Victoria’s Music Works package details revealed, Kirsty Rivers to lead

Long time APRA AMCOS executive Kirsty Rivers has been appointed Creative Victoria’s Manager of Contemporary Music, effective May 20.

She will helm the Victorian Government’s $12.2 million Music Works program, announced in last night’s 2015-6 state budget. Its initiatives will help young and emerging musicians, protect live music venues and bolster music festivals, boost tourism and create jobs.

Rivers has been with APRA AMCOS for 17 years. She was most recently National Manager of Writer Services, supervising membership departments in five state offices, servicing 70,000 songwriting and publisher members, and playing a key role in its Aboriginal and Torres Straight Island and Music Grants programs. She departs APRA AMCOS on May 15.

She is also been heavily involved in Melbourne’s grassroots sector. She was a founding member of Music Victoria, is Vice Chair of youth music organisation The Push and a board member of community radio 3PBS FM.

The Music Works pack was developed in consultation with the music industry, and brings to play a number of initiatives which Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley says confirms “Victoria [as] the music capital of Australia. It’s part of our culture and why we’re a great place to live and visit.”

The package includes $8 million for the Victoria Rocks grants program, with funding for Australia-wide and international touring, music festivals and provision of services such as sound and light engineers, advertising and transport. Applications will open in the second half of the year.

The Music Market is a one-stop-music hub for recording and distribution, open to artists, venues, managers and industry development organisations.$10 million is provided for initiatives including the Australian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Victorian Music Development Office, with $300,000 set aside specifically for planning and industry consultation.

Live music venues get $1.48 million for upgrades and improvements from sound-proofing to technical or acoustic enhancements. $2 million goes to professional development programs for young and emerging musicians (including mentoring) while $40,000 will go towards music-themed tourism.

The Budget also confirms that the Government will provide $13.4 million towards the $22.5 million needed to refurbish the heritage Palais Theatre in St. Kilda. Restoring the landmark has been the center of a grassroots campaign, which included singer Tex Perkins using it as a platform for his independent stand at the last state elections. When The Rolling Stones played Melbourne last year, Mick Jagger weighed into the debate saying on stage that the Stones played there in 1965 and that it should be restored.

The City of Port Philip will pitch in $7.5 million towards the Palais’ revamp. The remaining $4.6 million comes from the three companies on the shortlist (out of 37 applications) to become the venue’s operator. These are Live Nation Australasia, the incumbent Palais Theatre Management and Sydney’s Playbill, which runs the Hordern Pavilion. The Council has delayed making a choice from the three until it was certain what the State Government’s contribution would be.