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APRA AMCOS to Close Live Music Office and Live And Local Program, Shifting Focus to Venue Tax Incentives
APRA AMCOS has announced that its Live Music Office (LMO) and the Live And Local program will shut down on 1 July 2026, bringing to a close a 13‑year campaign that re‑engineered live‑music regulation across Australia. The move follows a decade of lobbying that tackled licensing, planning and building‑code hurdles threatening venue viability, and signals a pivot toward securing the sector’s financial sustainability—most notably through a federal tax‑incentive scheme for live‑music venues.
The LMO, launched in 2013 as a joint venture of APRA AMCOS, the Australian Government and the Ministry for the Arts, was tasked with reviewing policy frameworks, producing industry resources and lobbying government at every level. Over time it evolved into the sector’s primary advocate, driving reforms that opened doors for venues, artists and local communities alike.
"The regulatory landscape has changed dramatically," said APRA AMCOS chief executive Dean Ormston. "Federal and state bodies are now doing an incredible job for live music, and local councils are empowered to continue the good work. It feels like the right time to hand back the mantle." Ormston’s remarks underscore the organisation’s belief that the groundwork laid by the LMO has reached a natural conclusion.
The Live And Local program will not disappear. Partnering with more than 40 councils nationwide and supporting over 1,000 live‑music events, the initiative proved the cultural, social and economic value of live music to local governments. APRA AMCOS confirmed that councils and community organisations that adopted the framework will maintain the programme without national oversight.
Key staff members played pivotal roles in the LMO’s success. Former Live And Local Engagement and Program Manager Lucy Joseph, National Program Manager Bronwyn Adams and founding LMO Director John Wardle were instrumental in driving policy change. The organisation also highlighted Brisbane City Council’s Frank Henry, whose work on the Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct model helped shape legislation in Queensland and was later adopted in New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
While regulatory reform is celebrated as a milestone, APRA AMCOS points to economic pressures as the sector’s current priority. A 2024 survey of almost 3,000 venues conducted with OneMusic revealed that more than 70 % had stopped presenting live music because of financial strain. The same study found that 70 % of venues identified tax rebates or incentives as the measure most likely to encourage a return to live programming.
These findings inform APRA AMCOS’s next advocacy push: a federal live‑music tax‑incentive scheme. The policy was highlighted first in the 2025 House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts report. Economic modelling by Oxford Economics projects that the scheme could generate between $636 million and $920 million in gross value added, support up to 10,800 jobs and contribute more than 322,000 additional live performances each year.
Since 2013, a broader support network has emerged around the live‑music sector. State music development offices, Music Australia, night‑time economy commissioners and dedicated funding programmes now play active roles. Industry organisations—including the Australian Live Music Business Council, the Nighttime Industries Association, the Live Music Venues Alliance and the Australian Festival Association—have become established advocates for the industry.
The decision to wind down the LMO and Live And Local marks the end of a distinct chapter in Australian music policy. APRA AMCOS will now focus on ensuring venues can remain financially viable in an increasingly challenging live‑entertainment environment. The organisation’s next steps involve lobbying for the tax‑incentive scheme, monitoring its implementation, while local councils and community groups continue to build on the groundwork laid by Live And Local.
The LMO, launched in 2013 as a joint venture of APRA AMCOS, the Australian Government and the Ministry for the Arts, was tasked with reviewing policy frameworks, producing industry resources and lobbying government at every level. Over time it evolved into the sector’s primary advocate, driving reforms that opened doors for venues, artists and local communities alike.
"The regulatory landscape has changed dramatically," said APRA AMCOS chief executive Dean Ormston. "Federal and state bodies are now doing an incredible job for live music, and local councils are empowered to continue the good work. It feels like the right time to hand back the mantle." Ormston’s remarks underscore the organisation’s belief that the groundwork laid by the LMO has reached a natural conclusion.
The Live And Local program will not disappear. Partnering with more than 40 councils nationwide and supporting over 1,000 live‑music events, the initiative proved the cultural, social and economic value of live music to local governments. APRA AMCOS confirmed that councils and community organisations that adopted the framework will maintain the programme without national oversight.
Key staff members played pivotal roles in the LMO’s success. Former Live And Local Engagement and Program Manager Lucy Joseph, National Program Manager Bronwyn Adams and founding LMO Director John Wardle were instrumental in driving policy change. The organisation also highlighted Brisbane City Council’s Frank Henry, whose work on the Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct model helped shape legislation in Queensland and was later adopted in New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
While regulatory reform is celebrated as a milestone, APRA AMCOS points to economic pressures as the sector’s current priority. A 2024 survey of almost 3,000 venues conducted with OneMusic revealed that more than 70 % had stopped presenting live music because of financial strain. The same study found that 70 % of venues identified tax rebates or incentives as the measure most likely to encourage a return to live programming.
These findings inform APRA AMCOS’s next advocacy push: a federal live‑music tax‑incentive scheme. The policy was highlighted first in the 2025 House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts report. Economic modelling by Oxford Economics projects that the scheme could generate between $636 million and $920 million in gross value added, support up to 10,800 jobs and contribute more than 322,000 additional live performances each year.
Since 2013, a broader support network has emerged around the live‑music sector. State music development offices, Music Australia, night‑time economy commissioners and dedicated funding programmes now play active roles. Industry organisations—including the Australian Live Music Business Council, the Nighttime Industries Association, the Live Music Venues Alliance and the Australian Festival Association—have become established advocates for the industry.
The decision to wind down the LMO and Live And Local marks the end of a distinct chapter in Australian music policy. APRA AMCOS will now focus on ensuring venues can remain financially viable in an increasingly challenging live‑entertainment environment. The organisation’s next steps involve lobbying for the tax‑incentive scheme, monitoring its implementation, while local councils and community groups continue to build on the groundwork laid by Live And Local.