After 13 years of enriching the local music scene, APRA AMCOS has announced the end of both its Live Music Office (LMO) and trailblazing local music program, Live And Local.
First opening its doors in 2013 alongside the release of the National Cultural Policy and Creative Australia, the Live Music Office was established by the Australian Government in partnership with the Ministry For The Arts and APRA AMCOS.
At the time of its launch, the Live Music Office existed against a backdrop of difficulties for the Australian music scene, with a dominant threat with liquor licensing frameworks, building codes, and planning laws placing pressure on the ability of venues to remain viable and open.
At the time, its goal was to face these challenges head-on, “reviewing policy frameworks, building best practice resources and advocating for reform at every level of government.”
In 2026, however, APRA AMCOS notes that many of these regulatory barriers have since been dismantled, with a “national architecture of government bodies, industry organisations and funding programs” now supporting local live music in a way that it didn’t 13 years earlier.
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
These new organisation and bodies include the likes of Music Australia, the Australian Live Music Business Council, the Nighttime Industries Association, Live Music Venues Alliance, and the Australian Festival Association, alongside state development offices as well.
"In the 13 years since the Live Music Office was established, the landscape has changed dramatically,” explains APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston. “With government bodies at a federal and state level now doing such an incredible job for live music, and local councils empowered to continue the good work, now feels like the right time to hand back the mantle.
“By doing that, it also allows us to focus more on other important priorities for our members and the broader industry by advocating the Australian Government for a broad-based tax incentive for live music venues to help build the long-term sustainability of the live ecosystem."
Additionally, the Live And Local program has supported more than 1,000 live music events through partnerships with more than 40 local Australian councils, demonstrating the cultural, social, and economic value of live music in their communities.
While this work helped to illustrate to local governments the importance of live music from local artists, APRA AMCOS note that they expect this work to be continued from the local councils and communities rather than a dedicated national office.
“We are also grateful to the many policy experts who contributed to the Live And Local program over its lifetime,” Ormston added, thanking a number of individuals who helped make the program a successful undertaking.
“To all of them, and to the many artists, venue operators, state and territory governments, councils, researchers and advocates who contributed over 13 years, thank you.”
APRA AMCOS notes that it will now be directing the energy previously used for live music advocacy toward a federal live music tax incentive scheme, with further details and updates expected to be made available via the organisation’s website.
