The Turnbull Government has caved to pressure and agreed to fund Sounds Australia for another four years.
The future of the arts body — a joint initiative from Australia Council and APRA AMCOS designed to give Aussie artists a leg-up in the international market — looked unlikely to continue, with Turnbull and company refusing to guarantee its funding last month.
But we can now all breathe a big fat sigh of relief and thank the #SaveOurSounds campaign, because the Government has agreed to fund Sounds Australia for the next four years.
The Aussie music industry RN:
“Today’s news that the Department of Communications and the Arts is supporting Sounds Australia for the next four years is exactly the result we’ve been hoping for,” says Sounds Australia’s Executive Producer, Millie Millgate.
“It’s testament to the value of the national export platform and subsequent success Australian artists are enjoying around the world.”
According to a statement from the arts body itself, the Government’s funding will match contributions from both the Australia Council for the Arts and APRA AMCOS, with further cash injections coming from PPCA, AMPAL, Arts Queensland, Arts SA, Arts NSW and the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.
“The four year funding will allow Sounds Australia to implement its globally-recognised programs and events, and build on what it has already achieved,” the statement reads.
And they’re not f*cking around, either. Sounds Australia has already announced plans to collaborate with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) next month, to lead a delegation of music industry professionals to South America.
“Building relationships is key to Australia’s success in these emerging markets over the coming years,” Millgate says. “This trade mission presents a meaningful reconnaissance opportunity that sets a strong foundation for reciprocal business and cultural outcomes.”
The success of Sounds Australia since its inception has been undeniable, boosting the number of homegrown acts appearing at global events by a whopping 437 per cent (from 49 to 263) in the space of just five years.
And thanks to people power amping up the pressure on the government, it seems like the world will be grooving the sound of homegrown Aussie tunes for years to come.
Chalk this one up in the win column, you guys.
