It's a Wrap on The Parliamentary inquiry into the Live Music Industry

We (CAST) were lucky enough to have the opportunity to present at the Parliamentary inquiry into the live music industry in Brisbane (CHECK OUT SUBMISSION HERE). 

Over the three days, it was incredible to hear organisations, promoters and people from across the industry share their thoughts.  The likes of QMusic, The Music, Arts QLD, Music Australia, Sounds Australia, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Music NSW, FBI Radio, Live Music Office, Australian Music Association, Sound NSW, APRA AMCOS, NATSIMO, Untitled, AFA, AAM gave evidence.

My biggest takeaway was there are three sides to the challenges faced by the live music industry:

- Rising cost of insurance, security, backline and other foundational expenses that come with putting on events.  Example is the cost of a single police person being $350 an hour...  WILD.  This was mentioned across the three days a number of times.

- Changing demographic and habits of the next generation of festival goers.  Referenced a number of times.

- There isn't any new money coming into the sector.  

Ideas floated

The ideas that were raised that could address the three issues were:

The need to reduce some of the foundational expenses of putting on live music events.  

- Uniform cost for police at events

- An insurance subsidy or fund to cover events

- Reducing of government red tape for venues and festivals

Levy on international acts/presented shows

- A $ value levy placed on all tickets sold to large scale internal tours

Government support 

- More money to support large scale events 

- Support non-traditional venues in local council areas

My take was the above ideas only really address one of the three challenges, and the other ideas talk about redistribution of money and additional government support.  Both of which don't provide a long term solution.

So the question really is, with the above adjustments (excluding our idea) would the industry be set up for success into the future?  I don't think so...  

Soooo what is the answer?  Collaboration, Innovation and Evolution

Collaboration - A live music co-operative

It was awesome to hear from Amanda Jackes (founder of Woodford) about how Woodford is innovating.  They have started to brew their own beer and are going about starting their own sustainable coffee brand.  What could other festivals be creating that could be part of a co-operative that would see all live events support each other through purchasing of products/services they provide?

Let's have as much money as possible that is spent to put on festivals, stay within the festivals.

Innovation -  Support new money coming into the sector

Unite the live music industry to share ideas and experiment with new products to learn together vs everyone tackling the need to evolve themselves.

Evolution - Live music into the future

The live music industry's biggest asset is the community they build and outside of the 'music industry' communities are what successful businesses are built on across the world every day of the week.  The change the industry might need is to evolve the way they see themselves.