'Make Them Feel Like They Can Reach Out': Picking Up The Pieces Of The Aus Music Industry

CONTENT WARNING: This article contains discussion of mental health. If you are suffering from any of the issues that have been discussed or need assistance, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. 

As 2021 marches on and the daily news cycle continues to be dominated by case numbers, lockdown breaches and blame, an ever-growing sense of urgency surrounds the future of many industries returning to even a shred of normalcy as Australian vaccination rates continue to flounder in comparison to the rest of the world. But while the financial impacts facing sectors on a global scale continue to wreak havoc - particularly for the long-suffering music industry - another threat lies in the undertow of the COVID-19 pandemic: the toll on people's mental health around the industry as they continue to be kept in the dark.

On last week's two-part The Green Room COVID-19 special, an array of music industry leaders discussed a range of issues and solutions with podcast host Tiana Speter relating to the ongoing effects of the pandemic on the Australian music industry. 

And while the majority of panellists appearing on the podcast concurred that the industry was currently worse off than it was this time last year, a permeating message of hope, solidarity and resilience also echoed, as the stalwart line-up of insiders stressed the importance of looking after one another during the industry's darkest hours.

"More than ever, I just want to ensure that, as an industry, we do our very best to continue to look after each other," said Stephen Wade, CEO of Select Music and Chairperson of the Australian Live Music Business Council (ALMBC).

"The days of screaming at the clouds and the anger and all the rest of it is gone. And those of us that are in and fighting for our survival and all the rest of it; I just hope that we can continue to do that, and be recognised as a sector that has incredible value to the culture and the economic, financial wellbeing of the whole country.

"And that's where I think the general public can definitely play a part as we go along; we're still going to have a lot of really dark days over the next three to six months. The financial loss is so devastating, I don't even speak about it. I haven't even looked at how much money we've lost as a company because I don't think I'd be able to get the figure out of my head. And my mental health doesn't need it.

"No one is in this like the music industry has been in this."

READ MORE: Music Industry Brainstorms Solutions As Govt Fails To Provide Roadmap Out Of COVID

While a large portion of the discussions of mental health stemmed from Australia's vaccination rates and the impedance of the return of live music on The Green Room, a driving message of unity and strength rang through, with Bluesfest festival director Peter Noble calling on the media and the industry at large to solidify the message that "this too shall pass" - and that people should be encouraged to speak out if they're struggling. 

"The messaging must be: we care about our industry," Noble told Speter. 

"It's easy for all of us in the midst of all this to lose the fundamental message: keep government accountable, keep supporting our industry, keep telling the good stories about people. Or even people who need help, make them feel like they can reach out."

"We all need to be a voice, we have got an incredibly strong voice. And when disasters like tsunamis and bushfires happen - we go out there, and we do that. Now let's do it for ourselves."

"The messaging must be: we care about our industry."

At the time of publication, the Australian Government Department of Health reported that close to six million vaccine doses had been administered in the past 24 hours across Australia, with an overall tally just shy of 14 million doses administered as at Monday 9 August. 

Sadly for many toiling in lockdown or poised for a potential snap decision, the increase of vaccination rates pales in comparison to the mishandled rollout and the increasing uncertainty of Australia's AstraZeneca vaccine's status on the world's stage. But, for John "JC" Collins, owner of The Triffid and co-owner of The Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, the industry is more than ready to be help bolster vaccination rates and ultimately get things back on track - providing they are given the opportunities to enter these discussions.

"What I've really tried to focus on...is trying to just get by," Collins told Speter while discussing how he's coped as a venue owner in these ever-so uncertain times.

As for how to involve the industry to help get this proverbial show back on the road? "I think that's a really important thing. Give the industry as much as you can without huge risk," Collins said.

"We've proven ourselves to be very diligent and lawful, and I think that's my message to the government: we don't need to be making profit, we just wanna be here when this is over, and have an industry that we're proud of.

"We're not here to make money - we just wanna not go broke. And talk to us about 'how', if there's houses we can rent, Airbnbs, just for bands to do two or three day quarantine and testing - let's have these discussions so we can open up our capacities somewhat. Whatever it takes; but don't just leave us in the dark and say it's too hard.

"I'd love to set these places up to get vaccinated, and people out on a Friday night, if they wanna come in, have a shot - organise a shot for a shot, let's make it fun!"

"No one is in this like the music industry has been in this."

As Executive Director of the Association of Artist Managers, Maggie Collins shared first-hand the emotional fragility she has encountered around the industry continue to face as Australia approaches the 18-month mark of its COVID-19 battle.

"Agents, managers and musicians alike; everyone is just exhausted and the morale is so low, the mental health is really dangerously being challenged at the moment across the board," Collins told Speter. 

"A big shout out to all my amazing managers that I know and that I represent at the AAM, they're doing incredible work. And we'll get through it."

Meanwhile, for ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd, her very recent foray into the music industry - taking over the position at the start of this year after a 16-year tenure at Network 10 - offered her unique perspective on the musical sector, as well as some firm words of support.

"Certainly at ARIA...we've had quite a few suggestions come in on things that we can do to help artists or to give people a bit of purpose during this time, because I think there's so much mental health impact as well from not being able to do what you love, not being able tour," said Herd.

"We're looking at any suggestions that come in, we're thinking about some of those things."

"But once those tickets do go on sale: I just would urge people to go and buy them, help your favourite artists get back onstage. And, of course: get vaccinated as soon as you possibly can. I understand people under 40 at the moment are limited in their choices and options, but as soon as you can get vaccinated - that will be our pathway back to live music again."

"I would just say this industry, and I'm not from the industry, I'm from a different industry... but I have just been so impressed by people's resilience, their tenacity, they entrepreneurial spirit... they're just really impressive hustlers. 

"So, I feel like if anybody, if any industry can get through this: it's the Australian music industry. 

"My doors are always open, or my email inbox, or my phone... If you have ideas, if you have thoughts about how ARIA can support artists and support people in the industry at the moment: just get in touch, and we'll try and do whatever we can."

"If anybody,  if any industry can get through this: it's the Australian music industry." 

For Oztix CEO Brian "Smash" Chladil, witnessing the onslaught of rescheduled and cancelled shows in Australia for months on end has certainly provided its own unique challenges. But, as he told Speter on The Green Room, the support in and beyond the industry is still very much there against all the odds, and despite the stress and the gloom. 

"To be honest, I think it's great the punters are still supporting us and buying tickets even though they probably [wouldn't] be if they weren't so emotionally involved in music," Chladil said.  

"But the biggest thing is - I feel for the little businesses who, you know, may not have the capacity to survive. If this virus just keeps dragging on and on, and we can't get on top of the vaccination - a lot of people aren't going to make it. 

"I just wanted to say: if anyone's listening who's feeling threatened or scared about their future, or if you're down in the dumps: reach out to your colleagues or your peers, or at least call Support Act, they're a fantastic organisation and they're here to help you if you're struggling."

"Reach out to your colleagues or your peers, or at least call Support Act, they're a fantastic organisation and they're here to help you if you're struggling."

Support Act's CEO Clive Miller also reiterated the sentiment of not giving up hope, discussing some of the tangible resources and lifelines his organisation offers for anyone currently struggling in and around the music industry right now.

"We'll get through this, and things will get back to some kind of new normal," Miller told Speter.

"But, as part of that journey...there's a lot of despondency, there's just a great sense of resignation, I suppose. And certainly in the last couple of weeks, I noticed, particularly people reaching out to the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline, there was a sense of futility and a loss of resilience. 

"I think there was a sense that somehow people were like: 'Not again, I just can't do this'. But, I guess what happens is that once people work through those initial feelings of futility, that are completely understandable - the next phase of that is to actually think: 'Well, what can I do, what do I have to do?'. 

"I think we'll all continue to work through those different feelings. And hopefully, we'll still be standing when we get into the recovery phase, and through the recovery phase and get back to doing what we love.

"I'm optimistic and confident that that's where we'll end up, but it's just going to take a bit of time to get there."

For anyone in the music industry currently facing mental or financial challenges - COVID-19 related or not - Support Act offers a large array of grants and programs alongside its 24/7 mental health wellbeing hotline; and, as of yesterday, the organisation also received an additional $20 million in funding to support music industry artists and workers throughout the ongoing pandemic situation. 

"I'd just really obviously like to encourage anybody that is struggling financially, to reach out to us for crisis relief, to apply for either the MusicKeeper or CrewKeeper [now the COVID-19 Crisis Relief Grants] grant," Miller said.

"Bearing in mind, we do have a bit of a backlog at the moment, so it's taking a few weeks for us to turn the applications around - but don't be put off by that, we will get to you, and hopefully sooner than that where we can.

"The other thing is that I would encourage people, on the mental health front, that the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline is an invaluable resource, if you want to talk to somebody about any aspect of your mental health or wellbeing. The people on the end of that line are trained psychologists who not only provide a shoulder to lean on, they're really constructive in the way that they can help all of us work through issues, whether in relation to anxiety, depression, loneliness, financial concerns, career concerns... really whatever you would like to talk about. 

"At the moment, there's a range of resources that are available on our website, we've got workshops and mental health first aid training, and all sorts of things that we really just invite people to have a look at and participate in where they feel it's appropriate."

"Culturally; when people are in lockdown - they're listening to music. We are there alongside people."

Looking tentatively to the future as the music industry clings on for dear life, Australia Council CEO Adrian Collette is entirely familiar with the challenges that lie ahead for the industry and broader arts sectors, long after the pandemic will have subsided; but, the grit and determination at play right now has its own long-term silver linings.

"It's a bit easy to talk long-term, but I think there's going to be some really strong lessons coming out of this period if we have the wit and the perseverance to get through it," Collette told Speter.

And as with ARIA CEO Annabelle Heard, Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS, offered a similar message for those around the industry, reminding everyone that support is there, as is the opportunity to reach out.

"For individuals in our industry it is a really tough time. We want to be here to hear people's particular stories," Ormston said. "So people: reach out to us, we're here to support people, and we want the umbrella to be big."

For an industry perpetually labelled as the first out and last to return to full operation, the Aussie music world has not entirely broken despite incessant roadblocks and hurdles; and, as Secret Sounds co-CEO Paul Piticco aptly put it: "the music scene is a first responder". While the industry is undeniably desperate for help and rallying to gain more assistance across the board; against all the odds, it also ultimately continues to be a selfless refuge for many beyond its walls as Australia trudges on through lockdowns, restrictions and beyond. 

"I don't think there's enough recognition about what the arts contribute to society, to the community," Isol-Aid online music festival director and programmer of the Brunswick Music Festival's Emily Ulman told Speter.

"And not just financially, which has been studied, and there is the data there to support how much we contribute. But also, obviously, culturally: when people are in lockdown - they're listening to music. We are there alongside people."

The Green Room COVID-19 special also featured Nicholas Greco (director of Untitled Group), Chris O'Hearn (PR & management company Thrillhill Music), Melbourne singer-songwriter and industry advocate Alex Lahey, Paul Fletcher (Minister for the Arts) and Tony Burke (Shadow Minister for the Arts).

You can listen to both episodes below, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, or wherever you usually get your podcasts.

Head here to find out more about Support Act.