Outgoing QMusic CEO Angela Samut said, “Thank you to our Premier, Treasurer and Arts Minster Leeanne Enoch for their support of our live music sector via today’s budget.
“We have been working closely with the state government in the lead-up to today’s announcement and we are grateful for all the hard work that Arts Minister Enoch, Arts Queensland and the Assistant Minister to the Premier Bart Mellish has given to our industry in devising this Live Music Support Program,” said Ms Samut.
“The Queensland Premier announced the $7 million in the first few minutes of her opening address during today’s budget lockdown which highlighted to me her government’s nod to venues doing it tough with ongoing capacity restrictions.
“Our venues have been working in partnership with the state and Queensland Health to help keep Queenslanders safe and QMusic will continue these conversations,” said Ms Samut.
“Most venues are down 70 per cent of their normal trade and therefore this funding will help them continue to support thousands of direct and indirect jobs in Queensland’s live music economy with a highly skilled industry network that will also ensure a pipeline of emerging talent” Ms Samut said.
Today’s $7 million follows on from the $1.3 million in live music venue support grants announced by Minister Enoch at the Queensland Music Awards in May, as well as stART grants and live music funding announced in 2020.
QMusic Committee President Natalie Strijland said: “Thanks to the government and our outgoing CEO Angela Samut and Committee Member John Collins for their enduring and ongoing commitment to fighting for our local industry.
“This funding will help keep our live music economy alive and which can help support our entire music industry.”
QMusic continues to work with other government departments to encourage live music growth in 2021 including the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training's support of QMusic’s QMentorship program with a regional tour circuit in Far North Queensland and the Department for Tourism and Innovation and their support of BIGSOUND taking place 7 – 9 September, which includes funding and closer working relationships with local music industry and tech innovators.
One of Australasia’s biggest annual music prizes, the Levi’s® Music Prize in partnership with BIGSOUND, awards a total of $90,000 to emerging artists ASHWARYA, Beddy Rays, Birdz, Jerome Farah, JK-47, and Sycco.
In yet another blow to the Australian music industry, COVID-19 has forced BIGSOUND, the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest industry gathering, to be cancelled.
After a challenging past 12 months for the live music industry, Winter Sessions is all about celebrating Brisbane's amazing live music scene.
The Palaszczuk Government today handed down an extra $7 million to Queensland’s live music industry in the State’s 2021-22 Budget.
Throw The Live Music Industry A Lifeline. Live music venues across the state urgently need a financial support package to help them survive the next four to six months.
16 artists across 8 sessions will take over 4 live music venues along Brisbane Street in Ipswich (between Waghorn and West Streets) to bring you one epic night of indie live music.
