Sounds Australia Duped From Federal Government #Catalyst Funding

The Federal Governments #Catalyst funding program has bypassed Sounds Australia, the contemporary music organisation that acts as the facilitator for Australian artists between Australia and the international markets, throwing its work for artist into jeopardy.

Contemporary Australian music is the no 1 export for music from Australia. Sounds Australia delivers the platform for Australian artists to expand their fanbase and their business globally.

Since 2009 Sounds Australia has acted for 620 Australian artists at 48 international events across 19 countries.

The Federal Government has left the music industry gobsmacked with an announcement by Arts Minister Mitch Fifield confirming half of a four year funding program was allocated in one week with nothing going to Sounds Australia.

Evelyn Richardson of Live Performance Australia said in a statement “The Minister has missed an important opportunity to provide some clarity and certainty around his approach to arts funding given the concerns that have previously been raised about the Catalyst program.

“Our industry can deliver the jobs, growth and innovation that is important to Australia’s economic prosperity but for all the talk of plans, the Coalition doesn’t appear to have one for the live performance industry.”

cc: @SenatorFifield. The music industry calls for @SoundsAustralia funding solution after cut from #Catalyst funding https://t.co/hhtGZzPzDT

— APRA AMCOS (@APRAAMCOS) May 10, 2016

A petition has started to bring attention to the shoddy work of the minister and rectify the potential damage the thoughtless policy could do to the music business in Australia.

You can only imagine how disappointed we were to learn that music export has not been funded by #Catalyst. @CommsAu https://t.co/cEMfqXSOVX

— Sounds Australia (@SoundsAustralia) May 9, 2016

Devastated to hear about @SoundsAustralia's #Catalyst funding cuts. There is a petition open here: https://t.co/r7m5C6fTXy #SaveOurSounds

— SXSW (@sxsw) May 10, 2016

A BIG reason why @BIGSOUNDtweets creates outcomes for artists & industry is because of @SoundsAustralia #Catalyst https://t.co/D0Ev0nYekc

— QMusic (@QMusicNetwork) May 10, 2016

Every Australian music fan, Australian business and the Australia music industry is urged to sign the petition.

Noise11.com

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