The future of live music in Australia depends on a global focus and helping local artists cut through on streaming services, according to the industry’s peak body.
Appearing before a Federal Government inquiry into the live music industry, Live Performance Australia Chief Executive Evelyn Richardson said the future of the industry here depended on a globally-focused, commercially engaged and collaborative approach that embraced the capability and expertise of the industry’s biggest players.
Ms Richardson told the committee there were three priorities for the industry to survive.
She said a global export strategy needed to be developed where Australia harnessed and engaged the commercial sector, leveraging their national and global footprints and expertise.
“This requires pulling the various parts of the music industry together, live, record labels and publishers and the streaming companies. This should be a first order priority for Music Australia.”
Ms Richardson said there also needed to be investment in the career mix of artists.
“We need to understand the myriad of pathways an artist now has to navigate to grow and sustain a music career.
“What does that career matrix look like in 2025 and beyond and where does government invest valuable public funds to support local artists succeed in a global market?”
She said there also was a need to identify options for cutting through on the streaming services.
“This may be through having a percentage of local content requirement on locally curated playlists in our market.
“The bigger challenge is how we get our Australian artists onto global playlists.”
