Australian Musicians Rock Parliament House

John Paul Young, Kasey Chambers, Ian Moss and All Our Exes Live In Texas discuss key issues relating to music industry with Government leaders

PRESENTED BY ARIA, PPCA, APRA AMCOS and AHA

A delegation of Australian songwriters, musicians, recording artists and key industry leaders came together at Parliament House in Canberra last night to stress the importance of government support for the contemporary music industry at the second annual Parliamentary Friends of Australian Music (#PFOAM) Rock the House event.

More than 200 Ministers, Senators and Parliament House staff sang, danced and rocked out to performances by John Paul Young, Kasey Chambers, Ian Moss and All Our Exes Live in Texas, and heard about key issues affecting the industry, including:

•             Protecting creators’ rights

•             The value of copyright

•             The importance of local content

•             Supporting Australia’s music micro-businesses

•             Australia’s global music export potential

They were joined by representatives from ARIA, PPCA, APRA AMCOS, AIR, Music Rights Australia, Live Music Office, AMPAL, state-based peak music bodies, the Australian Copyright Council, Copyright Agency, Screenrights and SOUNDS AUSTRALIA.

QUOTES FROM ARTISTS WHO PERFORMED AT ROCK THE HOUSE

All Our Exes Lives in Texas' Hannah Crofts on on the importance of Australian content on radio: “with commercial airplay we can be career artists, and be sustainable, and our careers can continue for our whole lives”.

Ian Moss: “(as a songwriter) royalties are your living. You work hard to write a song. If we could all do that we’d all be writing hits everyday...people love their live music, but people have got to write that music in the first place and they need to make a living”.  

Kasey Chambers: “Touring for me, particularly here in Australia, is everything. It feeds my kids...I make my living from touring music, and it’s important for me to get out to all the regional places as well. I tour most of the year and visit some of the littlest towns throughout Australia, but we have to have these venues to play in”.

John Paul Young: “Please just protect our copyright. That’s all I’ve got to say”.