Go backstage with The Music and receive FREE:

  • Exclusive members-only editorial, charts
  • Our subscriber-only newsletter
  • Members only competitions to win tickets, experiences and more
  • Access to our street press archives
  • First access to our exclusive limited edition vinyl variants

Thank you for being a part of our community! Enter your email address as verification and you'll be taken backstage right away.

Please ensure that you provide a valid email address.

Face The Music: John Wardle

"Events like Face The Music not only support artists and industry, but also bring great advocates together to share knowledge."

Name: John Wardle

Position: Policy Director, Live Music Office

How did you first become involved in the music business? Playing bars like the Lansdowne Hotel in Sydney after leaving school, then studying music and playing around town. The live music in Kings Cross, Balmain, around the harbour, suburbs and northern beaches was electrifying!

What's your area of expertise and what experience do you have? I've been a professional musician and music teacher for a long time now, with the last decade also working in music policy related areas such as strategic planning, research and advocating for better regulations.

What topics will you be mostly talking about at Face The Music? Policy development and strategic planning for contemporary music across the states and territories will be important, as well as specific issues across regulation for late trading live performance and the UTAS Live Music Office research.

What do you hope to personally take away from Face The Music? There's some fine folks working across the country to support the music sector - events like Face The Music not only support artists and industry, but also bring great advocates together to share knowledge.

What's one question about the music industry you'd love to have the answer to? So many questions - choosing just one is going to take some time.

Join 'Backstage Pass', our FREE members program for music fans