PM zooms with music biz leaders for post-pandemic recovery talks

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has met with representatives from the music and entertainment industry to discuss a post-pandemic recovery plan for the sector.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Arts Minister Paul Fletcher also attended, with the PM saying the meeting was “constructive” and that he sympathises with the sector’s challenges.

The industry is lobbying for a federal rescue package, which Sydney Morning Herald reports could be delivered within days, to restart concerts and other live events after thousands of job losses.

The plan – which was sent to cabinet ministers after Thursday’s virtual meeting – could run into the hundreds of millions of dollars, but is yet to be greenlit by the expenditure review committee.

“I’ve just met from groups in the entertainment industry and they were doing things very tough and they will endure challenges longer than most,” Morrison acknowledged.

“I’d like to thank them for their insight and candour, their support for the JobKeeper program and their feedback on how we can work collaboratively to help get the industry on its feet.”

The meeting included ARIA boss Dan Rosen, APRA AMCOS chief Dean Ormston, Sounds Australia executive producer Millie Millgate, and musicians Mark Vincent and Guy Sebastian, among others.

Each was allocated about 60-seconds to present the challenges facing their corner of the industry.

Rosen said it was great to join the ministers and industry colleagues yesterday, to discuss the impact of the pandemic on the music and entertainment business.

“It was a very useful, very constructive discussion and a great opportunity to speak with the Prime Minister and the Treasurer about the challenges our industry is facing,” Rosen said.

“Look forward to continuing to work in collaboration with the Federal Government on measures to help get our industry back on its feet.”

The industry outlined a $750 million package in March to no avail and tabled a smaller $345 million boost on June 4, designed to restart, rebuild and reopen Australia’s live sector.

As first reported by TMN, the federal government also announced a widely-welcomed $27 million package in April, which included some funding for music industry charity Support Act.