EIGHT live music venues in Newcastle and the surrounding areas have received funding from the NSW Government’s Live Music Support Package.

Across the state 162 businesses have received a share of $24 million to support live music, operational costs and payment of musicians and crew.

These eight venues include Port Stephens’ own Stockton Bowling Club, as well as Newcastle venues including Kent Hotel, The Rogue Scholar, Cambridge Hotel, Lizotte’s Restaurant, The Beach Hotel, The Newcastle Hotel and Bar On The Hill.

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These venues are all known for their constant and ongoing support of the live music sector in Newcastle and the surrounding regions.

Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS, Australia’s music body for copyright management and royalty collection said of the grants, “APRA AMCOS data shows that live music has been operating at less than four percent of pre-COVID times.

“The risk for NSW without this package was not only the loss of valuable cultural infrastructure but also thousands of jobs that are supported by live music across the hospitality and tourism industries.”

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Taylor Martin discussed the importance of these grants for creative and cultural elements of the local visitor economy.

“Without a stage to perform on, and audiences to entertain, there are no creatives, artists or crew so the Live Music Support Package is a vital life-line for tens of thousands of people.

“We can’t wait to welcome live music back to Newcastle and invite visitors to come to the region to enjoy all of the local offerings,” Mr Martin said.

Applications for the grant were assessed by a combined panel of both music industry and NSW Government members, with the funding allocated based on the size of venues and whether the venue operated solely as a live music venue or as a significant part of the venue operations.

The Live Music Support Package is part of the NSW Government’s $51.5 million Tourism Support Package to provide funds to sectors where the economy has been hit hardest by the pandemic.

By Tara CAMPBELL