“The more you play the less you pay…”: WA Senator offers Aus music quota solution
“I wish to speak today on the current state of the music industry and the general decline of interest and support for new Australian music in this great country,” began WA Labor Senator Glenn Sterle in his address to the National Senate in Canberra this afternoon.
The issues surrounding the current 25% Australian music quota for radio stations have been widely discussed within the music industry – now, it’s being brought to the big house.
Sterle’s impassioned speech called for prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and minister for the arts Mitch Fifield to make changes to commercial radio licensing fees on the proviso that they “must and only play new Australian music.”
“The more you play the less you pay; bet that’ll get the money men loving Aussie music again!” he quipped.
As revealed by TMN in November 2017, the committee previously responsible for monitoring compliance with the quota – APCOM – was quietly wound up; a change reportedly initiated by the commercial radio industry peak body, Commercial Radio Australia (CRA).
In March 2018, APRA AMCOS, ARIA and Commercial Radio Australia announced a new deal where stations would be monitored closely to ensure that the 25% quota is adhered to.
However, the industry remains apprehensive as stations continue their long-time tricks of topping up the quota by playing homegrown acts in the wee hours when no one listening, block-programming oldies-but-goldies or pushing the likes of Sia over the wealth of new and independent homegrown acts.
Sterle explained that he was shocked at the discovery of 17 Post Malone songs in the Australian Top 40 Singles chart, compared to the inclusion of only three Australian artists, echoing the sentiments of many that the chart system is broken.
He lamented the end of Australia’s golden era, built on the backs of the greats of the ‘70s and ‘80s – AC/DC, Hunters and Collectors, Australian Crawl, Rose Tattoo, Divinyls, INXS, Cold Chisel, The Angels and more.
“Bands and solo artists have contributed to the Australian musical identity and the economy in an enormous manner over the last 50 years and we cannot afford to lose that status on the world stage.
“I call on all Australians to take a minute to email or call your local member of parliament to tell them ‘We want you to support our Aussie artists and new Aussie music!’”
“Come on Australia, let our music and talent lead us to another great era for the Australian music industry.”
See his address below:
https://www.facebook.com/SenatorGlennSterle/videos/1576149365845147/