News July 16, 2018

Nightlife Music warns senate inquiry an entire sector is being ignored

Earlier today, APRA AMCOS and SPA released a submission to the senate inquiry into Australian content on broadcast, radio and streaming services. Now Nightlife Music has added their own, warning that an entire sector of content is being overlooked in the first submission.

Watch: Kota Banks – “Fiorentina”

Company founder Mark Brownlee believes public performance has been overlooked in the original submission by APRA AMCOS and SPA. “What isn’t being considered in the quota debate are the millions of songs being heard every day in the public performance space, which is enormous and covers every business imaginable and even extends to DJs and live acts,”

APRA reported a total income of $248,260,000 from television, radio, public performance and digital media in 2017. However in the first joint submission, the focus is set on digital media. Brownlee believes that there also needs to be changes made to the rules surrounding public performance.

“We need companies, which create and curate services locally to suit the music needs
of the discerning Aussie music fan”

Nightlife Music provides music streams to 7,000 commercial locations across Australia reaching
over 6 million people a week. “Many people discover music for the first time when they are out with their friends and that’s why the public arena is so important when it comes to showcasing new Australian
talent,” Brownlee says on why there has to be more focus on the overlooked sector.

He was also quick to put his support behind the original submission; “We fully support the push from APRA AMCOS and Screen Producers Australia to create a thriving local music industry and that needs to include public performance so will also be adding our voice in a submission to the Senate inquiry.” Adding that his company is hoping to announce new initiatives to support Australian music in the next few weeks.