Today APRA, release the Life’s Better With Live report which describes the contribution contemporary musicians make to the Australian economy, 2 billion annually, with 42 million people attending 328,000 gigs in 3900 venues across Australia, and generating almost 15,000 full-time jobs.

Prime Minister Gillard recently handed President Obama two iconic symbols that define our love as a nation; a footy for sport and an ipod full of Contemporary Australian music, yet our Federal Government’s commitment to funding and nurturing of Contemporary Australian music is appalling.

SLAM call on the Federal Government to fulfil their 2007 / 2010 election commitments for the contemporary music sector.

These promises included:

• Social Security and the Arts policy – Art Start (Election promise 2007);  amend the Migration Regulations 1994 for the Temporary Entertainment Visa to
• require Australian supports for all international acts (Election promise in 2007);  work with States, Territories and local government to reduce barriers to live
• music performance and encourage live music precincts (Election promise 2007);  and to complete the Strategic Contemporary Music Industry Plan and introduce its components,
• including; The creation of a National Live Music Coordinator position;  to develop a best practice guide to improve workplaces for live performance.

In addition to government at all levels reviewing arts funding for contemporary music, the Federal Government should consider:

• That a portion of the revenue derived from the Alcohol Excise and Wine Equalization Tax, which is generated by the economic activity of live music, goes into a music fund that goes back to the group that is driving this tax revenue. This should be in the form of a hypothecated fund, accessible to musicians, to assist them in developing their professional careers and creative practices;
• amend the R and D tax offset that specifically excludes arts development: this would allow arts orientated private enterprises to invest in arts development creating economic and cultural wealth.

We strongly call for equality in arts funding for contemporary music and a functional regulatory framework across all government levels. It is timely, that a position is created for a national live music officer to act as a centralised point for research, information and advice. This report justifies the call.

“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.” Helen Marcou

“The only people that ever made money out of Weddings, Parties, Anything gigs were CUB”. Mick Thomas WPA

Read More

SLAM release 19 Sept

Australian Contemporary Music Policy Priorities 2011

The Arts Victoria report “The economic, social and cultural contribution of venue-based live music in Victoria”, released today, for the first time quantifies the cultural and economic value of live music in Victoria, which raises many questions.

The live music scene contributes $501 Million to the Victorian Economy, with an attendance 12% greater than the AFL home and away season. These are the bands that play in Pubs, Bars and Restaurants.  Add to this, Live Performance Australia’s value of ticketed “non-classical music” and the value of Victorian contemporary music is in excess of $725 million.

This poses some important questions in relation to the what musicians get out of this equation.  Although the average Victorian musician directly earns $15,000 from live performance, 57% of musicians earn less than $10,000 with the majority of this money re-invested in their practice. Most musicians turn to other source to help earn a living, diffusing their focus.

This report raises questions as to how governments at all levels can assist the music industry to continue to survive and grow while assisting musicians to leverage their economic worth.

There is an excellent case for increasing arts funding for contemporary music.

Currently, the Victorian State Government spends a reported $50 million on the Australian Grand Prix to generate economic activity of between $32 million and $40 million. Contrast the Victoria Rocks program which costs the taxpayer $757,951 to leverage $501 million.  Consider that the Australia Council spends $71.2 million on Classical Music and Opera whilst spending  $12.2 million on all other music forms.  25%  of practicing artists are musicians yet the proportion of arts funding that is allocated to contemporary music is proportionally minute.

The Victorian State Government should reconsider the wisdom of its budget cuts to the Freeza Central Program as this funding supports the next generation coming up into the industry.

In addition to government at all levels reviewing arts funding for contemporary music, the Federal Government should consider other structural reforms such as:

Fixing the R and D tax offset that specifically excludes arts development: this would allow arts orientated private enterprises to invest in arts development creating economic and cultural wealth.

Ensure that some of the revenue derived from the Alcohol Excise and Wine Equalization Tax, which is generated by the economic activity of live music, goes into a music fund that goes back to the group that is driving this tax revenue. This should be in the form of a hypothecated fund, accessible to musicians, to assist them in developing their professional careers and creative practices.

Michael O’Brian, The Victorian Minister for Consumer Affairs, announced today that the Victorian Government will reform the Liquor Control Reform Act’s objectives to take into account the needs of live music in liquor licensing decisions. This will bring Victoria into line with other states. The Victorian Government also committed to setting up a permanent live music round table to further discuss regulator issues that effect live music. These are important positive initiatives.

The Victorian State Government should also urgently action all the other commitments under the Live Music Accord agreement to provide a workable regulatory framework for live music, including but not limited to:

Instituting order of occupancy (agent of change) principles, in the Victoria Planning Scheme and liquor licensing law, that has statutory weight.

Reform of other regulatory threats to small venues such as the onerous Building Code of Australia’s “Place of Public Entertainment” provisions (class 9b) that place a small venue into the same category as an airport, if it provides live entertainment.

The evidence supplied by the latest Arts Victoria Report supports the case for a major review and increase in arts funding, for contemporary musicians, by all levels of government.  There is excellent value for the taxpayer as the infrastructure is already in place. Australia has the venues, it just needs the government to invest in the professional and artistic development of its abundant musical talent and to provide a functional regulatory framework, to ensure its future viability and health.

The case for substantially increasing the funding for contemporary music is self-evident.     Australia must show that it has confidence in its capacity to produce its own cultural forms, such as contemporary music. We do not need to replicate and transplant culture from overseas or the distant past.

Arts funding for contemporary musicians to create new work and practice their craft is justifiable, long overdue, well spent. It generates wealth, pride and pleasure for the Australian community whilst enriching our culture.

Joint Media Release

Fair Go 4 Live Music – Jon Perring

SLAM – Helen Marcou

The report commissioned by the Victorian government in 2010, and prepared for Arts Victoria by economic consulting firm Deloitte Access Economics “The economic, social and cultural contribution of venue-based live music in Victoria” was released this morning at the Tote. Download it from the Arts Victoria website.

Report: Live Music More Popular Than Footy In News : Mess+Noise

‘Sticky carpet-clad’ Ted pledges Libs’ love of live music | Crikey

On 23rd February 2010, coinciding with the 34th anniversary of AC/DC’s famous ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top’ film clip shoot down Swanston Street, 20,000 music lovers marched through the streets of Melbourne and on to Parliament House at the SLAM Rally to support live music when new liquor licensing laws threatened to pull the plug on live music.

One year on, we celebrate this historic event – noted as ‘the largest cultural protest in Australian history’. February 23rd was about calling for changes and our voice was heard. The Government signed a new accord recognising the value of our live music scene, and that live music does not cause violence.

SLAM celebrates the community, industry and – most importantly – our musicians.

February 23rd will be known as SLAM (Save Live Australia’s Music) day, a day when we get off the couch and into our venues to support local live music.

This year SLAM are taking it back to where it all began, hosting a benefit to raise money for Victoria’s flood victims at our beloved Tote Hotel. The Tote are also celebrating their new security conditions, a landmark in the battle.

The night’s musical theme will be ‘The Tote Jukebox’, where unholy musical collaborations from some of Victoria’s best musicians will create the type of live magic & mayhem that only happens in small venues.

Warracknabeal’s most famous son, Nick Cave, has kindly donated his guitar from the recent Grinderman tour to be auctioned off, with all proceeds to help Victoria’s flood victims – check the SLAM website for auction details.

SLAM Anniversary ‘Tote Jukebox’ Unholy Collaborations

Wednesday 23rd February 2011

The Tote Hotel, Collingwood Doors open 4pm

Our SLAM frontline will be returning to the Tote, with performances from:

• Angie Hart
• Even
• Gun Street Girls
• Spencer P Jones
• Dan Luscombe (The Drones)
• Oh Mercy
• The Panics
• Glenn Richards
• Amanda Roff (The Ukeladies / Harmony)
• Kim Salmon
• Dan Sultan
• Henry Wagons
• Wedgetail (w/ guest Linda J from the Dacios)
• Paris Wells
• The Wolfgramm Sisters
• X

…and many more secret surprise guests – a must-see gig!

Tickets on sale 9am Wednesday 16th February

Tickets $20+bf presold,$25 at the door (if available)
Available from the Corner Hotel box office Ph: 9427 9198
www.cornerhotel.com

and from the Tote Hotel front bar

MEDIA RELEASE SLAM Anniversary gig 23 Feb 2011

Australian Labor Party

http://www.alpvictoria.com.au/policies/victoria-rocks/

http://www.alpvictoria.com.au/blogs/alp-blog/november-2010/whole-lotta–love-for-live-music/

The ALP’s Victoria Rocks election fact sheet (PDF download)

Australian Sex Party

http://www.sexparty.org.au/index.php/component/content/article/12-party-info/914-arts–australian-sex-party-victorian-policy

The Greens

http://vic.greens.org.au/policies/arts-and-culture

http://mps.vic.greens.org.au/taxonomy/term/643

The Greens’ Arts and Culture Policy (PDF download)

Independent Candidates

Stephen Jolly (Socialist Party, candidate for the seat of Richmond) http://www.yarrasocialists.net/?p=50

Serge Thomann (candidate for the seat of Albert Park) http://serge2010.com.au/blog/?p=51

Liberal Nationals Coalition

Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Plan For Liquor Licensing (PDF download).

Points particularly relevant to live music on pages 5 and 14-16.

We are pleased to announce that after eight months of intense negotiation SLAM, Fair Go 4 Live Music and Music Victoria have reached an agreement with the Victorian State Government.

Read the S.L.A.M / Fair Go 4 Live Music / Music Victoria- Media Release

Read the Live Music Agreement

PATRICK DONOVAN
THE AGE, April 8, 2010

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/musos-take-fight-to-parliament-20100407-rs7g.html

_{The Greens’ Sue Pennicuik accepts the petition from SLAM’s representatives.
Photo by Carbie © www.carbiewarbie.com}

MELBOURNE musicians have turned up the heat on the state government for failing to deliver on promises to remove high-risk conditions on live music venues.

Performers including Ross Wilson, Mike Rudd, Kram, Clare Bowditch, Angie Hart and 83-year-old Nick Polites presented a petition, signed by 22,000 people, which urges the government to remove the link in liquor licences between live music and high-risk conditions.

It was handed to Greens arts spokeswoman Sue Pennicuik yesterday on the steps of State Parliament, where more than 10,000 music fans marched in a rally six weeks ago.

Ms Pennicuik said the high-risk conditions could be lifted immediately by the government and she would raise the issue in Parliament next week.

"We all know music doesn’t cause violence. Over the last 20 years we’ve had music venues closing down because of pokie machines, and now we have this condition put on by the Liquor Licensing Commission that equates live music with high-risk … There’s no need for it."

There were high hopes in the music industry when the government signed an 11th-hour accord on the eve of the rally. But six weeks on, high-risk conditions remain on many venue licences and musicians are struggling for work.

Broadcaster Jonnie von Goes said that so far the accord was not worth the paper it was printed on. "Nothing has happened," he said.

Collingwood’s Tote Hotel, which hopes to reopen with new licensees, and Brunswick’s Lomond Hotel, are two of six hotels that are urgently awaiting reviews of their licences.

"In the accord they said they would expedite the licence rollbacks and have answers within six weeks, but the Lomond’s paperwork is still sitting on [Liquor Licence director] Sue Maclellan’s desk," says SLAM co-organiser Helen Marcou.

"We imagine it will just sit on her desk until her tenure is up in a few weeks."

Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson said the licensees would be notified of a decision soon, and he urged the 700 other high-risk venues to apply.

Mr Polites, 83, who still plays clarinet in his jazz band at Carlton’s Clyde Hotel each Sunday, said he had played in venues all over the world because of the leg-up he got in Melbourne.

"We got the chance to really learn how to play our stuff in the small venues. Young people won’t get the opportunity if these rules go through."

Blaise Adamson, 19, from Geelong band Houses, said: "We can’t let the culture disappear."

OTHER COVERAGE

Triple J’s Hack: http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/notes/s2866622.htm

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release: Thursday April 1st, 2010

S.L.A.M / Fair Go 4 Live Music / Music Victoria

Over 20,000 Victorians demand that
‘high-risk’ conditions be de-linked from live music.

PETITION DELIVERY WEDNESDAY APRIL 7TH 2010
12.30pm Parliament House, Melbourne

Since the closure of The Tote Hotel in mid-January, the Fair Go 4 Live Music petition has been collecting signatures from music lovers all around Victoria, calling on the State Government to overturn the link between live music and ‘high risk’ conditions on liquor licenses for live music venues.

Melbourne’s musicians and music lovers marched through the city streets for the SLAM Rally on February 23rd and it’s time to return to the steps of Parliament with the delivery of the petition to the Legislative Council on Wednesday April 7th 2010 by various decades of well-known Victorian musicians.

The Victorian musicians who will be presenting the Fair Go 4 Live Music petition to Parliament are:

• 1930s – Harold Frith
• 1940s – Mike Rudd
• 1940s – Ross Wilson
• 1960s – Jon Von Goes
• 1960s – Clare Bowditch
• 1970s – Kram
• 1970s – Angie Hart
• 1980s – Dan Sultan
• 1980s – Evelyn Morris

More musicians to be confirmed.

Despite the signing of the Live Music Accord with the State Government, the link between live music and ‘high risk’ still exists. More disturbingly, no venues have had their high risk conditions removed since the signing of the Accord. The music industry and the public want to see real action on this issue. We want action, not just Accords. The threat to Victoria’s vibrant live music culture remains in place. The 22,000 signatures attest to the public support of live music. SLAM, FG4LM and Music Victoria will redouble their efforts to bring this issue to the attention of the public.

Click here to download this media release as a PDF.

Dr Shane Homan, a senior lecturer at Monash University has delivered a fascinating paper entitled Governmental as Anything: Live Music and Law and Order in Melbourne.

With his kind permission, it is available for download here. (PDF file, 127 KB)

This video was created by Paul Drane, who shot the original in ACDC film clip for “It’s A Long Way To The Top” in 1976.