Advocacy groups in the live music sector have welcomed the NSW government's so-called "vibrancy reforms", but warn without further investment festivals will be a thing of the past in the state.
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The live music scene across NSW venues is hitting all the right notes after the overhaul of regulations has been credited for an 84 per cent increase in the number of venues hosting performances since 2023.
"We now have an additional 112 venues across the state that are a part of this program offering Australian artists and live music the opportunity to perform," Premier Chris Minns said.
"We're in the midst of reform, we're talking with industry, we want to have a vibrant nightlife."
But the overhaul of the state's formerly "boring" city nightlife has failed to extend to the festival sector, which remains struggling after a series of major cancellations.
"Without support, we could lose some of Australia's most loved festivals and it is difficult to rebuild after any cancellation," Australian Festival Association managing difrector Mitch Wilson told AAP.
More than 25 music festivals across Australia have been cancelled between 2022 and 2024, with nine of those events scheduled in NSW, according to data from the association.
Wilson said while the "vibrancy reforms" were amazing for the local live music scene, the government had hit mute on supporting the festival industry.
"The Minns Labor government got elected on a platform to end the war on music festivals ... but we are yet to see tangible policy changes," Wilson said.
"The review of the NSW Music Festivals Act was committed to be completed last year, yet we still haven't seen the outcome of that review."
Under the NSW Music Festivals Act, the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority takes recommendations from police and health authorities to decide whether a music festival is "subject" meaning organisers must spend thousands of dollars on police and health services.
Wilson said NSW was the worst state to hold a music festival because of red tape.
"State governments around the country have various support for music festivals, but the difficulties in NSW are by far the worst. NSW must reduce the costs of venue hire, of user pays police and of medical and ambulance services required on site."
Live Performance Australia chief Evelyn Richardson agrees with the festivals association.
"In NSW, music festival organisers also face higher cost pressures, due to the extra burden of music festival regulations," Ms Richardson said.
While singing their tune on how successful the reforms to local live music have been in the past 12 months, Arts Minister John Graham has recognised the dire state of the music festival industry.
"I want to be very clear, I am quite worried about the festival sector," he said.
"It's worse here in NSW, given the attacks we have had on the festival sector historically, so we are working closely with them."
Australian Associated Press
