A crowd at Solbar, the Maroochydore live music venue which closed earlier this year. Photo: Dameeka Middleton.
A draft plan from the Australian Live Music Business Council has put ticketing trust, insurance pressure, superannuation clarity and grassroots venue support at the centre of its national agenda for 2026 to 2028.
The Australian Live Music Business Council has outlined a three-year strategy aimed at strengthening the business foundations of Australia’s live music sector, with a focus on workers, venues, promoters, agents, sole traders and small-to-medium operators.
The draft ALMBC Strategic & Operational Plan 2026–2028, prepared in May 2026, updates the organisation’s 2024 plan and sets out a national, independent and business-focused mandate.
Its priorities include federal ticketing trust protections, insurance reform, superannuation guidance, best-practice contracts, industry research and a new grassroots venue and artist development pilot.
Ticketing, insurance and superannuation named as key priorities
The organisation plans to advance national principles around ticket fund handling and continue advocacy for ticketing trust protections at a federal level.
It also identifies insurance as a major pressure point, with plans to roll out risk management tools, conduct venue pilots, publish case studies and progress a broker panel for the sector.
Superannuation is also named as a priority, with ALMBC planning to provide clearer guidance for sole traders, bands and agencies around their obligations.
The plan also proposes a best-practice resource library covering contracts, cancellations, force majeure, public liability, weather risk and vendor agreements.
Grassroots venues and artists in focus
A major part of the strategy is a proposed Grassroots Venue and Artist Development Fund.
The pilot would use existing charitable infrastructure, with the operational plan setting a target of raising $100,000 and supporting 12 venues.
ALMBC also plans to lead a national discussion around the definition of a “grassroots venue”, while supporting all-ages circuits, regional touring and venue development in collaboration with other industry organisations.
For regions such as the Sunshine Coast, the issues named in the plan are not abstract. Small venues, independent promoters, local artists and touring operators are often working with tight margins, rising insurance costs, weather risk, ticketing pressure and limited all-ages pathways.
Research, forums and policy work
The plan also proposes a stronger research and reporting function for the live music business sector.
ALMBC plans to publish an annual Live Music Business Benchmark Report with a university partner, with a target of more than 500 survey respondents.
It also plans to release topical insight papers on issues such as ticketing, insurance, superannuation and workplace safety, timed around key industry moments.
Member engagement is another focus, with ALMBC aiming to deliver at least 12 events or forums, maintain regional forums in four or more locations, and support members to attend national and international industry events.
A national business voice for live music
The draft plan sets out enterprise targets for the 2026–27 financial year, including 30 per cent net membership growth, 10 insurance venue pilots, eight best-practice guides, a $100,000 grassroots fund pilot, and at least $100,000 in new cash or in-kind sponsorship.
While the plan is still marked as draft, it gives a clear indication of where ALMBC sees the pressure points for Australia’s live music economy: not only on stage, but in the contracts, cashflow, compliance, insurance and venue systems that sit behind every show, including the regional gigs and small rooms that keep scenes like the Sunshine Coast alive.
What do you think?
Show comments / Leave a comment