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The New South Wales state government has enabled the Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy to step in if a significant live music venue is at risk of closing its doors, as part of new measures.
A second tranche of Vibrancy Reforms were passed last week, and are considered a world-first in legislative protections for the health of the NSW live music scene. The legislation was passed to prevent further closures after iconic venues such as the Annandale Hotel and The Basement.
NSW’s first census of live music found that there were 795 live venues across the state.
A framework will allow venues to gain support if survival is under threat from situations such as noise complaints or hostile landlords.
To be defined as a significant venue, a location must host live, predominantly original, music as the key function of its business and is essential to the touring and live, local music scene in NSW. The Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy will be able to deploy coordinated support from Sound NSW, the 24 Hour Commissioner, the Hospitality Concierge and the Business Bureau as a response to threatened venues.
Additionally, the Vibrancy Reforms also provide the minister with the ability to request mediation between a venue and another party to resolve the matter before it progresses further.
The first round of the Vibrancy Reforms made it impossible for a single noise complaint to shut down a licensed venue or pub, while also increasing incentives for live music and performance. The second tranche of reforms rubbished ‘no entertainment’ clauses and rules to play only certain genres. Future property buyers will also be notified they are moving into an existing entertainment zone to reduce friction between venues and neighbours.
“The music-loving community has been forced to say Rest In Peace too many times to the foundational live venues that were the incubators of Australian music. We are not going to sit by and watch another Annandale Hotel unplug the music and dismantle the stage,” said Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, John Graham.
“In a cost of living crisis, we need a strong local music scene where people can enjoy live music without shelling out the hundreds of dollars it can cost to see the big touring international acts. Protecting our time-honoured venues is also about supporting the night-time economy. The NSW music census found live music provides 25,000 jobs and contributes A$5.5bn (£2.8bn/€3.4bn/$3.6bn) in economic output to NSW. We want to amplify that contribution to the economy.”
Graham added: “A state significant music venues framework is part of the rebalance, and it’s long overdue.”
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