Australasian News: Upping The Ante At Allianz; Managers Stand For Royalties; Adelaide Fests Benefit State; NZ: Venues Up For Awards

AUSTRALIA

Move For 20 Concerts Annually At Allianz

The New South Wales (NSW) government has responded to promoters lamenting there are not enough major venues to keep up with tour traffic.

It is moving to change the law to increase the number of concerts to 20 per year at Sydney’s 42,500-capacity Allianz Stadium and the adjacent Sydney Cricket Ground precinct.

Currently, only six concerts are allowed, following resident complaints about noise at a Rolling Stones concert 30 years ago.

The government estimated NSW businesses lose A$40 million ($26 million) to A$60 million ($39 million) a year as a result, and the venues missed out on hosting Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, Billy Joel and Beyoncé.

A statement by sports minister Steve Kamper and minister for the arts, music, the night-time economy, jobs and tourism John Graham said, “Concerts at Allianz Stadium are estimated to be worth A$7 million ($4.55 million) per night to the NSW economy and create some 1,500 direct and indirect jobs.”

Managers Stand For Radio Royalties

Twenty artist managers made a stand with the recorded music sector in applauding independent Sen. David Pocock’s new Fair Pay for Radio Play bill, which aims to overturn a 55-year-old law that limits radio’s royalty payments for use of sound recordings.

Commercial radio only pays 1 percent of its annual revenue. The government-run ABC pays 0.005c per head of population — or about A$130,000 ($84,571) per annum.

The 20 artist managers represent acts as Tame Impala, Jimmy Barnes, Vance Joy, Missy Higgins, Sheppard and Gotye.

Maggie Collins, head of the Association of Artist Managers, noted the bill fits in with the government’s commitment to “maintaining a strong copyright framework that works in concert with other legal and policy mechanisms…to support the success and vibrancy of Australia’s cultural and creative sector.”

Adelaide Festival Generated $57.6M For State

A new report revealed Adelaide Festival in March generated A$57.6 million ($37.4 million) for South Australia over 17 days – up 11 percent from 2022 with 239,280 attending ticketed and free shows.

With its events incorporating WOMADelaide – the Australian edition of world music festival WOMAD, which drew a record 110,000 after a three-year hiatus – Adelaide Festival generated box office income of A$5.9 million ($3.83 million), the second-largest in its history.

Many Adelaide exclusives cite 40 percent of attendees hailing from outside the state, each spending $4,676 ($3,042), a 47 percent increase.

The South Australian government gave the festival an additional A$2.3 million ($1.49 million) over the next three years to attract national and international audiences and events.

NEW ZEALAND

Eden Park, Spark Arena, Sky Stadium For Awards

Auckland’s Eden Park and Spark Arena, and Wellington’s Sky Stadium, are finalists in the NZEA New Zealand Event Awards, Nov. 9 at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Center.
Eden Park and Spark Arena vye for best venue.

Ed Sheeran’s February shows at Eden Park and Sky Stadium were up for best music event.
Sheeran delivered when forced to play acoustic guitar as the sound went down three times at first of two dates at the 50,000-capacity Eden Park dates. While at Sky Stadium, he told a record 48,000 fans he wanted to move to Wellington.

Also up in the category were Homegrown Events’ Jim Beam Homegrown that drew 24,000 to the Wellington waterfront for 45 New Zealand acts including Dave Dobbyn, Shapeshifter and Katchafire.

The sold-out Outfield Music, Food & Arts Festival took place on a farm in Hastings, while Duco Touring’s mix of EDM anthems, singers, and orchestra at Synthony In The Domain reached 22,000.
The Foundry’s drum & bass A Little Doof at the University of Canterbury sold out.