Amplifier protection for the live music scene.

As part of the second tranche of Vibration Reforms, which was approved by Parliament on Thursday, the Minister for Music and Nighttime Economy is empowered to intervene if a major music venue is at risk of closing its doors.

These are world-first legislative protections designed to ensure the health of NSW’s live music scene and prevent closures that devastated venues like the Annandale Hotel and The Basement and threatened the survival of venues like the Eltham Hotel.

The first census of live music in New South Wales, the Scene status A report published by Sound NSW in June found there were 795 live venues across the state, of which 55 were considered “dedicated live music venues”.

A framework will allow places to opt for a range of supports that can be put in place if the survival of an important place is threatened for reasons which may include noise complaints, angry neighbors or hostile landlords.

A major live music venue is defined as one that presents live, predominantly original music as a key function of its business and is essential to the local live and touring music scene in New South Wales.

The Minister may deploy the coordinated support of Sound NSW, the 24 Hour Commissioner, the Hospitality Concierge and the Business Office in response to threatened locations requiring assistance.

The Vibrancy Reforms legislation also provides for the Minister to request mediation between a venue and another party to resolve a matter before it progresses further. At that point, a venue may agree to have the public and its music fans alerted that it is under threat.

The first leg of the Minns Labor Government’s initiative made it impossible for a noise complaint from a single neighbor to close a pub or licensed premises.

It also increased incentives for live music and live performances, with two hours of extended trading and an 80% reduction in liquor license fees for licensed venues offering live music.

The second tranche of reforms, which were passed by Parliament with unanimous support, have removed baffling restrictions on licensed venues that include “no entertainment” clauses or dictate what genre of music or even how many musicians can play.

In the future, property buyers will be notified that they will be moving into an existing entertainment precinct to protect the intent of the Special Entertainment Precincts and reduce friction between the venues and their neighbors.

Minister for Music and the Night Economy, John Graham, said:

“The music-loving community has been forced to say Rest in Peace too many times to the foundational live venues that were the incubators of Australian music. We’re not going to sit back and watch another Annandale Hotel turn off the music and dismantle the stage.

“In a cost of living crisis, we need a strong local music scene where people can enjoy live music without shelling out the hundreds of dollars it can cost to see big international tours.

“Protecting our consecrated places also means supporting the night-time economy. The New South Wales Music Census found that live music provides 25,000 jobs and contributes $5.5 billion in economic output to New South Wales. We want to amplify that contribution to the economy.

“A framework for music venues of state significance is part of the rebalance, and is long overdue.”