NSW Parliament passes world-first Contemporary Music Bill
The Contemporary Music Bill 2026 has passed the NSW Parliament. It wraps up legislation the Minns Government first introduced in February and has described as a world first for protecting the state’s live music industry.
The bill started in the Legislative Council, where it was amended and passed in August, including a change of name from the Music Bill 2026. It then went to the Legislative Assembly for concurrence. Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham announced its passage on 24 September. It will become the Contemporary Music Act 2026 and forms part of the Government’s 10-year Contemporary Music Strategy.
The centrepiece is a new Music Venue Recognition Scheme, which sorts music venues into three tiers: dedicated, significant and live music. Each tier comes with its own support, including extended trading hours and access to grants. The scheme also encourages venues to program new, original live music regularly, and it’s expected to launch later this year.
Dedicated and significant music venues will be able to use free mediation through the NSW Small Business Commission when a dispute comes up. A referral to mediation puts any court proceedings on hold while the matter is sorted out.
The definition of a concert has been redrawn. An event with more than four acts no longer automatically counts as a large scale music festival, so organisers can add local acts to a line-up without taking on festival-level regulation. The Presets’ Julian Hamilton said the change means they can now add another Sydney artist to the bill for their Carriageworks show in January.
Noise at music festivals and major events on government sites, including Centennial Park, the Domain and the Sydney Opera House, will now be measured as an average over time. Until now, a short burst of sound or a gust of wind could trigger a breach and leave venues and organisers with extra costs.
Councils and state agencies can no longer make licensing, development or event decisions based solely on music genre. The Act also sets guiding principles for government agencies and councils so that live music is supported, fees stay reasonable and risk assessments aren’t based on genre alone. It gives the NSW Government a formal role in advocating for the industry on emerging technologies and on pay for creative workers, including performers, artist managers and copyright holders. It also writes the value of human creativity into NSW law at a time when AI is putting real pressure on original music.
Changes to the Entertainment Industry Act formally recognise artist managers as a distinct role, following more than a decade of advocacy from the Association of Artist Managers.
Graham said the legislation was aimed at an industry “smashed by lockouts, lockdowns, and overregulation”, and that the reforms were about building a sustainable future so venues and fans can relax and enjoy their next great gig.
It’s a significant win for a state that has spent years dealing with lockout laws, noise complaints and insurance pressures on grassroots music venues. ALMBC will be encouraging other states to follow.
