Can Australian Music Survive in the Age of Spotify?
Following the surprise closure of regional Queensland’s most significant (and award winning) venue – Solbar, ALMBC Executive General Manager Ant McKenna joined ABC Radio National for an in-depth discussion about the issues facing grass roots live music venues as well as ideas and solutions to support them.
ABC intro:
It has never been harder to be a small live music venue in Australia.
You’ve got multinational companies squeezing the market, an onerous regulatory environment and a young generation who don’t drink alcohol. All of these elements work against venues trying to turn a profit.
Music lovers will say it’s never been about the money, so what if there was another way to set up these small rooms where big things start, where you didn’t need to make a profit?
Guests:
Sam Whiting, Churchill Fellow who researched alternative funding models for live music venues in the United Kingdom and Europe
Ant McKenna, general manager of the Australian Live Music Business Council
Jim Flanagan, owner of not for profit live music venue Lazy Thinking in Sydney
