This week saw the Federal Government announce the extension of the $50m Temporary Interruption Fund (TIFF) to help the screen sector through the continued uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the live music and entertainment industry continues to struggle amongst the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue our urgent calls for a similar package or level of support provided for the live music industry.
The united live music and entertainment industry bodies AAM, AFA, ALMBC, AMIN, APRA AMCOS, ARIA, PPCA, LEIF and Live Performance Australia again call on Prime Minister Scott Morrison, State Premiers and Territory Chief Ministers to deliver a government-backed insurance scheme.Since the Omicron wave has hit around the country, the live music and events sector has once again been smashed with restrictive health orders and COVID spread leading once again to mass cancellations and rescheduled events. As WA moves towards the 5 February 2021 border opening date, the future of live music and events becomes increasingly uncertain and cancellation of major events and festival already taking place.
The live music and entertainment industry’s calls over the past 18 months for a national scheme similar to the TIFF have fallen on deaf ears. Australia now lags behind New Zealand, the UK, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Denmark and Estonia in delivering a solution to this issue.
Western Australia has extended it’s ‘Getting the Show Back on the Road’ program to contribute to lost ticket sale revenue for events cancelled due to COVID-19 directions, but a national approach is needed if the live music and entertainment industry is going to “ride this wave”, survive and play its role living with the virus.
WAM is a proud member of the Australian Music Industry Network
