The Australian Music Industry Needs More Than A Festival Cancellation Fund
While yes, it does feel like a good start, it's also the bare minimum that the government can be doing to support one of the hardest hit industries.
The NSW State Government yesterday announced a financial lifeline for major events and festivals across the state that have been cancelled due to the recent omicron outbreak.
The funding will allow for major event organisers to pay suppliers, staff and recover other costs where an event is cancelled or significantly affected as a result of public health orders imposed as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While yes, it does feel like a good start, it's also the bare minimum that the government can be doing to support one of the hardest hit industries by the pandemic.
Currently, live music activity is at 6% of the pre-COVID era, this is not just due to festivals getting cancelled, COVID is impacting sole traders, community organisations and most importantly and directly, artists.
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The music industry provides more than $16 billion worth of economic and social benefit to Australia and now's the time (it's better late than never) for the government to provide more support.
It's time for the NSW Government to directly support artists and small businesses that define our music industry through a range of communities on different scales, through an insurance or wage subsidy program.
Subsequently, NSW Health need to implement more sophisticated, consistent, widespread and logical regulations in regards to safety of the community, one that doesn't utilise the frustrating, no singing and dancing excuse for every single COVID outbreak.
Music charity Support Act, which has disbursed more than 15,000 Crisis Relief Grants to music and live performing arts workers valued at more than $35 million has stated today that they "urgently" need support to keep up with current demand.
"After a brutal two years, the latest wave of Omicron infections is once again resulting in festivals, gigs and events being cancelled or postponed," Support Act CEO Clive Miller said.
"Many music workers are also testing positive to COVID-19 and being forced to isolate, resulting in them losing critically important income, along with the opportunity to engage with fans and colleagues after so long apart.
"It’s the proverbial ‘perfect storm’ that is putting enormous pressure on an industry which is still struggling to recover after almost two years of pandemic-related challenges.
"If you can, please donate today to help us continue to provide urgently-needed crisis relief and mental health support to music workers across all genres who are doing it tough."
Words by Parry Tritsiniotis
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