October 2011
The first ever national study of the value of live music has found that in 2009/10 the Australian live music industry injected $1.21 billion into the national economy, with total profits and wages of $652 million and supporting almost 15,000 full-time jobs…The industry also attracts strong audiences with the report finding that 41.97 million patrons attended 328,000 venue-based live music performances at 3,904 venues across Australia in 2009/10.Two significant reports on the Live Music Industry have been released recently which inform policy making in this area.
The first was commissioned by APRA: click here to read it
The second is from Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA): click here to read it
Research undertaken by Innovation & Business Skills Australia (IBSA) supports recent findings into the live music industry and estimates that live music in smaller venues generates $988.5million in revenue per year. This confirms that the small venues live performance workforce is large enough to deliver an independent economic benefit to Australia’s arts economy.
August 2010
The Cultural Ministers’ Council (CMC) has released a guide to Supporting Australia’s Live Music Industry, covering some of the regulatory issues which affect live music in Australia. We have seen in recent years, particularly in Victoria and NSW, how government regulations can negatively affect live music. 
It outlines the following principles:
- The need for regulatory action should be established;
- The objective of regulatory action should be clear;
- The impact of regulatory action should be properly understood by considering the costs and benefits of a range of options, including non-regulatory options;
- Regulatory action should be effective and proportional;
- Consultation with business and the community should inform regulatory development;
- The simplification, repeal, reform or consolidation of existing regulation should be considered;
- Regulation should be periodically reviewed, and if necessary reformed to ensure its continued efficiency and effectiveness.
It covers Planning and Local Government processes, Liquor licensing, Industrial relations and workplace health and safety, Employment of children in the entertainment industry, and Funding models.
The document was prepared by the Cultural Ministers Council Contemporary Music Development Working Group with advice from Cultural Planning Consultant Mr John Wardle, one of the champions of this area of policy.
Check out the Cultural Ministers Council website
Or read the paper:
