Funding Scandal: 'Don't Fight Classical'

As outrage over Government funding to classical music spreads, stakeholders say classical music isn't the enemy.

Yesterday Your Daily SPA broke the story of the outrage from the contemporary music sector over the millions of dollars in funding given to classical music, in particular Melbourne label Melba.

The story has thrust discussion of the National Cultural Policy, which is still being developed by Federal Arts Minister Simon Crean, back into the spotlight.

Today Nick O'Byrne, General Manager of the Australian Independent Records Label Association [AIR], who has been a long-time campaigner for further recognition of contemporary music in Australia told Your Daily SPA that the issue wasn't so much about classical versus contemporary, but rather a transparency of Government funding.

The funding for Melba (which started with $5 million in 2004 and most recently involved $750,000 in 2011, a year in which they released just three albums) is believed to have come from outside the standard Australia Council pathways for acquiring funding.

It has been claimed that by going straight to then-treasurer Peter Costello in 2004 with the aid of influential ambassadors, they've also managed to remove themselves from the peer-review systems in place.

O'Byrne wants to ensure that the Australia Council is not undermined because of the scandal.

He said it was important that music stakeholders “don't make this debate about classical music versus contemporary music. That's not the point. In fact, it's undeniable that some of Melba's projects do have serious cultural significance.”

O'Bryne, through AIR, have, like a number of other music industry stakeholders and representatives made submissions to Minister Crean's office regarding the National Cultural Policy.

When – or if – finalised, it will be the first time Australia has had such a policy in 20 years. And with recent studies valuing live music – particularly smaller indie gigs – in the billions of dollars, it is hoped that funding will flow through to other sectors.

But today O'Byrne warned that if Melba is to have its funding redistributed, there's no guarantee that it will stay in the arts.

“I want to make sure that the $1-$2 million potentially going to Melba isn't put in the 'too-hard basket' as we head towards a brutal federal budget where the government is mercilessly cutting to ensure they arrive at surplus. It's important this money stays within the arts funding system and is just re-distributed.”

He also said that despite Melba's shallow release output last year (which equated to 250,000 per album), “The Australia Council's funding should not always be based on how many sales you make.

“This said, personally I'd love to see more Australia Council money being spent on the intersection of culture and commerce. Investing in organisations and businesses so that they may increase their capacity for continued support of the arts.”

Pictured: Federal Minister Simon Crean meeting members of the contemporary music industry at the Generate announcement last week. Pic by Matt Barber