The Australian Government supports Australia's contemporary music industry.
Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place, Australia's cultural policy, recognises the importance of contemporary music and is increasing the support for the music industry.
Through the 2024-25 Budget, The Australian Government has committed new funding of $8.6 million through the new Revive Live program, to provide essential support to live music businesses including live music venues and contemporary music festivals. . More information about Revive Live, including how to apply can be found here.
On 25 March 2024, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts announced an Inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry. Submissions closed on 30 April 2024. Information about the status of the inquiry will be updated on the Parliament of Australia website.
The Live Music Australia program closed in 2024. It provided grant funding of $20 million from 2020–21 to 2023-24, to enable Australian live music venues, festivals and organisations host more Australian live music events featuring home grown artists.
The Indigenous Contemporary Music program closed in 2023. It supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians and bands by providing opportunities and skills to develop ongoing income and employment pathways in the music industry.
The Contemporary Music team provides advice to the Government on contemporary music policy issues and delivers programs to support the music industry.
To get in contact with the Contemporary Music team, please email music@arts.gov.au or call 02 6136 8008.
Current music industry support and funding opportunities
Creative Australia administers a number of grant programs which support contemporary music projects, artists and organisations, including the Contemporary Music Touring Program which funds Australian musicians to perform their own work on tour in Australia, with a priority on regional and remote locations.
Music Australia has been established within Creative Australia to support and promote the Australian contemporary music industry to increase discoverability and develop markets and audiences. It will invest to stimulate a vibrant and sustainable music industry ecosystem in which artists can thrive.
The Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (APRA AMCOS) offers a range of initiatives that support the Australian music industry.