Musicians Hail Live Music Report, Demand Quick Action
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, the union that represents Australia’s musicians, welcomes the report of the federal government’s Live Music Inquiry released today. MEAA members who appeared before the inquiry delivered damning evidence condemning the corporate dominance in the sector and exposed the industry’s widespread failure to fairly support musicians.
While the number of gigs has plummeted and musicians struggle to earn a living, global giants like Live Nation have tightened their grip – controlling venues, festivals, and ticketing – while receiving more than $16 million in government grants since 2020. MEAA welcomes the inquiry’s recommendation that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) monitor the industry for anti-competitive conduct and take enforcement action where necessary.
“We’ve seen multi-national corporations like Live Nation drive up prices for fans while musicians see little to no benefit, all while receiving millions in taxpayer funding.” said MEAA Campaigns Director, Paul Davies.
“The government must ensure the ACCC has the resources and mandate to take real enforcement action against anti-competitive practices. Musicians cannot afford another decade of inaction.”
MEAA and Musicians Australia members have successfully campaigned for a $250 minimum fee for taxpayer-subsidised gigs, but too many musicians are still unpaid or underpaid. Indexing this minimum fee will help ensure fair compensation keeps pace with the cost of living.
MEAA and Musicians Australia will continue to push for an industry-wide minimum, including for commercial gigs, to ensure all musicians are fairly paid for their work.
https://www.meaa.org/mediaroom/musicians-welcome-live-music-inquiry-report-call-for-urgent-action/