Keep up with everything affecting our industry this month!
The result of a seven month inquiry into the Australian live music industry by the House of Representatives showed how effectively the biz conveyed concerns via 120 submissions.
20 recommendations were made into the inquiry’s report, released on Friday March 7, under the title Headed Am I Ever Gonna See You Live Again? Yes Way! You Bet! Oh Yeah!
This was, of course, a cleaned up reference to the crowd’s affectionate response during The Angels’ concerts when they played their 1976 hit “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?”
Tax Offset
Recommendations included a tax offset, more transparency in the selling of tickets, a voucher system to encourage 18 year olds to start going to live entertainment, an arena tax to make money for struggling grassroots venues.
Read all the latest product & music industry news here.
Levels of government were also encouraged to commission research how live audiences had changed, different models in how events could be insured, permanent festival sites in regional areas, more focus on exports, more skills training for promoter wanna-be’s, and introduce local quotas with streaming services.
See the full report here.
BOX OFFICE: RUFUS, LANEWAY, KYLIE, BILLIE
Rüfüs Du Sol’s upcoming Inhale / Exhale World Tour 2025 has sold 600,000 tickets, starting with North America (including to 89,000 at Rose Bowl in LA), South America, Europe (sell-outs in six cities) and winding up in Australia in November.
Laneway 2025 had its biggest crowds in its 20 years, with 200,000+ at sell-outs in Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, with another 40,000 at sideshows.
Kylie
Kylie Minogue’s world tour kick-off in Australia saw a three-night run at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena that drew 34,872 fans (or 11,624 at each).
Billie Eilish’s Feb. 28 show at Qudos Bank hit set a new single-event attendance for the venue, with 21,001 attendees, eclipsing the 20,839 held by Timberlake for the 13 November 2007 show.
SPOTIFY GETTING SUPERFANS IN SIGHT
Spotify is working on launching a Music Pro service in 2025 where Superfans may get CD quality, early-access concert tickets and AI remix tools to blend two tracks together.
The price will vary around the world, but up to US$5.99 more per month on top of a Premium subscription in America, to bring it to $17.99.
Launch
No launch date is firmed as Spotify must secure “rights from all of the major music companies.”
It needs to get a move on because other streaming services are also considering this, and Spotify expects to entice up to 30% of current Premium subscribers to sign to the tier, with the woozy working title Supremium.
THE STORY OF ST. KILDA & WOMEN MUSICIANS
As part of ROAR in Melbourne last weekend, the City of Port Phillip commissioned subculture historian Melynda von Wayward to a research project on women in Australian music and their relationship to St Kilda and its many venues.
The research covers hundreds of women from 1900 to 2025, and responses from 30 female singers/musicians regarding their personal relationship with St Kilda and its venues.
Challenging
While it was inevitable words as “difficult and challenging” entered the narrative, von Wayward told Mixdown, “A lot of women spoke about their resilience to overcome these issues and find a way to soldier on in an industry that has been famously sexist and underappreciated of women’s musical talents.”
There were periods when female musicians held their own, like during World Wars I and 2 when the men were away fighting and women big bands toured the nation.
Punk
The punk scenes in the ‘70s and ‘80s, with their DIY anyone-can-play ethos “were if anything, the 1970s and 1980s were probably the most exciting times to be a woman in the Australian music scene because everything was ‘new’ – from music and fashion to art and feminism…”
An exhibition at Carlisle Arts Space until May 16 displays 80 shots by female photographers celebrating women, non-binary and Gender Non-Conforming musicians on and off the stage.
VANDA-YOUNG COMP WINNERS
The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition this week announced its winners, giving $85,000 across 15 prizes.
Over 3,500 entries came from 52 countries, with over $2 million raised for Noro Music Therapy since 2009.
First
First prize of $50,000 went to Shannon Busch [aka WILSN] for “Give You Love” performed by Jessica Mauboy (AU) and Jason Derulo (US).
Second prize of $10,000 was to Louis Schoorl who co-wrote “12 Minute Walk” which was recorded by UK act Bow Anderson.
Forever
The $5,000 third prize was to Cam Nacson for “Forever Thing” while the Unpublished Australasian Songwriter Award for “Timebomb” gave Charley $5,000 and a Gibson Ebony Les Paul Special Tribute ($2,999) courtesy Australis.
Ten emerging songwriters also received $1,000 for their highly marked entries.
GOLDEN ERA FOR WA MUSIC
With Labor back in power at the WA elections on March 8, we look at some of the pre-election promises they made to the music industry.
This included a 20,000-capacity outdoor auditorium in the Burswood Park entertainment precinct, $2.5 million worth of $50 vouchers to encourage kids aged 5 to 15 to attend cultural events including live music, and $75,000 towards community radio RTRFM’s first studio upgrade since 2010.
There’ll be partnerships to expand the creative workforce, mentoring for regional and suburban artists, and $185,000 to Nannup Music Festival’s Remote Aboriginal Artist Development Program to support emerging First Nations music acts from remote WA regions over a two-year period.
NEW SIGNINGS
Mansionair @ Sony Music
Sydney electronic act Mansionair struck a global deal with Sony Music Entertainment Australia, RCA in the UK and Arista in the US.
The 11-year old outfit was previously with New York-based Glassnote for the northern hemisphere and Liberation for ANZ, and had international chart success as a result.
Tropical Fuck Storm @ Fire Records
Touring the UK and US, Tropical Fuck Storm struck a deal with UK’s Fire Records and have dystopian post-grunge single “Goon Show”.
The Voice
Reuben De Melo @ Perfect Pitch
Perfect Pitch Publishing inked WA indie-folk singer songwriter Reuben De Melo, winner of The Voice Australia 2024, to a global deal.
Managing Director Clive Hodson earlier signed Rueben’s partner, Olivia De Melo, and “I was thrilled to hear he was auditioning for The Voice.
“Given the national platform the show provides, I was confident that once a wider audience heard what I’ve known all along – his exceptional voice and brilliant songwriting – the opportunities would open up for him.”
Empire
Luke Steele @ Warner Chappell
Empire Of The Sun member Luke Steele’s publishing is now administered by Warner Chappell worldwide,
Guy Moot, co-Chair and CEO, Warner Chappell Music, said: “I’m a longtime fan of Luke.”
Metal
Melting & Disect @ Greyscale
Greyscale Records expanded in past few weeks with two signings adding to Alpha Wolf, Make Them Suffer and Diamond Construct.
Melbourne metal band Melting have a single “874” out, and head off with Thornhill for dates late March in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
Queensland metalcore and nu-metal Diesect have a single “Too Many Scars” and just finished a sell-out tour with thrown and Half Me.
Genre-Busting
Fade Evare @ Astral People
Melbourne genre-busting electronic outfit Fade Evare, who emerged in 2024 centred around sibling duo Mira and Tori Holleman, are now in Astral People Recordings’ roster through which they released single “Keep Talking”.
Head of Label, Chris Rigney shared, “The first time we heard Fade’s music, it hit us like nothing we’d ever heard before—impossible to label, impossible to ignore.”
World
Ella Ion @ Our Golden Friend
Adelaide folk/jazz/ world singer songwriter Ella Ion, currently on her first UK and European dates, signed management to Lorrae McKenna & Skube Burnell’s Our Golden Friend.
Borderline @ EMPIRE
Borderline are the first Aotearoa/ New Zealand act to sign to San Francisco label EMPIRE since it expanded into ANZ last spring.
The Aucklanders booked by August Avenue have Aussie radio and live presence, and are set to make its North American debut.
Energy
REDD @ Universal Music Australia
Melbourne punk/hip hop artist REDD is with Island Records Australia, of Universal Music.
Single “Fugh Shi” is “trying to catch energy in its purest form” and “about house parties I went to and the absolute chaos that ensued. People getting fucked up, hooking up and having fun.”
FESTIVAL CONFERENCE UNVEILS FIRST SPEAKERS
The Australian Festival Industry Conference (AFIC), held in Brisbane over two days in September, announced its first two keynote speakers as John Rostron, CEO of the UK’s Association for Independent Festivals (AIF); and Greg Cavanagh, CEO, Gympie Music Muster.
Other speakers are senior executives from Brisbane Festival, Deni Ute Muster, Flicket,
Tixel, Feat., Milestone Creative, H2 Insurance Solutions and Casual Hands.
SXSW SYDNEY CHANGES TACTICS, BRINGS IN NEW LEADERS
This year’s SXSW Sydney (October 13—19) announced some changes.
Simon Cahill (TEG’s Head of Commercial) and
Jono Whyman (SXSW Sydney General Manager) stepped up as co-Managing Directors.
They take over from Colin Daniels, who opted to quit but will remains on the event’s board, and continues as partner in Handsome Tours.
Widened
Last year’s event attracted 287,000 over the week. To top that, promoter TEG has widened the program to appeal to a wider audience.
All-access 7-day passes are $400 less during early bird release, on sale from March 20.
There’ll be more free programming, including the Innovation Expo on Saturday and family-friendly entertainment on Sunday in Darling Harbour.
YOUTUBE MUSIC HITS 125M SUBS
YouTube Music has hit 125 million subscribers around the world (including trials) – which works out to bringing on 25 million for the past year.
FALLS SITE BACK ON MARKET
The Australian Financial Review reported that Live Nation has put the Victorian site of Falls Festival back on the market place.
After failing to shift the 59 hectare Great Ocean Rd site for $4 million two years ago, it’s now asking $2.5 million with an extra 9.5 hectares from two adjoining lots.
The main stage, toilets, showers and all0weather outdoor power points are still there,
BIGSOUND OPENS APPLICATIONS
Applications have opened for BIGSOUND 2025 (September 2—5) for acts of all styles and ages.
They play before international and local heavyweights, network with other acts for possible collaborations, meet with industry pros to open doors for career opportunities, and come into the orbit of overseas festival, agents, promoters and labels for export strategies.
Applications close Wednesday, April 9 at 11.59pm, more info at bigsound.org.au.
COMPANY BEHIND JUICY IN LIQUIDATION
The company behind the Juicy festival and Timeless Summer Tour went into voluntary liquidation last week.
Blacklock Rose’s Ben Francis and Garry Whimp act as liquidators for Juicy Festival Ltd, Timeless Events New Zealand and Timeless Events Australia Ltd.
Problems
Juicy ran into problems after cancelling the NZ leg of the tour in December after being declined a liquor licence in Auckland, causing “significant and unexpected costs”.
The Australian tour, with AKON and Ludacris and a dozen R&B acts, went ahead.
Refunds
Juicy Festival Limited said the liquidators are working through how to resolve its financial obligations, including refunding customers.
The Timeless Summer Tour – with Boy George, Little River Band, Bonnie Tyler and Starship ft. Mickey Thomas – delayed from December looks like it’s wiped from the slate for now.
MUSICAL CHAIRS
- Marc Sousley joins Frontier Touring as Tour Director from Senior Promoter at Secret Sounds (a part of Live Nation) delivering tours by The 1975, Tate McRae, Lizzy McAlpine, Father John Misty, Ruel, Dope Lemon and Peach PRC.
- Fiona Duncan is new CEO of Music Victoria, from March 25. Starting on community radio, she managed Spiderbait and worked on music initiatives with the City of Greater Geelong.
Unified
After 14 years at UNIFIED Music Group, during which he played a major role in the company’s growth, Chief Operating Officer Matthew Rogers has left for new challenges. A trained lawyer, he also was a punk skateboarding singer.
Matthew Lutton OAM has started at Adelaide Festival to prep his role as Artistic Director for 2026, 2027 and 2028.
TikTok’s ANZ General Manager Brett Armstrong and marketing lead Denny Handling have left the building, according to B&T.
Jazz
Musician, songwriter, composer and educator SOLUNE (Selene Messinis) was tapped by October’s Melbourne International Jazz Festival to be its 2025 Take Note program leader.
After four years as its Program Leader, singer songwriter Emily Ulman is bowing out from ALWAYS LIVE while prepping her fifth album.
Next Wave
Arts administrator Elyse Goldfinch takes over as new CEO of Next Wave festival in April.
Punk/underground promoter and live music venue booker Aaron Crowe is new Program Manager at Canberra-based MusicACT.
MERGED NOISY SET TO GROW
The founders of the Rolling Sets festival and venue and event booking agency Kingdom Sounds, Steve Sewell and Matt Wise, have merged their businesses into Noisy Group, which they call a “new era of live entertainment and bookings.”
After shifting over 180,000 tickets in the past year, it plans to reach 300,000 by 2026.
This will be through additional festivals, venue acquisitions and bringing more live music to regional and capital city audiences.
The duo head to SXSW Texas this month, scouting for talent for festivals and events.
Venues
They book 21 venues, with latest signings The Shed (Sunshine Coast), Kingscliff Hotel (Kingscliff), Jetty Beachhouse (Coffs Harbour), Finnians (Port Macquarie), The Recky (Forster Tuncurry) and The Vineyard Hotel (Vineyard).
For inquiries and collaborations, contact: [email protected]
GREENS UNVEIL $2B ARTS POLICY
Greens Australia unveiled a $2 billion arts policy which arts spokesperson Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young said “will deliver the support our creative sector needs to thrive in 2025 and beyond.”
She added: “The creative sector is in turmoil right now with too many creatives struggling to make ends meet, venues facing closure and festivals cancelled.”
Key policy points:
- Proper payment for artists by piloting a Living Wage for Artists program for up to 10,000 artists, and legislate a $250 minimum performance fees at publicly funded events
- Arts Capital Works Fund to deliver $300 million to create music performing arts venues and rebuild the circuit.
Quotas
- Legislate local content quotas that require streaming services to invest 20% of their Australian subscriber revenue into locally made and owned content, and ensure they are regulated like Australian broadcasters.
- Invest $2 billion in the arts over a decade, including support for festivals, live performance, youth arts and arts administration.
- Put an artist in residence in all public schools and public libraries.
- Value arts in our society and protect artistic freedom.
POP UP VINYL AND COMIC FAIR
Long time Melbourne music entrepreneur Brendan Pearse has come up with a concept to help independent musicians sell their records.
Starting mid-April, free pop up vinyl record and comic fairs are held every Wednesday 7—10 pm at a different ALH venue around Melbourne.
Sellers are charged $20 a table (except for indie musos), to register interest or go on the mailing list call 0439 364 173.
WHITE SKY ACQUIRED, BUSINESS AS USUAL
Entertainment business management firm White Sky has been acquired by investment company BlueRock but it’s business as usual.
White Sky was founded by Tom Harris in his bedroom in 2002 and went on to offer royalties and tour accounting, business management, and bookkeeping to clients as Tame Impala, Dom Dolla, and Julia Jacklin.
Access
The move means that White Sky clients have access to a broader range of services including tax advisory, insurance, legal, and private wealth advisory, brand and marketing support.
BlueRock, in turn, gets a foot in the entertainment industry, and access experienced bookkeepers and accountants.
RØDE LAUNCHES 24/7 SUPPORT
RØDE has launched 24/7 global customer call support, with English-speaking representatives available anytime to navigate enquiries about warranty claims, repairs and technical support.
“Creativity never sleeps, so why should we?” says RØDE CEO Damien Wilson.
The company already offers multi-lingual support via RØDE’s live chat, ticket and email support.
MUSIC AUSTRALIA OFFERS EXPORT OPPS
Music Australia’s 4th round of investment as part of its Export Development Fund sees over $1 million invested in 85 projects.
These include rising producer and DJ Tobiahs on his debut US & Canadian tour behind viral single “Angel Of Mine”; Melbourne based, North-Queensland raised Kee’ahn showcasing at the
International Indigenous Music Summit in Toronto; and Canberra-based South African afro-pop artist KG go to South Africa to write and record with producer Master A Flat.
Tour
Alex Lahey will support Laura Jean Grace on her North American Tour in June; JACOTÉNE will co-write with producers and artists in the UK and the US; rapper YNG Martyr will embark on his debut European tour; and Grammy-nominated producer Styalz Fuego heads for a month-long writing trip to LA to work on Troye Sivan’s next.
CROWD FUNDING FOR FESTIVAL FOUNDER
A crowd funding was launched to raise $50,000 for Woodford Folk Festival founder Bill Hauritz and wife Ingrid.
In 2022, their home burned to the ground and they were left short-changed after a long and spirit-destroying battle with their insurer.
Injured
Last year on a holiday to Bali, Ingrid seriously injured her back while Bill suffered a stroke and a foot injury, which later became septic and required multiple surgeries.
“Months later, back in Woodford, living in makeshift housing, [Bill] suffered another, more severe stroke during the most recent festival.
“Since then, he has been hospitalized, transferred six times, and recently suffered a fall that broke his knee and further damaged his already fragile eyesight.”
VALLEY VIBES CONTINUES WOES
The woes of Queensland’s Valley Vibes festival continues, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.
In 2022, James Ellingford, ex-Chairman of ASX-listed medicinal cannabis outfit Creso Pharma Ltd, put $186,503 into the festival’s promoter White Noise Entertainment Pty Ltd.
Claim
He claimed in Southport District Court in 2023 its directors Keziah Boag and Jordan Whale promised he’d become a shareholder and the company was debt-free.
Last August he won a judgment the directors pay him $214,302.92.
Boag set up a repayment plan for his share, but lawyers are chasing Whale to bring him to court for an enforcement hearing.
VALE
Phil Tripp ran an influential music business conference that opened the doors to the new digital music era, a music industry directory and TheMusic website while his provocative journalism about the antics of record companies saw a government inquiry set up.
Graham Simpson was an entertainment writer who was editor of Juke magazine in the 1980s, and co-presented radio shows as Off The Record and The Infomaniacs, before becoming manager of Judith Durham of The Seekers.
Hush
Dutch-born Geelong-based guitarist Jacques de Jongh made his mark in Shadowfax, Redhouse, Hush and the John Paul Young Allstars and a skilled chef who ran a restaurant in Melbourne.
Jamie Murray, long time techie at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre (WA) died after an alleged hit and run near his home.
Long time Sunday Mail (Brisbane) entertainment and social writer Ken Lord also came up with the concept for globally known The Ten Tenors.
Fleet
Snowy Fleet was drummer and co-founder of The Easybeats who, after leaving in 1967 tiring of being on the road, became a builder and ran a rehearsal studio in the Perth suburb of Jandakot.
Bidjigal elder and musician Uncle Vic Simms was a child prodigy who at 11 in the 1950s began singing and writing professional, and
responsible for classics as “The Loner”.
Michael Clayton-Jones, press photographer for the Melbourne Age for 30 years, took some great rock photos. See https://www.gofundme.com/f/michael-cj
Guitarist
Tasmanian guitarist and songwriter Tony Voglino was a frequent figure in festivals and clubs around the island state.
Virgil Reality was an Adelaide trumpeter and visual artist who took his spectacular show to festivals, cruises and corporate gigs.
Tony Healey was a cast member of influential ‘60s TV shows as Kommotion and Go!!Show and wrote for Go-Set.
Tom Lowenstein OAM was a top arts tax and finances accountant through companies as Lowensteins Arts Management and negotiated tirelessly for over 40 years with the Australian Tax Office for better conditions for artists.
