CRA: Radio and live music industry 'should be working together'
"Keeping Australian radio and Australian music free and accessible for all is something that is in all of our interests."
Ciaran Davis, CEO of ARN and Chair of industry body Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA), has called for measures to help radio work more collaboratively with the live music industry.
Giving evidence to the Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts as it looks into the Australian live music industry, Davis said “commercial radio has a long history of supporting emerging and established Australian artists and contributes to their economic development through royalty payments, which amounted to nearly $40 million in 2023.”
In 2022, commercial radio played 2.7 million Australian songs and broadcast 160,000 hours of Australian music.
“Like the music industry, radio is facing its own challenges – so to truly unlock the potential of radio supporting the live music industry, we need measures to ensure our industry can remain sustainable, thriving and innovative,” said Davis.
“Radio and music should be working together and we want to work together. Research, promotion and events, as well as working to achieve prominence for Australian radio on connected devices – keeping Australian radio and Australian music free and accessible for all – is something that is in all of our interests."
It's been a tough year for the Australian live music industry, with several major music festivals cancelled or postponed due to economic factors.
The latest cancellation was Spilt Milk, which announced on Friday the festival would be taking a break in 2024.
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“Sorry pookies, we couldn’t get you the Spilt Milk you deserve this year. Sooo imma dip for a bit and come back when I can make all ur dreams come true. i miss u xx SPILT MILK,” the statement from the festival read.
Other major cancelled festivals include Splendour In The Grass, Falls Festival, and Groovin The Moo.
“We look forward to a future that is collaborative, creative and sustains the unique Australian voices and music across our country," Davis concluded.
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Top image: Ciaran Davis
