News Updates

IMC Musical Rights Awards Announced

Inter music council2Three programmes from the Arab region, Latin America and Oceania will receive the 2013 Musical Rights Awards, presented by the International Music Council, an international NGO in official partnership with UNESCO. 

The IMC Musical Rights Awards are given to programmes or projects that support in an exemplary way one or more of the five musical rights enunciated by the International Music Council:

 WFM5 2The right for all children and adults

  • to express themselves musically in all freedom
  • to learn musical languages and skills
  • to have access to musical involvement through participation, listening, creation, and information

The right for all musical artists

  • to develop their artistry and communicate through all media, with proper facilities at their disposal
  • to obtain just recognition and remuneration for their work

150,000 Wireless Audio Devices Rendered Useless

There will soon be major changes to radio microphones and other wireless audio devices in Australia.  The Music Council of Australia is concerned these changes could have an adverse impact on music makers, community organisations and schools. You can read our statement and register your concern by signing a petition to the Australian Senate or writing a letter.

Who is affected?

An estimated 80% of equipment currently operating will be redundant after the changes. Users of wireless audio equipment include churches, schools, community groups, theatres, aerobics classes, and of course musicians.

What are the changes?

The government has sold broadcast spectrum that was (and still is) being used by wireless audio devices, to be used for mobile digital devices. This reportedly generated $2 billion in revenue. Some newer devices will not be affected, but an estimated 150,000 wireless audio devices are currently in use and will be affected by this.

Why is this a problem?

If you own a device that falls into the category that cannot be used after December 2014, you will own a redundant piece of equipment that may be in perfectly good working condition. The cost of replacing this device with a newer one falls to the consumer. The government has not articulated any plan to deal with the transition for consumers using wireless audio products.

Not only will these devices need to be replaced, it will be illegal to operate them and working electronic devices will be added to landfill.

What can be done about this?

To address this situation the MCA recommends that:
  • The Government fully compensate all owners of these devices through a buyback scheme or other similar arrangement
  • An effective public education campaign be undertaken so all user groups can be familiar with impacts of future changes and steps to be taken to minimise disruption and unreasonable cost.

Download MCA Statement: Impacts on the Music Sector of changes in legislation regarding use of Wireless Audio Equipment

What can I do?

- Sign the petition to the Australian Senate being organised by the Australian Wireless Audio Group
at: AWAG petition

- Share this page to spread the word.

- Write to the respective Communications spokespeople:

Labor: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Coalition: Malcolm Turnbull
Greens: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All can be reached through Parliamentary mail at: PO Box 6022 Canberra ACT 2600

Central Coast Uke Festival

UkulelesDue to the enormous rise in popularity of the Ukulele instrument the Central Coast will host it's second annual  Ukulele Festival on August 24th and 25th 2013. And it's all free!

This festival is unique in that it brings people from all ages and walks of life together to make and enjoy music. The program will be jam packed with Ukulele clubs from across the state as well as professional Ukulele acts. Entertainment is absolutely free on the Memorial Park stage and the Sails Stage.

Festival founder and director Liz Kitney told the Music in Communities Network "it will be a jammed packed program. Last year we held out inaugural festival to a resounding success, this year it's bigger and better than ever."

There is something for everyone with stalls, rides and colouring in competitions for the kids with great prizes and ukulele raffles.

Workshops will be available free in the Memorial Park through out the day. For more information: www.theentrance.org

2013 National Indigenous Music Awards Winners

11 August, 2013

Shellie Morris and the Borroloola Songwomen, winners of last year's Music in Communities Awards, have been acknowledged again in this year's National Indigenous Music Awards. Their song 'Waliwaliyangu li Anthawirriyarra a Kurija (Saltwater People Song)' was awarded Song of the Year while Shellie Morris received the G.R. Burarrawanga Memorial Award for NT artists. 

The Traditional Music Award was presented to Wandawuy, The Mulka Manikay Archives.

A new award for NT Community Clip of the Year acknowledges the role that music and new media plays in spreading positive messages throughout indigenous communities. It was won by the Rockhole community for its video of the song 'Rockhole', made in partnership with the Wurli - Wurlinjang Health Service and Indigenous Hip Hop Projects. The award for NT School Band of the Year was received by Rulku Band from Milingimbi (pictured), who performed at the high profile awards ceremony in Darwin.

Jessica Mauboy and Thelma Plum received two of the major awards, National Artist of the Year and New Talent of the Year respectively. Archie Roach received three awards for his album Bloodstream (National Album of the Year, Cover Art of the Year, and Film Clip of the Year for Song to Sing), and was inducted into the NIMA Hall of Fame alongside Henry 'Seaman' Dan and Wirrinyga Band from Milingimbi, NT.

A broadcast of the event, which included a tribute to Yothu Yindi, can be see on NITV, Saturday 17th of August 2013 at 8.30pm.

The NIMAs are presented by Music NT: www.musicnt.com.au

Rulku win School Band of the Year2013 National Indigenous Music Awards - Full list of  winners

National Artist of the Year: Jessica Mauboy

National Album of the Year: Into the Bloodstream - Archie Roach

National Song of the Year: 'Waliwaliyangu li-Anthawirriyarra a-Kurija (Saltwater People Song)' - Shellie Morris and the Borroloola Songwomen

National New Talent of the Year: Thelma Plum

National Cover Art of the Year: Into the Bloodstream - Archie Roach. Designed by Jacob Tolo, Original Painting by Robert Lowe Senior.

National Film Clip of the Year: 'Song to Sing' - Archie Roach. Co-Directors - David Vadiveloo / Community Prophets & Natasha Gadd / Daybreak Films

G.R. Burarrawanga Memorial Award: Shellie Morris

NT Community Clip of the Year: Rockhole Community, 'Rockhole' produced by IHHP for Wurli - Wurlinjang Health Service

NT School Band of the Year: Rulku

NT Traditional Music Award of the Year: Wandawuy - The Mulka Manikay Archives

NIMA Hall of Fame: Archie Roach, Henry 'Seaman' Dan, Wirrinyga Band, Milingimbi

NIMA Special Recognition Award: Gurrumul Yunupingu

Australian Saxophone and Clarinet Conference 2013

Australian Saxophone and Clarinet Conference bannerThe Sydney Conservatorium of Music is pleased to present the Australasian Saxophone and Clarinet Conference 2013. The conference will be directed by Dr Michael Duke (Saxophone), with artistic directors Frank Celata (Clarinet), Sue Newsome (Clarinet) and David Theak (Saxophone).

The conference will take place Thursday 11 July through to Saturday 13 July in the historic Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The conference will feature masterclasses, workshops, demonstrations, lectures, trade hall exhibits, solo and ensemble recitals given by leading Australian and international artists. Each day will conclude with an evening gala concert.

The conference is open to all players and enthusiasts of Clarinet and Saxophone and will have something for everyone.

The principal artists for 2013 are: Claude Delangle – Sax (Paris Conservatoire), Andrew Marriner – Clarinet (Principal Clarinet London Symphony Orchestra) and Dick Oatts – Jazz Saxophone (Temple University, USA).

Joining them will be Saxophonist Niels Bijl from The Netherlands and clarinettist Julian Bliss from the UK alongside a stellar line up of Australian artists.

For more information go to http://sydney.edu.au/music/ascc