Budget support for music exports is a welcome boost
Thursday, 10 May 2012
The additional funding announced in this week’s Federal Budget to support Australian music export programs will help contemporary Australian musicians and songwriters succeed on the world stage, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA|AMCOS) said today.
The announcement, providing an extra $1.7 million to the Sounds Australia music export program, will help increase the number and frequency of venues booking live music and will encourage international acts to use Australian songwriters and musicians as support acts.
APRA|AMCOS CEO Brett Cottle welcomed the announcement, saying that APRA|AMCOS has long been an advocate for music creators and the live music industry in Australia.
“The Ernst and Young study that we commissioned in 2011, in partnership with the Australia Council, Arts Victoria, Arts NSW and Live Performance Australia, found that the live music industry added $1.2 billion to our economy, serviced almost 42 million patrons and created nearly 15,000 full time jobs Australia-wide ,” Mr Cottle said.
“A healthy and vibrant Australian live music industry is fundamental to the career development of songwriters, composers and performers who can succeed on the world stage.”
“Sounds Australia started as a joint initiative between APRA|AMCOS and the Australia Council for the Arts. This extra funding for Sounds Australia is important in growing support for the entire music lifecycle – from live music venues in local pubs all the way to Australian songwriters and musicians breaking through in the US, Europe and Asia,” Mr Cottle said.
Sounds Australia Export Music Producer Millie Millgate said that the additional funding would help Australian musicians and songwriters break into overseas markets.
“The Sounds Australia initiative works because it has been supported across the music industry,” Ms Millgate said. “We have the backing of peak music industry bodies lead by APRA|AMCOS, state funding agencies as well as the Federal Government through the Australia Council for the Arts.
“Artists and industry executives trust the programs that Sounds Australia undertakes overseas. We can't wait to use this additional funding to boost our support of Australian artists in the international arena,” Ms Millgate said.
Ms Millgate is currently in London preparing to support 17 Australian artists who will appear at The Great Escape music conference in the UK later this week.
Dave Batty, manager of successful Australian band The Jezabels said that the Sounds Australia funding announcement was great news for the local music industry.
"The Jezabels would not be where they are today without Sounds Australia. This injection of funding will see them support and develop many other Australian artists on the world's stage," Mr Batty said.
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