Music Industry Enters ‘Most Challenging Phase Yet’ As Omicron Crisis Worsens

2022 was supposed to be a fresh start for many in the music industry hoping to pick up the pieces two years into the pandemic, but as the Omicron variant continues to decimate live events, it seems we’re no closer to recovery.

As COVID cases continue to surge across the country, NSW has reintroduced restrictions that have had a huge impact on the live events industry, banning singing and dancing in hospitality venues and entertainment facilities and stating that major events could be postponed if they pose a high risk.

Meanwhile, Victoria has reintroduced density limits of one person per 2 square metres at indoor hospitality venues and entertainment venues.

Speaking with The Music, Live Performance Australia Chief Executive Evelyn Richardson said that Omicron had “plunged the industry into another abyss with shows and gigs cancelling all over the country”.

“This is our most challenging phase yet as we grapple with surging transmission, reimposition of government restrictions and consumer confidence has crashed nationally,” Richardson.

“Without targeted government support, the industry will struggle to ride this latest wave. The impacts are being felt across the board and the next couple of months are going to be brutal.

“The absence of a national insurance scheme is a major failure and given the uncertainty we all face over the next 12-18 months remains critical to rebuilding business and consumer confidence.

“Governments will also need to provide emergency assistance to companies to enable full reactivation of business activity when this surge stabilises plus rebuild consumer confidence.”

APRA AMCOS Chief Executive Dean Ormston told The Music that, while “community health must be the key priority of the federal, state and territory governments”, “as a culturally, socially and economically vibrant nation we need to start proactively and strategically planning through COVID…not just when it flares up”.

“The let’s wait and see approach, is not going to cut it for the thousands of Australians who rely on work in the music and entertainment sector,” Ormston said.

“Collectively our industry has been calling on the federal, state and territory governments to support ‘business interruption insurance’. It’s great the Victorian govt has launched an event interruption insurance scheme, but where are the other states, and territories? This is a national issue - state and federal. We’re a national $16bn+ industry.

“We need and want to work with governments in supporting community health, and ensuring we have a future live music and entertainment industry. We need more than hope, we need good policy, planning and targeted funding based on the fact we’ll be living with COVID in some shape and form for a while.

“As priorities…we need to ensure ongoing emergency funding for the work of Support Act, and business and event interruption insurance that’s available nationally.”

It’s not just Victoria and New South Whales that are feeling the effects of the Omicron outbreak, with iconic Adelaide venue The Wheaty unable to host shows again until the state’s restrictions allow for at least 50% capacity, while beloved Brisbane live space The Zoo was forced to close last week as all its events were impacted by COVID.

The Brisbane leg of new Aussie festival Full Tilt was also postponed last week, only one day out from kicking off due to members of Northlane, their touring party and a number of other artists on the bill all testing positive to COVID.

Over on the West Coast, the 2022 edition of WA’s Nannup Music Festival has been axed as organisers express concerns about the state’s live music scene once the border reopens on February 5.

READ MORE: Are COVID Detecting Sniffer Dogs The Future Of Live Music?