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The (potential) coming reign of Australian and New Zealand artists
In times of crisis, the dinosaurs teeter and often die while the small and nimble survive. The Aussie art and live entertainment scene can be a major benefactor in the current world events *if our leaders help grease the wheels*.
Australia and New Zealand are currently a global example of how to deal with the Covid19 crisis. While not perfect, it's better than most. We can now turn this situation into a real advantage for the Australian and New Zealand arts.
Let's look at live music as an example and what the coming years have in store:
Large global touring bands will not be able to play anything even resembling a tour for years. As the lockdowns ease, each country will have strict quarantine laws that will vary, however each will likely require isolation for 14-21 days per new country. This means touring internationally will be cost prohibitive; promoters will have to put up acts and their supporting staff in hotels for close to a month before the first show can be played and the first dollar is made. Maybe the Foo Fighters or Tool can afford this, but few others can. And it's unlikely that even energetic rock and roll ambassador Dave Grohl will be content inside a foreign hotel room with little to do for that period of time.
Aussies: If you haven't seen AC/DC or the Rolling Stones live, sadly you never will have the chance again.
Medium size bands will be even more severely impacted. Along with the same quarantine laws, cost to travel will be harder to justify. Airline ticket pricing will likely quadruple in the coming years as airline competition reduces due to bankruptcies, and even with the temporarily low fuel prices, those airlines that remain in business will pull out half the seats for new personal distancing expectations.
In this environment, small, local bands and venues will reign. This is their opportunity.
Australia and New Zealand have done perhaps the best job of any country dealing with Corona Virus; they started social distancing early in March and, with relatively few mistakes or backlash, their citizens have taken on the responsibility of social distancing near entirely. As a result, the ANZ citizens have been rewarded with a flattening curve and low rate of the pandemic within their boarders. New Zealand and Australia will be the first countries to introduce reasonable guidelines that will ease their citizens back to normal. They are the blueprint and their movements will become the playbook for other countries to follow.
What early loosening of restrictions means for Aussie & Kiwi artists
Over the coming months, restrictions on gatherings will be eased, first small groups, then communities, then the reopening of pubs and public communal spaces. And likely by October or November, the Aussies and Kiwis will be enjoying the first parties to celebrate their success over Covid19 while other countries are still struggling with the societal impacts. The citizens of Australia and New Zealand will want to be entertained. Welcome to the beginning of the ANZ artistic reign!
Local Aussie & Kiwi bands will have their pick of venues throughout their land; local pubs will be filled with punters wanting to drink, celebrate and see some great bands and comedy. As a result, Aussie & Kiwi bands can be touring non-stop, getting better, gaining fans and developing a foundation to build a successful career on a major local scale. Look out for King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Amyl and The Sniffers, The Chats, DROID, Concrete Lawn, Bloods, Witchskull, Alarum, Beastwars Band and more. This could be the era of Aussie & Kiwi music and local bands!
Sadly many Aussie live venues that existed before the crisis may no longer be here. However, these properties will be able to be scooped up afterwards on the cheap. Retail space value will continue to dwindle; it was heading that way anyway, however the Covid crisis taught everyone that there are few items you cannot order online. Even the digital holdouts are enjoying the benefits. David Jones and Myer will not be back. Covid is their only dignified death. Anything else and their leadership would have to admit their mistakes.
Record stores will survive and I predict they will thrive again. People need to have cultural touchstones like record shops. They are important for products and gatherings. The records stores that hold on through this crisis will find themselves in a great position to not only be one of the few games in town, but also a hub for local arts, bands and communities. Their business model will need to pivot to include live entertainment and community activities.
The Aussie and Kiwi music and arts culture has a once a century opportunity.
We've been blessed with observant and decisive leadership who are navigating this Covid storm quite well compared to others. If we get this right, we have a real shot at having an amazing summer of 20/21 and a thriving arts community.
ANZ Leaders, political and communal: Support the arts and artists. Put pressure on governments to ensure ANZ arts are setup for success:
Ensure artists, musicians and culturally-influential small businesses are part of these job keeper/seeker schemes.
When the restrictions are eased, first must include artistic gatherings; band rehearsals, live music pubs, etc
Allow art supplies (painting canvases, music instruments, etc) to be tax deductible
Provide grants and reduced fees for art studios and rehearsal spaces to artists and bands
Provide tax breaks to businesses that hire Australian artists; pubs, clubs, etc should be encouraged financially to have live Aussie musicians and artists perform for crowds. Don't worry if they suck or not, the crowd will let them know that. Just help get them in there.
While you encourage spaces to be spent on Aussie art and live entertainment, equally discourage/penalise Pokie Machines. They bring NOTHING to the society or community except sadness, depression and worse.
I also will not accept that these laws take time to change and require much debate. We've seen Canberra make major changes in law quickly in recent weeks, so there are no reasons that are preventing a similar fast-track to ensure clearance for the benefit of Aussie/Kiwi arts & culture.
Aussies, Kiwis: This could be our era. Let's be sure our leaders make it so.
Nate Goyer
The Vinyl Guide