Gold Coast releases draft of live music action plan

Image: Surfers Paradise

In addition to working on a $37 million music and cultural precinct on a 16.9-hectare site, the Council of the City of Gold Coast has released a draft of a Live Music Action Plan 2017-2020 to its Economic Development and Major Projects committee.

The idea is to attract live acts – and music tourists – to the area.

“A thriving live music scene delivers multiple benefits including economic, reputation, tourism and social,” it observes.

It will get feedback from the local music sector to ensure it adequately reflects its priorities and issues, with a final draft expected in May.

Its first step is to determine the number of live music venues, something the Council lacks.

It also marks as a priority, the setting up of an independent regulatory taskforce to work with venues, council and the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation.

It will look at ways to cut red tape for music venues, noise issues, creating links with live music sectors of other cities, and at strict regulation which discourages investment in the live music sector.

According to the report, “Musicians and audiences often feel that the music sector is considered illicit rather than a valued contributor to the cultural economy.

“Sound restrictions determine the genre of music being produced and performed in venues and remain responsible for creative decisions which are seen as prohibitive.

“Reducing barriers, increasing understanding of approval and compliance processes and assisting businesses to navigate planning and approval process to meet compliance requirements is essential.”

The Gold Coast Council has long had initiatives to support contemporary music. These have included the A-Venue Youth Music Initiative 2004-13 and the Soundcheck Contemporary Music program in 2014. Between 2011 and 2014, it invested over 470,000 in grants and opened up export opportunities for its bands.

But what’s excited it the Council is a study of how two of the festivals it funds, Broadbeach Blues and Broadbeach Country, have pumped in an extra $28 million into the Gold Coast economy.

The blues festival in May drew 166,000 and generated $23.8 million for the economy, up from $18.9 million last year and a draw of 127,000. The country festival in June was held during wild weather which pulled its audience numbers from last year’s 37,700 to just over 30,000 and added $4.08 million. Both combined gave a return of $19 for every dollar spent in organisation.

The report goes on to say it “aims to further enhance the city’s reputation for live music by offering clear pathways, building local, national and international partnerships, increasing sector capacity and providing opportunities for both local musicians and industry to develop and sustain legitimate careers whilst enticing the broader music industry to the Gold Coast.

“In identifying key issues and recommendations in this report, the Gold Coast will be in a strong position to recognise, further develop and aspire to be one of the world’s most attractive destinations for contemporary music excellence and opportunity, in turn driving education and employment, encouraging forthcoming creative generations, and enriching the city’s social and cultural offer into the future.”

It also draws a comparison with Austin, Texas, also a university town with a thriving youth demographic (25—39) that is a key audience for live music. Austin is also a live music city with 250 music venues. In 2014, Austin’s music industry contributed $726 million to the city’s economy while music tourism contributed a further $1.1 billion.

Funds to initiate key actions in the draft have already been included in the Gold Coast’s Arts and Culture 2016-17 operating budget.

$70,000 allocated is for the Gold Coast Music Awards, and a sponsorship of the Gold Coast showcase at BIGSOUND in Brisbane. $30,000 is for Soundbar Sessions including venue/space activation, a website to promote Gold Coast gigs and $30,000 for a Contemporary Music Taskforce to analyse current issues and promotion of the local music scene, and $20,000 to do an audit of the amount of venues operating on the Gold Coast.