Advocacy
APRA AMCOS takes its leadership position and responsibility seriously, securing good relations with political parties across the spectrum and collaborating with creative industry colleagues to find agreed policy positions to advocate. From AI to live music, education, exports and sustainable careers, we are continually seeking better outcomes, not just for our members, but for the industry as a whole. With these strong local and global partnerships, APRA AMCOS continues to be a driving force in advocating for a more vibrant and sustainable creative sector.
Photo: AJ Taylor
Live music crisis takes a toll on artists: data shows $600m lost income*
Estimated lost earnings for performers in live music venues since Covid
- Since last year’s reported loss of 1,300 licensed live music venues, or one-third of the total compared to pre-pandemic numbers, OneMusic Australia reports a 19% year-on-year increase, bringing the total number of licensed venues to 4,548. Some of this growth is attributed to existing venues offering live music again as well as new bars and brewery venues offering live music for the first time.
- Despite this increase in live music stages, there are still 13% fewer than before Covid and licence fees are 25% lower, likely the result of artists being paid less to perform. It’s estimated that artists have lost over AU$600m in income since FY19.
- In New Zealand, it is a similar story. Venue numbers have increased 9% YoY, however there are 17% fewer stages and artists have lost out on NZ$33m in income since FY19.
- While growth in licensed venues and Performance Reports submissions is a positive development, challenges remain with changes in consumer behaviour, reduced performance opportunities and rising venue operating costs (including public liability insurance) exacerbated by the pandemic.
- New South Wales (21%), Victoria (19%) and Queensland (19%) have seen a good rebound in stage numbers over the last 12 months. Tasmania has seen the strongest growth at 35% and is now ahead of 2018 numbers.
- In June 2024, we gave a submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee for Communications and the Arts inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry.
- APRA AMCOS continues to lobby state and territory governments to legislate for establishing special entertainment precincts to foster and protect new and existing live music venues.
- A new tax rebate for Australia’s live music sector would be transformative, not only for the economy but also for the nation’s cultural and social wellbeing. Despite a 19% increase in licensed live music venues, the industry is still 13% smaller than before the pandemic and artists have lost an estimated AU$600 million in live earnings.
An Oxford Economics report commissioned by APRA AMCOS in 2022 found that a 20% tax rebate could drive $920 million in gross value added (GVA) to the broader economy and create 10,800 jobs across the country.
- Live music is the cultural heartbeat of Australia, enriching communities, supporting regional development and providing a crucial social outlet for young people. It’s also the feeding ground for global music exports, helping local talent build the foundations for international success. By offering a tax rebate, we can strengthen the ecosystem that nurtures the next generation of artists, ensuring Australia remains a global music powerhouse while revitalising the social and cultural fabric of the nation.
*NB. Assumes venues and live music earnings remained flat from FY19 onwards
AI and Music
- With the rapid rise of generative AI impacting Australian music creators and the copyright of their works, we began working on an extensive report with Berlin-based consultancy, Goldmedia, to research the state of generative AI and music in Australia and New Zealand and its potential impact on music creators.
- As a first step, in May 2024, members were asked to take part in a survey revealing how they currently worked with AI, their thoughts, concerns and expectations from the government regarding consent, credit and fair remuneration.
- 4,200 members took part in the survey, highlighting the importance of this topic to the music community.
- NATSIMO surveyed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members with questions that related specifically to concerns regarding the risk of AI causing cultural appropriation and minimising the ability to safeguard the authenticity and use of their musical cultural heritage, instrumentation and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP). Aotearoa asked Māori members about the challenge to the protection of Māori cultural integrity.
- Also in May, CEO Dean Ormston was invited to be one of 20 leaders from the creative industries and academia to join the Steering Committee of the Attorney-General’s Copyright and Artificial Intelligence Reference Group (CAIRG). A submission on behalf of members was put to the Committee on the concerns of generative AI in the music industry.
Local content
- Following the launch of the federal government’s REVIVE policy in July last year, and its investigation into local content obligations for Australian screen content on Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) services, we have continuously advocated to ensure any local content scheme supports local screen composers and local music creators generally. This includes investigating key strategies that protect Australian creators from unfair buyouts by global screen organisations.
- APRA AMCOS has also supported PPCA’s Radio Fair Play campaign to Scrap the Caps.
