2019 Annual Report 2020 2 The Push acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands across Australia where our work takes place and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, community and culture. We pay our respects to Elders, past, present and future. Who We Are 3 At the forefront of emerging For over three decades, our organisation has engaged trends, The Push delivers a more than 700,000 young people. Our program alumni includes Courtney Barnett, Alex Lahey, Alice Ivy and Angie range of programs that are McMahon — who have each pathwayed into successful, responsive to Australia’s global careers. future music industry leaders and audiences. Now more than ever, we recognise the importance young people have in shaping our nation’s cultural identity. Welcome 4 Kate Duncan CEO, The Push Inc Moira McKenzie Chairperson, The Push Inc It is said that out of crisis The COVID-19 global pandemic has completely disrupted Responsive to the increased demand for contemporary the way we live, work and connect. The Push, however, youth music programming across the country – The Push’s national expansion would not have been possible new ways of working as we enter a COVID Normal world. without the commitment, energy and enthusiasm of our current Board of Management and staff team. The past 12 months has seen The Push play an integral role in supporting young people to stay connected and engaged within their communities. We have continued to deliver a range of contemporary music programs and Board of Management and staff members. Thank you for have ensured that young people’s voices and unique the many years of dedication you have each given to The Push. advocacy and across our broader community. And thank you to our partners, mentors and friends. Your Never before has The Push been so important in generous support has enabled us to continue the work we do in developing young industry practitioners, artists audiences. and all-ages audiences. program delivery nationally. We were able to connect with and support young people across every state and music industry. Our History 5 The Push has a 1986 unique history in the Victorian music community. 1990 1988 1996 1998 1992 2002 2008 2009 2017 2017 2019 What happens next? Join us as we continue delivering frontline 2020 music programs that help keep young people connected and creative. Young people are our creative future. They need us and we need you. Our Impact 6 4.6 million+ people streamed a Push participant on Spotify 25,000+ young people attended our events in 2019/20 1,645 young people participated in our workshops 3,000 young people attended our All-Ages Tour which visited Benalla, Hepburn Springs, Geelong and Leongatha in regional Victoria 342 volunteers gained hands on experience at our events 200+ paid performance opportunities were provided to artists 131 industry professionals engaged in our programs and workshops We pushed nationally... interstate — with our Song Writing Sessions program engaging young people across Australia. Our Reach 7 39,024 unique web views 8,784 followers (+5.90%) 499,232 reach (+32.14%) 2,898 followers (+15.4%) 1,493 followers (+1.98%) 322 new followers Growing Digital The Push’s engagement online has never been higher. “I love The Push! Make it nation-wide!” Our channels continued to grow over the course of 2019- Sophie Payten, Gordi on LinkedIn. This new platform has quickly become our fastest growing channel, with an 11% increase in followers “I would love to see The Push go national or each week. have a national program offering, especially The Push’s programs and activities quickly adapted to in remote regions.” online delivery as COVID-19 began to impact our face-to- Candice Lorrae, The Merindas face service delivery. This has directly increased our online engagement with young people living in parts of regional “This program is so wonderful - I really wish and rural Australia. it wasn’t just a Victorian music industry Although we continue to reach a generally even gender initiative.” split online, we have seen a slight increase in the number Sweetie Zamora, Remote Control Records of users who identify as gender non-binary, gender non- audience. Our Instagram continues to reach a majority of young – 24 years old. Our New Home 8 Having this dedicated youth music facility will support In April 2020 The the organisation’s goals to: Push relocated to Add new revenue streams by offering industry our new home at dedicated co-working spaces. Collingwood Yards Support hundreds of young music makers to create new works and collaborate with song writing mentors to a series of national all-ages programs and events within our new Electronic Music Incubator facility designed for young people. Attract thousands of young people from across Australia, through a wide range of programming and event activations And develop new partnerships and collaborations with other organisations located within Collingwood Yards Impact of COVID-19 9 The impact of COVID-19 on In response to the pandemic, The Push sought to better young people in our community understand how young people were feeling. In a survey, The Push discovered that: The effects of the pandemic have been felt throughout the organisation and within our broader music 100% of people who responded felt less socially community like nothing ever before. Our sector was connected since before COVID-19 state of COVID Normal. 72% of people who responded wanted opportunities to learn and practice new skills COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted young people. 46% of people wanted opportunities to network and a worsening economic crisis. With university fees for with peers both arts and humanities degrees on the rise (ABC News, 2020), young people are now faced with complete Throughout this year, young people’s unique needs uncertainty as to how they can begin a career within the and experiences have been missing from government creative industries. and sector-wide consultation processes and response packages. The Push addressed this with a number of Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, public advocacy campaigns. By surveying our community unemployment for young people has risen nationally to we were able to celebrate and champion the important 16.4%. Those aged 15 to 24 years old, are almost twice as likely to “When COVID-19 closed down our radio be unemployed as the general population (Youth Affairs broadcast studios and live gigs stopped, it Council of Victoria, 2020). Australia’s Arts and Recreation industry is a major employer of young people —almost really got me wondering what the future for young musicians will look like. How will their proportion working part-time and casually (Australian creative processes be formed in the absence Bureau of Statistics, 2019). of live performance?” Selin Kaya, 2020 Music Industry Mentoring Participant Our All-Ages Programs 10 All-Ages Grants FReeZA Support Service In an effort to address the barriers associated with During 2019 and 2020, The Push continued to deliver staging all-ages events The Push launched a new All- the FReeZA Support Service, on behalf of the Victorian Ages Grants program. Having noticed a decline in the Government Department of Premier and Cabinet. number of these types of events, The Push wanted to support live music venues, booking agents, artists, and The FReeZA Support Service aims to assist funded promoters to stage their own all-ages music events. This FReeZA providers with industry advice, support, training targeted support provided $2,000 grants to community and resources in relation to best practice in all-ages organisations, which covered costs associated with events management and youth participation. staging these events in an existing live music venue — including artist fees, production, marketing, promotions In 2020, The Push delivered the annual FReeZA and venue hire costs. Workshop for program workers and participants. We also continued to provide personalised fee-for-service All-Ages Tour workshops, conducted fortnightly online catch-ups— which fostered a continued sense of community—and In September 2019 The Push launched its All-Ages provided professional advice to support service delivery. Tour across regional Victoria. To address the demand for all-ages music events in regional areas, our sold out White Night Reimagined tour visited Benalla, Hepburn Springs, Geelong and Leongatha. In August 2019, as part of Visit Victoria’s White Night Reimagined program, our New Slang team staged a free, Not only was the tour headlined by Ruby Fields and all-ages event on the Arts Centre Melbourne forecourt. Baker Boy, it helped shine a spotlight on young regional This provided our New Slang participants the opportunity Victorian artists. These support acts were given the to work with experienced live event professionals and opportunity to perform through a statewide competition, gain valuable training and development opportunities. led by triple j Unearthed. The tour also provided 15 local FReeZA committees the opportunity to gain practical experience in staging live music events. young people, showcased both young and established artists including Ball Park Music, Thelma Plum, Tyne James Organ, TOTTY and Tulliah. Our All-Ages Programs 11 New Slang works which explored what a future, socially distanced, sustainable and diverse music festival could look like. Its Each year our New Slang program assembles an events concept resulted in Steri-LIVE: ‘the best music festival to team of young tastemakers who work alongside industry never happen’. professionals to curate and deliver a series of monthly all-ages events. Our 2019 team staged four events in the Our 2020 program team was mentored by creative second half of last year which featured Press Club, Didirri, practitioners Giulia McGauran, Beatrice Lewis and Nick Françoistunes and Slowly Slowly, and attracted more Campbell.