Creators’ rights, the value of copyright, the importance of local content, Australia’s music micro-businesses and global music export potential were at the forefront in Canberra yesterday.

The music industry descended on the capital city for the second annual Parliamentary Friends of Australian Music (#PFOAM) Rock the House event.

Special guests John Paul Young, Kasey Chambers, Ian Moss, and All Our Exes Live In Texas performed live, and addressed important issues in an attempt to get parliament to understand the effect of emerging digital platforms on music and how copyright issues need to sit at the forefront.

All My Exes Live In Texas ( & Warriewood )#PFOAM @AboutTheHouse pic.twitter.com/CMidXQzj0Y

— Tim Shaw (@TimShawTweets) March 27, 2018

The event, presented by APRA AMCOS, ARIA, PPCA and the Australian Hotels Association, was attended by representatives from APRA AMCOS, ARIA, PPCA, AIR, Music Rights Australia, Live Music Office, AMPAL, state-based peak music bodies, the Australian Copyright Council, Copyright Agency, Screenrights and SOUNDS AUSTRALIA.

The music industry called on the Federal Government to support music creators and performers and invest in the Australian music industry.

John Paul Young, Stephen Jones MP, Jenny Morris

Ian Moss said in a statement:

“(As a songwriter) royalties are your living. You work hard to write a song. If we could all do that we’d all be writing hits everyday…people love their live music, but people have got to write that music in the first place and they need to make a living”.

Kasey Chambers said:

“Touring for me, particularly here in Australia, is everything. It feeds my kids…I make my living from touring music, and it’s important for me to get out to all the regional places as well. I tour most of the year and visit some of the littlest towns throughout Australia, but we have to have these venues to play in”.

John Paul Young said:

“Please just protect our copyright. That’s all I’ve got to say”.

Warren Morgan, John Paul Young, Paul Kirtley, Elana Stone, Katie Wighton, Hannah Crofts, Kasey Chambers, Ian Moss, Georgia Mooney, Brandon Dodd

AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC INDUSTRY IN NUMBERS

Australian contemporary music is big business

• Music Australia has estimated the music sector contributes $4 to $6 billion to the Australian economy¹
• Copyright industries generate more value add to the Australian economy than manufacturing and health care; recorded music is one of the most significant contributors²
• Evidence from overseas suggests changes to the Fair Use exception will result in a drop of $1.3 billion in Australia’s GDP³
• More Australians attend live music than sport⁴
• Australia’s live contemporary music industry generates revenues of $1.5 to $2 billion annually⁵

Contemporary music generates jobs and growth

• Expenditure associated with live music making in Australia is estimated to generate in the order of 64,747 jobs, 37,652 of which are full-time⁶
• Creative industries are strong contributors to employment growth, growing 40 per cent faster than the economy as a whole⁷
• Australian music and performing arts businesses comprise almost one per cent of all Australian small businesses⁸.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.