Aussie/NZ Live Sectors Finally Able To Look Beyond COVID-19

With restrictions for live music venues and nightclubs slowly lifting, the Australian and New Zealand live sectors are looking past COVID-19 with a plan for recovery.

Live Performance Australia unveiled June 4 an ambitious A$345 million ($240.7 million) plan to restart and rebuild the industry.

Its main thrust is a A$90 million ($62.7 million) Business Reactivation Fund which includes capital investment for productions and tours and support for service providers as production, crew, video, sound and lighting specialists.

Among other initiatives were a A$55 million ($38.4 million) ‘See It Live’ to attract tourists to live events in Australia, tax incentives for venues, a loan scheme and waiving visa fees for overseas acts.

“As we enter the 12th week of shutdowns due to the public health response, it’s well and truly time for the federal government to get behind Australia’s arts and entertainment industry and deliver a comprehensive and properly funded plan so our world-class industry can get back to work,” LPA chief executive Evelyn Richardson said.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s live sector applauded the government’s new NZ$175 million ($108.8 million) arts & music COVID-19 recovery package. Announced May 29, it included a NZ$5 million ($3.7 million) fund to get acts to get back on tour, and NZ$3 million  ($1.8 million) for venues to create safe environments.

The support for new contemporary music and live music was forecast to sustain 2900 jobs over two years, produce 455 new song releases and 150 live music tours throughout NZ.

Brent Eccles of NZ Promoters Association noted its “comprehensive” understanding of the workings of the entertainment biz, and added, “We (also) await the details of possible government support for mass events such as music concerts and festivals, which are being considered separately.  We are all looking forward to bringing back the music.”

The NZ package included NZ$70 million ($43.5 million) over three years for recovery and employment,  NZ$60 million ($37. 2 million) over three years for cross-discipline collaboration and digital exports, and NZ$7.9 million ($4.9 million) to help creatives back into sustainable work.