Our Soundtrack Our Stories: Australian music industry unites to push for businesses to play local artists

An industry-wide initiative calling upon Australia’s business sector to support local artists by playing more Australian music has launched today.

The Our Soundtrack Our Stories initiative is led by a wide group of music industry bodies, labels and businesses, who argue that greater corporate support will allow for Australian artists to reach new audiences, increase their streams and earn royalty revenue while the touring sector remains out of action.

Participating businesses and consumers are encouraged to show their support by curating their own homegrown playlists or seeking out a background music supplier with a local focus. They are also encouraged to tag other brands and share posts to social media.

Artists can also engage in the Our Soundtrack Our Stories initiative by registering their music with ARIA and PPCA, as well as rallying for local businesses to play their own music and that of their peers.

Among the industry groups leading the push is APRA AMCOS, ARIA, PPCA, Sounds Australia and Support Act, as well as major labels such as Warner Music Australia, Sony Music and Universal Music Group, plus Mushroom Group, Inertia, UNIFIED and Live Nation and state bodies such as Music Victoria, Music NSW, Music SA, Music NT and Q Music.

Our Soundtrack Our Stories arrives just a week after Jack River’s viral callout to Channel 7 and big businesses last week, which sparked widespread pressure on corporate Australia to do more to support local music.

So far, the post has led to Coles, Channel 7, Channel 9, Bank Australia and 7-Eleven to add Australian artists to high rotation across the country, while commercial streaming provider Qsic has also launched an initiative to play local music in over 2,000 of its customer’s locations.