Western Australian program allows rescheduling rather than cancellation of live events

March 15, 2022

The Western Australian Government’s program - Getting the Show Back on the Road+ (GTSBOTR+) - which aims to reduce financial risks associated with running ticketed events during the pandemic, has been further extended to include rescheduled events.

The announcement has been welcomed by Live Entertainment Western Australia, which has confirmed shows including Midnight Oil; Crowded House; Hoodoo Gurus; Hunters and Collectors with James Reyne; Jimmy Barnes, Mondo Rock, Ian Moss; and Missy Higgins, Birds of Tokyo, and the Waifs will now all proceed at rescheduled future dates. Without the expansion of the GTSBOTR+ program, the shows would have been cancelled altogether.

The expansion of the program will allow promoters to recoup the unrecoverable costs of up to 30% of pre-approved box office value (up to a cap of $150,000) when events are rescheduled. This will enable live events that are not viable under current Level 2 public health measures to be moved to more suitable dates later in the year.

The changes follow discussions between the State Government and the live events industry on how the program could be adjusted to better support the sector.

The program end date has also been extended to 30^th June, 2022.

Live Entertainment WA President Brad Mellen advised "The rescheduled shows would have been cancelled without the assistance now being offered to enable rescheduling.

"The system's not perfect - there's still the problem of shortfalls in sales when sold out shows are rescheduled -– but it reflects great credit on the Government that it listened to representations and has acted to provide assistance for rescheduling.

"Hopefully, things will get back to something like normal in the next few months and Western Australia will again see international acts absent now for more than two years."

Western Australian Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman notes "Live event organisers now have more certainty around putting on shows in Western Australia during this difficult time, knowing they are supported with the unrecoverable costs of rescheduling. We have listened to feedback from the live events industry and expanded the program accordingly.

"I am very pleased these changes will mean a number of terrific upcoming shows can now be rescheduled rather than cancelled. It is a great result for our local live events industry and all WA music fans."

For more information on the program and guidelines visit dlgsc.wa.gov.au/funding/arts-funding/getting-the-show-back-on-the-road

Image: Midnight Oil. Credit: discover Ticketmaster

24th February 2022 - Live Nation expresses optimism about the power and resurgence of live events

5th October 2021 - Ticketmaster commissions two-part film series promoting Australia’s path to the return of live events

22nd July 2021 - With live events an important part of life, Australians crave the return of international artists

14th February 2021 - ASM Global’s Harvey Lister looks to ‘full revival’ of live events in 2022

6th January 2021 - Singapore Sports Hub looks to stage more live events in 2021

17th November 2020 - Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena looks to return of live events under new procedures

28th October 2020 - Eventbrite delivers tools designed for COVIDSafe in-person live events

24th September 2020 - Australia joins international initiative to highlight the live events sector urgently needs Government support

22nd July 2019 - Live Nation sets sustainability goals for concerts and live events

19th October 2018 - Ticketmaster acquires live events industry blockchain technology company UPGRADED

18th February 2014 - Emerging digital technologies to impact live events

22nd October 2013 - Turnkey Management Group creates nearly $20 million in incremental value of live events for clients

14th March 2022 - New $6 million live music precinct to open in Adelaide

13th March 2022 - Blue Mountains Theatre supports local bands with live music opportunities

3rd February 2022 - New mentorship opportunity for women and gender non-binary youth to explore careers in live music

1st February 2022 - NSW Government announces $85 million funding to support performing arts and live music

28th January 2022 - Queensland Government continues to support live music industry in 2022

30th November 2021 - Live music and entertainment industry urges Governments to deliver national insurance scheme as Omicron threatens recovery

29th November 2021 - Applications now open for Live Music Australia program

14th November 2021 - Victorian Government reveals event insurance scheme in move to revive live music

18th October 2021 - COVID impact sees Australian Government fund live music sector and leading arts organisations

15th October 2021 - Live music sector continues call for national event insurance scheme

2nd September 2021 - 22 live music venues across Queensland receive Government funding

27th April 2021 - Grants offered to support Wollongong’s live music and community events

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.