Australia: Music Sector Calls For $2 Billion Stimulus

In addition to its dedicated call for a A$750 million ($459.7 million) “survival package”, the music sector joined with over 100 academics and organizations from theatre, film, television, visual art, literary and dance in an open letter to prime minister Scott Morrison pressing for a A$2 billion ($1.22 billion) stimulus.

Delivered March 26, it pointed out A$2 billion was 2% of the A$111.7 billion ($68.4 billion) industry. 

“We were the first industry to be hit with cancellations and closures making front-page news across the country. Our venues and other programs have been closed down by government order, without any industry support. And we will be one of the last able to trade again.”

It suggested A$1.5 billion ($919, 568) go in cash injections to businesses, A$180 million ($110 million) to arts funder Australia Council, A$30 million ($18.39 million) to regional arts groups and A$40 million ($24.5 million) to crisis charity Support Act.

The 24 music groups covered live, recorded, publishing and educational, including Live Performance Australia, Association of Artist Managers, Australian Festivals Association.

Live Music Office, CrewCare, Electronic Music Conference, Support Act and SLAM (Save Live Australia’s Music).

Live event promoters received the second highest approval rating from Aussies for their quick response to the coronavirus outbreak in cancelling or delaying events. 

The first of a new weekly COVID-19 Sentiment Tracker, published March 30 by TEG Insights & TEG Analytics, part of promoter and ticketing company TEG, found the live sector ranked 83% by the 500-strong sample, after doctors at 90%.

Political leaders received a 66% approval while social media had a 63% disapproval rating.

41% believed life will “go back to normal” within six months while a third reckon it will take six months to 12 months.

More major festivals announced schedule changes after authorities stopped the gatherings of over 100 people and initiated travel bans.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival (June 5 to 20), which drew 41,000 last year is looking at online plans to celebrate its 20th anniversary. 

The Gold Coast’s retro music and cars Cooly Rocks On is now held June 9-13 2021. Last year it drew a record 120,000 and estimated to inject over $6.5 million (US$4 million) into the economy.

Queensland’s Big Pineapple (May 30) is delayed until Nov. 21, with most of its bill intact.

Hospitality group Merivale shuttered its 70+ venues, which include music clubs as The Ivy, Coogee Pavilion and Establishment for the “foreseeable future”, suspending 3,000 staff.

The Star Entertainment Group stood down 90% of its workforce after closing music food, beverage, conferencing, and gaming facilities at casinos in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Glenn Wheatley, high profile manager of John Farnham and operator of radio stations, is eying a buy-out of newswire service Australian Associated Press (AAP), reported the Melbourne Age. 

In February, Nine Entertainment and News Corp decided to close the 85-year old service in June to cut costs. 

But there has been corporate interest in its editorial and fact-checking sections. Wheatley steered Little River Band’s global success in the ’70s, broke Delta Goodrem, and introduced FM radio to Australia.

Laneway Presents, Chugg Entertainment and Frontier Touring rescheduled Tame Impala’s April run through Australia and New Zealand to six arenas December 5 to 19.

Runaway chart success story Tones And I pushed her nine May dates to September, the new schedule adding an extra date in Adelaide and a venue upgrade in Hobart.

Frontier rescheduled Marc Rebillet’s debut this month to January/ February 2021. But the act will livestream concerts through social media channels on each of the original dates.

Pete Lusty, co-founder of management company Winterman & Goldstein and Ivy League Records, passed away after a battle with cancer.  

The two companies, set up with Andy Cassell and Andy Kelly in 1997, handled international success stories as Empire of The Sun, Jet, The Vines, The Avalanches and Teskey Bros. 

Cassell and Kelly said of the one-time attorney turned musician, “To say that Pete was a true original dramatically understates the case. He was a maverick, a unique unit, a radical thinker.”