Gold Coast music biz sparks up with formation of Music Advisory Group

As part of its commitment to building up a thriving local scene, Gold Coast Council has formed a Music Advisory Group.

Part of its brief is to identify new initiatives to bolster grassroots talent and draw major Australian and international touring acts to the region.

“The Advisory Group will have a big job,” Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate observed.

“They will need to have their finger on the pulse about live music trends, galvanise industry support and connect the city’s artists and music businesses with national opportunities.”

The Group is chaired by communications and marketing expert Dean Gould, currently chief marketing officer of Southern Cross University.

The other members are:

• Denise Foley – operator of Plus One Records, formerly chief executive officer at QMusic during which she introduced the Queensland Music Awards and helped develop BIGSOUND, and was chair of the Australian Music Industry Network.
• Mark Duckworth – festival director of Blues on Broadbeach and the Groundwater Country Music, and earlier a venue manager, performer and songwriter.
• Matthew Schneider – town planning consultant and economic development advisor, leader of the Urbis Gold Coast office. He has worked on a broad range of mixed-use tourist and entertainment projects, including many involving music and performance spaces.
• Lachlan McGuffie – musician experienced in dealing with booking agents, venues, bands, festivals and promoters.
• Brad Hinds – senior business development manager at Oztix, a role which sees him engage with venues, promoters and event managers across Australia and New Zealand.
• Graham Ashton – founder of music services company Footstomp Music, set up in 2010 specialising in artist, project and event management, after 20 years in record companies.
• Kylie Cobb – owner of Kitty Kitty Bang Bang, a boutique public relations and marketing agency, powering up musicians and major music events for almost a decade.
• Brad Hosking – musician and record producer, studio owner, currently music director for Amy Shark and lecturing in the Bachelor of Contemporary Music Practice course with TAFE Queensland and the University of Canberra.

The Group will host its first official meeting on Monday, January 20.

The Group is part of council’s The Gold Coast Music Action Plan 2021 which was launched in March 2019, and helped 400 music industry professionals in the first six months.

Its aim is to positively impact the Coast’s music sector by providing investment, access to resources, highlight the importance of tourists and college students, and partnerships across government, peak bodies and private enterprise.

The plan sees council committed to providing certainty with regards to land use and regulation while ensuring that local artists increase songwriting and performance skills, and greater business acumen for those running management companies and record labels.

Mayor Tate said 2020 would be a big year for the Gold Coast music industry.

“It is fantastic to see the calibre of people we have on board as part of the Group to help steer our music industry,” he noted.

“2020 is going to be a golden year for music on the Gold Coast as we start to see The Music Action Plan in full swing and starting the New Year with international artists such as Queen.

“I’ll also continue my pursuit of the boutique stadium.”

Tate’s push for a 10,000-seat concert and sports stadium on the Gold Coast relies on the Queensland government stumping up with half the funds.

It will be addition to the 25,000-seat Metricon Stadium.