EXCLUSIVE: Read Jack River's Powerful Speech At Labor's Live Music Policy Launch

The Labor Party's live music policy launch in Sydney last Friday was attended by some of New South Wales' biggest and brightest acts, including The Preatures, Urthboy, Set Mo and Leah Flanagan.

Also in attendance at the launch was Sydney songwriter Jack River who delivered a powerful speech about the state of live music and festivals in New South Wales.

The Music can today exclusively reveal the entire transcript of River's speech. Read it in full below.

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My name is Holly Rankin, I write, perform and produce music under the name Jack River and am the director of two large music events - Grow Your Own (a music and produce festival in my regional hometown of Forster) and Electric Lady (a female fronted concert series and conference held in Sydney and Melbourne). 

A state’s entertainment defines the imagination of its culture, of its business and most importantly of its youth. Music speaks universally, and its leading figures speak without constraint of political agenda, of media buyout or of editorial muting from influences beyond their control. In an age where companies and parties are fighting for the attention of all demographics, musicians and their counterparts worldwide hold out in the lead for digital influence on the platforms of Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

With our digital and cultural voice stronger then ever on a global level, music has the power to build or dismantle whatever it puts its mind to. We see this in great moments of change - which leads me to what is happening right now in New South Wales. 

As both a musician and promoter - I see the impact of music on the lives of primarily young Australians, as well as in my work with the nation’s leading artists, agents, promoters, managers, venues, media and fans. As a promoter for Grow Your Own in Forster, my team and I work very closely with Mid Coast Council, NSW Liquor and Gaming, NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, NSW Health and other local agencies - as any festival in NSW does. I see wonder, emotion and youth on one level, but right underneath it I see industry, safety, policy and layers upon layers of organisation.

In my opinion, to say in general that music in NSW is struggling would be very wrong.

New South Wales has the largest share of Australia's contemporary music activity. In 2016, the state generated the highest share of contemporary music revenue at $157.6 million and 1.91 million people attended contemporary music performances.

Though to say that right now, the current state governmental support and regulation structures, laws and policy’s supporting contemporary music are struggling, would (in my opinion) be very right. 

We have seen 176 live music venues close in Sydney since the beginning of 2014. There are now less entertainment venues in NSW than in 2011.

The current NSW Government has no plan for contemporary music. We are the only state on the mainland without one.

The current NSW Government has limited consultation with contemporary music and music event bodies - something which today’s policy would seek to remedy.

Though today we see NSW Labor make a positive and exciting, but desperately needed step in the right direction for an industry that contributes economically, plays by the rules and services the cultural needs and spaces of young people. The policy will see Labor invest directly in contemporary music to the amount suggested by the parliamentary inquiry, we will see key funding delivered to NSW bodies that directly support and invest in the proliferation of musicians and industry and the promise to consult closely with industry bodies on regulations that can make or break them. Labor will also introduce the concept of a right to play - to recognise our place of work, as a place of work - not a place of revelry. 

Today, Labor is committing formally to refurbishing state government with a Minister for music, recognising the economic relevance of music to regional and city centres, and the need for considered communication and regulation. 

As a young promoter with a regional event in its fourth year, my small 4,000 cap event is estimated to contribute over $2 million to Forster Tuncurry’s local economy over the weekend of the festival. I run this festival because I am inspired to cure the cultural deficit of my hometown. Where there was absolutely nothing, there is now something.

I look up to Secret Sounds' flagship events in NSW’s Northern Rivers, Splendour In The Grass and Falls Festival,  create a yearly economic output of approx $126 million, 30% of which is attributed to Byron Shire and the rest to local and national staff, contractors within the industry, artists and creative businesses. 

Along with Bluesfest, these two events have given a cultural and economic identity to Byron Bay and provided economic pathways for hundreds of small business’ and contractors. 

On the outside, these events are candy shop sonic wonderlands to Australia’s youth, but on the inside you will find 200-strong full time workforce's and some of the most impressive cultural economics in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Today, NSW Labor is recognising the workers of song, as workers - not entertainers who do not care about their rights, nor citizens who do not deserve fair access to work. The majority of us take great interest in government and in our business’ - and it is now time for them to take interest in us. We contribute more than our fair share to the economy and the cultural fabric of your home state and country, our products and brands serve young people like no other industry. 

I look forward to a future that champions its music economy, and pays it the respect, communication, investment and support that it deserves. I commend Labor for taking huge leaps for our industry in this policy and look forward to working with them if and when they are elected in 2019.