Over 60 NSW Venues Call For Govt Support To Ensure 'Ongoing Survival' Of Live Music

Live music venues across New South Wales are calling for "immediate support" from the State Government to help devise a plan to ensure the "ongoing survival" of the industry throughout the state as Australia emerges from the COVID crisis. 

Venues including Enmore Theatre, The Metro Theatre, Oxford Art Factory, Crowbar, The Vanguard, Frankie's Pizza, Manning Bar, Anita's Theatre and the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay have signed the Save Our Stages NSW petition and urged the NSW State Government to take action. 

"Live music in NSW is under threat. Unless there is immediate government intervention, we risk losing 85% of the state’s live music venues within the next 12 months," the open letter reads.

"With the biggest music industry in the country, NSW is home to some of Australia’s greatest artists and performers, biggest crowds and world-class stages. Our music creates a sense of pride, gives us a voice, introduces us to new ideas, new friends, new hope. Live music is our lifeblood and our lifeline in times of crisis.

"But now live music in NSW is on the verge of collapse. From a survey of just 47 music venues, over $70M in earnings has been lost in just six months, and they are accumulating hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt as restrictions continue to limit their business viability.

"After six years of lockout laws, devastating bushfires and now the unprecedented impacts of COVID-19, the venues that have survived through hard work and ingenuity can no longer do it alone."

The letter concludes, "We call on the NSW Government to work with MusicNSW and industry representatives to devise a stimulus package that will ensure the ongoing survival of our venues.

"A package that will support the artists and communities who depend on live music for their existence. A package which will safeguard the future of our industry. A package that will Save Our Stages."

Sign the petition here.

The news comes after some of Sydney's major live music venues owners appealed for Government support at a hearing last Friday, where Oxford Arts Factory CEO and founder Mark Gerber said his venue is "facing a very grim future, one of possible closure and running into receivership if we can't trade as normal”.

Meanwhile in Victoria, on the back of the Save Our Scene campaign, the State Government has announced over $13 million will be injected into the local music sector.