NSW Music Industry Makes $100 Million Election Pitch

Music industry professionals from ARIA, APRA AMCOS, Music NSW, Vibe Lab, Australian Festival Association, Live Performance Australia, and more have come together and created the Vote Music policy paper, which advocates for contemporary music in New South Wales.

The $100 million pitch, launched at an event in Sydney today, aims to make New South Wales the premier music state. The policy ask is centred around following three pillars aimed at stabilising and growing the state's music industry:

• Establish a Contemporary Music Office in the NSW Government to spearhead the development and delivery of a 10-year Contemporary Music Strategy
• NSW Government to invest in skills, industry and audience development through a suite of strategic initiatives
• Cement NSW as a global destination by protecting and building music infrastructure and place-making through music.

The industry aims to have the paper adopted by the major political parties as they march towards the polls on March 25. Polling shows Labor narrowly in front but with their lead tightening.

The policy paper's first pillar would develop and deliver a 10-year music strategy and partner with organisations in the industry to deliver strategic initiatives. The Contemporary Music Office would work on the development of a live music and business precinct, the oversight of significant music event acquisition and retainment, supporting music tech innovation, conducting research, providing a music business concierge service, reviewing and developing policies including procurement policies, and leveraging export opportunities for NSW artists, industry and music businesses. 

The second pillar would invest in First Nations Strategy and Funding, providing skills; training and career pathways; delivering programs for young people to enter the music industry; supporting existing music venues and creating new ones; increasing funding for music events in regional areas, improving on-site accessibility, and more. 

The third focuses on increasing access to music, including the creation of a Music Business Hub in Tech Central, conducting a dedicated venue strategy that protects and supports existing music venues, as well as initiatives, regulatory reform and funding to stimulate the development of new live music spaces and places. The third policy action also addresses sustainability and climate change, sound improvements, introducing 24-hour licenced venues, and more.

Live music is vital to residents of New South Wales. Before the pandemic, contemporary live music events in NSW generated more than $835 million in revenue, with over 700 venues across the state providing live music to punters. The industry contributes $3.6B in economic, cultural & social value to NSW.

There is no word yet on parties adopting the policy, however, Labor is set to announce it's arts policy this Wednesday.