Industry calls for nationwide events insurance + all the biggest industry headlines
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21.12.2021

Industry calls for nationwide events insurance + all the biggest industry headlines

music industry
(Image: Tony Pham)
Words by Christie Eliezer

Victoria's Events Insurance Scheme kicks off, Boy & Bear find new representation, 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:

  • Music business calls for nationwide events insurance following late cancellation of Lunar Electric festival.
  • Drummer and co-founder of The Choirboys Lindsay Tebbutt has passed away.
  • Tash Sultana signs with New Balance as brand ambassador.

Keep your eyes peeled on our Industry News page to stay updated on all the latest headlines.

Music Biz In Shout-Out For Australia-Wide Insurance For Events

The Australian music sector is calling out for nationwide insurance protection for events following the last minute axing on December 16 of the Lunar Electric festival two days before gates opened as COVID case numbers leaped in Newcastle.

It’s hard to determine what a financial hit it took, but according to founder and managing director Simon Leigh, it was rescheduled a number of times these past two years and the capped out 12 thousand audience capacity was a sell-out.

It will not be rescheduled, and they’ve started going through the refund process.

Julia Robinson, GM of the Australian Festivals Association told Mixdown, “This last-minute cancellation is another blow to an industry who just want to get back to business delivering shows to fans.

“Necessary health restrictions have kept us safe, which is why we have been calling on the federal and state governments to back an insurance product that would allow festivals to plan with confidence knowing support would be available if cancellation was necessary.”

A group of industry organisations, APRA AMCOS, AFA, AAM, ALMBC, AMIN, Live Performance Australia, ARI and PPCA, made a similar call via a letter to governments.

“The emergence of Omicron on the heels of Delta and the rapid global response to limit its spread is a salutary reminder that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet.

“For an industry getting back on its feet, investing nationally and working hard to get shows back on stage and touring, the ongoing threat of future business disruption is very real.”

The call for national protection came 24 hours after Victoria’s ground-breaking insurance protection came into effect (see item below).

Victoria’s 230 million dollar Events Insurance Scheme Kicks In

Victoria’s ground breaking 230 million dollar Events Insurance Scheme went live on December 15.

It provides cover for creative, sporting, business, and community events with revenue or costs ranging from 20 thousand dollars to 10 million dollars.

The 12-month scheme offers certainty to promoters, with policies providing a 100 per cent payout if cancellation is forced due to public health orders from either the Victorian or Commonwealth governments.

Where events have reduced capacity because of health restrictions, 50 per cent of the declared value of the event is payable.

In terms of the premium, two per cent of the declared event value for creative industry events and small events up to 100 thousand dollars, with larger events including sports, business, and community events at four per cent.

Victorian Managed Insurance Authority – the government’s insurer and risk adviser the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority delivers it as eligible event organisers can apply through a simple online process.

For more information and to apply, go here.

This is in addition to the Labor’s 20 million dollar Live Music Restart package which is putting festivals and shows back on stage across Victoria.

Paris Martine of Save Our Scene told Mixdown when the insurance scheme was first announced: “Promoters, venues, bands, DJs, suppliers, basically everyone in the gig and event chain is financially exposed until the show goes ahead. This has held our industry back (during the pandemic).

“If it is structured well, event insurance should increase sector confidence and investment knowing the risks imposed by snap border closures, venue closures, and production being closed down due to members being exposed to covid, are at the very least, protected from loss of out of pocket costs and guaranteed support to see workers and suppliers paid if tickets are refunded.”

5 Seconds Of Summer Sued By Ex-Management

5 Seconds Of Summer are being sued for US$2.5 million over lucrative record and merchandise deals struck on their behalf by their last management company, YM&U Group.

The band hired YM&U in February after splitting with Modest Management in the U.S as the company said their deal gave the band “millions of dollars in advances” before they parted ways but have not seen their 15 per cent cut, reported TMZ.

Vale

John Nolan, incendiary Stooges-inspired Melbourne guitarist emerged with Bored! in the late ‘80s and Powder Monkeys in the early ‘90s.

He formed both with bassist and singer Tim Hemensley who passed in July 2003 aged 31.

In 2001 a heart attack left Nolan with impaired motor skills. After his recovery he played with Spencer P Jones and The Escape Committee, and most recently Powerline Sneakers. He died on December 13 at the age of 55.

Lindsay Tebbutt, drummer and co-founder of The Choirboys, passed away on December 19 after a battle with cancer (mesothelioma). He was 64.

Growing up in Sydney’s north shore, Tebbutt’s love affair with The Beatles, Cream and The Who – and their drummers – led him to the drums, first in primary school, then at church.

Their respective girlfriends brought him together with singer Mark Gable, and a succession of bands led to The Choirboys in 1979, whose run of hits peaked with ‘Run To Paradise’ which hit number three in Australia and broke the US charts in 1987.

The Big Bad Noise album went double platinum.

Gable posted: “His last words to me were ‘I will hold you close to my heart as I walk toward the light’.”

Robie Porter OAM, Sydney-born pop singer turned producer and label exec died on December 16 from dementia aged 80.

A pop singer in the ‘60s as Rob E. G., he had eight Top 40 hits, with ‘Si Senor’ (1962) and ’55 Days In Peking’ (1963) reaching number one.

He moved overseas and did acting before returning to Australia to produce hits for Daddy Cool and Air Supply, then co-founded Wizard Records (1973 to 1983) and launching Marcia Hines, Hush, and Rick Springfield.

New Home For 3PBS

Melbourne community radio station 3PBS 106.7FM has moved to its new home in the heart of an art space at Collingwood Yards.

Boy & Bear Sign Management, Bookings

Boy & Bear have signed two business deals as the band amps up for a hectic 18 months after entering the studios to make their fifth album.

They assigned management to UNIFIED Artist Management and will be repped by Aiden McLaren and Joe Miles.

Bookings are now with Lonely Lands agency and their agent Harry Moore.

Tash Sultana Ambassador For New Balance

Tash Sultana is new brand ambassador for footwear giant New Balance.

It’s the first brand collaboration for the artist, who said, “Nothing felt right to align myself with until I was approached by New Balance.

“I feel this has come at the right time. This collaboration allows us both to break into what is current among our society.

“There has and always will be people like me who don’t fit into the typical gender norms and it’s time that big brands follow the lead of where we are headed.

“This is what makes New Balance’s message of ‘Fearlessly Independent’ resonate with me and this is why we are launching our collaboration.”

Funding Round For NSW CBD Projects

The NSW Government’s 50 million dollar CBD’s Revitalisation Program will provide funding of between 250 thousand dollars and one million dollars for projects that attract people back to the CBD’s across Greater Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong.

The deadline for round two is January 14, 2022 to be completed by May 1, 2022. They can be anything from evening concerts to mid-week art galleries, lunch time feasts, exercise classes, late night retail, and film festivals.

Go here for more.