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Live Music Taskforce

Report and Recommendations To help drive the Gold Coast’s reputation as a live music-friendly city. May 26, 2017

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Executive Summary The Live Music Taskforce has met five times since February and pursued a number of lines of enquiry outside of these meetings. There is no denying the enthusiasm of the Taskforce to deliver on its brief. However, it is broad and complex and has taken much pulling together to get to this stage. The Taskforce acknowledges that some recommendations challenge current practice and norms. That sits comfortably with us. If the current status were acceptable, from a live music point of view, there would be a thriving live music industry and visible presence across the city. That is not the case. Change is needed. Recommendations include but are not limited to:

New planning overlays across nine precincts

Allowing live music into some light industrial areas

Extending noise allowances until midnight in some areas

Increasing allowable music volumes in prescribed areas

Supporting the development of local musicians

Cutting red tape for live music venues The Taskforce sees this document as a starting point. Certainly the Recommendations contained herein are valid and can be considered immediately. But there are other over-arching issues around live music that need to be considered, such as audience and consumer research; along with an economic impact study of lost live music opportunities. The Taskforce also notes council’s specific focus on “live” music. This is to be commended and protected throughout the process. Attempts to dilute the momentum around live music by bringing in other creative forms, including non-live music, should be resisted. There are more than a dozen possible recommendations under consideration, with the lion’s share related to alterations to the planning scheme and associated regulations across the city. Current planning laws cascade from the City Plan and at a macro level serve the city well. But live music is historically under-represented in planning laws across Australia and the Gold Coast is no different. Therefore, if the strategic intent of the City is to be live music-friendly and build a reputation as a live music hub, then it has to create a new planning framework and

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policy scaffolding that enables this. The Taskforce makes a range of recommendations ranging from a simple alteration to the Post No Bills policy to the more complex introduction of Special Entertainment Precincts. It is noted that major cities across Australia have experienced similar surges of interest in the status of live music and have undertaken several reviews and produced multiple reports, all now available to the Taskforce. Outside of planning there is the opportunity, with relatively modest investment, to create within council a support unit for live music on the Gold Coast that will empower venue operators and investors. The same unit can facilitate better promotion and marketing for artists and performers and be a touch-point for all live music issues interfacing with local government. A key issue to be considered is the building up of the importance of live music in the eyes of the public. Not just as an entertainment source, but as a vibrant part of the city’s social, cultural and economic fabric. This will be essential if public acceptance is to be won over for some of the ultimate planning changes. It should also be noted that any planning or regulation changes would still have to go through the appropriate consultation and stakeholder engagement process. The Taskforce is not advocating sweeping changes brought in from on-high. All recommendations are made with the current necessary consultation framework assumed to be in place. The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games looms as a short-term test of council’s resolve to ensure the city’s reputation for live music is enhanced. Notwithstanding current planning regulations, the Games falls under the Major Events Act which supersedes local law. Council should seize this opportunity to ensure local live music is front and centre of the community celebrations associated with GC2018 and embedded in the official Festival 2018 arts and culture program. Lastly, there is more work to be done. The Taskforce has viewed the city-wide venue audit and believes more work in this area could be of benefit. The Taskforce also looks forward to its recommendations feeding into the development of the Live Music Action Plan.

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Methodology and Consultation The Live Music Taskforce was born out of the Draft Live Music Action Plan 2017-2020, which was delivered to City of Gold Coast Council in October 2016. That Draft Plan is to be further developed parallel to and in conjunction with the Taskforce recommendations and presented back to council for finalisation in May 2017. Another parallel piece is the Music Venue Audit also recommended out of the Draft Action Plan. This is undertaken separate to the Taskforce but is critical to informing it. This process will feed in to the formation of a new Gold Coast City Live Music Action Plan, for which concurrent work and consultation has been initiated by council. Paid consultants assisting with the Action Plan have been included in the Taskforce’s discussions and their views assessed, like other stakeholders. The Live Music Advisory Taskforce was created through invitation by Council and held its first meeting in February 2017. Supporting the Taskforce is an Industry Advisory Group comprised of key members of the music and performing industry across the city. The Taskforce is a representative selection of external stakeholders and interested parties. They bring views to this topic that add a diversity not necessarily gained from paid consultants or council officers. Taskforce members included:

Chair - Dean Gould, Executive Director Corporate Affairs, Gold Coast Tourism Office of the Mayor Chief of Staff, Wayne Moran, ex-officio for Mayor Tom Tate Peter Bell, Consultant, Place Design Group Emma Milikins – Industry Advisory Group representative and Creative Director, Miami Marketta Des Hearn, Queensland Police Service John Wardle, Director, Live Music Office Joel Edmondson, Q Music Tony Forden, Office of Liquor and Gaming Criena Gehrke, Executive Co-Ordinator, Arts and Culture, City of Gold Coast (to March 2017) Libby Lincoln, Executive Co-Ordinator, Arts and Culture, City of Gold Coast (from April 2017) City Planning representatives (variously Althena Davidson, Dy Currie, Maree Domelow, Luke Hancock) Daniel Carroll, Senior Arts and Culture Project Officer, City of Gold Coast

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Industry Advisory Group members are: Michelle Christoe, Director, Nightquarter Donna Weston, Bachelor of Popular Music, Griffith University Brad Inglis, Soundlounge Chloe Popa, Blank magazine Matthew Schneider, Director of Planning, Urbis Emma Milikins, Miami Marketta

Scope The scope of the taskforce is well focused. In summary, it is to deliver recommendations to council that will facilitate the building of the Gold Coast’s reputation as a live-music friendly city in all aspects. It is to highlight planning, regulatory and legislative issues that impact on live music on the Gold Coast and make recommendations on how these can be best addressed by Council. It is to advise on national and international programs that could support these goals and to identify new projects that would positively impact the live music and performance sector on the Coast. Defining live music for the purposes of the Taskforce is important, as is staying true to the context of the project. The taskforce’s deliberations embrace all genres of live music from acoustic to heavy metal, jazz to rap, instrumental to vocal, Indigenous and multi-cultural, originals to covers, solo to bands, indoor and outdoor, free gigs to ticketed concerts, amateur to professional. For the purposes of containment, ‘electronica’ or DJ-inspired music was not considered ‘live music’, while fully appreciating its place in the wider music scene, its fan base and the creativity of its exponents. One useful definition of Live Music comes from Griffith University’s urban planning expert Dr Matthew Burke and Amy Schmidt in their 2012 research paper “How should we plan and regulate live music in cities. Learnings from Brisbane”:

Live music may be defined as ‘music performed in public by at least one person in real time, that is, not pre-recorded’.

The same paper also offers a useful definition of live music venues:

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Live music venues were defined as licensed venues that operate specifically for live music performance or those for which a significant proportion of their operations are dedicated to live music

Conversation arose over the differentiation between original and cover music. In the performance space, the Taskforce sees little difference and both should be considered equally (or simply included as ‘live music’). In the artist development and music ecology area, original music takes precedence. The initial consultation period is from November 2016 to April 2017, with a set of draft recommendations to be submitted by end of May. The first Taskforce meeting did not occur until February so the initial consultation period has been pushed into the first weeks of May.

Existing and Supporting Documentation The Taskforce is not required to re-invent the wheel. The City has an established Cultural Strategy 2023 that highlights contemporary music as an area for growth. The work of this taskforce and the ultimate development of a Live Music Action Plan sit comfortably within the commitment of a “New City Approach To Cultural Development”, one of the key drivers of change identified in the Cultural Strategy. However, the Taskforce would recommend that Live Music be more clearly articulated as a key part of the city’s Cultural Strategy. Music more broadly could be better represented in this strategy but the drive from this Taskforce is around the elevation of “live” music and that is the recommendation’s focus. There is also a Draft Action Plan referred to previously which provides a substantial situation analysis. Appendix to that Action Plan is a research paper from Griffith University’s Professor Andy Bennett and Ben Green commissioned by Council. This “Contemporary Music Plan: Accessing live music on the Gold Coast” covers much of the background of the live music scene. This information should be taken in the right context. It is a few years old now and further research in audience development and economic impact would be beneficial to really understanding the music economy and ecology. The economy relates to artists, venues, supporting industries, marketing and promotion etc. The ‘ecology’ of the

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music scene refers to the wider social, cultural and community aspects alongside the economic. The previously mentioned Live Music Venue Audit took the form of a survey and has proved useful. A snapshot of venues in November 2016 found that:

634 gigs were presented across the City of Gold Coast

56 venues hosted live music in that month

Only 2 venues were dedicated to original live music

46 venues presented cover music or a mix of original and cover music

18% of venues presented original line-ups

Only 4 venues presented ticketed events

Surfers Paradise represented double that of any other suburb, with 158 gigs presented in the month

This information shows that there is no shortage of entertainment in the city, even music gigs overall. However, live music is in a parlous state, making up less than 9 per cent of the total gigs. The survey should be undertaken again at a different time of year to better benchmark these findings. The Taskforce has also been provided with multiple reports from other cities around Australia who are also concentrating on the development, enhancement and nurturing of the live music sector. This includes the most recent from the Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet, being a draft report on Supporting The Live Music Industry across the state. Local and state authorities governing Sydney, Melbourne, ACT, Adelaide and Wollongong have all progressed live music plans and strategies, with a lot of activity from 2012 to 2015 in this space. In Queensland, Brisbane is a standout with its Valley Music Harmony Plan, utilising a Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) planning instrument to encourage and manage live music in Fortitude Valley, a major inner city suburb. Sunshine Coast Council also progressed a live music policy around SEPs and noise abatement, seeking State Government support for a pilot program in 2015 but this did not go ahead. Each of these cities, states and local authority areas has produced ample documentation around their analyses, recommendations and implementation. Drawing on these learnings is sensible and expedient

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and, mostly through the generous work of the Live Music Office, the Taskforce has had access to all of this information. One ironic point that sums up the issue the Gold Coast is grappling with comes from South Australia and shows we are not alone:

The growing tension between the needs of live music venues and increasing numbers of residential properties in city centres is consistently reported around the country, and the world. An increasingly common response in trying to resolve these tensions in Australia, the USA and Canada, is the setting up of bodies consisting of representatives of stakeholders to undertake an advisory role on music issues.

- Martin Elborne in The Future of Live Music In South Australia, 2012

To illustrate the national momentum, some of the other significant initiatives from around Australia include:

NSW, SA, Tasmania, Victoria and WA all have a Contemporary Music Strategic Plan

SA and Victoria have a Music Development Hub

The Valley Music Harmony Plan in Brisbane promotes live music and higher sound tolerances in a geographically-defined area

The small bars policy in Adelaide does away with many of the burdensome regulations around licencing and building codes for small venues

Live Music plans are under way in City of Melbourne, Yarra, Mornington Shire, Ballarat and Geelong in Victoria

The Queensland Industry Working Group’s December 2016 Draft Report listed a number of recommendations, including:

Establish a single, facilitated entry point to help venues navigate liquor licencing, noise laws and so forth

Build capacity among artists to ensure they have the skills for success in an age of digital disruption

Address the perceived “ink” between alcohol and live music in order to create a sustainable live music industry

This is an ongoing body of work in Queensland and the Gold Coast has been invited to join the Industry Working Group as it helps mould State input into live music development.

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Overview of situation With that scope and available information informing and directing its discussions, the Taskforce has identified five main areas requiring attention: 1. Regulatory environment This includes state and local regulation and the urgent need to cut red tape and be more embracing of live music. As the regulatory environment currently stands, it would be easy to interpret live music on the Gold Coast as something that needs to be controlled rather than a creative pursuit to be encouraged and promoted. It is fair to say that live music is poorly represented in the current planning laws. At the State Level, the most pertinent legislation is that around noise control, managed by the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR). The input of OLGR to the taskforce’s deliberations has been substantial and helpful. There are different noise levels compliance requirements for licensed compared with unlicensed premises. OLGR polices noise levels based on community complaints; that is, they are reactive. OLGR (Gold Coast) do not receive many complaints from purpose-built entertainment premises, but on the occasion that one is received, the process is managed between the licensee and OLGR. Restaurants, particularly those with an open frontage provide the highest level of complaints. This generally involves soloists, duos and DJs. (It should be noted that noise levels are not the only area of compliance a venue requires. Other standards are imposed around town planning, fire safety, workplace health & safety and non-compliance with the principal activity of being a restaurant. Occasionally, “noise complaints” are used as the scapegoat by the venue owner, when there are other, arguably more serious, issues at hand). OLGR’s general policy with regards to dealing with noise in the absence of complaints, where noise may be in excess of the levels conditioned on the license, is for compliance officers to conduct noise testing to confirm whether levels exceed those on the license. If the levels do exceed those on the license the officers generally engage with the licensee, provide them with advice on the legislation and discuss strategies to mitigate noise. In most cases, the situation is resolved from an OLGR point of view and no further action is required. The hurdle for the live music

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scene is that, too often that resolution means turning off the music and discontinuing with the live music option. Generally speaking, when OLGR receives complaints in suburban areas, outside of Coolangatta, Broadbeach or Surfers Paradise, the issues are resolved relatively quickly. An exception to this has been Nobby Beach which has been problematic for some time, as the night-life precinct grows and the demand for live music increases. A similar trend is emerging in parts of Palm Beach – and is no doubt possible in other parts of the city over time. Dealing with noise complaints in the entertainment precincts of Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise is a little different in so far as OLGR may be more inclined to give consideration to issues such as order of occupancy. However once again, this is dependent on the type of venue, whether they have obtained an acoustic report (as part of their liquor license) and whether they are complying with the levels set on their license. From a Taskforce point if view, a likely recommendation around these issues would be to work pro-actively with the State Government to address the compliance demands of live music noise levels, in particular, as they currently stand in the legislation. The Department of Justice and Attorney General looked at this issue in 2013 and in 2015 Sunshine Coast Council made submissions around the same subject, so the agitation to refine this legislation already exists. At a Local Government level, there are several planning areas that need addressing. These range from a “Post No Bills” policy that inhibits classic live music marketing, through to the absence of live music as an allowable use in most zones. This is discussed further in this document. More holistically, there are current City of Gold Coast planning regulations which effectively limit investment in music venues except within the Surfers and Broadbeach precincts, where they are classed as nightclubs. The Taskforce identified likely areas across the city that would either benefit from live music development or be more attuned to embracing live music as a compatible use. These areas are for consideration by Council and they illustrate the growing demand for live music across the city and its emerging importance as part of the fabric of the city. It is

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incumbent on City Planning to keep up with the evolution of the city and bring its expertise to the table in terms of enabling this evolution and best practice implementation. The Taskforce widely discussed venues around the city. One avenue worth exploring with vigour is the use of light industrial areas for live music. Currently, the City Plan does not openly allow it. However, live music use would most often be outside of normal industrial use hours; the local area usually has limited residential housing and the style of architecture suits live music gatherings. Two examples of areas that illustrate this point are Nerang and Currumbin Waters light industry precincts. The Taskforce acknowledges that currently planning regulations restrict live music venues in these areas but believes that under the right conditions, live music would be an acitvity to be encouraged. A likely recommendation is that the situation relating to light industrial areas should be reviewed and changed appropriately. Such a recommendation would also align with the intention of Initiative 2.1 in the Cultural Strategy: “We will also identify opportunities for commercial, unused spaces and heritage places to become vibrant creative spaces.” Southport offers other opportunities for live music due to its unique Priority Development Area (PDA) status. The PDA instrument allows this specific locale of Southport more leeway in the types of activities it undertakes. The Taskforce believes that, in conjunction with Council and the local Councillor, live music venues and investment should be more actively pursued and promoted for this area. One of the intentions of the Southport PDA legislation is to “provide for a diverse range of urban lifestyle opportunities that contribute to an appealing and active urban experience”. This includes supporting a 24-hour economy, entertainment and a range of urban activity. Live Music neatly fits into this strategic intent. The PDA area covers the Broadwater foreshore, main commercial areas and immediate surrounds. It is well serviced by public transport, has a strong retail presence as well as thousands of (mostly) young people attending Gold Coast TAFE and other VET and Language schools. It is a prime area for the development and celebration of the city’s live music credentials.

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Building on the PDA idea, is the SEP (Special Entertainment Precinct) instrument, which Brisbane has engaged so successfully in Fortitude Valley. The SEP declares a certain area of the city exempt from other planning and regulation but it must meet the conditions of the “special entertainment precinct”. It should be noted that the SEP also permits venues outside of the earmarked area to be included. The boundaries of these premises are declared part of the SEP and fall under the same regulations. Brisbane City adopted its Valley Harmony Music Plan in 2004 so there is substantial experience and success close by for the Gold Coast to draw upon. In part, the Harmony Plan states:

One of the first steps taken by Council in implementing the Valley Music Harmony Plan has been the creation of the Valley Special Entertainment Precinct, which places the onus on new development to incorporate a high standard of noise insulation and enables uniform noise emission levels for music venues.

The Plan also identifies the need for a communication strategy to make potential residents aware of the Valley’s entertainment values, before they move to the Valley. This has resulted in the creation of the Valley Sound Machine, which enables potential residents to hear what it may sound like living in the Valley.

The Valley Music Harmony Plan acknowledges that residents in the Valley will experience higher noise levels than in other areas of the city. At the same time, it also makes it clear that amplified music venues have an obligation to manage their noise.

It is important to note that the Harmony Plan, backed by the SEP, clearly supports a higher decibel range for live music. It ensures the amenity of the area includes a level of creativity and vibrancy – and noise. Significantly, the new planning laws for the area also made it necessary for new residential development to incorporate appropriate sound proofing. This was a major breakthrough and evens the ledger somewhat for the live music industry that up until that was always the sector that had to accommodate residential concerns, not the other way round. As Dr Burke and Schmidt write in their paper:

These arrangements go beyond ‘first-use rights’ establishing an even clearer set of policies that work to achieve accommodation of live music within the designated precinct, but protect residential

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amenity. Allowing standard noise emissions at a venue’s boundary gives operators surety that if they stay within those limits, they are inoculated from noise complaints. Developers know what they must do to meet specific noise reduction targets, and residents should have greater certainty over what noise levels they may expect at specific times.

An SEP on the Gold Coast would allow more scope for live music venues, noise levels and crowds to function successfully within the allowed Planning and OLGR regulations. However, an SEP transfers the responsibility and monitoring and compliance to the Council, particularly around noise levels which become effectively decoupled from liquor licencing in these circumstances. The Taskforce identified nine areas across the city that would benefit from individual treatment in a planning sense when it comes to live music. These are:

Helensvale

Surfers Paradise

Miami

Mudgeeraba

Coolangatta.

Cultural Precinct Bundall / Surfers Paradise

Arundel

Currumbin

Nerang A live music protection overlay in these areas would give opportunity to establish venues and performances spaces that are currently not easily allowed. This clear setting of the ground rules and open encouragement of live music investment would give investors and operators the certainty they are looking for. The Taskforce will recommend these nine areas be considered, along with appropriate conditions. The Taskforce is looking for a sensible approach, not a free for all. Anecdotal evidence provided to the Taskforce also indicates that dealing with the council planning and approvals process for live music events

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and venues can be at least daunting, if not even a disincentive to investment. In part, this is due to the number of different areas of compliance required – from building codes to planning precincts, zones, allowable uses, etc. It is generally agreed that facilitating applicants and potential applicants through this process is in the best interests of the city. A likely recommendation is that City of Gold Coast establish and fund a Live Music Liaison Unit whose role it is to receive the first enquiry, provide advice and guidance consistent with council regulations, and hand-hold the applicant through the process. This is for both new and existing venues. The ‘single contact point’ is one of the success factors for Adelaide and South Australia, with many other states and cities moving in the same direction. This Unit should also be widely promoted as testament to the Gold Coast’s commitment to being a live music-friendly city. It would also be the area of council turned to for guidance in resolving noise complaints and other issues around live music. It requires council to empower it and acknowledge its expertise in live music matters. Dealing with live music issues in an empathetic and transparent way is an essential ingredient for a live music-friendly city. Building on a similar program in Sydney called “Amplify”, the City of Gold Coast also has the opportunity to create appropriate support for existing businesses wanting to include live music in their commercial offering. The Sydney pilot project ran from November 2015 to November 2016, providing expert tailored guidance to inner-city businesses and potential venues wanting to try programming live music for the first time and existing live music venues that wanted to develop their approach. This facilitation of enterprises to add to the live music reputation of the city would be seen as pro-active and music-friendly engagement, with tangible economic benefits to the city. The Gold Coast version of “Amplify” could reasonably be included in an appropriately resourced Live Music Liaison Unit. 2. Venue enhancement The provision of appropriate diversity and inventory of venues across the Gold Coast is one of the most pressing issues for the city’s reputation in the live music sector. One major promoter stated “the Gold Coast is just a wasteland when it comes to venues”. While that statement can be

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challenged with numerous facts and statistics, the reputational impact of it is significant and needs to be addressed holistically. It should be noted that there is also substantial cynicism in the performing community about council’s capacity to make changes that benefit the live music scene. Unfair or not, this perception is a hurdle that can only be overcome by action. There is probably no shortage of potential venues on the Gold Coast but the number that are actively engaged in the live music scene, booking, promoting and performing live music acts, is limited. The taskforce has identified four tiers of venue, which help break down the challenges and opportunities associated at each level. (Please note, the capacity levels are indicative only).

Tier 1 – 1 to100 pax. Local cafes, pubs, restaurants, bars, small performances spaces, etc. This is a critical tier in terms of making the Gold Coast a music-friendly city and is the foundation of the music industry. It is the tier that employs the majority of musicians, builds beginning pathways for emerging performers and adds music to a variety of environments. This is typically the tier that offers the greatest diversity of music, creating small performance spaces for acoustic, jazz, soul, duets and other genres, aside from Top 40 and contemporary rock. It is also one of the more problematic in terms of regulation and planning laws. Other cities have identified this and they have addressed this tier of venues in isolation of a myriad of “what ifs” associated with larger spaces. South Australia has implemented a ‘small venues’ policy designed to support this tier of enterprise, for example. Tier 2 – 101 to 500 pax. Function venues, ballrooms, markets, community halls, purpose-built performance spaces, Expressive Grounds, Arts Centre, current Miami Marketta venue, night clubs, service clubs, hotels etc. This tier is commercially important for the live music sector. These are generally venues trying to use music as a key component in establishing a viable business built around performance and entertainment. It is the sector most likely to invest in live music but also the sector most vulnerable to diverting attention to other more sustainable revenue streams (food, poker machines, trade shows) if constraints to live music

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success are not lifted. This tier is vital in terms of developing a genuine performance pathway for Gold Coast musicians. Tier 3 – 501-5000 pax. Larger venues; outdoor parks; the new Arts Precinct amphitheatre, Gold Coast Exhibition and Convention Centre, The Star (casino), Nightquarter, proposed Miami Marketta venue etc. This is the Gold Coast’s weakest area, in terms of volume of venues, but it also represents an opportunity. Venues of this size-range have the potential to attract touring acts, such as Midnight Oil (old school) or Dune Rats (up and coming). The city has had some success in this space with the likes of UB40, John Farnham and Aida Opera performing (acknowledging Opera on the Beach is a temporary venue). However, there is no centralised or at least co-ordinated infrastructure around these venues from a city point of view so all negotiations are conducted separately, and some venues are better equipped than others in terms of the ability to offer ticketing, lighting, logistics, artist support, promotion and marketing and other factors assessed by promoters considering the Gold Coast as a tour location. There is an opportunity for the City to become that single contact point for touring acts of this calibre and volume, ensuring opportunities are shared with relevant venues or partners. While there are limited indoor venues, there is more scope for outdoor concerts. City infrastructure such as stages and performances areas in public parks (eg Broadwater Parklands, Southport; Kurrawa Park, Broadbeach; Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta) could be enhanced to make outdoor gigs more attractive to promoters. Facilities such as three-phase power, wi-fi, reinforced staging and lighting gantries could be permanently available and therefore cut individual concert set-up costs substantially. While every concert will have its customised requirements there is a base level of service and infrastructure that could be of wide benefit. (Such investment would require appropriate investigation, specifications and costings, of course). Tier 4 – 5000+ pax. Large scale events; Blues on Broadbeach; Foo Fighters at Metricon Stadium; and formerly the Big Day Out. These occur only two or three times a year but are essential to broadly establishing the reputation of the Gold Coast as a music-friendly

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city. They are the flagship events that have national and international audiences talking about the city mostly due to the notoriety of the performers. Attracting these topline acts is a challenge because of the Gold Coast’s size relative to the capital cities, but also because of the city’s proximity to Brisbane, which is well established as the Queensland stop on a national tour by the likes of Adele and Springsteen. However, the success of the Foo Fighters concert at Metricon in 2015 proves it can be done. Margins for promoters of these international events are slim and overheads high. Therefore any subventure funds the City can commit up-front will enhance the Gold Coast’s attractiveness when negotiating with promoters. Venue hire, transport subsidies, security subsidies, beverage and food profit sharing, marketing assistance – all of these are negotiable costs for a promoter. The return on investment for these acts is substantial with millions of dollars being injected into the city by visitors drawn from the SEQ drive market. Music performances of this calibre should be pursued with the same economic mindset as a high-rise investor or major sporting event. Special consideration needs to be given to the Blues on Broadbeach festival as well. It could be argued this is the city’s only home-grown annual event of international standard. Red tape around this event is enormous and establishing a ‘festival licence’ that acts like a temporary SEP would be beneficial. Growing the Blues festival is also an issue. It is at capacity in its current form and to add to visitor nights and economic return for the city the next logical step is a ticketed event, perhaps at the Convention Centre, of a topline international blues act. Council again has the opportunity to invest in an appropriate business case built around such a scenario.

3. Marketing and Promotion: Marketing and promotion of live music has become an art-form in its own right. As an example, the music advertising posters that can be found (with or without permission) around cities have become iconic statements of that city’s vibrant local music scene. Equally, video clips featuring known landmarks and landscapes are compelling ways in which a city and its music are inextricably entwined.

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Marketing in general for live music could be further enhanced and supported across the Gold Coast. The Post No Bills policy may seem less relevant in a digital age but feedback from the industry is that it has a very real and direct impact on the ability to sell tickets at live music events – and therefore leads to the Gold Coast being bypassed by touring bands, in particular. The art form of these music posters is celebrated across the decades and done well, add to a sense of place. The use of advertising posters plastered to poles and hoardings for the promotion of live music is prevalent around the world. To some it is art and an expression of urban vibrancy. To others it is an eyesore and a technical but clear breach of current law. However, it is a significant spoke in the wheel for live music promotion. It is recommended that local live music advertising be excluded from the Post No Bills policy. That is, locally performed live music (the musicians may be from out of town). It could be questioned why live music would get such lenient treatment and that fundamentally comes back to council’s commitment to its espoused vision to be a live music-friendly city. If that is the case, council should be unashamed about giving preferential treatment and regulatory support to live music. There are several significant marketing channels on the Gold Coast that have emerged alongside the awakening cultural impetus the city has. These include relative new media such as Blank GC (print and digital) and The Metropolist (digital) alongside long-established Gold Coast Bulletin (print and digital); local radio stations Hot Tomato (including Mygc.com.au), SeaFM, Gold FM and ABC Gold Coast. The council-led MoreGoldCoast has a following for events and lifestyle content, including music. Many of these digital channels come and go within a few years. A plethora of social media channels are also available. Encouraging artists to leverage these existing channels and their own social media channels in a consistent manner will enhance the perception and presence of live music across the city. The fact that the Gold Coast is close - but not too close - to Brisbane is a marketing hurdle for bigger acts as well. A promoter weighing up a second Brisbane gig compared with a separate Gold Coast performance has to take into account the extra marketing costs by moving down the M1. Two dates can be promoted with the same cost into Brisbane. A

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separate marketing campaign is required for a Gold Coast event. It is not insurmountable but is a serious issue that needs all other factors in the city’s favour to make it work. The Gold Coast would benefit from a permanent seat at the Queensland Live Music Roundtable. This forum would keep the city in the State loop on developments, co-operative marketing opportunities, partnerships and upcoming performances. The Taskforce will recommend that the city council appoints a committed representative to the Qld Roundtable and that a reporting mechanism be created so the live music sector remains informed of activity. 4. Artists development and performance pathway The Gold Coast has a long history of producing great performers and attracting A-List musicians. Unfortunately, this position has been eroded in recent decades. The emergence of Amy Shark as a top performer in Australia at present, and the successful staging of a full volume Foo Fighters concert at Metricon Stadium in 2015, however, have reignited the flame of enthusiasm across the city. The 2017 Gold Coast Music Awards attracted more than 3000 people to Surfers Paradise and the CMC Awards was hosted at The Star in front of a live audience of more than 700 and beamed live to country music channels across the world. Australia’s no.1 country performer Adam Brand was a feature artist at the CMC Awards and chooses to live on the Gold Coast. Blues on Broadbeach is the largest free music event in Australia, attracting over 180,000 people. The emergence of venues such as Nightquarter and Miami Marketta has added a new dimension to the existing scene which ranges from commercial venues such as the Coolangatta Hotel to the not-for-profit Expressive Grounds at Palm Beach, home to Battle of the Bands. The city can look through its own scrapbook and claim the likes of Peter Andre, Jared Porter and Wolfmother while variously hosting Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross and Snoop Dog. Anyone over 40 tells fond tales of the Bombay Rock and The Playroom as premier Australian venues of the 70s and 80s. And Peter Garrett cites Midnight Oil’s 1991 gig at The Spit under a Big Top as one of his most memorable.

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The Coast’s three universities (Griffith, Bond and Southern Cross) all support live music. Griffith graduates several dozen students each year from its Bachelor of Popular Music, while SCU does the same through its Lismore campus. All three universities have excellent performing spaces. All these factors and history come together to illustrate the deep connection music has with the city and why fostering artist development is a natural extension of the Gold Coast’s cultural agenda. Emerging artists first of all require the opportunity to perform, making the accessibility of those Tier 1 venues critical. Adam Brand’s advice to young performers is to practice and perform as often as is humanly possible. “Do it day and night, play for free. Make all your mistakes early and get better and better at what you do.” Amy Shark may look like she has taken the national music scene by storm but she has been performing for more than 10 years – many times playing covers at The Envy Hotel. While it can seem like a long apprenticeship, it builds performing skills. Supporting artists’ development in the marketing of their own music is an essential first step, whether that is through social media expertise, digital press kits, advertising posters or other methods. Another important development opportunity is around the provision of rehearsal venues. The CEO of Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), Dan Rosen, says access to spaces with proper lighting and sound for rehearsal is critical to the development of a live music scene. “People have to see a pathway and if they see performers like Amy Shark having success they think that there can be others.” The idea of creating co-operatively run rehearsal spaces in light industry areas should be considered by council and enabled by appropriate alterations to the planning laws. “You’ve got to build the scene and if the scene is good enough, people will come,” said Mr Rosen, indicating that with the right encouragement of musicians and clear pathways, the Gold Coast could become a drawcard for aspiring musicians. Nashville is the place where all young country singers go to get their break. Melbourne holds that mantle for contemporary music in Australia, but it is an area the Gold Coast can move in on.

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5. Community expectation and communication around the impact of increased live music presence across the city The Gold Coast is changing and the emergence of a vibrant live music scene should be embraced as part of that change. But there are challenges to be overcome in managing community expectation around what this means in terms of their amenity. Many will be excited to hear live music lead the creative arts revival of the city, to see the international standing of the city restored and to have the diversity of our economy broadened through some straightforward planning regulation changes that open up a new industry. Others may be surprised and less enthusiastic when that broadening economy manifests as late night music, parking in their street or a reallocation of finite council funds from one area to the live music area. A public education program is required about the deep roots live music has in this city and why it is so important to our future and our urban personality. Many would be unaware of the impact of the music economy across the city and this should be part of the narrative alongside the songs and tunes. This program should precede any major changes in the planning or regulatory space, so that the public is better informed even before the appropriate consultation process is undertaken. Drawing on that rich history of live music on the Gold Coast is an important part of the narrative that must be developed. Publishing the old photos, the music posters and people’s recollections of those halcyon days will spark a nostalgia that enhances the place of live music in the city. The development of the Live Music Action Plan to drive the city’s approach to this whole sector is a prerequisite to this. Using the right language in the community education process is also critical. Replacing “noise” with “sound” when talking about music is a subtle but powerful step. A chainsaw makes noise. Music is creativity manifesting through sound. As the live music scene gathers momentum across the city, performances in local parks and open spaces have become more prevalent, often facilitated or supported by local area councillors. The creative and community intent of these events has to be applauded. They add to the ambience of the city. However, they are invariably free to attend and need to be balanced against the viability of nearby music

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venues reliant on paying customers. Ironically, patrons are fully expected to pay for the food available at these events but not for the music. In the extreme, these free performances could be seen as anti-competitive, however they are part of the richness of live music. The Taskforce’s discussions have led to a recommendation that such free in-the-park performances be reviewed and possibly offered to nearby venues on an alternating frequency (ie this month in the park, next month in th adjacent venue).

Special Projects The Taskforce considered the impact special music events can have on the reputation of the city as being live music-friendly. It might be outside of the scope of the Taskforce to set the events agenda for the city but it is within scope to identify low-hanging fruit. There is no greater short-term opportunity than that provided by the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. The city will be celebrating one of the world’s major sporting events with a concurrent arts and culture program. Schools and universities will be on holiday, hundreds of thousands of locals will join the tens of thousands of visitors to the city for this period, expecting to be entertained. The Major Events Act, which the Games falls under, allows significant leeway for activity that might not normally be permitted under existing rules, bylaws or regulation. This would include live music associated with Festival 2018, the official arts and culture program of GC2018. Creating a compelling live music program that leads up to and covers the Games is a critical component to the Gold Coast being taken seriously as a live-music friendly city. The Taskforce recommends that this be a high priority for council. There are many successful live music initiatives in the world but one that may be known to council and is the envy of most music economies is the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

Known as SXSW, “each year it hosts a comprehensive mix of new, up-and-coming, international, and legendary artists performing in bars, clubs, parks, churches, hotels, and just about everywhere else you can imagine around Austin, Texas. Not limited in genre or

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region, audiences can enjoy a vast variety of musical styles at SXSW. At the 2016 edition, over 67 countries were represented amongst the 2200-plus official performers.”

The 13-day SXSW event last year generated $325 million for the city, with almost 90,000 registered participants and up to 50,000 room nights booked. It is a powerful argument.

However, it should be noted that SXSW started in 1987. That is 30 years of growth and commitment by the City of Austin to get the event to its current status whereby the city can claim to be the “live music capital of the world”.

The Taskforce looked at a range of music festivals, events and tours across Australia and identified a potential opportunity in the older demographic. An event that draws older (experienced and inexperienced) performers and music fans to a range of live events across the city could bring notoriety and significant economic value to the city. It could complement an existing event, such as Cooly Rocks On, and extend the timeframe and location of activity, or it could be developed separately. The nostalgia of vinyl records has a place in such a celebration, with the Gold Coast now boasting several music retailers specializing in vinyl and turntables.

Bleach Festival is also gathering momentum (after three years on the Coast now) and includes a significant live music component in its program. It would be a change to its current strategy and momentum to turn Bleach into a live music-driven festival of arts, but it may be worth considering.

A more organic opportunity lies around the Miami area, building on the popularity of the Miami Marketta music agenda. Fostering the right development and use of that neighbourhood could lead to the Gold Coast version of New York’s Meatpacking District, a relatively small area of Manhattan that was transformed from a gritty industrial area in the 1990s to a popular fashion, music, cultural and art precinct with a distinct bohemian style.

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Summary

In summary, the Taskforce has considered a range of issues around live music. These range from current State and Local regulations, the ability to create a venue, to the development of artists, the value of the music economy and the need for a whole of city approach.

There is an opportunity for the Gold Coast brand to become well known and highly regarded once again in relation to live music, but it requires political will and an unashamed preference for live music in the planning scheme. And that means placing live music ahead of other ‘music’. Accepting the recommendations and subsequently assessing and enabling the Live Music Action Plan will go a long way to seizing that opportunity and overcoming the community fatigue over previous talk and little action in this space. The mood of the city is different now and the timing is such that the halcyon days of the Gold Coast live music scene could be restored.

The Taskforce thanks City of Gold Coast Council for the opportunity to participate in this potentially city-changing process.

Equally, the chair thanks the Taskforce members, Industry Advisory Group and many others who have contributed their views, time and information so willingly. Responses have been generous. We offer the following recommendations to council.

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Recommendations: 1. That the importance of live music be specifically articulated in an amendment to the Cultural Strategy 2023. 2. That the Live Music Action Plan incorporate these recommendations as part of its development, including celebrating the history, present status and future opportunities for the Gold Coast music economy and the enhancement of the city’s reputation nationally and internationally. 3. That development of a signature event concept be included in the Live Music Action Plan, with consideration of (but not limited to) an older demographic and the available space on the national music agenda for such a live music festival. 4. That the development of the Live Music Action Plan include further consultation with local artists as well as consideration of audience development for live music performers. This is an area the Taskforce would have preferred to have more deeply engaged but is happy for the Action Plan to address this further. 5. That council develop, facilitate and/or enable a compelling live music program leading up to and covering the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games across the city, utilising the powers of the Major Events Act where necessary and aligning to or including the program in Festival 2018, the official arts and culture component of GC2018.

6. That the City Plan be reviewed and modified to be welcoming of live music venues of all sizes and genres, including, but not restricted to:

a) Consider appropriate locations for the establishment of live music venues, including rehearsal facilities. b) Include live music as an allowable use in appropriate areas. c) Consider the establishment of Special Entertainment Precinct(s) on the Gold Coast that specifically embrace and permit live music performances and venues in a proactive way.

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7. Further to recommendations 6a, 6b, and 6c, that Council specifically consider live music protection overlays with an appropriate planning overlay in:

Helensvale

Surfers Paradise

Miami

Mudgeeraba

Coolangatta

Surfers Paradise/Bundall/Cultural Precinct

Arundel

Currumbin

Nerang These proposed precincts are clarified in accompanying maps. The Live music planning requirements should consider the following:

Live music and live music venues are encouraged and envisaged for these zones as a code assessable application.

Live music overlay code to include matters such as noise controls, hours of operation, built form, acoustic treatments, car parking, management, waste disposal etc.

Sound produced by such live music venues can exceed 91dB but not 103dB after 12pm but before 12am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and days immediately prior to Public Holidays. On all other days sound cannot exceed 91dB with live music operating between the hours of 6pm and 10pm. All sound measurements are from the property boundary of the venue site.

Incorporate a ‘Live music venue’ administrative definition.

Parking requirements can take a precinct wide account (e.g. Mudgeeraba Markets Shopping Centre can supply entire Mudgeeraba Live Music Precinct, light rail can supply entire Surfers Paradise Live Music Precinct, Helensvale Live Music precinct supplied by heavy rail and light rails as far as parking requirement satisfaction assessments are concerned).

Other than the Live music venues, live music land uses is encouraged throughout the city via compatible multiple land use applications via a MCU Impact Assessable application.

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It is envisaged that the City will seek State Government Special Entertainment Precinct status for the mapped and overlaid Live music precincts identified but where the OL&G retains licensing and enforcement of the liquor components of such SEPs under agreement with the City. Council will take on any other licensing and responsibility for noise complaints. Helensvale Music Protection Overlay - Proposed

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Miami:

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Arundel:

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Currumbin:

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Mudgeeraba:

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Coolangatta

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Nerang:

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8. Review the Southport PDA to increase the presence and profile of live music, with the view to establishing appropriate planning precedents applicable to the wider city. 9. That a Live Music Liaison Unit be established within council to:

a) support and facilitate applicants and potential applicants through the planning and approvals process (new and existing venues)

b) assist venue operators in identifying and locating the appropriate live music for their venues (ie similar to Sydney’s ‘Amplify’ program)

c) assist in the resolution of complaints around live music in a supportive and transparent way

d) Act as a single point of contact for large scale acts and work with promoters to facilitate bringing those acts to the Gold Coast

e) Support the live music industry on the Gold Coast with marketing and promotional guidance and opportunities

10. That council financially commit to a Major Live Music Acts Subventure Fund to facilitate Item 9d. It is envisaged that senior Economic Development & Major Projects (EDMP) staff would lead this initiative but work with the Live Music Liaison Unit in its assessment, due diligence and potential implementation. 11. That Council lobby the State Government to review the Queensland noise regulations as applied by the Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing with the view to them being more live music-friendly and easier to understand and implement from a venue point of view. 12. That a community education/awareness program be developed and implemented highlighting the Gold Coast’s rich musical past and the opportunities music continues to present for the city in terms of economic vitality, employment, entertainment and its social, artistic and cultural aspects. 13. That local live performers be assisted in developing marketing and promotional aptitude and skills through the establishment of a Live Music Artist Development Fund that will enhance digital, social and street marketing capacity.

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14. That key public venues be assessed for potential upgrading to live music concert standard to optimise the venues’ attractiveness to promoters (and minimise recurrent set up costs around such items as three-phase power, wi-fi, stage reinforcement and lighting supports). Appropriate venues could include, but not be limited to:

Broadwater Parklands, Southport

Kurrawa Park, Broadbeach

Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta

Doug Jennings Park, The Spit 15. That local live music poster advertising be exempt from the council’s Post No Bills policy as a simple and powerful message that Gold Coast is live-music friendly and prepared to give the live music scene special support. 16. That City of Gold Coast nominate a key representative to sit on and attend the Queensland Live Music Roundtable 17. That free music events facilitated by councillors be reconsidered in light of their potential impact on commercial live music venues. Where a conflict is identified, the councillors consult the local operators for a mutual resolution, such as alternate venues each month.

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References: City of Gold Coast, Draft Gold Coast Live Music Action Plan 2017-2020 City of Gold Coast Live Music Taskforce, Terms of Reference, November 2016 City of Gold Coast, Cultural Strategy 2023 Department Premier and Cabinet, Qld, Live Music Industry Working Group Outcomes report, December 2016 Department of Premier and Cabinet, South Australia, Final report: Streamlining Live Music regulation, Government of South Australia, June 2016 City of Sydney Council, Live Music and Performance Action Plan, 2014 Leichardt Council, Parramatta Road Live Music Reference Group, 2014 Marrickville Council, Live Music Marrickville report, 2014 City of Wollongong Live Music Taskforce Report, 2014 City of Adelaide Live Music Action Plan 2014-2016 City of Melbourne, Live Music Strategy 2014 South Australia, Small Arts Venue variation Australian Capital Territory, Urban Sounds investigation into entertainment precincts for Canberra Australian Capital Territory, Standing Committee on Planning, Public Works and Territory and Municipal Services, Inquiry into Live Community Events Interim Report, 2009 Amplify Program Brief, City of Sydney, Inner West councils. Sunshine Coast Notice of Motion, Liquor Licencing and Noise Abatement, 2015. Council of SEQ Mayors, Minutes, November 2015. Calligeros, Marissa “Valley live music scene the envy of the nation”, www.smh.com.au, May 10, 2013 Dr Matthew Burke, The Day Music Didn’t Die, Griffith News, May 8, 2013 Dr Matthew Burke & Amy Schmidt ‘How should we plan and regulate live music in Australian cities? Learnings from Brisbane’, November 28, 2012. Martin Elbourne, The Future of Live Music in South Australia, The Don Dunstan Foundation, 2013. Deloitte Access Economics, 2011, The Economic, Social and Cultural Contribution of Venue-based Live Music in Victoria. Melbourne: Arts Victoria, Valley Harmony Plan, Brisbane City Council, Southport Priority Development Area, Development Scheme, September 2014, City of Gold Coast

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Analysis of the Economic Benefit to the City of Austin from South By Southwest 2016, Greyhill Advisors Consultations: Cr Bob La Castra, long-term Australian and international entertainer Billy Cross, Cross Entertainment Michael Harrison, Frontier Entertainment Dan Rosen, ARIA CEO Adam Brand, Australian Country Music star, Gold Coast-based Shane Billings (Amy Shark), Gold Coast-based performer Jan McCormick, CEO, Broadbeach Alliance Mark Duckworth, Broadbeach Alliance