APRA|AMCOS have released the inaugural report evaluating the contribution of venue-based live music into Australia’s economy and findings suggest the nation dropped $1.2 billion into live entertainment in the 2009/2010 financial year.
It sounds like a good number, but the overarching response from music bodies has been: why isn’t there more government support for musicians then?
The report by Ernst & Young, entitled The economic contribution of the venue-based live music industry in Australia and including the catchphrase “Life’s Better With Live” found that of this $1.2 billion $652 million landed in the profit and wages margin, in support of almost 15,000 full time jobs nationwide.
While APRA|AMCOS happily report the industry’s significance to the economy, it is interesting to consider what the report is not covering. The $1.2 billion in question purports to include ticket, food and drink sales (no mention of band merchandise) from venues defined in the report as “pubs/bars, clubs, restaurants/cafes and nightclubs”.
The data compiled is from the “venue owners/managers perspective.” Tone Deaf wondered where venues like Festival Hall, Etihad Stadium and Rod Laver Arena or even bowls clubs and wineries figure into the “venue” overview and looked to Music Victoria for information on Live Performance Australia’s recent estimate that large scale concerts – including festivals, stadium events and other art performance sectors like opera and theatre – project $1.88 billion, placing an overall live music economy boost closer to $3 billion.
Music Victoria CEO, Patrick Donovan, praised the report, adding, “It is long overdue and will help inform the national regulatory framework and policy direction of governments. The industry will be seeking funds to undertake a similar report biennially so the industry can measure any changes or trends.”
Included in the Music Victoria commentary were their plans to front up to next month’s Tax Summit and National Cultural Policy to argue on behalf of live performers for a share in the alcohol excise tax.
Helen Marcou, Bakehouse recording studio co-owner and co-founder of Melbourne’s S.L.A.M Rally seconded that notion, playing on the report’s catchphrase with, “’Life is better with Live Music’ for everyone, except the practitioners, Australia’s musicians, who continue to earn much less than the dole, on average $10,000 per year. Whilst alcohol remains the currency of live music, the Government and alcohol companies continue to reap huge rewards, however, our musicians who provide the drawcard, the background, the ambience, the excitement and the passion are cut out of the profits.”
As well as the obvious gripes – broke musicians and recent Government funding cuts to fantastic organisations like FreeZa – Tone Deaf questions also the report’s quotation of “15,000 full time jobs.”
It begs the question: with so many “industry people” forced to earn their main income outside music – reducing their role to part time – how many people are actually working to build music in Australia?
Check out Tone Deaf’s comment on the last report by The Victoria Government The Economic, Social and Cultural Contribution of Venue-based Live Music in Victoria here.
