30 March 2019
The Morrison Government has committed $30.9 million in new funding for more live music and to create more opportunities for Australia’s artists to compete in a global industry.
The Australian Music Industry Package will provide funding for a range of measures which include grants to assist Australian small businesses to host more live music and new mentoring programs to encourage greater representation of women and Indigenous artists in the music industry. The Government will also provide additional funding for touring. The four-year funding package includes the following measures:
- The Live Music Australia initiative: $22.5 million over four years to assist thousands of Australian small businesses with grants of up to $10,000 each for artist costs and to invest in equipment or infrastructure to establish or upgrade live music venues and schedule more performances.|
- Women in Music Mentor program: $2.1 million to deliver a mentoring program to help women take their music career to the next level, including professional training in contract negotiation, marketing, and finance.
- Indigenous Contemporary Music program: $2.7 million to establish a national development program for Indigenous musicians and bands for touring, recording and planning effective touring circuits.
- Contemporary Music Touring program boost: $2 million to the Australia Council to increase performance opportunities for musicians, including in regional venues.
- Sounds Australia expansion: $1.6 million to expand the program to assist the Australian music industry to capitalise on emerging markets in Asia.
The Australian Government is committed to a stronger domestic live music scene and sees the Live Music Australia initiative as critical to the development of our local artists and audiences. This core component targets the start‑up and operational costs of presenting live music.
Minister for the Arts Mitch Fifield said the Budget measures are designed to grow Australia’s thriving music industry, bring live music to more Australian communities and ensure local artists can expand into lucrative international markets.
“Australia has a long history of bands – among the best in the world – cutting their teeth in small live venues. Audiences across the country enjoy live music and this package will ensure that small venues can schedule more performances to meet that demand and provide the essential training ground for the next generation of great artists.
“Australia’s local music industry is one of our most important cultural exports, contributing up to $6 billion to our economy each year,” Minister Fifield said.
“This investment is about removing roadblocks for Australian musicians and boosting their profile in a competitive global market. The Morrison Government understands the enormous potential for growth in this dynamic sector and is delivering real world measures to strengthen the diversity and reach of our music industry.”
“I would like to acknowledge the tireless work of Australia’s peak music bodies in advocating for their industry. They have been instrumental in highlighting the key areas requiring assistance in their sector.”
“The Government has a strong track record of backing Australia’s musicians. From cracking down on piracy by modernising copyright laws and funding better music teaching in schools, to expanding export initiatives and lowering taxes for small business, the Morrison Government is giving our talented artists a competitive edge in the global music market.”
This package is in addition to new funding in the Education portfolio for two school-based specialist music education programs.
The Morrison Government will also invest $1.7 million to extend the reach of music education throughout our classrooms.
The Song Room will receive $1.25 million to support the rollout of its Transformational Learning Through Creativity program to about 6,000 disadvantaged students in 16 schools across Launceston, Port Pirie, Shepparton and the Hunter Valley.
Music Australia will receive $450,000 to support Australia’s largest school-based music initiative, Music: Count Us In next year. The program is helping 700,000 students from 3,360 schools throughout Australia participate in music education by providing resources for teachers.
Music is a great way for school children to learn. Music can enrich the lives of students, help them perform better in other areas of their education, and can increase engagement and attendance by encouraging them to have a go.
The Government will also continue to provide more than $100 million in support for existing Australian music organisations, projects and programs.
The Australian Music Industry package addresses issues raised in the House Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts’ inquiry into factors contributing to the growth and sustainability of the Australian music industry.
For more information visit: www.communications.gov.au