Tourism NT and MusicNT announce the return of Awards for NT based songwriters
Tourism NT and Music NT have announced the continuation of the Tourism NT Territory Song Award for the 2017 and 2018 NT Song of the Year Awards. 2016’s winner Ben Evolent used his prize money to make a music video which showcased his tunes and the Northern Territory which he calls home. The collaboration of these organisations increases the total number of Awards categories to 10 in order to celebrate the unique songwriting talents of Territory-based musicians, locally and nationally, as judged by high profile industry representatives. See more information here.
China’s EDM Festival Storm to establish Australian event
International music event agencies have noticed the a gap in the EDM festival market in Australia since the end of Future Music Festival and Stereosonic in 2015. International festival brand Ultra announced in March that it would be holding an event in Sydney and Melbourne in 2018. The latest announcement however shows that they may have competition, in the form of China’s biggest homegrown travelling EDM festival, Budweiser Storm. The festival run by A2LiVE already holds its huge audiovisual spectacles in five cities around China with past headliners like Tiesto, Alesso, Hardwell and Afrojack. According to their website, they’re look to be expanding to 10 Chinese cities as well as Sydney. Dates have not been announced but watch this space.
Melbourne’s historic Palais Theatre reopens under the lease of Live Nation
St Kilda Film Festival is the first event to take place in the newly renovated Palais Theatre this weekend after reportedly over $20 million dollars in restoration. Funding was contributed by the state government and the Port Philip Council, and more works are set to continue after this event, with the venue to begin consistent usage from September. Apart from the extensive restorative efforts to beautiful historical elements such as the roof, seating, and foyer there has been alterations to adapt to the changing requirements of live events, with a substantial increase in accessible seating and wheelchair spots, a lift to the mezzanine, and an integrated, responsive lighting system in the ceiling and facade. The controversy surrounding the reopening of the theatre is the beginning of a 30-year lease on the venue by Live Nation, a multinational events company. Industry insiders are apprehensive as to what this means for locally based touring and booking agencies.
Inner West Council in Sydney is proposes changes to promote live music
Although a series of legislation changes in Sydney’s CBD and inner suburbs continues to be a factor in the closing of live music venues, one council’s newly proposed changes to development applications seems to go against the flow. Leichhardt’s former mayor Darcy Byrne has partnered with Sydney Fringe Festival to present changes to expensive development applications which are needed to turn a building (nonresidential) into a live art venue. “The arts scene is being strangled in red tape,” says Mr Byrne, as the applications create barriers for a small business who may want to put on live music or theatre, whether as a one-off or an ongoing venture. Inspired by Sydney Fringe Festival‘s struggle to find enough venues for their events, these changes could mean the establishment of new venues in this area, and counteract the closure of live music institutions around Sydney such as the Newtown Social Club.
Melbourne to host International Music Cities Event
Melbourne has won the bid to host the Music Cities Convention in 2018, which indicates that the city’s campaign to be recognised as a global music city is working. As Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley asserts that this success “reflects Melbourne’s position as Australia’s music capital, and a globally recognised music city – it is a win for our passionate music community.” This is the world’s largest music forum and attracts government, academic and music industry figures from around the world to discuss and showcase the ways that music can improve many aspects of city life. The 2018 convention will mark the first year that this event has been held outside of Europe and the US. For more information, check out the Music Cites Convention website.
Good Music Neighbours applications open for 2017 works
Venues in Victoria that are committed to providing a space for original live music but need support to soundproof their venue can apply for funding through the state government. Good Music Neighbours funds are granted to venues that have shown an acute need to improve noise attenuation due to proximity to or complaints from residential buildings in the vicinity. This initiative is part of the Andrews’ government campaign to promote the music culture of the state, and in turn ensure it’s longevity. Venues can apply here and the deadline is the 7th June.
Federal Budget sees a funding boost to community radio national
A small victory for the community radio sector in Canberra, Darwin, Hobart and the Gold Coast is the inclusion of $3.9 million in the 2017 budget to be spent expanding digital radio in these areas. Part of a welcome $6.1 million initiative to be spent during the next two years in the sector, which includes infrastructure upgrades which many community radio organisations would not be able to afford alone.
