With the Federal Election officially set for this May, industry figures are calling on both parties to consider the music industry as a key factor.
Last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially called the election for Saturday May 3rd and as he and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton commence their campaigns, ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd declared this year’s election a crucial one.
“This election marks a generational shift: it’s the first time younger Australians will make up the majority of voters. And for Gen Z and Millennials, music isn’t just a soundtrack, it’s part of how they navigate identity, community, connection, and joy,” she told Rolling Stone AU/NZ.
“It plays a role in mental health, creative expression and cultural pride, often all at once.
“In an election where cost of living, climate change, housing and access to healthcare will rightly be front of mind, we also need to recognise the essential place music holds in people’s lives. That means ensuring young Australians can hear their stories reflected in local music, that they can go to a great Aussie gig no matter where they live, or pursue a career in the creative industries without having to leave the country. Music is part of what makes a future worth investing in and worth voting for.”
Herd said she wants government to commit to building audiences both locally and globally for Australian music and take “real action” in ensuring local music features on platforms like Spotify. It’s a valid point, especially considering the fact that ARIA’s end of year charts in 2024 included just five Australian songs, and the highest ranking of these, Vance Joy’s “Riptide” (No. 24), was released over a decade ago (2013).
Meanwhile in the latest Hottest 100 countdown, just three local acts cracked the Hottest 100 top 10. Two were covers, recorded for triple j’s Like a Version.
The ongoing debate around AI will also be critical heading into the election.
“We need rules that support innovation without stripping artists and rights holders of their value. And outdated caps on what commercial radio pays to broadcast sound recordings must finally be addressed, so that artists are paid fairly when their work is monetised,” she said.
“ARIA and PPCA will have more to say on these issues in the coming weeks, but it’s clear that for music to thrive, it needs a seat at the table in this election.”
APRA has again called for both parties to commit to a Triple-Lock Guarantee to “secure the future of Australian music.”
As outlined in a recent The Music Network op-ed, the Triple-Lock Guarantee delivers the following steps:
- Increased investment in Music Australia, delivered in this Budget and ready to be built upon;
- A new Australian music quota across digital platforms, to ensure Australians can hear Australian stories, no matter where or how they listen;
- A live music tax rebate, to incentivise venues, festivals and artists to keep live music on stage and audiences coming back.
“Australian music has never been more popular on the global stage,” APRA told Rolling Stone AU/NZ in a statement.
“From chart-topping artists to award-winning composers and producers, we are well positioned to become a net exporter of music. But that opportunity will be lost without urgent and sustained policy action.”
