The Australian Music IndustryThe Australian Music Industry

Australian musicians and Australian musicians and songwriters talk about the songwriters talk about the

realities of life in the industryrealities of life in the industry

The IndustryThe Industry

► The music industry is diverse, encompassing The music industry is diverse, encompassing all musical styles, types of performing and all musical styles, types of performing and types of recording. types of recording.

► It is changing. Access to purchasing and It is changing. Access to purchasing and downloading music online has changed sales, downloading music online has changed sales, marketing and distribution of music. marketing and distribution of music. Technological developments such as home Technological developments such as home recording equipment are also changing the recording equipment are also changing the industry. It will continue to change in response industry. It will continue to change in response to fashion, technology, lifestyles and cultural to fashion, technology, lifestyles and cultural developments.developments.

Occupations in the industryOccupations in the industry

►Over 17 000 people have a music Over 17 000 people have a music occupation as their main job (2001). occupation as their main job (2001). 48% music teachers, 38% instrumental 48% music teachers, 38% instrumental musicians, 8% singers.musicians, 8% singers.

►Many have a second job in music. Many have a second job in music. Almost a quarter of a million people Almost a quarter of a million people undertook some work as a live undertook some work as a live performer (2004).performer (2004).

Live musicLive music

►Over 500 organisations, employing over 4000 Over 500 organisations, employing over 4000 people, involved in producing live people, involved in producing live performances (2003). 70% popular music, 19% performances (2003). 70% popular music, 19% musicals and operas. Have you been to any?musicals and operas. Have you been to any?

► 40% of people attended a music event in 2002. 40% of people attended a music event in 2002. 3.8 million adults attended popular music 3.8 million adults attended popular music concerts, 2.7 million musicals and operas, 1.3 concerts, 2.7 million musicals and operas, 1.3 million classical music concerts. Have you million classical music concerts. Have you attended any?attended any?

► Large increase in music festivals.Large increase in music festivals.

Recorded musicRecorded music

►About 500 organisations involved in About 500 organisations involved in recorded music. 54% recording recorded music. 54% recording studios, 28% record companies and studios, 28% record companies and distributors, 13% music publishers.distributors, 13% music publishers.

►Over 300 businesses involved in retail Over 300 businesses involved in retail of recorded music. (Which ones have of recorded music. (Which ones have you heard of?) you heard of?)

MoneyMoney

► Australians spent Australians spent about $2,800 about $2,800 million on music in million on music in 2003-4, including 2003-4, including audio equipment, audio equipment, CDs, concerts and CDs, concerts and nightclub charges.nightclub charges.

Diverse industryDiverse industry

► The music industry consists not only of The music industry consists not only of musicians, but also of all the organisations and musicians, but also of all the organisations and businesses that directly make money from businesses that directly make money from music. music.

► It includes record companies which finance the It includes record companies which finance the making and promotion of albums, promotions making and promotion of albums, promotions companies which organise concerts and companies which organise concerts and festivals, music venues, instrument festivals, music venues, instrument manufacturers, music retailers, and music manufacturers, music retailers, and music broadcasters.broadcasters.

OccupationsOccupations

► The music industry The music industry offers occupations in offers occupations in areas such as:areas such as: RecordingRecording Live performanceLive performance Music retailMusic retail Music publishingMusic publishing Concert and venue Concert and venue

managementmanagement AdvertisingAdvertising Radio, film and TVRadio, film and TV TeachingTeaching Music therapyMusic therapy Music video and mediaMusic video and media

OriginatorsOriginators

Originators provide the raw product for Originators provide the raw product for the industry – the music.the industry – the music.

1.1.The Musician: The Musician: these are the people who these are the people who earn a living by either playing an earn a living by either playing an instrument or singing.instrument or singing.

2.2.The Songwriter: The Songwriter: lyricist and/or lyricist and/or composercomposer

Primary investorsPrimary investors

Primary investors provide a link Primary investors provide a link between the originator and the mass between the originator and the mass audience.audience.

1.1. Publishing Companies – manage sales, Publishing Companies – manage sales, copyrights and royaltiescopyrights and royalties

2.2. Record Companies - marketing, Record Companies - marketing, promotion, development of actspromotion, development of acts

3.3. Promotions Companies and Promoters – Promotions Companies and Promoters – eg. tour managerseg. tour managers

Secondary investorsSecondary investors

Secondary investors specialise in other activities Secondary investors specialise in other activities in the industry that help music reach consumers.in the industry that help music reach consumers.

1.1. Music Performance/ Craft Careers – eg. arrangers, Music Performance/ Craft Careers – eg. arrangers, teachersteachers

2.2. Music Business Careers: - eg. managers, Music Business Careers: - eg. managers, accountants, lawyersaccountants, lawyers

3.3. Sound Production Careers – eg. producers, Sound Production Careers – eg. producers, engineers, sound technicians, road crews, lighting engineers, sound technicians, road crews, lighting and sound technicians, DJsand sound technicians, DJs

Secondary investorsSecondary investors

4.4. Careers in Promotion and Marketing – eg. agents, Careers in Promotion and Marketing – eg. agents, publicists, stylists, photographers, journalists, publicists, stylists, photographers, journalists, graphic artistsgraphic artists

5.5. Careers in Radio Industry – eg. programmers, Careers in Radio Industry – eg. programmers, marketing researchersmarketing researchers

6.6. Careers in Retail, Venues, People and Places – eg. Careers in Retail, Venues, People and Places – eg. venue operators, event managers, instrument venue operators, event managers, instrument salespeople, instrument repairerssalespeople, instrument repairers

Some other jobs in the music Some other jobs in the music industryindustry

►Read about Read about jobsjobs other than teaching other than teaching and performing in the music industry.and performing in the music industry.

The EngineerThe Engineer

► Is responsible for all of the technical aspects Is responsible for all of the technical aspects of a recordingof a recording

►Drives the studio equipment and twiddles all Drives the studio equipment and twiddles all its knobs and slidersits knobs and sliders

►Negotiates and explains processes to Negotiates and explains processes to musicians, producers and record company musicians, producers and record company executives what is and isn’t technically executives what is and isn’t technically possiblepossible

►Needs excellent listening and people skillsNeeds excellent listening and people skills

The ProducerThe Producer

►Has creative control over the entire recording Has creative control over the entire recording process and is responsible for the final sound process and is responsible for the final sound of a song – The Boss!of a song – The Boss!

► Roles include:-Roles include:- Listening to demos and deciding on final mood, Listening to demos and deciding on final mood,

tempo and style of a songtempo and style of a song Selecting and/or writing arrangementsSelecting and/or writing arrangements Directing the engineer and giving constructive Directing the engineer and giving constructive

criticism and feedback to musicianscriticism and feedback to musicians Supervising the final mixSupervising the final mix

► The studio equivalent of the orchestra The studio equivalent of the orchestra conductor or film directorconductor or film director

The ManagerThe Manager

►Has many responsibilities and roles:-Has many responsibilities and roles:- SalespersonSalesperson NegotiatorNegotiator Watch-dogWatch-dog AdministratorAdministrator MarketerMarketer Street lawyerStreet lawyer AccountantAccountant MotivatorMotivator WorrierWorrier

The AgentThe Agent

►Knows all the performance venues, Knows all the performance venues, their managers and promoterstheir managers and promoters

► Is responsible for getting gigs and Is responsible for getting gigs and good fees for a performergood fees for a performer

Artists & Repertoire (A & R)Artists & Repertoire (A & R)

►The people in the record company who The people in the record company who listen to incoming demo tapes and listen to incoming demo tapes and decide who the company should sign decide who the company should sign upup

►They don’t have to know anything They don’t have to know anything about music – in fact, most have a sales about music – in fact, most have a sales backgroundbackground

►A&R people are the go-between A&R people are the go-between between the artists and the record between the artists and the record companycompany

The Music PublisherThe Music Publisher

► Prints and publishes sheet musicPrints and publishes sheet music► Controls the copyright of a songControls the copyright of a song► Looks for musicians to perform and record Looks for musicians to perform and record

songs from their catalogue. Eg:-songs from their catalogue. Eg:- Placing song in a film, TV series or advertisementPlacing song in a film, TV series or advertisement

► Protects the rights of the owners of the Protects the rights of the owners of the compositioncomposition

► Pays songwriters for the rights to their worksPays songwriters for the rights to their works

RadioRadio

► Three types of radio stations:Three types of radio stations: Commercial (income from advertising)Commercial (income from advertising) Public (income from subscribers and sponsors)Public (income from subscribers and sponsors) Government (income from government)Government (income from government)

► Commercial stations earn money from the Commercial stations earn money from the ads, so try to keep ratings high – it can then ads, so try to keep ratings high – it can then charge more for the ads. Therefore they charge more for the ads. Therefore they play mainstream music with wide audience play mainstream music with wide audience appeal.appeal.

► Examples: FOX, Triple M, NOVAExamples: FOX, Triple M, NOVA

RadioRadio

►Public or community stations play Public or community stations play more alternative and independent more alternative and independent music. They also play a lot more music. They also play a lot more Australian music (50-60%). Unsigned Australian music (50-60%). Unsigned bands have a much greater chance of bands have a much greater chance of being played. They have fewer being played. They have fewer listeners.listeners.

►Examples: Examples: Triple R Triple R (102.7), PBS (102.7), PBS (106.7)(106.7)

RadioRadio

►Government stations play a range of bands Government stations play a range of bands from both major record companies and from both major record companies and independent companies. There is also independent companies. There is also regular Australian content.regular Australian content.

► Example: Triple J (107.5)Example: Triple J (107.5)

► Triple J provides some opportunities for Triple J provides some opportunities for young, unsigned bands through young, unsigned bands through competitions such as ‘Unearthed’. Past competitions such as ‘Unearthed’. Past winners include Grinspoon and Killing Heidi. winners include Grinspoon and Killing Heidi.