Melbourne in danger of losing reputation as live music capital
An open letter signed by 100 venues is begging the Victorian Government to lift crowd capacities or risk ruining the live music industry.
Victoria
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OPERATORS behind iconic venues Corner Hotel, Forum Theatre, Cherry Bar and The Curtin say Melbourne’s reputation as the world’s live music capital is on the verge of collapse.
An open letter, signed by 100 venues, and which will be published on Wednesday, is begging the Victorian Government to lift crowd capacities from present numbers — 30 per cent — to 100 per cent.
The letter also asks for JobKeeper to be extended, and calls for grace on accumulated rent.
“Don’t be fooled — Victoria’s live music venues are open, but we are not OK,” the letter says.
“Our live music venues reopened three months ago restricted to less than 30 per cent of regular capacities, with the support of JobKeeper. Now JobKeeper is ending, the bills are piling up, and we cannot trade out of it.”
It adds: “Music venues are the critical infrastructure of this industry. If our venues disappear, the live music economy will disappear, and our cultural heritage will go with it.”
James Young, the owner and booker at Cherry Bar, Yah Yah’s and Hotel Westwood, said: “We are heading toward a fork in the road crisis moment. And crisis means our venues go broke and they disappear forever.
“Melbourne is the live music capital of the world because we have the most number of venues per capita,” Mr Young added. “We won’t have those venues if this trend continues. It’s a time of extreme crisis. The government needs to really think about saving our soul.
“If JobKeeper stops, and accumulated rents have to be paid, we will go broke. And if you’re operating at 30 per cent capacity, you don’t have to be Stephen Hawking to work our we can’t our afford rent, our staff, and our debts.”
The open letter also says: “Music is who we are. It is a cornerstone of Victoria’s identity as the creative state it is something that we are known for around the world, and it is a huge economic driver. Our stages nurture emerging artists.”