Campaign for Victorian number plates to declare ’The Live Music State’

As the Victorian Government plans to change vehicle number plates to read The Education State, its music biz is pushing for The Live Music State instead.

A Change.org campaign has been launched to collect 5,000 signatures to present to Premier Daniel Andrews.

Spearheaded by Melbourne venue owner and booker James Young and writer Kaye Blum, the campaign has the support of various sectors and peak music association Music Victoria, which has linked it on its website.

Young told TMN, “Melbourne is recognised internationally as a global music city. We need to have strong ownership of that label, and it’s up to the music industry to show strong leadership in that regard.

“The Andrews Government’s support for the music industry has been awesome. But the slogan needs to be true and reflective of this state. I would have to say that Victoria is not necessarily more educated than any other state.

“But stressing Melbourne’s status as a music city – not in just rock but all styles –would increase music tourism. An overseas visitor would be more likely to come to Victoria to sample its music culture and as a place of music collaboration than to be educated. It would also certainly be of economic benefit to Victoria.”

Young points out that other music cities emphasise their status to visitors. Berlin, for instance, has music-themed ‘walk and don’t walk’ symbol at crossings. Austin has bands greeting visitors at airports.

Other examples include Nashville’s country music hall of fame and museum, London installing a 24-hour webcam over the Abbey Road zebra crossing and Toronto encouraging venues to display gig posters around the city.

Young, who runs Cherry Bar, Yah Yahs and the Yarraville Club, was also instrumental in the crusade behind the renaming of AC/DC Lane in the CBD.

While the previous Liberal Government made global history for Victoria by introducing the Agent of Change as a state-wide policy, the Andrews Government has since taking power late 2014, announced a $22.5 million package over four years for contemporary music.

It also lifted the eight year freeze on new licences for small venues with under 200-capacity – a significant move which stated that live music venues were not to be blamed for alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour – and set aside $250,000 to help venues with sound-proofing costs.

Victoria’s current message on licence plates is Stay Alert, Stay Alive. Previously it has been The Garden State, On The Move, and The Place To Be.

The online petition for 5,000 signatures is at http://www.change.org/p/the-hon-daniel-andrews-mp-create-an-inspiring-message-about-our-state-by-changing-victoria-s-number-plate-slogan-to-victoria-the-live-music-state.

Alternatively go to http://www.facebook.com/VictoriaTheLiveMusicState.