In September 2011, The Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN) and Virgin Australia announced a new initiative aimed at addressing the ongoing problems musicians face when travelling with musical equipment. Following discussions led by AMIN, Virgin Australia is offering the music industry a baggage allowance of 32kg (across three pieces of checked baggage) for individual artists – with an additional 32kg able to be purchased in advance for just $15.

This baggage allowance is available on Virgin Australia-owned and operated domestic services only and must be booked or pre-purchased at least 48 hours prior to departure. This offer applies to all new bookings and cannot be provided in retrospect, and Virgin Australia will not refund normal baggage charges already paid.

The following organisations and their members are eligible to access this offer

• AMIN’s member organisations
  • Queensland Music Network (Q Music)
  • Contemporary Music Services Tasmania (CMST)
  • Music NSW
  • Music NT
  • Music Victoria
  • The Western Australian Music Industry Association (WAM)

• Association of Artist Managers;
• Australian Independent Record Labels Association;
• The Australasian Performing Right Association;
• The Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society;
• Live Performance Australia;
• Musicians Union of Australia;
• Country Music Association of Australia;
• Folk Alliance

Before taking advantage of the offer it’s important to read the full guidelines which can be downloaded as a PDF below:

DOWNLOAD THE FULL GUIDELINES

The Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN) has welcomed the release of a new report that shows live music pumps more than $1billion annually into the national economy.

Commissioned by APRA|AMCOS in conjunction with the Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Victoria, Arts NSW and Live Performance Australia , the first ever national study of the value of live music has found that in 2009/10 the live music industry injected $1.21 billion into the national economy, with total profits and wages of $652 million and supporting almost 15,000 full-time jobs

Produced by firm Ernst & Young the study – “The economic contribution of the venue-based live music industry in Australia” – also found that 41.97 million patrons attended 328,000 venue-based live music performances at 3,904 venues across Australia in 2009/10.

The complete report is available at www.apra-amcos.com.au/news

AMIN Chair Paul Bodlovich says the study provided much-needed figures around the scale of the industry.

“Aside from the important cultural contribution live music brings to our community, this is a significant industry that generates both economic output and direct jobs across the country,” Mr Bodlovich says. “To have this level of data, at last, means AMIN can continue making the case for continued support and investment in our live music scene.”

Mr Bodlovich added that many of the small venues captured in the new study provided an important breeding ground for new Australian music.

“It is in these venues that new bands hone their craft, build their skills and develop new audiences for their music,” he explains. “And without these venues many artists will simply not have the opportunity to go on to the next stage in their careers both in Australia and abroad.”

AMIN brings together the country’s State and Territory not for profit industry organisations, providing a central voice for thousands of artists and industry across Australia.

Touring just became a lot easier for artists with airline Virgin Australia announcing a new initiative aimed at addressing the ongoing problems musicians face when travelling with musical equipment.

After discussions led by national body The Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN), Virgin Australia have made an offer exclusively to the music industry that includes a baggage allowance of 32kg (across three pieces of checked baggage) for individual artists – with an additional 32kg able to be purchased in advance for just $15. Bands will also now be able to ‘pool’ their baggage allowance across their travelling group.

Q Music Executive Officer and AMIN Director Denise Foley says the agreement will have a major impact on the ability of Australian artists to tour more often and more cost effectively.

“Dealing with high and inconsistent excess baggage charges has been a burning issue across the music industry for many years,” Ms Foley says. “And Virgin Australia should be congratulated for having the willingness to not only listen to the industry’s concerns, but actually putting in place a system that addresses the problem. The impact of this new deal for artists will be significant and ongoing.”

Virgin Australia’s Group Executive (People) Richard Tanner – who made the announcement at the official opening of Brisbane’s BIGSOUND music industry conference tonight – says working more closely with the music industry was a natural fit for the airline.

“Ours is a brand that has a long and historic association with music,” Mr Tanner says. “It has been a pleasure to work with the industry to develop a solution that will deliver real tangible benefits to Australian artists on a daily basis.”

While the discussions have been led by AMIN, a range of key music organisations from around the country have played a key role in the development of the new deal.

They have included the Association of Artist Managers (AAM); Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR);  The Australasian Performing Right Association : The Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (APRA:AMCOS ); Live Performance Australia (LPA); Music Council of Australia (MCA); and Symphony Australia – alongside AMIN’s member organisations Queensland Music Network; Contemporary Music Services Tasmania (CMST); Music NSW; Music NT; Music Victoria and  The Western Australian Music Industry Association (WAM).

The deal offered by Virgin Australia will be made available only to members of music industry organisations that elect to partner with the airline – the complete list of organisations will be announced over the coming weeks.

Ms Foley explains:  “That approach will encourage artists and industry to become more actively involved in the many not-for-profit music organisations doing amazing work within our sector across the country.”

More details on the deal and participating organisations will be announced in the coming weeks and available on this site.

AMIN is urging all artists and industry to have their say on the future of arts policy in this country but getting involved in public consultation process around the newly announced National Cultural Policy.

In announcing the call for public submissions to the process, Federal Arts Minister Simon Crean explained the National Cultural Policy will be the first of its type in nearly 20 years.

“This is an important opportunity to examine how the Australian Government should support arts and culture in the 21st century, and to consider significant changes to the way we work, enjoy and participate in Australia’s arts and cultural life,” Mr Crean said.

“Australia’s arts and creative industries have built a global reputation for innovation, talent and energy, and 90 per cent of Australians participate in the arts.

Artists in theatre, music, literature, dance, screen, painting and craft have stirred discussion about Australia’s national identity, and arts and cultural activity have provided crucial pathways for self-expression, community engagement and celebration.”

A discussion paper has been released which you can read here.

But you best be quick with public submissions closing midnight on October 21.

Amplified – Tasmania’s contemporary music industry festival is now live. Featuring 98 performances across 9 of our premier live venues and 11 workshop and learning opportunities, this festival is about presenting the best of Tasmanian music to local audiences and providing connections to help our musicians reach out to the nation and the world.

This year, Amplified will be held from 18-21 August in venues all around Hobart City. Its management has also changed hands, with Contemporary Music Services Tasmania (CMST), Tasmania’s peak body for contemporary music stepping up to deliver this program formerly run by Arts@Work for Arts Tasmania.

Dario Phillips, President of CMST said: “It’s a natural evolution for CMST to step up to deliver Amplified 2011 and it’s something we’re very excited about. The shape of the festival has changed under our direction and is going back to its roots. Focusing on great gigs and specialist learning opportunities. Amplified in 2011 is a celebration of the great music coming from Tasmania.”

In previous iterations, Amplified has been a strong connector between industry businesses and Tasmanian artists, evidenced by bands such as The Scientists of Modern Music securing a record and publishing contract, Enola Fall picking up an agent and manager and New Saxons undertaking song development with a major record label.

Tim Green of New Saxons said: “Amplified introduced me to key players in the Australian music industry and until you actually meet these people, it’s almost impossible to make meaningful connections with them. Amplified gives us a chance to personally connect with these industry operators.”

Amplified 2011 again provides the opportunity for local artists to mix with the greater industry, with representatives from EMI, BIGSOUND, Gaga Publishing, Triple J, Tiny Monster and Sounds Australia attending and presenting specialist workshops.

Tasmanian musicians and the general public are invited to check out the Amplified program through the CMST website www.cmst.com.au and the Amplified 2011 facebook group.

Contemporary Music Services Tasmania (CMST) exists to fulfil the needs of the Tasmanian Contemporary Music Industry by providing services, forums and facilities to support its development. It promotes diversity, recognises excellence and encourages the growth of artists and industry personnel within Tasmania towards state-wide, national and international recognition.

Amplified 2011 is assisted through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for the Arts.

A landmark new study has captured the $500million annual value of Victoria’s live music scene.

And here’s some thoughts from AMIN member Music Victoria on that reports release…

Music Victoria welcomes the report ‘The economic, social and cultural contribution of venue-based live music in Victoria’ measuring the contribution of the Victorian venue-based live music sector.

The report, prepared for Arts Victoria by economic consulting firm Deloitte Access Economics, presents the first comprehensive assessment of the contribution that venue-based live music makes to Victoria – socially, culturally and economically.

“Music Victoria commends the State Government for recognising the lack of quantitative data which has hampered our sector,” said Patrick Donovan, CEO of Music Victoria, the peak body for contemporary music.

“We are pleased that social and cultural contributions of live music are now supported by genuine economic data. Now we have to look at strategies and solutions to assist the sector in living up to its potential as one of the live music capitals of the world.”

The report revealed that live music in Victoria’s pubs, bars, nightclubs, cafes and restaurants contributes $501 million to the Victorian economy. Last week’s Live Performance Australia’s Ticket Attendance & Revenue report (measuring larger shows) estimated the Victorian contemporary events market was valued at $224 million. By combining LPA’s ticketed events and Deloitte Access Economics’ smaller live gigs, the total figure is around $725 million.

The report revealed that Victoria boasts the highest number of venues in the country (600, with 370 in Melbourne) which in 2090/2010 hosted 5.4 million attendances, more than the 4.3 million attendances at the AFL’s home and away season games.

Live music also creates 17,200 jobs in auxiliary industries such as sound technicians, production hire, PR, advertising, security, merchandise, managers, band bookers and record manufacturers.

Yet musicians earn on average just under $20,000 a year, $13,500 of which comes from live performance. This deficiency seriously needs to be addressed.

Music Victoria is assisting artists in developing their small business skills, and through the national Music Matters campaign is educating people about the value of music.

Investing money into culture makes Victoria a more attractive place to live. And there is no doubt this investment pays off: a strong creative class attracts other skilled workers.  Many of the best musicians in Australia moved to Melbourne because of greater live music opportunities.

Live music is clearly worth supporting and nurturing through forward thinking and planning across all levels of government.

We have come a long way since the SLAM Rally. Music Victoria looks forward to the State Government recognising the contribution of live music by making legislative changes to the objects of the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 and also in setting up the Live Music Roundtable to address and monitor ongoing issues for venues including planning issues.

It also looks forward to working with Regional Arts Victoria to help stimulate the struggling regional touring circuit.

At a Federal level, Music Victoria urges the Government to acknowledge that music is a legitimate career and factor live performances into Centrelink welfare payments.

Live performance is not the whole story. We need reports into festivals, recorded music, radio and other industry sectors to help shape council and government funding and policy direction.

The report acknowledges the role that Music Victoria will play as a conduit between government and industry to plan, promote, encourage and support the live music industry.

“This important report has filled gaps in the evidence base for policy makers and Music Victoria looks forward to working with all levels of government to help shape future strategies and policy direction,” said Mr Donovan.

“The infrastructure is in place – the industry just needs some nurturing to ensure that our treasured musicians and venues are supported and protected for future generations.”

As legendary musician Kim Salmon says:  “Let’s change our attitude to benefit the people without whom there would be no music industry – the musicians.’’

Australian artists are being given a hand to navigate the legal complexities of the music industry thanks to a valuable free resource released this week by AMIN.

The new Music Industry Legal Pack features a collection of fact sheets and checklists aimed at equipping local artists and industry with some of the basic legal knowledge they need to deal with an increasingly complex industry.

MusicNSW Executive Officer Eliza Sarlos – whose organisation developed the resource on behalf of AMIN – says the project recognises the critical need for artists to understand any contracts or agreements put before them.

“These information sheets are by no means a substitute for professional legal advice,” Ms Sarlos explains. “But what they do is highlight the kinds of issues that artists and industry need to be looking at when entering into any contract or agreement.

“They unpack some of the information that can make contracts, and tax, so hard to understand, and highlight those areas that can come back to haunt artists if they’re not careful.”

The free information sheets and checklists cover a broad range of issues including:

• Distribution and recording contracts
• Band agreements
• Management contracts
• Publishing and song ‘synchronisation’
• Dealing with booking agents and venue contracts
• Re-mixer and producer agreements

AMIN has also developed and released a detailed tax checklist for musicians, covering everything from advice on how to set up a business, to GST and what artists can claim when preparing their tax returns.

The Pack was developed in consultation with industry and with assistance from entertainment law firm Simpsons and financial services company Moneypenny.

The legal pack is available now to download free at here and through the websites of AMIN’s member organisations soon.

Have you worked as a musician or technician at venues offering live music in the past 12 months? Want the chance to win a $250 gift voucher to Billy Hyde Music Retailers?

Innovation & Business Skills Australia (IBSA) is a government body researching the economic benefit that casual, informally contracted musicians and technicians (such as sound and lighting engineers) offer to venues that play live music. They also want to identify your training and skills needs.

IBSA is particularly interested in musicians and technicians that have been working at pubs, clubs, hotels, restaurants and/or student unions over the past twelve months. These venues offer live music, but not as their main source of revenue. Places like festivals, weddings or concert arenas are not part of this study.

The available information on your contribution to the live music sector has been limited up to now. The information you provide will help IBSA to work with the government to promote initiatives that support and encourage live music and lobby for further funding dedicated to improving your skills in the industry.

Your responses are completely confidential – the information you provide will be available only to the independent consultant completing the research.

If you are a musician, click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/musiciansaustralia

If you are a technician, click here:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/techies

The closing date for the survey and competition is midnight, June 8 2011.

Funding for the Contemporary Music Touring Program and more money for the Australia Council to support ‘new work’ are the key arts-focused initiatives announced in the 2011-2012 Federal Budget.

As Treasurer Wayne Swan handed down the Budget, Federal Arts Minister Simon Crean issued a statement saying the Government had approved funding of $400,000 per year for the Contemporary Music Touring Program, bringing the total commitment to $1.6million over the next four years.

“This program brings musicians to local venues in regional and remote Australia,” Mr Crean said.

The Minister said the Government had, also “delivered on its election commitment” to provide $10 million over five years in new support for young and emerging artists.

The funds will go direct to the Australia Council for the Arts to provide money for the creation of new Australian work across all art forms, including music, and will assist artists to build more sustainable careers.

Mr Crean said this new grants program will have a strong focus on increasing access to and participation in the arts for those living outside major metropolitan areas.

“The $10 million will fund up to 150 additional artistic works, presentations and fellowships over five years,’’ Mr Crean said.

The program will deliver grants of:

• up to $80,000 per annum for new artistic works, including visual arts, performing arts, literature, new media and music;
• up to $50,000 per annum for additional presentations to Australian audiences, including to communities outside the major metropolitan areas; and
• $60,000 or more for fellowships for Australia’s young and emerging artists and mid-career artists.

Artists developing new content for distribution through the National Broadband Network or showcasing distinctive Australian work overseas may also be supported through this initiative.

Mr Crean added that “… finding room for this funding in a Budget that makes substantial savings to return to surplus in 2012/13 shows the strength of the Government’s commitment to support young and emerging artists.”

“This significant investment demonstrates the Government’s leadership in encouraging all Australians to have the same opportunities to engage, practise and pursue a career in the arts,” Mr Crean said.

“Access to cultural activity for everyone, whatever their personal circumstances, background or location, is integral to building a society which fosters creativity.

“Building participation in the arts enriches regional communities and enhances the creative output of our nation.  A creative nation is a productive nation.”

He said the investment in the Arts laid a foundation for a “crucial year where my number one priority as Arts Minister is the development of a National Cultural Policy.”

“For the first time in nearly 20 years, we are developing an overarching strategy to harness the vast creative talents of this nation to be used across the economy at large,” he said.

“The National Cultural Policy will foster a strategic change in direction for the arts sector so it takes advantage of new opportunities through new technology such as the National Broadband Network.

“This is about unlocking the creativity of this great nation and showing the world our vibrancy, energy and our world-class creative industries.”

More detail on the Budget is available here.