Since 1999, NMIT's music business students have conducted an annual research project - 'State of Play - Live Music in Melbourne', to measure live performance activity in Melbourne venues.  Until recently, these findings were the only real data our local industry had - especially for the pub, club, bar venues that are the backbone of our live scene.

‘State of Play’ is compiled by the Advanced Diploma of Music Business students at NMIT and attempts to measure the health (or otherwise), of the live music scene in Melbourne. It is the only report of its kind in Australia and has been a valuable info source for the music industry and those responsible for making decisions which affect this vital sector of the creative/cultural economy.

Part of the project has been gathering vital data from audience members/music fans on their consumption of live music, and information from the musicians who perform in those venues.

As always, they need your help. On the NMIT website - www.stateofplay.net.au - there are two surveys: one for consumers and one for musicians.

Please take the time to fill one or both out as necessary. Your identity is not requested. The results will allow NMIT to feed quality data to the people who make the decisions about how best to support careers in the industry.

Update: The State of Play report 2010-2011 

• Do you have a new music business concept that you are trying to get off the ground?
• Are you a pioneering small music business which needs investment to get to the next stage of profitability?
• Do you have a great idea for an innovative and enterprising project involving Australian music and games, film, or social media?

If the answer to any of the above is yes, then you should apply to participate in GENERATE - a new pilot program which is looking to invest in up to 15 of the best music-related businesses or business ideas across Australia!

The new program, GENERATE: An Australian music enterprise investment pilot, aims to invest in original, innovative ideas or business models involving Australian music and is a positive step forward in creating a sustainable future for the Australian music industry.

GENERATE will provide business-development knowledge, skills and expert tailored mentoring support as well as access to seed investment of up to $30,000 for up to 15 ground-breaking music enterprises from across Australia.

WHAT IS GENERATE?

GENERATE is a pilot program to support enterprises in the Australian music industry which are seeking to grow and attract investment.

GENERATE is intended to support and develop good music-related business plans and industry concepts. Participants must be able to commit to the program timeline and requirements.

GENERATE will particularly focus on proposals that facilitate new collaborations or business models involving music and other creative professions such as film, online games and publishing.

GENERATE is looking for applications from small to medium-sized music enterprises including songwriters, composers, bands, managers, publishers, promoters, producers and labels.

WHAT ISN’T GENERATE?
GENERATE is NOT a grant program for music production or touring.

PROGRAM STAGES

GENERATE is a three-stage business program which will run from December 2011 to May 2012.

December - February – GENERATE program opens, seeking applications from interested music professionals, entrepreneurs and businesses to register to attend an introductory workshop to be held in February 2012

Register your interest to attend a GENERATE 2012 Workshop here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/N8CJ77T

Melbourne workshop: Wednesday 22nd February 2012

To register your interest in attending a GENERATE 2012 workshop, please go to www.amin.org.au or Victorian artists can contact Music Victoria on (03) 9380 1566 or via info@musicvictoria.com.au

A new National Cultural Policy for Australia – the first in nearly 20 years – is being developed and you are invited to comment. The discussion paper is a crucial step in the development of a new National Cultural Policy.  

Consultation began on a National Cultural Policy in 2009, and has involved the arts and culture sector, creative industries, the public at large and government. This has informed the development of this discussion paper, which outlines goals and strategies for the new National Cultural Policy. Have your say.