Music Council of Australia Submission to the Commonwealth Review of the ABC and SBS

Principal author: Dr Shane Homan 
December 2008

The review was intended in particular to address the future of the public broadcasters as we enter an era of new digital platforms. It published a discussion paper to guide the thinking of those who intended to make submissions. This discussion paper set forth a number of key objectives for public broadcasting.

The ABC Charter lists three main functions for the organisation. One of these three is "to encourage and promote the musical, dramatic and other performing arts in Australia". The MCA discovered that the discussion paper did not address this clause excepting for the production of Australian television drama, and that the word "music" did not appear even once.

The MCA submission focuses in particular on the role of the public broadcasters in producing and broadcasting music programs. While the attention of the discussion paper and of debate generally around broadcasting is heavily concentrated around the audiovisual and television, the MCA presses the case for radio as the most important vehicle for broadcast or other dissemination of music.

It recommends increased funding to both networks for the production and broadcasting of music and in the case of SBS, proposes major initiatives in locally created and performed world music, consistent with its multicultural purpose. SBS appears to have no local content objectives and should establish them. The MCA recommends increased broadcasting of live performances, noting their attractiveness to audiences.

It proposes specific funding to both broadcasters for the expansion of digitised archives of musical content of historic significance. It notes that the public broadcasters have a special opportunity to encourage and promote music production in regional centres, offering connections with national and indeed international audiences.

Other recommendations concern outside contracting, establishing creative partnerships with education authorities, mentorships, a commitment to artistic as well as technological innovation, and international promotion through Radio Australia and other means.

View the submission