Patrick Donovan has been appointed the founding CEO of Music Victoria, the newly established contemporary music industry peak body for Victoria which will provide a unified voice to support the best interests of the Victorian music industry.
“Music Victoria is pleased to announce the appointment of Patrick Donovan as Music Victoria CEO,” said Music Victoria President, Andrew Walker.
”Patrick will provide leadership in the development of our music industry and its talented artists and building on Victoria’s reputation as the home of Australian contemporary music. I congratulate the music community for all their hard work in getting Music Victoria to this stage and look forward to an exciting future.”
Mr Donovan, who over the years has built up a reputation as being one of the state’s most vocal supporters of local music through his writings with the Age newspaper, said he was thrilled by the opportunity to be Music Victoria’s founding CEO.
Being at the coalface reporting on the mass public protests earlier this year in support of live music, Mr Donovan saw first hand how the threat to the industry galvanised Victorians.
“We saw how much the scene meant to the people of Victoria last summer when tens of thousands of people protested in the streets in support of the music. It is much more than just entertainment – it is the soundtrack to our city.
“Much progress has already been made in recent months in partnership with industry groups Fair Go 4 Live Music and Save Live Australia’s Music, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with them as well as Liquor Licensing Victoria, local councils, the Federal Government and the State Government, which has provided the seeding funding to set up Music Victoria.
“In my role as Music Writer for The Age newspaper over the last 12 years, I have increasingly found that my favourite music originates from Australia and – more often than not – Victoria. We have one of the strongest music scenes in the world – be it rock, jazz, country or hip hop – and that is something to savour, nurture and celebrate. I can’t wait to get involved full time working with all of these wonderfully dedicated and artistic musicians and those who support them.”
Music Victoria was encouraged by Premier John Brumby’s comments at the Victoria Rocks funding announcement last week when he said: “We have taken a view here in Victoria that we want to build Melbourne as the creative capital of Australia.”
Music Victoria was set up earlier this year after a consultation with more than 650 artists, industry workers, and business people gave their overwhelming support for a body such as Music Victoria to promote and celebrate Victorian artists, provide advocacy on behalf of the industry and boost professional development opportunities.
Musicians, industry workers and music lovers are now invited to subscribe or become a financial member of Music Victoria at www.musicvictoria.com.au
