MusicNSW’s New Regional Touring Platform ‘A Total Game-Changer’
MusicNSW’s new regional touring platform has received the thumbs-up from artists.
Country music artist Fanny Lumsden described it as the “missing puzzle piece” for artists wanting to tour regionally, or even fill in gaps on their tours “but don’t know where to start”.
Rapper Dobby hailed it as “a total game-changer for touring artists.”
Officially launched Wednesday, the Regional Touring Network is essentially a click, drag and drop mapping and route-building interface.
Users can browse regional venues, add them to or remove them from their routes, calculate travel times, and filter venues by specific parameters.
Each venue includes contact and booking details, images, accessibility and capacity information, and detailed tech specifications.
There are suggested touring circuits that are fully customisable, and downloadable route info that exports contact and location information for all venues on a user’s route.
It is designed to take the stress and guesswork out of touring regional locations for the first time.
Pictured: MusicNSW boss, Emily Collins
“Touring regional NSW just got a whole lot easier, and we’re excited to see the impact the RTN will have on the touring circuit in our state,” MusicNSW managing director Emily Collins said.
“With the help of this fantastic new platform, more artists from across NSW will be able to experience the joys of hitting the road, meeting new fans, expanding their gig experience and connecting with other incredible artists and venues.
“It’s built for growth too, with new venues and regions being added all the time.
“The RTN showcases our wealth of venues, and provides regional and metro artists everything they need to explore NSW and take their career to the next level.”
The RTN is a direct outcome of MusicNSW’s Regional Music Officer program.
It employs music champions living and working in regional NSW to build relationships and capacity within their local industries.
The RTN is built on the foundation of their local knowledge and their tips on removing roadblocks traditionally associated with regional tour planning.
While affected by the flooding, bushfires and pandemic that hit country NSW, there has also been some buoyancy on the circuit.
Pictured: The ARIA-award winning artist, Fanny Lumsden
During the pandemic lockdown, major acts turned regional venues into fertile live music grounds while there were no music festivals and very few metro places to play.
Last year the state government committed $12 million over the next four years for small to medium and major arts organisations to take their shows on the road.
Fanny Lumsden added that aside from information needed to get on the road, the RTN is also an opportunity for venues to connect with touring musicians and the music industry.
“Anything that continues to build community for regional venues and artists – I am a big fan of, and I definitely think the RTN will help with that,” she said.
The Regional Touring Network was developed by MusicNSW in conjunction with Cartisan and led by Regional Music Officers.
MusicNSW is supported by Create NSW and APRA AMCOS.