The NSW Minns Government is looking to put music first, introducing “world first” legislation which aims to protect venues and festivals, and provide additional support for all-ages gigs in an attempt to secure the future of music for fans and artists in the state.
Introduced to parliament this week, The Music Bill 2026 includes a number of notable points, including a new noise assessment methodology for outdoor events – which seeks to monitor sound using a standard average over time metric to reduce the number of breaches due to short sound bursts or wind gusts – and a live venue accreditation scheme, which takes the form of a three-tier system recognising ‘dedicated’, ‘significant’, and ‘live music’ venues in order to tailor the most effective government support, including extended trading hours, grants, and more.
Additionally, the Bill seeks to introduce better and more effective engagement with government agencies, including new guidelines in an attempt “to ensure event approvals are timely, risk decisions are evidence based and government charges such as venue hire and user pays policing are reasonable.”
It also looks to end genre-based music discrimination, effectively ending state government agencies and local councils making decisions on live music events and activities solely based on genre of music – which can affect licensing conditions, development applications, and event approvals.
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This newly-introduced Bill also consolidates other legislation affecting the music industry, such as the Sound NSW Advisory Board Act 2025, which established the titular board to provide advice which assists the NSW Government in the development of policies and initiatives relating to the state’s music industry.
Alongside the introduction of the Bill, the Minns Government has also introduced the $500,000 All-Ages Live Music Venue Program – which offer grants of up to $100,000 to venues to cover the cost of booking, staging and presenting a minimum of three all-ages live music experiences.
Designed to boost the number and quality of all-ages gigs in the state, expressions of interest for the program are now open, and will close at 10am on Monday, March 23rd.
“Our music industry has been smashed by lockouts, lockdowns, overregulation of festivals and the algorithmically enhanced onslaught of American music,” said Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham in a statement.
“We have to back our local musicians or they’ll continue to drop out of our charts.
Graham continued:
The peak music methodology has pushed the volume down and increased the costs for NSW festivals. Measuring average levels over time is a much more reasonable way to balance the interests of music fans and residents.
This bill steps up our support for venues who end up in disputes with the authorities or their neighbours. The cost of these painful processes can cripple small businesses, we can’t let that eat away at the culture of our city any more.
We’ve already introduced a huge range of support for NSW music, this bill takes it to another level and enshrines it in law.
“Live music is one of the great engines of our state’s cultural and social life,” added Sound NSW Head Emily Collins. “Whether it’s a packed festival, a local gig, or a community concert, these moments bring people together and keep our creative spirit thriving.
“For musicians, audiences, and the many people who make events happen, live music is more than entertainment — it’s connection, opportunity and community.
“All‑ages shows are often where young people fall in love with live music for the first time.,” Collins added. “This new program is about opening those doors: creating safe, welcoming gigs for young people while backing the venues that keep our music scene vibrant and alive.”
