City of Melbourne sets up new Advisory Committee for music

The City of Melbourne has unveiled the 12 members of the music industry who will make up its new Advisory Committee to help develop and implement its Music Strategy 2013-17.

They are live music advocate Andrea Baker of Monash University, Adrian Basso of Radio 106.7FM, Ali Bird of Film Victoria, Patrick Donovan of Music Victoria, Meera Fernandes of The Music Generation, Mairead Hannan (composer/producer), Ian James of Mushroom Music Publishing, Darah Kan of The Mercat Cross Hotel, Peter Luscombe (musician/producer/writer), Dobe Newton OAM (teacher/consultant/performer), Jerry Poon of The Operatives HQ and Lucie Ribush of The Toff in Town, Cookie and Boney clubs.

The Committee will be chaired by councillor Rohan Leppert, also chair of Arts at City of Melbourne. Leppert says the idea is to create a conducive atmosphere for musicians to create and to plan for the future of music in Melbourne.

Music Victoria CEO Patrick Donovan told TMN that the Committee would draw on the findings of Sydney’s Live Music Task Force. A priority would be to find out if complaints against music venues were just about the music. “My concern is that none of the licencees of music venues own the buildings. So in 10, 20, years, there might be no live music venues if we don’t do something now.”

More information at www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/music.