1 Admln/stratlon MBE 1<18/45 Glenferrle Road Malve.m, Vic 3144 Phone: 03 9507 2315 Fax: OJ 9507 2316 ErnBII: [email protected] Website: www.mca.org.au ABN 85 070 619 608 Executive Diredt)r Tel: +61 (0)2 9251 3816 Fax: +61 (0)2 9251 3817 Email: [email protected] Music Council of .Australia Huslc. Play for Ufe campaign Tel: 02) 4454 3887 or 0439 022 257 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mUSiq)layforlife.org Austra§a'S represenfative to the InternatiOnal Music COUncil ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO THE AGM, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 The period covered in this report is AGM to AGM, end of September in each year. CONTENTS A. Purpose of the MCA Triennial funding. 2009 is the first year of triennial funding of $200,000 a year from the Music Board of B. Highlights of the Year 2008-2009 the Australia Council, more than doubling the C. Information Services previous core subsidy. The funding has supported stabilisation of the organisation and the addition of D. Research and Policy capacity in marketing, advocacy and project E. Advocacy and Representation management. F. Projects Flnandal. Income in 2008 was a record $942,000, with a surplus of $34,000. MCA Is on track In 2009 G. Governance and Administration with a surplus of $18,000 YTD. H. In Conclusion Business plan. As a corollary of the new funding package, the MCA constructed a detailed business plan along lines proposed by the Australia Council. A. PURPOSE OF THE MCA Information servkles The purpose of the Music Council of Australia (MCA) Music Forum magazine has run into difficulties in is to bring together all sections of the music sustaining subscriptions. However, it has taken community in order to advance a diverse and major initiatives to build advertising and vibrant musical life throughout Australia. To achieve subscriptions and evolve content and these show this, MCA, independently and in partnership, gathers good promise. At a suitable time, a switch to online and provides information, conducts research, publication is on the cards. undertakes advocacy, ensures representation in Website development has become a continuing relevant forums, and initiates and realises projects activity. All the Music. Play for Ufe websites have that advance musical life. been reconstructed to encourage much more B. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR 2008· lnterad:lvlty, a new Music In Communities Network site has been set up, and the main site is entering 2009 another major reconstruction. Traffic continues to This report gives more infonnation than most people increase. will want to know! I thin~ however, that it is The new refereed MCA Joumal of Music Research Important that once a year there Is a fairly complete Online has been launched and has published its first description of the activities of this small but quite paper. complex organisation. I Other Information services continue: the MCA eBulletins, the Music. Play for Ufe eNewsletter, the annual conference and annual address... acknowledge, though, that for most people, the Research Highlights section will be enough. For the first time, MCA has employed a Head of Research, Lynn Gailey. Considering its miniscule 2 funds, the research program is very prolific. appointed time and date. Media exposure is Important projects completed recently: vigorously enlisted. The project ran for the second • The study of music instruction in preservice time in 2008 with a $480,000 contract fee with the university degree programs for classroom Commonwealth and endorsement by the Minister's generalist teachers, showing the extraordinary Music Education Advisory Group. 460,000 children inadequacy of this preparation (Rachel Hocking) sang, from 1700 schools, about 15% of schools in Australia. Professional development workshops were • Lynn Gailey's development on the work by John given to 700 primary school classroom teachers. Wardle to identify best practice in the regulation Results of a survey show high impact on the status of licensed hospitality industry establishments of music education at school level. that actually or potentially present live music. This will be used for advocacy to state and Flame Awards. These were not run in 2008 due to territory governments constraints on our partner, the ABC, but'return in 2009 with a prize pool of $15,000, supported by a • The Sound Links project, conceived by MCA and $10,000 donation from philanthropists, Robert and carried out by a partnership led by the Elizabeth Albert. They recognise the best school Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre, music programs. compares community music practice in six contrasting Australian communities. It was Music in Communities Awards. These were offered published and already has had effects for the first time in 2008 and uncovered some downstream (Brydie-Leigh Bartleet) remarkable and indeed, moving programs in community music development around the country. • Music budgets in Australian television Funding from the International Music Products productions. Art Phillips' project has collected a Association, available in 2008, was not repeated in vast amount of data. A further extension of the 2009 but we are finding ways to continue them project may be possible with the collaboration of anyway. a major industry organisation. Music in Communities Network. This is a new There are many other projects described below in national support network, recommended by the the Research section of the report. 2008 summit and just now established by Advocacy and Representation MCA/MPFL. It has high promise and will fill a great MCA's advocacy activity has achieved an need. It was launched in Brisbane at the publication unprecedented range and intensity. of the Sound Links research project. Responsive advocacy There are many other Music Play for Life activities, detailed below. Many submissions have been prepared for government, covering especially the treatment of Pro-active Advocacy: other culture in negotiation of a number of international Especially noteworthy here is the advocacy that trade agreements, an inquiry into whether Australia resulted in the inclusion of the arts in Tier 2 of the should sign to the UNESCO Convention for the work of the National Curriculum Board (now Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural ACARA). This was carried out by MCA Expressions. It supported improved regulation of independently, through its membership of the Music agents and managers, and a requirement for Education Advisory Group of the Federal Minister, engagement of Australian artists as opening acts for and in alliance with other artforms in the National tours by foreign artists. MCA made submissions to Advocates for Arts Education. the review of ABC and SBS broadcasting (Shane Representation Homan), to the review of early childhood education (Peter de Vries) and to the Henry Review of the MCA is a member of ten alliances or associations Australian taxation system. MCA responded to where decisions or activities affecting music might proposals by Commercial Radio Australia which eventuate. In recent months, membership of the could virtually have destroyed local content education-related entities has been crucial. It also regulation on commercial radio. attends meetings under many other auspices. It is the Australian affiliate of the world peak music organisation, the International Music Council, of Pro-active advocacy: Music. Play for Life which the MCA Executive Director is President. The national campaign for more music making Projects increased in strength once again. It continued its In the Projects category are MCA activities that fulfil core activity of servicing its network, now of 5,500 its purpose but do not fit easily into the categories people, with information and advocacy materials. It above. also expanded its projects. Australian Musical Futures: Digital Distribution Think Music. Count Us In. This project builds the status of Tanks. MCA has established this series of think tanks music education in schools by commissioning a pop as a way of bringing the music sector together song, arranging it for a range of school performing around key issues. The 2009 series addressed the groups, and recruiting schools to sing it at an problems and opportunities brought upon the record . 4 • MCA I d1 doc:uml!lll!l n'""" •.,.mM~.,. • MC"A adloocac, documents Below is the chart showing traffic ower the last 11 • MCA policy doalnents months. 1be data goes up tD september 14 so it ill not really possible tD anticipate IICICUrately the • MCA Annual Addii!SSBS outrome for the twelfttl month. • CD nMew& and book n!VIaws, publlshad Following Is the chart for the Wiiasponllng period Rrller In Music Forum lllllgiiZina. of the previous year. lhere was 111 ul'leXPII*Ied llfc.t '*"* lti Aalfnillll JOIGwli::dp .... collapse In vlsbr numbers In that YtBr - while Under the edltllr&hlp rl Hans Hoegh-Guldberg, thl& pag&H'8iid malntalnad compariible ftguras.. unique MCA Wl!bslle ll!!llllllll! has gruwn tD give Tha l11st: eleven montll& shaw mud! sllllidler tnllllc di!IBIIed Wcrmatlan about much of the !lbudl.lre and gruwtll. and lldMty In tha Au&lrlllllln musrc &adllr. There was a decision this year that Hans. an eaJIIDIIII'st. would concaiballi on building the Knowledge Balla Into the illllllorlla1lv sle for mllltc lilallslrcs. Due tD competing n!SpOIISibllllles, thera has bean only modl!llt prog185S but an I!XCffiBnt plan has been w1 ltltn and H.s anUdpates making up for Iori!: lima In the li1ttl!r part r12009. 7 The Music. Play for Life websites MCA Annual Address Traffic is reported in the Music. Play for Life section Each year as part of the Assembly, a distinguished of this report. speaker is invited to give a public address, which is published by the MCA in Music Forum and online. There are sites for Speakers to 2008 have been Prof. Robin Stevens, • Music. Play for Life composer and broadcaster, Andrew Ford, lawyer • Music.