Music Victoria Kicks Off Membership Drive

Independent music body Music Victoria have kicked off a big membership drive today, encouraging live music lovers all around the state to contribute to the cause of supporting live music by becoming a member of the group.

If you're wondering why you should help out, then a couple of the ambassadors for the organisation have some pretty captivating explanations as to the benefits of supporting the body.

“A significant contribution Music Victoria has already made to the debate about live music in this state is successfully advocating for the government to agree to legislate the Agent of Change Principle which has been a long time coming and should solve a great many potential disputes between developers, venue operators and home owners,” Deborah Conway says. “It's great insurance to support and preserve music in the inner city of Melbourne and beyond and quite a feather in the cap for Music Victoria.”

“We need to have our voice heard at the level of government to ensure policies are made with our best interests at heart,” Jen Cloher says. “I don't take Melbourne's thriving music community for granted - we're privileged. That's why I'm a Music Victoria member.”

Today Music Victoria showed exactly what they are capable of and willing to do when it comes to lobbying political parties to support live music, recommending a raft of new initiatives to support the scene.

There are more tangible benefits as well, things like excess baggage allowances on Qantas and Virgin domestic flights, discounts on stuff like band merch, insurance, CD and vinyl manufacturing and earplugs as well as regular professional development workshops for musicians and music businesses.

It's not all that expensive, either. Prices are below and you can sign up and get more info at the Music Victoria website. The membership drive runs through until next Friday 4 April.

$33 – Individual member
$22 – Concession individual member
$66 - Band membership
$66 – Non-profit organisations
$150 – Small business
$330 – Corporate member
$550 – Gold membership
$990 – Platinum membership