Government’s New Policies On Live Music Could Prove Crippling To NSW Arts Scene
The live music scene is in a state of disarray after the NSW government’s announcement of new policies that could cause the widespread cancellation of festivals.
The guidelines, effective from 1st March, describe what the government refers to as “harm reduction strategies to support event organisers to deliver safe music festivals in NSW”.
The policies have been derided by festivalgoers as unclear and excessively steep, to the point where the government released a statement in an attempt to clarify a few points of contention.
In an attempt to rally the people, the “Don’t Kill Live Music” petition has surfaced on change.org, garnering over 110,000 signatures and publishing a complete overview on the most glaring issues behind the new changes.
The manifesto opens with: “Overbearing regulation, exorbitant police bills, a lack of respect for NSW businesses, and very little recognition of the significant positive impacts of music on our communities is forcing music out of NSW.
“Instead of consulting with festival experts, the NSW Government imposed punitive regulation that specifically targets music festivals and music fans. Festivals are being used as a scapegoat for years of failed drug and alcohol policy.
“We want our music culture to be safe and inclusive. Onerous and ill-considered regulation will not save lives. And the State Government is decimating our music culture in the process”.
The movement will come to a crescendo tomorrow in the form of a rally taking place in Hyde Park from 6 pm.
B&T spoke with M&C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment managing director Jamie Gilbert-Smith on the policies, and the potential ramifications they could have on the NSW music scene.
“It’s a huge industry, the musical festival business,” said Gilbert-Smith.
“It’s over 1 billion, when you take into account its knock-on effect into the local economies, and I think the ambiguity casts a shadow over that and therefore puts at risk a lot of people’s livelihoods.
“If you’re going to do that, then you need to have a lot more clarity as to what the parameters are, because by keeping it open, you’re effectively just allowing the government to shut things down as and when they want.
“I think in general, there’s going to be a knock-on effect that nobody really quite understands until it happens, it’s a bit like the lockout laws”.
He warned that the strictness of the policies could cause a mass exodus of future events from the state, saying: “If you were an existing sponsor of a festival, you’d probably want to work with whoever the organiser is to minimise the risk of last-minute cancellations.
“I’d imagine that you’ll start seeing a lot of the festivals changing locations, moving to other states.
“I know if I was a music promoter, that’s what I’d do”.
He also suggested that brands could opt for other opportunities to target the same demographic, with a lot less risk involved.
“For instance, our UK guys do a lot of work with Ballantine’s and [online live music streaming platform] Boiler Room.
“It’s basically just different ways of brands bringing music to their audience, so I don’t think that’s going to go away.
“Personally, I wouldn’t be putting money into potentially risky festivals — I wouldn’t be advising brands to do that”.
On the concept of specific brands championing the “Don’t Kill Live Music” movement, Gilbert-Smith said: “I’m not that aware of any brand really leading the anti-lockout laws argument, so I don’t know if you’ll see brands doing that.
“But there are certainly some brands that have leveraged music and festivals as a passion platform that you would think, a have a right to do that but b probably have an obligation to do it as well.
“I think if you’ve reaped the benefits of associating with festivals, then you should probably think about how you can be part of that conversation”.
He concluded: “This is a very interesting time for the arts and creative services in New South Wales.
“It’s really a very interesting space to watch, and I think they could have been a bit more open-minded and reached out to a broader spectrum of people from that world to look at solutions to the problems that are invariably there, but other markets have looked at solving — for instance, pill testing and things like that.
“I just think it’s a very knee-jerk, nanny state, typical New South Wales”.
Latest News
“It Is Getting Better But At A Glacial Speed”: Legends Of PR On Shaping A More Diverse Media Industry
B&T would struggle to meet our daily newsletter deadlines without them, but their contribution to the industry too often goes unnoticed. Lead image: Rochelle Burbury (top left), Sandra Hogg (top right), Katy Denis (bottom left), Susie Thomson (bottom right) But not today! Ahead of the 2024 B&T Women In Media Awards, presented by Are Media, […]
GoTransit Media Group Unveils The Power Of Regional Transit Advertising
New research by GoTransit and Rapid Media has unveiled the effectiveness of transit advertising in engaging with regional audiences, demonstrating positive uplift results across key brand metrics. Engaging Fiftyfive5, GoTransit conducted a brand study to assess the impact of Bus and Light Rail advertising on the target audience by measuring Recall, Branding, Diagnostics, and Impact. […]
Slew Of Promotions For Special Senior Creative Leadership Team
Special has bolstered its senior creative leadership team, promoting Max McKeon, Sian Binder, Lea Egan, Nils Eberhardt and Simon Gibson to group creative directors. Lead image: L to R – Sian Binder, Max McKeon, Nils Ederhardt, Lea Egan, Simon Gibson “This crew is some of the best and brightest that our industry has to offer, so […]
Kantar: AVOD Subscribers Double In 12 Months
Study finds Aussies happy to watch ads on their streaming services. Or, are they just putting the kettle on more often?
Val Morgan Digital Exceeds All Campaign Uplift Benchmarks Via A 12-Month Brand Metrics Study
Val Morgan announces it has exceeded all its campaign benchmarks. Still can't get under an hour for the City To Surf.
Australian Retirement Trust launches monster of a campaign, by M&C Saatchi and Bohemia
Get offered a seat on the bus today? Knees creak like an old pirate's galleon? This retirement ad may be of interest.
Print Audits To Discontinue As Audited Media Association Of Australia Pivots To Support Influencer Marketing
Is it just B&T or are audits in the media industry suddenly becoming murkier than Roxy's husband's tax returns?
News Corp Australia Launches 2024 National Education Advocacy Initiative With Expanded Program
News Corp set to shine a light on the nation's schools in new series, giving illegal bikie gangs a well-earned rest.
Decoding The Consumer Maze: Urban List Report Reveals How Modern Shoppers Spiral From Discovery To Purchase
Latest report unravels a shopper's journey from the joy of discovery through to a nasty letter from a debt collector.
Cosmo Returns To Australia!
Ever get the feeling we've weirdly warped back to 1988 at the moment? Confirm it with the relaunch of Cosmo in print.
People & Culture Consultancy Human Kind Collective Launches To Plug HR Gap For Media Agencies
Does the very mention of HR have you struggling to remember last year's Christmas party? Get the sweats with this news.
‘We Want To Be A Growth Partner, Not Just A Media Buyer Or Someone That Makes Ads’ – Bohemia Boss On Agency’s Ambition
B&T's chatting with Bohemia boss Paul ‘Hutch’ Hutchison. Although we do think 'the dagger' a far superior nickname.
Initiative’s Geoff Clarke: ‘Youth Hits Targets With Enthusiasm, Experience Hits The Targets You Can’t See’
Initiative’s CCO Geoff Clarke on the value of experience in agencies. Not to mention quoting lines from Pulp Fiction.
The Iconic Teams Up With 5 Aussie Athletes For Latest Campaign
Fashion label brings in the athletes for new campaign, many of whom appear to have prepped with re-runs of Zoolander.
Seven West Media Secures New Director Of News & Current Affairs
After a tumultuous few weeks, Seven unveils director of news & current affairs. And B&T never uses tumultuous lightly.
Seven Network Expands NSW Sales Team With Two New Group Business Directors
Seven ramps up its NSW sales team. Both of whom are well versed in pronouncing Manu Feildel's croque-monsieur.
New PR Subscription Changing The Game For Aussie Start Ups
Need better PR? You can now buy it via a monthly subscription. Price does not include a fascinator or Moet piccolos.
Paul Kent At Centre Of Fresh Scandal After Alleged Street Brawl
Do you long for the fights, gouges & testicle grabs of footy's glory years? So too, it appears, does Paul Kent.
DiDi Taps Disney’s Tim Farmer For Head Of Brand Marketing Role
Disney's Tim Farmer shifts over to rideshare company DiDi. Taking with him his Donald Duck coffee mug & mouse ears.
As Sure As Night Becomes Day, The End Of Third-Party Cookies Has Been Delayed
The question remains: what will we see first? The end of cookies, alien invasion or Jesus's second coming?
Fast 10: Scoundrel’s Tim Bullock Explains What Shane Warne & Salt-N-Pepa Have In Common
It's a Fast 10 with Scoundrel's Tim Bullock. Make it sound even faster by sucking on helium while reading it.
Outbrain Snatches Chris Oxley From Foxtel Media
Foxtel's Chris Oxley shifts over to Outbrain, but not before having his press photo taken in the wilds of the Daintree.
oOh!media & POLY Partner With Greening Australia For OOH Awareness Campaign
Like to quell the road rage with super cute pics of fluffy marsupials? This outdoor's just the ticket.
Are Media Cares For The Carers In Its Latest Social Change Campaign
Are Media calls on the government to add super payments to carers' payments. Remains silent on AUKUS, however.
In A Fragmented World, Engagement Is King
Today, B&T TV's talking fragmentation & engagement. But not in a down-on-one-knee sense of the word.
Kyle Sandilands On Advertising: “We Want Return Business. It’s No Good Just Taking Someone’s Money”
Kyle & Jackie O finally arrive on Melbourne radio. As yet, no sign of the monotonous and bitter AFL-NRL debate.
Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm
Sydney Comedy Festival 2024 is live and ready to rumble, showing the best of international and homegrown talent at a host of venues around town. As usual, it’s hot on the heels of its big sister, the giant that is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, picking up some acts as they continue on their own […]
Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth
The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) has announced the final epic lineup of local and global marketing powerhouses for RESET for Growth 2024. Lead image: Josh Faulks, chief executive officer, AANA Back in 2000, a woman with no business experience opened her first juice bar in Adelaide. The idea was brilliantly simple: make healthy […]
Is Meta’s New AI Chatbot Too Left-Wing?
Meta's chatbot accused of being left-wing after being caught wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt & listening to Billy Bragg.
TV Ratings (23/04/2024): Why Did No One Tell Angela That Farmer Wants A Wife Is Set On A Farm?
As wonderful as this headline is, let's face it, we all know an 'Angela', don't we?
PubMatic Unveils New AI Partnership To Turn Social Posts Into Ads For Any Digital Channel
Here's some nifty tech for turning social posts into ads. Assuming said posts aren't one-star character assassinations.
Intuit Mailchimp Makes A Splash With Its First Australian Brand Campaign
Ever laugh along at a gag you didn't get so as not to appear dumb? Get ready for more feigning with this new work.
GumGum’s Rob Hall: Advertisers Can No Longer “Rely On Binary Descriptions” Of Consumers
If anyone's got their finger on adtech's pulse, it's Rob Hall. He also avoids using the good paper in the office printer
Mastercard Nabs Florencia Aimo From Marriott International
Marriott International's Florencia Aimo jumps from the hotel business to the exploitative credit card one.
Bastion Agency Appoints Cheuk Chiang As New ANZ CEO
Cheuk Chiang takes the reins over at Bastion Agency. But not the rains down in Africa.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Major Sponsorship Wins After A Disappointing Week In Sport
B&T continuing our deep dive into local sport sponsorships & that's despite not a single offer of a free ticket as yet.