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
[email protected]
03 6398 1115
For background information
Committee Secretariat
[email protected]
02 6277 2126