ‘Some common struggles include the rising costs of presenting live music, shifting consumer behaviours, the loss of skilled workers in the industry, and cost of living ramifications. We will be exploring sustainability and growth in the Australian music industry into the future, domestically and internationally.' ‘The Committee would like to hear about barriers to industry growth, including to export, the impact of current grant and support programs, and capacity building in the sector. The impacts of emerging audience behaviours and mechanisms for audience development will also be explored, along with the suitability and location of venues and artist development and career pathways.’ Mr Mitchell stressed ‘The industry sits on the cusp of transformation, and it is important that opportunities are harnessed while the traditional community nature of experiencing a live event is retained.’ The Committee welcomes submissions from interested organisations and individuals by 30 April 2024. Further information on the inquiry, including the terms of reference and how to contribute, is available on the Committee’s website. Media inquiries Mr Brian Mitchell, MP Brian.Mitchell.MP@aph.gov.au 03 6398 1115 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4386 Communications.Reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.