Threat to livelihood of local musicians
Threat to livelihoods of local musicians
Several groups from the Australian music industry gathered in Sydney last night to discuss plans to unite efforts in changing the decision to exempt digital radio stations from local content quotas.
At the forum, organised by ASONG, panelist Nicole BZ of the Association of Artist Managers said, “It is setting a precedent that commercial radio doesn’t have to buy Australian music, that’s the issue.”
She was also critical of the lack of consultation that the decision making body, the Australian Media Communications Authority had with the music industry. “It’s taking away protection for Australian music and Australian culture and the fact that can happen without any consultation, to me that’s what is broken.”
Panelist, Michael Smith, editor of Drum Media said the exemption, made last year by the Australian Media Communications Authority, may threaten the livelihoods of local musicians. “It strikes horror in my heart, as an Australian Musician, who has tried to make a living out of music for 40 odd years”.
“There is no way we can survive without airplay, end of story, regardless of the evolution of new media”.
He also highlighted the link between radio airplay and record sales, saying “Until you know who you are looking for and what the song is called you are not going to buy it”.
Of the local Sydney bands he promotes, he said, “A good 90 percent of those bands you are never going to hear on mainstream radio, and even triple j is getting harder and harder”.
Matthew Donlevy, Director of AMCOS was also critical of the current lack of options available to local musicians in receiving radio airplay, saying “if you don’t hit triple j, you don’t get air”. “The live scene is difficult enough” he said. “There is only so much street press can do. You’ve got to be able to hear the song.”
Of the importance of local content, he said “Nobody else can tell our stories, only Australian songwriters can do that”. However, he said of commercial stations that “their research says that Australian’s don’t like listening to Australian music.”
Dean Ormston of APRA, highlighted that currently the issue was a small one, affecting only 5% of the listening audience who currently consume digital radio. Yet, he stressed the importance of early communication with commercial radio. “Talking about quotas in simplistic terms isn’t going to be good enough”, he said. “If we are going to have any show with talking to radio about what happens in digital format, then we’ll need to meet it with statistics and perhaps options.”
In response to a question after the conference, Ormston stressed the importance of working with commercial radio stations to find a solution, saying “We shouldn’t fight them. We have to work with them not against them”.
However, Donlevy was wary of the best way to unite people with a number of different agendas, saying “getting into bed with people that might stab you in the back is a difficult thing”.
By Christina Goodman
