NEWS

In a move that will ensure Australian artists and industry have even greater support for their export activity, ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) has committed to provide funding towards Sounds Australia, the country’s national music export program. Longstanding funding partner PPCA (Phonographic Performance Company of Australia) has also increased its annual Sounds Australia contribution, in line with ARIA’s commitment, demonstrating the importance of global markets to the Australian recording industry.

Export dollars for ARIA members have increased almost 30% over the past two years. ARIA and Sounds Australia share the goal of Australian artists making up 5% of the global music market by 2030, which Goldman Sachs predicts will be worth over $50 billion. ARIA’s commitment to ensuring more Australian music is seen and heard internationally also extended to this year’s ARIA Awards. For the first time in its history, the Awards on Wednesday 27 November were streamed around the world on YouTube.

“The music business is increasingly a global business, and Sounds Australia plays a pivotal role in helping our local artists and labels reach audiences around the world. ARIA and PPCA are proud to be working with the incredible Sounds Australia team as we take Aussie music to the world in 2020 and beyond. The opportunities for global careers are greater than ever, and I look forward to seeing more Australian artists and labels achieving success on the international stage in the decade to come.”
Dan Rosen (Chief Executive, ARIA and PPCA)

ARIA’s funding commitment caps off a milestone tenth year of export for Sounds Australia. In March, Sounds Australia continued their strong partnership with G’DAY USA as Australia House returned to SXSW, offering artists the ideal stage to perform in Austin, Texas. For the first time, Sounds Australia’s flagship showcase THE AUSSIE BBQ was held in Central Park, New York as part of City Parks Foundation SummerStage, with almost 4,500 New Yorkers turning out to watch six Australian artists on a beautiful summer’s day in June. In addition, Australia was the feature country at both The Great Escape Festival in Brighton, UK and the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, Germany.

“The addition of ARIA as a major funding partner as we head into Sounds Australia’s second decade truly reflects the significance of export and the commitment the Australian music industry is collectively making towards the success and future of our artists internationally. We’re very excited to be working with Dan and the ARIA Board to further advance Australian music, particularly with respect to increasing content on global streaming services and providing new and exciting digital opportunities.”
Millie Millgate (Executive Producer, Sounds Australia)

ARIA and PPCA’s commitment exemplifies Sounds Australia’s whole-of-government, whole-of-industry approach. In addition to its founding partners the Australian Council for the Arts and APRA AMCOS, financial investment has also been made throughout the years by the Department of Communications and the Arts, DFAT, Creative Victoria, Arts SA, Arts Queensland and Create NSW, along with peak publisher’s organisation AMPAL.