NSW Venues Join Forces To Launch 'Live Music Venues Alliance'

New South Wales music venues have come together to launch the Live Music Venues Alliance (LMVA).

Founding members of LMVA include venue operators from Century Venues, the Oxford Art Factory, Crowbar Sydney, and La La La’s.

The new advocacy group will champion arts and culture at all levels of government. At the time of publication, one of the LMVA’s key focuses is the Art of Tax Reform, which would sustain and grow the country’s live music ecosystem.

As a not-for-profit peak music body, it aims to protect and promote independent music and performance spaces across NSW. It will collaborate with government, businesses and the private sector to secure support, serve as a think tank, and unlock new opportunities for the live music sector.

The LMVA’s priorities include sustainable industry funding, licensing and regulatory reform, protections against sound complaints, and the development of long-term strategies for venue vibrancy and resilience. 

In a statement, Mark Gerber, Chair of LMVA and Founder/General Manager of The Oxford Art Factory, explained the group’s goals: “Live music venues are the beating heart of our cultural sector. Yet rising costs, regulatory pressures and a broader nightlife decline are leaving too many venues to fight for survival on their own.”

Gerber continued, “The LMVA is essential because it gives us a united voice, making sure that venues are heard, supported and strengthened – and helping to keep the music alive.”

Tyla Dombroski, President of LMVA and Director/CEO of Crowbar Sydney, added: “Current tax settings reward industries with negative social outcomes, while venues that deliver proven cultural, social, and economic value are overlooked. It’s time for policy to reflect the true value of live music.”

LMVA builds on the efforts of the grassroots campaign, Save Our Stages NSW, which launched during the COVID-19 pandemic and united 76 venues across the state to lobby for emergency support.

The Save Our Stages campaign played a crucial role in securing a $24 million live music COVID-19 support package. It also contributed to Create NSW’s Performing Arts Support Package and spearheaded a petition that received thousands of signatures in support.