112 New Venues Contributing To NSW's Live Music Revival

Since March 2023, New South Wales has welcomed 112 new spaces to host live music – pubs, clubs and other venues – which have led the state’s incredible live music revival.

According to new figures shared by the NSW state government, the amount of venues hosting live music leapt up by 84% in just a year as part of new Vibrancy Reforms.

With the NSW Labor government’s Vibrancy Reforms in place, music venues have seen incentives “doubled” thanks to extended trading periods and stringent community-based updates to noise complaints submissions.

245 licenced venues now claim incentives from Liquor & Gaming NSW. The first batch of Vibrancy Reforms passed through state parliament in November, with a cost relief focus for venues, including an 80% annual liquor licence fee reduction.

The new venues join just 133 music spaces registered in the state this time last year.

“We made a promise to the people of NSW to double the number of live music venues across the state within four years, and that is what we are delivering,” NSW state Premier Chris Minns commented in a statement.

Minns continued, “Our vibrancy reforms will give pubs, clubs and other live music venues the confidence they need to hire staff, trade later and host performances, providing an economic boost for hundreds of venues across regional and metro areas.

“The take-up of these extended trading incentives, coupled with lifting the concert cap and making it easier to get outdoor dining, will create jobs and get the Sydney night-time economy going again.”

Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy John Graham claimed that under the previous state government, NSW “nearly saw the day the music died”.

“We knew we had to change the rules to resuscitate the live music scene and it is pleasing to see the industry has responded immediately,” Graham said.

“In 2024 we are seeing more shows, more jobs for musicians and creatives and more work in the hospitality sector due to extended trading. We are bringing to a stop the great NSW sport of moving in next door to a venue and then launching a campaign to close it over noise.”

NSW’s Head of Sound, Emily Collins, added that it’s been “great” to see regional venues “keen to reap the benefits of the Vibrancy Reforms.”

Collins added, “By creating an environment for venues to throw open their doors to live music, we’re also supporting the ongoing growth of our state’s night-time economy, and I look forward to working across the regions to bring more opportunities to life.”