Music Victoria CEO’s recommendations ahead of the state election

Music Victoria CEO Patrick Donovan reveals in an exclusive comment piece to TMN the recommendations it has made ahead of the upcoming state election; new research on Victoria’s booming regional music sector and how the peak body faces the worrying reality of having its funding cut by government. Meanwhile, Patrick puts the call on for membership as the association rolls out its fourth membership drive.

The Victorian music sector has come along in leaps and bounds over the last four years. The SLAM (Save Live Australia’s Music) rally and the signing of the Live Music Accord 2010 marked the beginning of a new era of engagement by the Victorian Government with the music industry. Significant outcomes have been achieved through the Live Music Roundtable including:

The reversal of liquor licensing policy that linked live music to high risk and recognition of live music in liquor legislation

A Live Music Best Practice Guide to assist venues; the return of all ages gigs; Government commitment to strengthen the agent of change principle in planning law to protect venues and a forthcoming review of the State Environment Protection Policy N-2 that will also help to protect venues.

Music Victoria has been crucial to achieving these outcomes.

As Fatboy Slim would say, “We’ve come a long, long way together.”

But we cannot get complacent. So far we have simply fixed what was broken by implementing long overdue initiatives to bring Victoria closer to the support received by the music sector in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. It is now time build on these achievements with a more proactive approach to continue to develop and nourish the Victorian music community to the benefit of all Victorians.

Music Victoria has kicked off its fourth membership drive. As part of that, our most recent paper makes 19 recommendations to the Victorian Government outlining the position and priorities of the Victorian music sector over the next four years. Music Victoria urges the government to take a holistic approach to deliver positive outcomes for the music sector which in turn will deliver broad economic and social benefits. The recommendations fall across not just the arts portfolio but a multitude of interconnected portfolios including Regional and Rural Development, Tourism and Major Events, Innovation Services and Small Business, and Employment and Trade.

We want to ensure the next Gotye, Vance Joy, Courtney Barnett or Hiatus Kaiyote don’t fall through the cracks and to have the support to make their mark on the international stage. We also want to:

• Increase artist and audience participation
• Capitalise on music’s power as a unifying force to bring communities together and tell our stories
• Deliver an economic and social dividend for Victoria

Last year during our membership drive, Music Victoria released the Victorian Live Music Census, which revealed that live music in Melbourne contributed more than $1billion to the economy. This year we followed up with the second part of the census to cover regional Victoria. The paper found that regional live music contributes $276.2 million to the state economy.

The report, compiled over the last six months by Music Victoria in collaboration with NMIT, RMIT, Box Hill Institute, Victoria University and JMC Academy, and set to be launched in Ballarat on 4^th April, found that the 3.8 million patrons attended small venues and festival gigs in regional areas. 37% of venues reported an increase in patronage in the last 12 months, 17% reported a decrease and 46% estimated their patronage level as the same.

These impressive figures finally prove that the regional live music industry makes a significant contribution to job creation and the regional economy, and therefore should be able to access the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund, rather than mere arts grants.

In the survey, regional venue operators were asked to comment on matters affecting their provision of live music performances, and make recommendations to improve their viability. Victorian artists, agents and promoters were also consulted.

Report recommendations include:

·         The implementation on a Regional Live Music Plan with a dedicated regional live music office. Its primary purpose would be to act as a one-stop-shop to build relationships and liaise between musicians, venues and industry, including promoters and booking agents.

·         Encourage councils to develop their own tailored music action plan, based on Wollongong’s Live Music Action Plan.

·         Reduce red tape and liquor licensing fees to make it easier to host original live music.

·         Host live music workshops to promote the Live Music Best Practice Guide.

·         Encourage independent mediation between venues and residents in the case of an amenity dispute.

·         Investigate opportunities for improved transport at night and maintain existing services.

·         Encourage the sector to pro-actively contribute to a comprehensive gig guide and encourage venues to routinely log their events.

·         Encourage the music sector to meet regularly at a live music venue to investigate issues facing the live music scene.

·         Investigate opportunities for improved transport at night and maintain existing services.

Regional Victoria has a remarkable musical history, but the tyranny of distance, a lack of resources and the affordability of interstate air travel have conspired against it in recent years. Music Victoria looks forward to working with the regional music sector, state and local government, Regional Arts Victoria, the Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres and the National Live Music Office to work on strategies and build support networks to restore it to its former glories.

Victoria needs a strong independent peak body to facilitate these opportunities supported by a four year resourcing commitment to help deliver the proposed initiatives.

But with our state funding not guaranteed past June 30 next year, and an impending state election approaching, we need the communities  support more than ever to make sure the contemporary music industry gets a fair deal.

Lapsed members will be receiving their renewal notices this week – we thank you for your support over this last year and we urge you to re-join. If you run a venue, you will be receiving a letter in the mail outlining what we have achieved on your behalf over the last 24 months, and what you can do in return: sign up! If you are in a band, you will see flyers in green rooms and rehearsal rooms outlining the even bigger discounts you will receive by simply signing up for $66. And if you are a non-financial subscriber and you love your music, now’s the time to become a financial member.

Victoria is one of the music capitals of the world – let’s support it now to ensure it stays that way.