NSW Labor announces full music policy, commits $35M to contemporary music investment

NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley and Shadow Minister for Music and the Night Time Economy John Graham have launched NSW Labor's full contemporary music policy, expanding on their live music policy announced last month.

Ahead of the NSW state election on March 23rd, the new announcement of NSW Labor includes:

• A total of $35 million over four years to support contemporary music in NSW
• $1.3M in rebuilding the regional touring circuit, including the extension of finding for Live and Local
• $1 million to support community radio
• A senior contemporary music expert employed by Create NSW
• Funding programs such as:
  • A $5.1M Band Aid program to help musicians records and tour regionally and nationally, and for industry professional development
  • A $1.3M Music Passport program to help musicians from NSW to tour internationally
  • $3M in grants for live music venues for promotion, soundproofing and infrastructure
• $1.6 million to develop "Music Communities" in:
  • Sydney’s CBD and Inner West
  • Western Sydney
  • South Western Sydney
  • Newcastle and the Hunter Region
  • The Illawara
  • The North Coast
  • Tamworth

The new announcement follows the previous launch of NSW Labor policies such as:

• The appointment of a Minister for Music
• A Live Music census every two years to establish the number of venues, musicians and performances that take place at any given time in NSW
• Amendment of the Liquor Act to introduce a “Right to Play” principle including the removal of restrictions on live entertainment
• One-stop shops for noise complaints and planning and liquor approvals for music venues
• A Plan for Contemporary Music to be released within first 100 days in office

NSW Labor has also committed to multi-year festival license approvals for event organisers with an established record as well as streamlining festival new license processes.

This comes as the music industry calls on the State Government to "stop killing live music in NSW" in a new campaign and rally on February 21st.

Keep Sydney Open also launched their music policies yesterday, committing $100 million to music investment as well as repealing new festivals regulations and more.

Image credit: Indent Tour 2018 by Lazy Bones Photo