Oz launches parliamentary inquiry into music scene

Australia’s House of Representatives has launched an inquiry into the country’s struggling live music industry.

The standing committee on communications and the arts is hosting its first round of public hearings this week, with the sector in the midst of an ‘existential crisis’ amid the widespread closures of venues and festivals due to issues including the cost-of-living crisis, reduced audience spending and state restrictions.

The committee will hear about the challenges and opportunities within the Sydney and Brisbane scenes from industry stakeholders such as peak bodies, broadcasters and event organisers.

In today’s session in Brisbane, the parliamentary committee was told that Australia needs a national strategy to ensure the live music industry survives, with grassroots venues highlighted as an immediate cause for concern.

Brisbane live music venue The Zoo shut down for good in July after running at a loss for the past three years. Owner Shane Chidgzey, who noted he has lost AUS$3 million running the venue since 2020, said: “We don’t have any chance whatsoever of getting anywhere near a profit.”

“The Committee looks forward to continuing its deep dive into the operational and regulatory challenges facing the live music event industry”

Despite seeing its best-ever ticket sales in 2023, The Zoo was constantly losing money due to higher costs and falling food and drink sales, Chidgzey said. “People shouldn’t have to get drunk to keep the music industry alive.”

Among the suggested solutions were a mandatory ticket levy for large concerts to support the grassroots music sector, government-funded culture passes for young people, and a rule that international tours include at least one local artist among the support acts.

Other areas to be considered in the inquiry include “the rapidly changing face of the Australian live music industry; changing audience preferences post-pandemic—including new demographic behaviour, and how digitisation is impacting career pathways and business longevity”.

The next two hearings will take place in Sydney on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 July from The Map Rooms in The Michael Crouch Room, State Library of NSW, Sydney, respectively.

In a statement, Brian Mitchell MP, the chair of the committee, said, “The Committee looks forward to continuing its deep dive into the operational and regulatory challenges facing the live music event industry.”

Elsewhere in the Australian live music industry, the Venue Management Association (VMA), the peak body for venue industry professionals in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia, today announced that Joel Edmondson has been named as chief executive officer.

Edmondson brings more than 15 years of senior management experience and most recently served as CEO and creative director for Queensland Music Festival (QMF). He will replace Michael Brierley, the VMA’s CEO of six years, who will remain with VMA in a part-time capacity as the Association’s Company Secretary.

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