Live Music Census in Victoria, Australia – Dobe Newton

Dobe Newton, organiser of the live music census in the state of Victoria in Australia, gives some background to the census, a discussion of the research process, an overview of the findings and also comparison with wider industry figures.  

Live Music Census 2012 – Dobe Newton, Music Victoria (2012)

A world first- taking a census of all the musical activity in a city on one night, illustrating Melbourne’s music scene and providing rich data regarding music making and consumption in the state of Victoria in both small and large scale contexts.  

Big news for small venues in South Australia – John Wardle

John Wardle is one of Australia’s foremost advocates for live music. A musician and teacher, his research and campaigning work has led to involvement in music policy at both state and federal level. As a leader in the Raise the Bar campaign, he was instrumental in the removal of New South Wales’ Place of Public Entertainment Licenses in 2009, which has freed up the provision of live music there. He was also a source of advice for the UK Live Music Forum’s campaign for exemption for small gigs, which culminated in this year’s Live Music Act. His latest success comes with the introduction of the Small Venue License in South Australia, which does away with the ‘needs test’ and a separate process for an entertainment license. Here, he discusses this new development and explains what work there is still be done.  

Industry Panel (video) – Live Music Exchange, Leeds, May 5th 2012 – feat. Simon Frith and Whiskas

This is a video from the Live Music Exchange, Leeds event that featured a panel of academics and representatives from Leeds and beyond. The theme of the conference was ‘Interesting Times for Live Music’ and the panel discussed the threats and opportunities to local live music in the current economic downturn. Chaired by Martin Cloonan (University of Glasgow), the panel featured, Simon Frith (University of Edinburgh / Mercury Prize), Whiskas (Live at Leeds Unconference / Honour Before Glory / ¡Forward Russia!), Nick Simcock (Dead Young Records/Oporto), Ben Kirby (Manager of The Subways).