Australian rock stars sign open letter pleading for government assistance to save music industry

Scott Morrison needs to intervene if music festivals and live gigs are to return, some of Australia’s biggest rock stars have warned.

The stars of Aussie music have come together to plead for urgent government intervention to save the industry.

In an open letter published on Wednesday, more than 3500 artists, venue owners and behind-the-scenes workers have urged the federal government to announce a support package so that the show can go on.

“We are an industry in crisis,” the open letter reads.

The Avalanches are among the bands that signed the open letter.

The plea was signed by stars like Bernard Fanning, Courtney Barnett, Paul Kelly and Midnight Oil.

Other stars who signed include Archie Roach, Missy Higgins and The Avalanches.

Noting that there hasn’t been a single national tour or a festival run at full capacity since last March, the artists asked the government to either extend JobKeeper or to develop an industry-specific rescue program.

Live music in particular has taken a huge toll during the pandemic.

Courtney Barnett performs a global live-stream concert from Melbourne on December 17, 2020. Picture: Supplied

While the industry association APRA AMCOS recorded over three million live performances between July and September 2019, artists only submitted reports of 100,000 gigs during the three pandemic months of April, May and June 2020.

That’s less than 4 per cent of the pre-COVID activity.

“The ability for musicians to generate meaningful income was shut down overnight in March last year. Every live music venue and festival in a city, town centre or regional area is part of an intricate network that supports our industry,” the letter reads.

“Sitting behind these venues and events is an army of musicians, DJs, managers, agents, promoters, crew, technicians, music teachers and many other industry professionals.”

Singer Archie Roach signed the open letter as well. Picture Luis Enrique Ascui

“We can’t afford to lose the skills and businesses of our industry. The result for Australian music and live entertainment would be catastrophic.”

JobKeeper is a wage subsidy program for businesses that was launched in late March 2020 after the coronavirus pandemic had begun disrupting Australian life.

The initial six-month run was extended in September to run through March 2021.

But that will be it for the program, the federal government has said.

When asked for a comment on the open letter, the office of Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said $60 million had been distributed out of a fund for the creative arts sector, with $15 million still left in the fund.

That money was part of a $250 million package called Creative Economy JobMaker announced in June last year, a spokesperson said.

“Support for the creative arts industry, including the live music sector, will continue through the Morrison Government’s RISE Fund,” Mr Fletcher said.

“18 successful RISE applicants involve contemporary music or have a significant element of contemporary music as part of a broader festival, totalling $11.6 million for the contemporary music sector. I expect to announce the outcome of the second batch of RISE applicants by the end of March 2021.”