A number of Australia's biggest music acts and industry figures have backed Labor's newly-announced and groundbreaking music policy at a conference in Sydney today.
Names such as Gang Of Youths frontman David Le'aupepe, Briggs, KLP and Peking Duk's Reuben Styles, as well as ARIA CEO Dan Rosen were in attendance at the iconic Oxford Art Factory where the Labor party officially announced their comprehensive music policy.
If elected, ALP has committed $30 million ($2 million of which is yet to be announced) in funding for live music, music exports, new recordings, youth music programs, music hubs in communities, music manager support and industry mental health programs.in an unprecedented push for Australian music.
Under the policy, Labor will also take on ticket scalpers by introducing ticket-buying 'bot' software, which Le'aupepe applauded while addressing the crowd at the conference following Gang Of Youths' statement against ticket resale website, Viagogo.
"The reason Gang Of Youths supports this vital move against companies like Viagogo is simple – it’s devaluing our labour and it’s exploiting those who might benefit from it," he said.
"No matter where you sit in terms of economic policy, most of us can agree that there are ethical limits to markets. Exploitation is not good business - it is bad ethics.
"No honest promoter or venue should see the fruit of their labour fall into the barrels of unregulated, powerful conglomerates whose sole aim is to subvert the competition and steal from its consumers."
Le'aupepe drew applause when he said, "Gang Of Youths wants to try and contribute to this debate in the best way possible, by saying, ‘Fuck Viagogo.’
"There should be limits imposed on these markets that indeed to rewrite the rules of the norms that favour profiteers over people. Gang Of Youths believes that this policy will help reduce exploitation in this industry."
Association of Artist Managers Executive Director, Leanne de Souza, encouraged the government to engage with the Australian music industry "wholistically at a long inclusive table" .
"A table with the integrity and courage to ensure inclusive policies and equity of access to music access in schools, removing barriers to participation in low socioeconomic, regional and remote areas. A table that asks who is not around it, making space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, voices from culturally and linguistically diverse background, those less able bodied or with health challenges and people of all sexual orientations and genders," de Souza said.
"The Australian music industry applauded the Labor part for being curious about us, asking, listening and learning."
The conference also featured live performances from Charlie Collins, Alex The Astronaut and Sarah Macleod wrapped it all up with a stellar acoustic cover of INXS' classic Never Tear Us Apart.
"Labor’s chosen to back live music today because we want to give people something to look forward to," Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, said.
"We want to have a vision of Australia which is proud. You can either write Australia small, or you can write Australia big, as our songwriters do, as our musicians do.
"Trust me, I’ve learnt more today than I’m going to tell you. What I feel out of today is a renewed conviction to write Australia big. Our young people, in particular, they get written off everyday, but what are we doing for them? We’re not taking action on climate change, we’re not properly finding universities, we’re not even properly funding and supporting live music. So today we’re going to invest in live music. We’re going to create community music hubs, so that people can fall in love with music."
APRA AMCOS also welcomed Labor's announce as a "game changer" in a statement.
"APRA AMCOS has long argued that with the depth of talent across the country, and the unquenchable international appetite for Australian music, Australia has the potential to go from a music nation to a music powerhouse,” said APRA AMCOS Chief Executive, Dean Ormston, said.
“This announcement from Federal Labor provides for the first time a whole-of-government policy approach to the music industry. It recognises the capacity of our local industry to not only create the anthems of the nation, but to drive employment, live music, tourism, youth engagement and educational benefits for all Australians across the towns, cities and centres of the country."
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