By Clyde Mooney
The Baillieu Government yesterday (Aug 9) committed to support more live music in pubs and hotels, after a first-hand experience at Melbourne’s Tote Hotel.
A rare morning gig at the Tote accompanied the Victorian Premier’s announcement that a Deloitte Access Economics report on the subject had found more people watch music live than AFL games in that state.
The Deloitte report says that live music contributes more than $500 million annually to Victoria’s economy, resulting in 17,200 jobs.
This comes in contrast to the protest march held by Melbourne’s music community in February 2010, which proclaimed the Brumby government’s liquor and security reforms had proved detrimental to the profitability of live music venues.
Jon Perring from The Tote Hotel told TheShout that the Victorian government and the Director of Liquor Licensing (DLL) have both helped furnish better results for the live music scene.
Blanket security reforms on venues have been replaced with individual agreements, allowing the operators to assess and implement security as required.
“This has freed up funds to re-invest in other areas,” said Perring.
Perring welcomed the Premier’s endorsement and promise to include discussions on the needs of live music at the next Premier’s round table discussion.
He also praised Mark Brennan, the new director of the DLL, who he says “has turned the department around and created a whole new culture, supportive of the industry”.
Activist groups SLAM (Save Live Australian Music) and FairGo4LiveMusic have also welcomed the progress towards greater support of the music industry.