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FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Agenda Item 5.7 REPORT
14 April 2009 ARIA HALL OF FAME - EVENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION
Division Commerce and Marketing
Presenter Scott Chapman – Director Marketing and Commerce
Purpose
1. The purpose of this report is to seek Council endorsement for funding for the sponsorship of the Australian Record Industry Awards (ARIA) Hall of Fame event scheduled to take place in Melbourne at either the Melbourne Town Hall or the Grand Hyatt Hotel in early August 2009.
Recommendation from Management
2. That the Finance and Governance Committee recommends to Council that it sponsors the 2009 ARIA Hall of Fame Awards to the value $50,000.
Background
3. The ARIA Hall of Fame, which was originally conceived as a part of the ARIA Awards in 1988 and held during the ARIA Awards ceremony, has inducted a diverse range of artists including AC / DC, Dame Joan Sutherland, Olivia Newton John, Johnny O’ Keefe, Paul Kelly, John Farnham, INXS, Slim Dusty, Jimmy Little and many more.
4. In July 2005 ARIA staged the inaugural ARIA Icons: Hall of Fame event, which was introduced to honour the growing number of legendary performers, producers, songwriters and others who have had an impact on music culture in Australia. In the past, time constraints had prevented any more than one or two artists from being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at each ARIA Awards, resulting in a lengthy waiting list of worthy recipients.
5. The ARIA Hall of Fame is now an annual stand-alone event that honours those whose musical achievements have had a significant impact in Australia and around the world.
6. The event has been held in Melbourne and sponsored by the City of Melbourne for the last three years through the City of Melbourne Event Partnership Program (EPP).
7. The live music scene in Melbourne plays an increasingly important role in the city’s economic and cultural life. The 2008 Northern Metropolitan Institute of TAFE report ‘State of Play’ examines advertising expenditure and “gig” numbers (‘gig’ refers to a music event in front of an audience). In the year 2000 $10 million was spent on advertising 47,000 gigs across Melbourne. In the twelve months from September 2007 to August 2008 a sum of $20.7 million was spent on advertising just over 70,000 Melbourne music gigs. Page 2 of 5
8. For some years now Council Officers have been in contact with a number of key organisations in the rock/pop music industry. While Melbourne is known for the quality of its live music scene and the strength of its independent recording sector it is noted that a high percentage of major music companies are headquartered in Sydney. The staging of the ARIA Hall of Fame in Melbourne adds to an Australian recognition of the importance of Melbourne to the Music Industry.
9. In recent months the Chief Executive Officer and the Director of Marketing and Commerce have had a number of discussions with the representatives of ARIA in respect to the ARIA Hall of Fame Awards. A key focus of those discussions has been developing a strategy to understand how the ARIA Hall of Fame could become the key event in what would be a Melbourne Music Week. This week would include a range of events in and around the city including; the creation of a temporary Music Hall of Fame and exhibition at the Victoria Arts Centre, a range of industry showcase events with producers and publishers, a ‘Melbourne Conversation’ event relating to a key music industry issue, the ARIA board meeting and the ARIA Chairman’s Cocktail Party. A number of these events are planned for 2009, but the Music Week concept will need to be the subject of a more detailed plan.
10. The ARIA Hall of Fame meets the objectives for the Events Partnership Program and the criteria agreed by Council in adopting the City of Melbourne Events Strategy 2009/2010.
Time Frame
11. In order to commit to staging the ARIA Hall of Fame Awards in Melbourne in August 2009 ARIA needs a commitment from the Council that it will provide sponsorship to the event of $50,000. Planning for the event needs to be escalated at the earliest time so that the event can be planned.
Consultation
12. Consultation has been conducted with the events industry through the following:
12.1. the Victorian Events Industry Council (VEIC);
12.2. International Special Events Society (ISES) meetings;
12.3. Docklands Events Group, a forum representing major stakeholders in the precinct; and
12.4. post event acquittal reports and debriefings conducted in the 2008/2009 financial year.
Government Relations
13. The City of Melbourne Event Sponsorship Strategy 2007 - 2010 supports the “10 Year Tourism and Events Industry Strategy” released by the State Government of Victoria in October 2006.
Finance
14. The approved 2008/2009 financial year cash budget for the Event Partnership Program was $2,946,777 of which $1,406,900 was already committed in cash to triennial sponsorships.
15. This paper is recommending that $50,000 cash be pre-committed from the 2009/2010 Event Partnership Program.
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Legal
16. No direct legal issues arise from the recommendation from management.
Sustainability
17. All events sponsored by City of Melbourne are required to submit detailed environmental impact minimisation plans and are required to adopt the Guidelines for Sustainable Events established by the City of Melbourne.
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FINANCE ATTACHMENT
ARIA HALL OF FAME - EVENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION
The recommendation contained in the report pre commits the Council to funding of $50,000 from the 2009/2010 Event Partnership Program (EPP).
The 2008/09 Budget includes an allocation for the Event Partnership Program and it is expected that this program will be included with a similar funding request as part of the 2009/10 Annual Plan and Budget.
The 2009/10 Annual plan and Budget is expected to be presented to the Council for final approval on 30 June 2009.
Joe Groher Manager Financial Services
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LEGAL ATTACHMENT
ARIA HALL OF FAME - EVENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION
No direct legal issues arise from the recommendation from management.
Kim Wood Manager Legal Services