Coronavirus update: Australian live music is back
Music fans rejoice! Live music is coming back to town.
Speaking after a National Cabinet meeting today, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said new changes to sporting events, music festivals and live gigs would mean venues which can seat up to 40,000 people can host crowds of up to 10,000. These new rules will kick off this July.
These venues and stadiums could be allowed to fill a quarter of their seats.
“It would have to be a large, open area. There would need to be seats at the appropriate distance. It would need to be ticketed, so people would be able to understand who was in attendance at that event,” Morrison said.
Today’s National Cabinet meeting heard the set limit of 100 people on indoor gatherings for next month will also be scrapped. All states and territories in Australia are now ready to move into step three of the re-opening time-line.
There is now no limit on numbers at venues, just a requirement that venues allow for four square metres of space per person.
“Events must be ticketed and seated,” Morrison said. “And social distancing rules will apply.”
#BREAKING PM Morrison says National Cabinet has agreed across Australia the 100 person “cap” on indoor gatherings due to be implement in Step 3 in July has been removed. Will be replaced by one person per 4sqm rule instead. Applies to any venue or building @dailytelegraph
— Clare Armstrong (@ByClare) June 12, 2020
These new regulations mean all events, including music festivals, weddings and funerals are to be limited by the size of their venue.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said nightclubs would remain shut due to increased COVID-19 risks (re-opening nightclubs has led to spikes overseas). At the time of publishing it is unclear what constitutes a nightclub, and whether this rules out any current venues which host live music.
Details are still being worked out in conjunction with chief health officers in every state and territory.
The music industry is still in need of financial support
The news follows the release of an open letter from more than 1,000 artists, businesses and personnel from across the music community. Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham, Thelma Plum, Icehouse, Kate Miller-Heidke, Jessica Mauboy, Gotye, Alex Lahey, Jack River and more signed a letter which pleads with the Australian government to provide immediate financial support during these dark days of the lockdown.
According to I Lost My Gig, concert cancellations and postponements across Australia and NZ have already cost more than $340 million.
This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.