In very welcome news for the music industry in NSW, On 25 March 2021 the NSW Government has announced $24 million to Destination NSW for a Live Music Support Package to be administered in partnership with Create NSW and the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner.

This funding was included as part of a $51.5 million economic package designed to encourage people back into the Sydney CBD, re-ignite live music across the state, and support jobs in the accommodation, entertainment and tourism sectors.

For more information visit the Service NSW website on how to apply for Live Music Support package funding

The end of Jobkeeper has been of grave concern for our industry for some time – Save Our Stages NSW, a group of 74 independent live music venues across NSW, had petitioned the state government for “immediate support” last September, saying without government intervention NSW risked “losing 85 per cent of the state’s live music venues within the next 12 months”.

Robust music industry advocacy has continued since last year through submissions and evidence to the parliamentary inquiry into the NSW Government response to COVID, and the parliamentary inquiry into government grants in NSW. Venue owners have published strong articles in the mainstream media, Government Ministers were also engaged on the issues through Budget Estimates earlier in March, and on 23 March a delegation from the music industry presented to the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Australian Music in the Jubilee Room in Macquarie St.

The $24M is seen as a lifeline for the venue based music sector in NSW. If you operate a live music venue that has suffered financial hardship as a result of COVID-19, you may be eligible for funding from the NSW Government’s Live Music Support package.

This funding helps live music venues stay open and create employment opportunities for musicians, promoters and technicians.

Eligible businesses can apply for funding to be used for operational costs related to running their venue, including, but not limited to, employing musicians and support crew.

Funding amounts will be divided into 3 tiers, based on:

• the size and capacity of the venue
• how much of the venue is used for live music
• how often the venue held live music events before COVID-19.

For more information visit the Service NSW website on how to apply for Live Music Support package funding