Australian lawmakers are investigating what it said was the unclear future of the country's live music industry due to the global economic downturn brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public broadcaster ABC reported that the Australian Parliament's Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts heard evidence from a number of stakeholders from the state of Queensland, including Arts Queensland and QMusic. 

Resource Persons Say Australia's Live Music Shows Must be Promoted

QMusic CEO Kris Stewart told the inquiry that they have heard similar "challenges" from its several venues across the state, saying that, in order to have a thriving local live music industry, Australia would need to "acknowledge" its small music venues as they were the "soil" from which local artists could grow. 

On the other hand, Griffith University researcher Ben Green, speaking on behalf of the Regional Music Research Group, said that non-metropolitan areas have a similar number of musicians per capita as the state capital cities like Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne. However, the availability, distance, and cost of rural and regional venues have become barriers to success. 

Green also told lawmakers that there is evidence that the overall benefits of live music could mean a significant boost in regional and remote Australia.

Australian Live Music Business Council chair Howard Adams told Michael West Media that small venues were a "crucial step" in the ladder to musical success, and that it presents a crucial bridge between popularity on Spotify and playing on bigger venues.

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Leveraging on International Tours 

Meanwhile, the Regional Music Research Group also urged the government to consider ways to generate more money and drive "discoverability" in the Australian industry from international concert tours like Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. 

For example, Stewart suggested a small levy on ticket prices for artists like Swift that was less than 1% of the total cost be raised, with the proceeds going toward sustaining the local music industry. 

Such a policy has also been explored in the United Kingdom, the ABC added.

Arts Queensland deputy director Kirsten Herring also suggested using local music at large-scale community and sporting events to allow grassroots and emerging artists a greater chance to be discovered. 

All of the resource parties further agreed that more research would be needed to have a better understanding of the industry and its multiple struggles.

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