APRA AMCOS to Wrap Up Live Music Office and Live and Local Series Next Month

APRA AMCOS has announced that it will wrap up its Live Music Office (LMO) and its Live and Local music program next month after 13 years. 

The organisation announced on Monday that both will cease operations on Wednesday, July 1st.

The LMO was established in partnership with the Australian Government to develop regulatory frameworks for live venues and build best-practice resources. In its 13 years, the LMO helped launch the establishment of Music Australia, and saw new initiatives like night-time economy commissioners and dedicated live music funding streams.

“In the 13 years since the Live Music Office was established, the landscape has changed dramatically. With government bodies at a federal and state level now doing such an incredible job for live music, and local councils empowered to continue the good work, now feels like the right time to hand back the mantle,” APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston said.

“By doing that, it also allows us to focus more on other important priorities for our members and the broader industry by advocating the Australian Government for a broad-based tax incentive for live music venues to help build the long-term sustainability of the live ecosystem."

Meanwhile, the Live and Local program has teamed with 40 local councils across the country and supported over 1,000 live music events.

“We acknowledge the incredible work of outgoing Live and Local Engagement and Program Manager Lucy Joseph and National Program Manager Bronwyn Adams, whose commitment made the program what it became," Ormston said.

“We also want to acknowledge the founding Live Music Office Director John Wardle, whose work reforming live music regulation across every jurisdiction in the country has been transformational. We are also grateful to the many policy experts who contributed to the Live and Local program over its lifetime.

“A special shout-out to Brisbane City Council's Frank Henry, who worked to establish Australia's first special entertainment precinct in Fortitude Valley, which went on to become a national model, first legislated in QLD and then through the support of the Live Music Office adopted in NSW in 2021, as well as the ACT, WA and SA.

“To all of them, and to the many artists, venue operators, state and territory governments, councils, researchers and advocates who contributed over 13 years, thank you.”

APRA said it will now turn its attention towards a live music tax incentive scheme due to concerns around grassroots live music. A 2024 APRA AMCOS and OneMusic survey of nearly 3,000 venues found that more than 70% had stopped programming live music for financial reasons, and more than 70% said tax rebates or incentives were the intervention most likely to bring them back.