Major labels are earning more than 2.3 million dollars each hour, Courtney Barnett movie heads to cinemas, and more!
Been out of the loop with everything that’s been going on in the music industry recently? We don’t blame you. Here’s a wrap-up of all the biggest Aussie music industry news stories from the past fortnight.
The top headlines:
- APRA AMCOS will pay royalties on axed gigs.
- Courtney Barnett movie heads to cinemas.
- Sydney’s future could be as a 24-hour global city.
Keep your eyes peeled on our Industry News page to stay updated on all the latest headlines.
Sydney’s future as 24-hour global city
A new report will be the basis for discussions on turning Sydney into a 24-hour global city.
The Global Cities After Dark Sydney conference in March 2021 drew 150 power brokers representing hospitality, live music and entertainment, major events and cultural tourism, and transport and safety.
The 28-page Global Cities After Dark Sydney Future Proofing Report, through VibeLab Asia Pacific, contains 10 best practice examples from night time economies from around the world, and 14 recommendations.
These include tax incentives for investment and support of next generation artists and entrepreneurs, especially in “risky and alternative cultural ideas, cheap spaces in the city for creatives to work and live in, closer ties with NSW police to the point of setting up a music industry liaison, greater visibility of, and facilities for, disabled people and a report every two years on changing diversity in late night patrons.
“As Sydney is navigating the way forward through these immense challenges, it is the appropriate time to now focus on the task ahead and to collectively work together to create and enjoy the nightlife we have been yearning for,” said Jane Slingo, VibeLab Asia Pacific director and co-founder of Global Cities After Dark.
“The Global Cities After Dark Sydney 2021 program brought together an abundance of smart and committed people offering varied expertise and perspectives to identify what we collectively need to address and how we can approach these needs, together.”
VibeLab and Music NSW will run a program of industry planning sessions between February and May 2022 to plan ahead.
Music listening & climate crisis awareness are linked
If you subscribe to a music streaming service or podcast, chances are you’re more aware of the climate crisis.
A new study by MIDiA Research found those who listen a lot to music or spend a lot on music-related items were more likely to spend on climate-friendly propositions.
Those focussed on audiobooks are three times more likely to spend on environmentally friendly pursuits.
It applies to fans of esports (up to 60 per cent), cricket, rugby, and tennis but not to video watchers.
APRA AMCOS will pay royalties on axed gigs
To help them cope with the financial and emotional stress of live shows continuing to be axed, APRA AMCOS will pay 1.5 million dollars in live performance royalties to its members for gigs, concerts, and festival appearances that were cancelled due to impact of the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic between October 1, 2021, and February 28.
It follows a similar initiative in 2020 when APRA AMCOS brought forward performance report payments from November to May.
Major labels earning 2.3 million dollars each hour
The three major labels – Universal, Sony and Warner – jointly generated over USD 20 billion dollars last year – which works out to 2.3 million dollars each hour.
This was worked out by trade magazine Music Business Worldwide from the companies’ quarterly postings.
Warner is estimated to have made 5.58 billion dollars across its global music publishing and recorded music divisions over 2021.
Sony Music’s publishing and recording generated 7.49 billion dollars.
Universal Music tallied 7.21 billion dollars in the first nine months, as it won’t be releasing its Q4 figures to the end of December until next month.
But here are some figures to keep an eye on: when YouTube gets around to releasing its revenue crunching for 2021, we’re betting it will be bigger than the majors together.
Music venues in hotels awards
Music showcasing venues did well at the Australian Hotels Association (AHA)’s 2021 National Awards for Excellence which were held earlier this week in Hobart before 500 guests.
The Corner Hotel in Richmond, took out the best entertainment venue.
Three Queensland music venues were Sandstone Point Hotel (best hotel – metro, best marketed, general division), Eaton’s Hill Hotel, Brisbane (best events venue) and Exchange Hotel, Kilcoy (best bar presentation & service – regional).
Elsewhere there was Bridgeport Hotel, Murray Bridge, SA (hotel of the year – regional), Blanche Bar, Karratha, WA (best tourism initiative), Noonamah Tavern, NT (draught beer quality), Northies Cronulla Hotel, NSW (sporting entertainment venue), The Heritage Balnarring, Vic (best bistro – regional) and Stirling Hotel, SA (best bistro – metro).
The best hotel group operator went to Sand Hill Road in Melbourne, whose venues include the Esplanade (The Espy), The Terminus, and the Richmond Club Hotel.
Professional Development Awards finalists announced
APRA AMCOS announced the finalists of its Professional Development Awards, in the running for a share of 100 thousand dollar cash prize pool.
The winners of each category, who will get 10 thousand dollars apiece, are announced on Thursday March 3.
The categories are Popular Contemporary (2 winners), Hip Hop/Rap/Soul/R&B, Classical/Experimental, Jazz/Improvised Music, Film & Television/Gaming, Country/Americana, Dance/Electronic, and Music Theatre.
The Smugglers of Light Foundation Music and Media Award provides a promising Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander music or media practitioner with a grant of 12 thousand dollars.
The wide array of finalists include Baker Boy, BRUX, Moreton, A.GIRL, Taka Perry, Melanie Dyer, Jemma Cassar-Daley, Casey Barnes, Gabriella Cohen, Alice Ivy, Alliyah Fareo (Liyah Knight), K-Pop composer Tim Tan, bassist and jazz composer Nick Abbey, classical composer Kate Milligan, breakthrough producer Taka Perry, and producer, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter Vetta Borne.
Sunshine Coast rapper sentenced
Sunshine Coast rapper Zack Anthony Donaldson, 21, escaped a jail sentence and criminal conviction after appearing at Maroochydore Magistrates Court.
Seems he was shooting a video when some blueys turned up and nicked him for possessing a taser and drugs.
But Donaldson’s lawyer explained her client was in fact going for ‘gangster authenticity’ in his video, and that the taser and knife were prop as was the large bag of white powder which was in fact sugar.
Courtney Barnett movie heads to cinemas
Courtney Barnett‘s feature-sized documentary ‘Anonymous Club’ will hit Australian cinemas in March, and then screens at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas.
It had its world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2021, and went on to screen at the Sydney Film Festival, Cinefest Oz and Brisbane International Film Festival.
It was directed by filmmaker Danny Cohen who went on the road with her for three years, and gave her a Dictaphone to record her thoughts and get rid of her shyness.
‘Anonymous Club’ is distributed in Australia by Film Art Media, while Berlin-based Monoduo Films is handling the rest of the world.
Oscilloscope Films, established by the Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch in 2008, is looking after North American distribution.
Watch the trailer here.
