New Campaign Calls For Government to Put Almost $7M Into Future of Local Music Industry

A new campaign calling for federal investment to ensure the future of the Australian music industry has launched this week.

National youth music organisation, The Push, is advocating for a $6.8 million investment over four years to deliver a national all-ages events team program which it claims with bring live music to over 120,000 young Australians and create 1,200 new jobs.

The proposed program would focus on those living in regional and outer suburban areas to ensure they get to experience affordable and local live music.

“Live music can be a transformative experience for a generation of young Australians that are experiencing financial, social and emotional stress at the highest rates on record” The Push CEO, Kate Duncan, said.

“Supporting a new generation of Australian music fans as event organisers and audiences will not only give young Australians the opportunity to find their community, but it will also shore up the economic outlook for the Australian live music industry, currently experiencing disruption and decline”.

The first phase of the project would see 25 teams of young participants be given support and training to deliver “drug, alcohol and vape-free music events at low or no cost to their community” through grants.

The national all-ages events team program has been informed by polling conducted by The Australia Institute and research co-authored by RMIT University which found that:

• 2-in-3 young Australians value live music as an important part of their lives.

• 81% support the establishment of All-Ages Events Teams, with broad demographic and political backing.

• Cost is the biggest barrier for young people accessing live music, with 60% of young people having less than $100 per weekfor cultural activities.

• Age restrictions prevent 48% of young Australians from attending live music events.

• Geographic limitations impact 37%, reducing access to live performances.

In a statement released this week, The Push said that the low number of local artists in the recent Hottest 100 countdown – which saw only three Australian acts crack the top 10, two of which were covers – highlights the “lack of opportunities” for young people to connect with homegrown music talent.