This week in the music industry, lock-out laws sweep the nation as APRA uncovers a loss of revenue since the laws introduction to Sydney and the Queensland government passes its very own lock-out laws to be implemented over the next 12 months. The future of Soundcloud also up in the air.
Lock-Out Laws: Episode V – Queensland Strikes Back
This week, after gaining support from minor parties, the Queensland Government passed a set of their very own lock-out laws, mirroring that of Sydney.
Come July 1st this year, venues outside designated ‘Safe Night Precincts’ will be calling last drinks at 2am and venues inside these precincts will be allotted an extra hour of alcohol service. From February 1st 2017 venues will also be enforcing 1am lockouts.
The laws will also focus on ways to ban ‘drug pushers and users’ from nightclub precincts and commit $8 million to the transition of affected businesses. The question is however, how much of this $8 million will the music industry see?
“About 70 per cent of an artists income is derived from live performance,” said head of QMusic, Joel Edmondson.
“What’s happened in Kings Cross [with the closure of venues], there’s really absolutely no reason that’s not going to happen here, particularly in the Valley.”
To hear what other Queensland music industry leaders including Tim Price, Graham Ashton and Ben Preece had to say about Queensland’s new laws click HERE.
An omission from the ‘Safe Nights Precinct’ includes Brisbane’s North-West suburb West End an area where the cities smallest bands find their first step into the industry.
Check out the Safe Night Precinct maps for BRISBANE CBD, FORTITUDE VALLEY and BRISBANE INNER-WEST.
APRA Uncovers 40% Revenue Loss in Sydney
APRA AMCOS have announced a 40% drop in live performance revenue from venues within the Sydney CBD lock-out area.
APRA has analysed its licensing revenue for the period between February 2013 and January 2015 and cited additional decreases in the value of fees collected from licence holders within the Sydney CBD.
The announced also details a 40% overall decline in the value of door charges and a 15% overall decrease in the value of venue expenditure on live artist performers for all premise holding a Live Artist Performance license. All premise holding a Recorded Music for Dance Use licence have also been hit with a 19% decrease in attendance.
“There are important measures that need to be put into place to reduce the impacts to the live music sector that are now being experienced in Sydney,” said Live Music Office Policy Director, John Wardle.
To ensure sustainability and better regulation within the live music sector the Live Music Office calls for exemptions from the 1:30am lockout for live music venues in Sydney, as well as exemptions from the liquor freeze following Melbourne, development of low risk regulations for live music venues and more involvement from the music industry in government.
Soundcloud Financial Statement Spells Doom
Berlin based Soundcloud’s latest financial filings have revealed that in 2014 the company lost €39.1 million compared to a revenue of just €17.3 million.
These poor results continue on from previous years with the company now at a loss of €75 million over the last few years.
The online stream platform is home to a massive community of underground artists using the platform to store and distribute their music. Its also used by music industry professionals to privately distribute and showcase music to the media.
“To many of us, our SoundCloud profile represents all of our hard work and achievement. Very worried about the future,” said twitter user, @coyotekissesxo.
While this is bad news for Soundcloud, there’s good news for the music industry as it opens the doors for larger streaming outlets to open their doors to the underground and professional markets that currently use Soundcloud.
The Round Up
Vivid Sydney 2016 has announced the event will be extended over 5 more days running from the May 27 to June 18.
St Kilda Festival draws 440,000 punters the festivals highest attendance in its 36 years of existence.
Sydney artist Mossy signs to I OH YOU record label and announces debut album out May 13.
Brisbane punk boys Columbus sign to UNFD label and release single Replace Me.
Kelsea Balerin to host Foxtel’s Country Music Channel awards.
Dibby Dibby Soundsystem returns on Saturday, February 20.
Congratulations to Lloyd Spiegel after winning Artists of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Producer of the Year at the Australian Blues Music Festival.
Massive congratulations to Michael Chugg named International Promoter of the year at Pollstar Live! Conference for touring industry professionals.
This weeks AIR Charts are in for a wiggly time with The Wiggles pulling two entrances into the Independent Album Charts, you keep wiggling boys and girl.
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