Some key players in the Australian music industry came together in Canberra earlier today for a panel on the industry’s recovery around COVID-19 and what its future might look like.
The National Press Club event featured a powerful address from Australian music legend and APRA Board of Directors Chair Jenny Morris, before Gordi, L-FRESH The LION and leading artist manager John Watson (Silverchair, Missy Higgins, Gotye) took part in an important conversation around local music and Ngaiire performed to close the event.
Morris’ address, conveyed largely by Gordi, urged the Australian Government to recognise the true economic value of local music.
“The federal and state governments have invested heavily in our screen industry, and we have globally recognised food and wine industries. The contemporary Australian music industry is yet to achieve its potential,” Morris said.
“We need a clear vision. And I think that vision should be for Australia to become a net exporter of music.
“This won’t happen overnight and it could well take a decade BUT you need a clear vision in order to start change now. Aussies have never backed away from a challenge - we need to back ourselves.
“The potential reward is nation defining.”
The sentiment was backed by L-FRESH The LION when speaking about COVID relief from the Government amid the current crisis.
“I think by setting a bold vision knowing that there is not only the talent here, but the skill, the expertise, there’s a proven track record – to get behind and back an industry like the music industry would be a wise investment, thinking long-term,” he said.
“The industry isn’t just asking for band-aid solutions, it’s something that, given the right support from an infrastructure standpoint, it can really excel on its own.”
Watson said that the music industry needs Government support now more than ever.
“The house is on fire,” Watson said. “Live entertainment was one of the first things to be shut down and it’ll be amongst one of the last things to be reinstated. Half the reason we’re here today is it’s about the only place in Australia you can do a gig.
“The reality is that, unless and until there is some certainty around the return to live performance, that’s a large chunk of most musician’s lives, so we’ll continue to struggle.”
But the current financial support being provided by the Government, as noted by Gordi, isn’t enough.
“Generally speaking, you look at the [$250 million] package that was announced and that roughly equates to $10 a head in the population,” she said.
“In a time like this it’s all about what is essential – public health and essential workers - and the music industry is sort of cast aside. It’s an ongoing pattern.
“People just have this impression that artists are sort of lying on beds of cash and that just couldn’t be further from the truth, and I think we do always have to come back to the economic point to make them actually listen.”
The $250 million creative economy package was announced back in June, with Shadow Minister for the Arts Tony Burke last month labelling it “much-delayed” and calling for more clarity around access to the funds.
Gordi
L-FRESH The LION
Ngaiire
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