Annual Report 2012 Passionately committed to championing WA’s thriving music industry since 1987, WAM (the West Australian Music Industry Association Inc.) is a not-for-profit, membership-based organisation and the peak music body responsible for supporting, nurturing and growing all forms of WA contemporary music. WAM 2012 Staff Chief Executive Officer Projects Officer WAMi Festival Director Wendy Were (from May) Daphne Tan (until January) Brooke Kelly Alexis Courtin (from February) Business Manager Communications Officer Michael Jeffrey Education Officer Justine Thornley (until August) Kris Dimitroff Regional Officer Marketing & Nigel Bird Administration and Communications Officer Membership Officer Aarom Wilson (from September) Claire Hodgson WAM 2012 Board Of Directors President Treasurer David Hyams Dan Minchin Steven McCabe (from May) Callum Moncrieff Vice-President Antonella De Gregoriis Noah Shilkin Andrew Zell Susan Clarke Simon Reed Secretary Mark Hough Daniel Romeo Louise Ardagh Thank You WAM gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the WAM is also assisted by the Commonwealth State Government of Western Australia through Government through its Department of Culture and the Arts Australia Council for the Arts 2012 Major Partners Rio Tinto The Mental Health Commission APRA|AMCOS City of Perth Country Arts WA Barrington Consulting Group Healthway Central Institute of Technology Our thanks also go to the interns and volunteers whose ongoing efforts in assisting WAM achieve our objectives are greatly appreciated, including Dayna Christiansen, Brett Walsh, Maisie Glen, Will Saye, Ben Matthews, Dan Kerr, Mimi Sheppard, David Arns, Hayley Mazzucchelli, Ashlyn Koh and Lukas Thurner (who created this Annual Report’s cover image), and all the judges and volunteers who help make events like Song Of The Year, the WAMi Festival and Awards possible. Brad Weir for making this Annual Report look good! The West Australian Music Industry Association Inc. ABN 19 395 503 276 Address Level 1, 58 James Street, Northbridge WA Postal Address PO Box 171 Northbridge WA 6865 Phone +61 (0)8 9227 7962 Regional WA Toll Free 1800 007 962 Fax +61 (0)8 9328 7711 Email [email protected] Website www.wam.asn.au WAM ANNUAL REPORT 2012 Click on Nõ to go Contents to page President’s Report 4 Chief Executive Officer’s Report 6 Business Manager’s Report 8 Financial Performance 8 Project Delivery Partnerships 9 Celebrate WA Sounds Of Summer 9 Perth Arena 10 AGWA Nights 10 Emergence Creative 10 Workshops 11 Workshops Held in 2012 11 WAM Song Of The Year 12 Schools Alive 13 AmpFest 13 WAMi Festival 14 Partnered Showcases 14 WAMi Awards and Closing Party 14 Northbridge Saturday Spectacular 15 WAMi Festival Partners 15 Looking Forward 15 Kiss My WAMi Compilation 16 Regional Program 17 Sounds of Tom Price 17 Wheatbelt Contemporary Music Touring Circuit Pilot 17 Regional Roundtable 17 Membership 18 Marketing and Communications 19 Please Note: This document is intended to be viewed online. To view links, please download a digital copy from http://alturl.com/zjztm WAM ANNUAL REPORT 2012 President’s Report As the search for profitable music business models continues, it is worth noting that global revenue from recorded music grew in 2012 for the first time since 1999. Further, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) reported this month that Australia had one of the most thriving scenes in the world, growing nearly 7% against global growth of just 0.2%. Australia is the sixth largest industry, in terms of revenue, in the world. To view the full IFPI Australian Digital Music Report, click here. That is cause for optimism for those trying to carve As always, we are grateful for the support of the out a career in music – that is, WAM’s members and WA State Government through the Department of other participants in the WA contemporary music Culture and the Arts. The Government was ahead of industry. The fundamental changes to the way its time when it created the WA Rock Music Industry careers are made and sustained are evident to any Association (WARMIA) in the 1980s. Other States participant, and are also reflected in the IFPI data. have, in recent years, recognised that contemporary While CDs still accounted for more than half of all music is a strong economic contributor and a real revenue, the trends around physical product are driver of cultural vibrancy. It is not surprising to see inexorably downwards; the biggest drivers of growth the emergence of new organisations, based in many were paid digital downloads, live performance and ways on the WAM model, across the country. syncing. In Australia, the trend back to revenue While there was little by way of specific funding for growth was mirrored, primarily on the back of paid contemporary music in the Federal Government’s digital downloads. recently released National Cultural Policy, there is Against this seismic backdrop, WAM - an good endorsement across arts sectors nationally for organisation that champions the WA contemporary the coherent, whole-of-government policy position. music scene and aids participants in navigating the So perhaps, along with industry growth, we can even industry - is also changing. Under the guidance of be optimistic about the policy and political outlook the new CEO, Wendy Were, WAM has focused on for the arts in this country. becoming more relevant to members, both active The reorganisation and repositioning of WAM and potential. As the CEO’s report shows, this puts a lot of pressure on the organisation’s staff. focus on members is evident through work on the This pressure has been borne with good will brand, our key events such as the WAMi’s, and our and resilience. On behalf of the Board I wish to digital presence. These initiatives will strengthen acknowledge the excellent work and above-and- WAM as an organisation, enabling us to better help beyond attitude shown by the WAM team. One year members find their way to success – or, at least, to a ago, I wrote that we felt we had made an “excellent sustainable career in the WA music industry. hire” in appointing Wendy Were as our new CEO. 4 WAM ANNUAL REPORT 2012 That expectation has been well and truly met in the My family and I have this month relocated to Sydney following 12 months. for work, and I have therefore indicated that 2012 would be my last year as President. I am truly The WAM Board is a collective of smart, grateful for having had the opportunity to participate enthusiastic volunteers, which takes its in this fantastic organisation and look forward to responsibility as custodian of the organisation staying involved in some capacity. seriously. I would like to acknowledge in particular the excellent contribution of Steve McCabe, who Dan Minchin joined as Treasurer, Louise Ardagh (Secretary) and President Andy Zell (Vice President). Dan Minchin @ the WAMi Awards by Jarrad Seng 5 WAM ANNUAL REPORT 2012 Chief Executive Officer’s Report I am pleased to present the WAM 2012 Annual Report. 2012 was the first year of a new triennial business plan and funding cycle, and also heralded a change in CEO after a decade. WAM’s growing maturity as an organisation With regard to key goals identified in our current bodes well for the contemporary music industry business plan, WAM achieved the following in 2012: in Western Australia. On commencement in May Goal 1 last year, it was evident to me that while WAM was WAM will have contributed demonstrably to extremely well positioned in a number of key areas industry development. including governance, some clear priority areas for improvement existed in external communications, Our direct investment into the industry saw us spend membership and business development. The over $260K in artist fees and production contractors. organisation is currently in the process of an all- This reflects a 27% increase on 2012’s $204K of-business rebrand, necessary for a number of and is the highest figure in WAM’s history. The reasons: significant increase (almost double) in artist fees demonstrates clearly that WAM is directly impacting • WAM is preparing for expected growth, including on employment opportunities for musicians. international growth. We need a greater sense of brand unity across our programs; Goal 2 WAM will have a larger and better-engaged • WAM is ready for new markets and opportunities; membership. • Audience development has been identified as a Member numbers remained stable (362 representing major concern for the industry; and 695 individuals in 2012 in against 379 representing • WAM’s dated identity and failure to clearly 718 in 2011). A membership review was undertaken communicate externally the rationale and breadth in 2012. This included a member survey that of our programs was impacting on perception of garnered a solid response and provided valuable WAM’s relevance and effectiveness. feedback to what members would like to see WAM delivering; a review of the current value proposition Major foundational work has been around external for members; and a review of systems and processes communications, membership and business around membership. Major insights from this developed was carried out in 2012, the fruits of which work have gone towards formulating a new value should become apparent in 2013. WAM will have proposition for membership that will be rolled out in a fresh brand and visual identity; comprehensive 2013, along with improved processes for retaining communication and digital strategies; a solid plan and attracting members, and a major membership for business development including diversification drive scheduled for 2013 to coincide with the launch of income streams; and a new digital presence that of the new WAM brand. better services our members, the wider industry, and music consumers. 6 WAM ANNUAL REPORT 2012 Sugar Army @ Plug Into Perth, Perth Arena by Dan Grant In addition, the improvements to WAM’s digital Further, WAM is engaged in the application process identity will include automation of membership of being endorsed by the Australian Tax Office as processes (currently for the most part manual and a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR).