On Monday 20 February over 30 music industry organisations and leaders launched a united plan aimed at supercharging music in NSW. This plan can be found HERE.
On Wednesday 22 February the NSW Opposition released a music policy. Our response is below. We are urging for all major parties to support our industry as we approach the NSW election on 25 March.
NSW Labor election commitment for contemporary music is a serious and historic game-changer for the industry.
APRA AMCOS applauds the election commitment made today by NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns and Opposition Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy John Graham to supercharge the state’s contemporary music industry.
“This election commitment is historic. This level of investment will put NSW on par with some of the great music jurisdictions of the world; Quebec Canada, Liverpool England and Seoul South Korea,” said Dean Ormston, Chief Executive APRA AMCOS.
“NSW is a key engine room for the nation’s music industry and the launching pad for so many of Australia’s extraordinary artists. Despite this, it has long been the victim of over-zealous regulations and a long-held misunderstanding of the economic, social and cultural value we give to the state.
“The music economy is global, and competition is fierce. A Goldman Sachs report into the international music market estimates total music revenue to double to about $131 billion by 2030.
“If NSW wants a piece of that pie, we need the state government working in partnership with artists, industry workers and business to get the investment, regulation and policy settings right.
“This commitment from NSW Labor includes the necessary investment and policy priorities to supercharge music in NSW and return an economic, cultural, and social dividend for the state. This plan hits all the right notes by investing in artists, supporting venues, overhauling local regulations and getting serious about industry strategy.
“On the back of the announcement from the Australian Government to establish and invest in a national music development agency, Music Australia, this commitment from the NSW Opposition is a vital next step to combine a serious state and federal approach to the industry,” said Dean Ormston.
There have been five parliamentary inquiries into the NSW music industry since 2018 that investigated the regulatory and investment barriers limiting the sector’s activity and potential. This week, music industry bodies united around a policy platform for the NSW election on 25 March.
“We urge all parties to unite around a substantive investment and serious regulatory reform to support the music industry. We need a multi-partisan approach to ensure we can succeed and ensure NSW remains a key engine room for our global industry,” Dean Ormston said.
APRA AMCOS is the largest music industry body in the country and represents the rights of over 115,000 songwriter, composer and publisher members from across Australasia.