Promoter Paris Martine: “Grants need to be larger, more immediate, and recognize the contribution live and electronic music make to the economy.” With bushfires of recent months barely out, venues must take on financial fallout from coronavirus Lobbying by small to medium-size Australian music venues for help from the federal and state governments and local councils during the coronavirus pandemic is slowly paying off. Venues were hit when COVID-19 crowd restrictions began with bans on gatherings of 500 and then shrunk to 100, before mass closures were ordered from March 23. The business had already been affected by the summer’s bushfires, whose lingering smoke haze kept patrons indoors. Artists canceled headline shows in favor of collective fundraisers. “There’s been very little respite this year,” said Michael Rodrigues, chair of the Sydney-based Night Time Industries Association. “By the beginning of March, these businesses saw a drop of trade of up to… Continue Reading Australia: ‘Very Little Respite’

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