Australian industry commits to National Business Development Plan

Attendees of yesterday’s inaugural National Contemporary Music Roundtable in Sydney have agreed to implement a series of strategies to drive business growth in Australia.

Taking place at Erskineville Town Hall yesterday, more than 50 music industry figures gathered to build a shared agenda around public respect, live music, cultural trade in music, optimisinga skilled workforce and remuneration and employment for creators and performers.

Today, the roundtable’s host Music Australia –the national peak body behind Australia’s largest music education program,Music: Count Us In –announced the three key measures to be developed:

· Industry economics

· Market development and promotion

· Industry skills and capabilities

Michael Smellie, Music Australia’s Chair said: We are delighted that our colleagues have committed to developing a National Contemporary Music Development Plan. One that is comprehensive in scope, covering jobs, skills, investment, economic contribution and cultural impact. There now is a clear industry wide mandate to implement clear strategies that can position Australian Contemporary Music as a global player, influencer and contributor in the world business of music.”

Music Australia CEO Chris Bowen added: “We want to capitalise on the creativity and dynamism of Australia’s contemporary music and strengthen this sector as key national cultural and economic contributor.” Working with all our peak body colleagues and key agencies Music Australia will now convene a series of working groups, and develop a detailed agenda for industry endorsement. This will then drive our advocacy to government and our cooperative development industry-wide.”

To follow next steps and progress, tune into the Roundtable section on the Music Australia website.

View the full list of attendees below:

Music industry peak bodies

• AAM (Association of Artist Managers)
• AIR (Australian Independent Record Labels Association)
• APRA / AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd / Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society Ltd)
• ARIA (Australia Recording Industry Association)
• Australian Music Association
• Australian Music Industry Network
• Australian Music Publishers Association Limited
• Country Music Association of Australia
• Folk Alliance Australia
• Jazz Australia
• Music Australia
• PPCA (Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Ltd)

Key specialist and policy agencies

• Vocational and tertiary music educators and researchers
• State Music Industry Conferences
• State Contemporary Music Associations
• Sounds Australia
• Music Rights Australia
• Ministry for the Arts, Australian Government
• Live Music Office
• Community Broadcasting Association of Australia
• Commercial Radio Australia
• Australian Music Radio Airplay Project, Community Broadcasting Association of Australia
• Australia Council for the Arts
• Australian Copyright Council
• Australian Broadcasting corporation – Triple J
• Arts Law

Key commercial companies, agencies & individuals

• Representatives from major and independent record companies, publishers, artist managers and artists, venue managers and agents, small music businesses, music festivals, and music media companies