How should we plan and regulate live music in Australian cities? Learnings from Brisbane

Abstract

Live music has been subject to particular economic and regulatory threats in recent decades. Comparative research of regimes for the planning and management of live music venues was conducted in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne over the period 2008-2010. Methods included archival and legislative reviews, field visits and interviews with key authorities, venue operators, live music campaigners and other actors. This paper gives particular attention to Brisbane's place-based approach, which replaced previous noise, planning and liquor laws to create legislated 'Entertainment Precincts'. Operators are granted certainty for investment, with increased protection from incompatible development and noise complaints if they are located in the designated area. In Fortitude Valley the night-time economy has prospered, preserving and supporting a number of live music venues and giving increased protection to a set of night-club operators. This functional separation and concentration in Brisbane differs significantly to Melbourne, with its more liberal approach, and diffused venues. Brisbane is effectively placing the 'problems' in one key site, leaving the rest of the city with few live music or night-time entertainment options. The paper explores these outcomes and provides options for cities seeking to preserve live music, create accessibility to the night-time economy, but retain amenity for residents.