Australasia News: Support For ‘Michael’s Rule;’ Festival Funding; Beach Boost; ASM Global Beer Deal; NZ: Consumer Win Over Viagogo

AUSTRALIA

Music Biz Throws Support Behind ‘Michael’s Rule’

A wide range of music industry bodies threw their support behind the Association of Artist Managers (AAM)’s call for ‘Michael’s Rule’.

Named after the late Michael McMartin, it calls for restoration of a two-decade old voluntary code where international tours must have at least one Australian support act, include them in marketing and provide “reasonable” lights and sound.

Promoters Chugg Entertainment, Untitled Group and Destroy All Lines were joined
by Music Australia, the Australian Live Music Business Council,

the Australasian Performing Rights Association and the Australian Recording Industry Association.

Michael Chugg said he’d been a strong advocate for Aussie support acts for fifty years through Frontier Touring and Chugg Entertainment.

“I’m proud to say we have helped many local acts’ careers in this way,” he said.

Untitled Group stressed the importance of “a thriving local music culture and healthy grassroots scene “and “This initiative has the power to play a vital role in the discovery and visibility of emerging Aussie acts.”

Ben Turnbull said 97% of Destroy All Lines tours featured a local opener, “so we know it can be done. We need change at the top in order for things to improve.”

Senate Inquiry Recommends Festival Funding

A senate inquiry recommended the Australian government increase funding to music festivals to overcome a 40% rise in costs, and facilitate talks between the sector and insurance industry to provide access for smaller events left out of the loop after premiums rose tenfold.

Among 75 submissions were suggestions funding be for Aussie-owned events only and not multinationals, and for major festivals which employed thousands in regional areas than to novices whose inexperience saw them go belly-up and create uncertainty with consumers.

The idea of entertainment vouchers for younger people to spend on tickets was also suggested.

TEG Live Beach Party $50M Boost To Gold Coast

TEG Live hailed its inaugural Out 2 Lunch dance festival on Coolangatta Beach, Gold Coast, as the “biggest beach party ever staged in Australia.”

Headlined by Aussie DJ Fisher, 30,000 came from around Australia, generating $50 million (US$ 33,036) for the Gold Coast economy. TEG Live worked with 200 local businesses to make the event come alive.

ASM Global Partners With Carlton & United

ASM Global finalized a five year partnership with Carlton & United Breweries to supply beer and cider brands as Great Northern, Carlton Dry, Pure Blonde, Balter, 4 Pines, Asahi and Peroni for its nine venues.

The nine venues, which draw a total 5.2 million patrons a year, include Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney; Brisbane Entertainment Centre; RAC Arena, Perth; and ICC Sydney.

End Of The Road For Sydney’s Selinas

It’s the end of the road for Sydney club Selinas.

The 1,750-capacity room launched the careers of Australian icons and global hitmakers INXS and Midnight Oil in the 1980s, when the former opened for the latter.

Despite a three-year campaign by live music patrons, a planning panel approved of the Coogee Bay Hotel’s plan to destroy a number of its spaces to undergo $111 million development.

It includes 58 new apartments, retail, an “eat street” with 11 retail tenancies and a new three-story hotel wing.

NEW ZEALAND

Consumer Group Claims Victory Over Viagogo

New Zealand’s consumer watchdog Commerce Commission claimed victory after a six year High Court case against ticket reseller Viagogo. It took action over “its authenticity as an official ticket seller, its status as a resale platform, and the price, scarcity, and validity of tickets.”

The court ordered the company to correct misleading information on its website, and clarify that grievances by NZ customers could be heard at home, rather than in its Switzerland base, which the company initially claimed.
Viagiogo appealed the judgment.