Aus Music Industry Calls For Longterm COVID Plan Amid New Govt Funding Announcement

Australian music bodies ARIA, PPCA and APRA AMCOS have commended the NSW and Victorian business support package expansion, but have urged for longterm support as summer approaches and confidence within the industry wanes.

Announced yesterday by the Federal Government, the changes to the Victorian Business Support Package and JobSaver NSW, which support both employing businesses and non-employing businesses including sole traders, will have a positive outcome for many within the music industry.

A statement from ARIA, PPCA and APRA AMCOS said that the funding “will ensure financial aid is provided to many additional workers within the Australian music industry who were previously excluded from accessing support due to ineligibility”.

“The increased payments to workers and the supplement payments to those receiving Centrelink payments are also much welcome and will help to ensure more artists and music industry workers can get through this lockdown,” they said.

“We urge all governments to continue coordinating with industry so that individuals do not fall through gaps in support.”

APRA AMCOS Chief Executive Dean Ormston said: “The expansion of eligibility for JobSaver, in addition to an increase in the cap accessible to businesses, is something the Australian music industry has desperately needed. 

“Many of our hard-working members and colleagues across the industry have been left ineligible for support on the basis of employment technicalities, leaving them to face a very scary reality.”

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ARIA PPCA Chief Executive Officer Annabelle Herd added: "These announcements are very welcome to music industry workers but focus must now turn to further support to help bring confidence back to live music as we come out of lockdowns. 

“This COVID uncertainty and instability is going to continue for many months post-lockdowns and without a government-backed insurance scheme to underwrite some of the risk in putting on live music events it is going to be a very quiet summer.”

Earlier this week, Victoria's lockdown ended, but it wasn’t all good news for live music and hospitality venues with new restrictions in place across the state. Meanwhile, NSW’s live music industry continues to suffer amid its ongoing lockdown.

A number of major events across the country have been postponed or cancelled as a result of the latest COVID outbreak, including BIGOUND, National Indigenous Music Awards, Leaps & Bounds and more, while next week’s Indie-Con and AIR Awards have pivoted to online-only.