Backing Newcastle Musicians With Biggest Ever Funding Round

Rum Jungle | Source: Rum Jungle

The Minns Labor Government is backing the careers of local musicians and growing job opportunities in the music industry through its biggest ever package of grants. The total $9.3 million of funding will support bands on national and international tours, studio recording, promotion and industry development.

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Delivering this vital support is designed to boost an industry facing significant challenges including unpredictable ticket sales, a retraction in music festivals and competition from international artists on streaming services.

The 2024/2025 Sound NSW grants includes two new funds specifically designed to boost First Nations artists, and a new industry development fund that backs organisations crucial to building skills, networks and new collaborations.

There is also a significant support for regional music with 29% of the Contemporary Music Development Grants and 30% of the Touring and Travel Fund going to regional recipients.

This includes the following artists from Newcastle and the Hunter:

Contemporary Music Development Grants – First Nations Industry Development

• Awesome Black Studio – Maitland

Touring and Travel Fund

• Boo Seeka – Lake Macquarie

• Francisco Lara Puerto (Paco Lara) – Port Stephens

• Lyn Bowtell – Cessnock

• Tim Levinson – Newcastle

• Vacations – Newcastle

• God Corn Liquor – Newcastle

• Magpie Johnson – Singleton

• Lark – Lake Macquarie

• The Quokkas – Newcastle

• Kinder – Maitland

• Rum Jungle – Central Coast

• Surf Trash – Lake Macquarie

• Kirsty Lee Akers and Rhinestoned – Lake Macquarie

• Piper Butcher – Lake Macquarie

Delivering this $9.3 million of support is the latest action from the NSW Government’s 10-year Contemporary Music Strategy. Since coming to office in 2023 the government has been working hard to repair the damage caused by the former Liberal government’s lockout policy and overregulation of live music venues and music festivals. So far the work has included:

• Creating the $80,000 NSW Music Prize, Australia’s largest cash music prize.

• Introducing ‘Michael’s Rule’ incentives for international touring artists to book local supports.

• Establishing the Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund in September 2024 which has allocated a combined $2.25 million of emergency funding to five festivals.

• Delivering recording, touring and promotion grants to help artists and bands create new work, grow audiences and build their careers.

• Introducing Venue Upgrade grants for operators to install sound proofing and get their venues gig ready.

• Offering extended trading hours and an 80% discount on licensing fees for venues that program live music which has tripled the number of venues receiving these incentives.

• Reforming the noise complaints system so single serial noise complainants can no longer shut down existing live music venues.

• Rolling out Special Entertainment Precincts that future proof entertainment districts.

• Establishing Sound NSW, the state’s first ever government backed contemporary music agency.