LIVE MUSIC VENUE NUMBERS SOAR IN NSW
NSW is in the midst of a live music revival as the number of venues hosting live performances soared by 84% since the NSW Labor Government made it easier for venues to host live music.
Since March 2023, 112 pubs, clubs and other live venues have joined the list of establishments that qualify for 2 hours extended trading in return for staging live music and backing local musicians.
The NSW Government’s Vibrancy Reforms have doubled the incentives for extended trading hours to host live music and will prevent single noise complainants from shutting down venues.
In music to the ears of live music fans and those who remember the heyday of bands coming up through the music scene in NSW, there are now 245 licensed venues claiming live music incentives from Liquor & Gaming NSW across the state, including those in the Enmore Special Entertainment Precinct.
Under the former government, NSW lost more than half its music venues with just 133 registered across the state in March 2023.
The first round of the Vibrancy Reforms, which passed Parliament in November, provide direct support to venue operators to launch and grow local music, with a cost relief focus that includes an 80% reduction in the annual liquor licence fee.
Streamlined approval processes for licences and a commonsense approach to noise complaints is providing businesses in the sector with the certainty and confidence they need to invest again in hosting performance, trading later and hiring more staff.
Under the former government, there were seven agencies that dealt with entertainment noise complaints, allowing a single neighbour to close a venue. The reforms are streamlining this process by making Liquor & Gaming NSW the lead agency in managing noise complaints about licensed venues.
The take up of extended hours for live music has been evenly spread statewide, with 40 venues across regional NSW from Newcastle to Bathurst and right down to Queanbeyan and Narooma.
Under the reforms, venues approved as a live music venue with Liquor & Gaming NSW can trade for an extra 2 hours on nights when they provide live entertainment for at least 45minutes after 8pm.
Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:
“We made a promise to the people of NSW to double the number of live music venues across the state within 4 years, and that is what we are delivering.
“Our vibrancy reforms will give pubs, clubs and other live music venues the confidence they need to hire staff, trade later and host performances, providing an economic boost for hundreds of venues across regional and metro areas.
Find out more and apply >>> Vibrancy Reforms – what’s changing – Liquor & Gaming NSW
Source: Staging a comeback: Live music venue numbers soar | NSW Government
