Declaring Victoria the “music capital of Australia”, Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews today announced Music Works: a $22.2 million package to boost development of the local rock music industry and support local jobs.

Mr Andrews joined Shadow Minister for Arts and Youth Affairs, Martin Foley, at Melbourne’s legendary Sing Sing Recording Studios in Cremorne to make the announcement.

Under the plan, an Andrews Labor Government will offer Victoria Rocks grants and assistance to artists, venues and managers, helping local acts break on to the scene, build a career and negotiate the pitfalls of the industry.

Victoria Rocks grants will assist artists embarking on interstate and international tours, support music festivals and community programming, and help provide services such as sound and light engineers, advertising and transport.

An Andrews Labor Government will also create the Music Market: a one-stop-music hub for recording and distribution, open to artists, venues, managers and industry development organisations.

The Music Market will be the headquarters of a new Victorian Music Development Office, providing leadership on investment, grants, exports and music business development.

The Music Market will also house the Australian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, provide space for performances, skills development and recording assistance, and facilities for industry peak bodies, not-for-profit industry organisations and support the values of contemporary music.

Labor’s Victoria Rocks grants will also support mentoring and career development, support music in regional Victoria, offer dollar-for-dollar grants to venues to manage problems with encroachment from neighbours, fix poor acoustics and dodgy PAs, help make our music heritage a must-see for tourists, and establish the Music Passport for projects, trade delegations and campaigns taking our music overseas. Big acts will also be required to tour with support from local emerging bands.

The previous Labor Government’s Victoria Rocks program supported great local acts, such as Gotye, Clare Bowditch, Dan Sultan and The Temper Trap. The Liberals abolished Victoria Rocks and halved support for musicians

Quotes attributable to Mr Andrews:

“The Liberals abandoned artists who were trying to build their career – it’s hurt the scene and it’s hurt our state.”

“A Labor Government will support local acts every step of the way, because they create local jobs and they create something that lasts.”

“As we speak, the next great Victorian band might be thinking of giving it all up, and the next iconic Melbourne venue might be drowning in regulations. Labor’s plan offers them a hand.”

“Our reputation as the live and rock music capital is priceless and Labor will help take it to the next level.”