Live Music Industry

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:07): My question is to the Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation. What initiatives are improving—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: —the live music experience in Adelaide to ensure that South Australia is positioned to take advantage of the growth opportunities both nationally and internationally?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:07): I thank the honourable member for his important question about the live music experience in Adelaide. Music isn't just an art form; it is an industry and it contributes not only to the cultural vibrancy of our community but also to the economy of the state.

The music industry brings significant artistic, cultural and economic value to South Australia. In terms of quantifiable monetary value, in 2014 it is estimated that the music industry contributed over $263 million to the state's economy and was responsible for creating over 4,000 jobs. We know that South Australia's music scene is poised to grow further, both nationally and internationally.

We have a number of artists that are making very big names for themselves: Tkay Maidza is already getting plenty of airplay. The Hon. John Gazzola first introduced me to this dynamic young artist some time ago, and she is getting airplay right across the globe at only 19 years of age. Also rock bands like Bad Dream are gaining significant national attention. I understand that this year's South Australian delegation to Bigsound was also the largest we have ever sent and that the South Australian showcase had its highest-ever attendance.

The state's music industry as a sector forms an important part of a diverse and resilient economy. I had the opportunity last night to attend Musitec's TechJam event to launch the 2015 Connected Music City Challenge at St Paul's Creative Centre. It was great to see so many people in attendance who were excited about the Challenge, including the Hon. Tammy Franks, who was there last night, and other members like the Hon. John Gazzola, who is regularly involved in the live music scene and promoting live music in South Australia.

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: An icon.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: An icon to the South Australian live music scene. The Connected Music City Challenge is an initiative under the Connected Music City umbrella and is being led by the Music Development Office while working in partnership with industry to activate and differentiate Adelaide as a place to experience music and to ensure that Adelaide continues to take advantage of the significant growth opportunities in this sector.

The initiative will challenge Adelaide's innovators to create compelling city experiences around a theme of music and will be supported by platforms developed by IBM, with the challenge being delivered by Musitec. Musitec began in 2014 as a not-for-profit industry cluster, the very first of its kind in this industry in Australia, that unites music businesses, technologists and the broader industry to develop new products and services. I am pleased to advise that the state government was instrumental in helping establish this particular cluster through our cluster program.

The Connected Music City program aims to distinguish Adelaide as a leading destination to experience live music augmented by technology. Through dedicating the right resources and applying the right type of innovative thinking and talent, we can not only rejuvenate Adelaide's live music culture but also develop and apply technologies to enhance the user experience. Through the challenge, South Australia's innovators and entrepreneurs will develop ideas using technology to further activate Adelaide as a live music city.

They will be tasked with creating and pitching concepts for the delivery of compelling city experiences themed around live music. The launch last night was a great opportunity for a lot of people interested in the challenge to hear firsthand from a panel of industry specialists, to identify the needs and challenges and to sow the seeds so that these sorts of concepts can be formed into reality. The panel discussion last night certainly will have spurred the innovators in the room to develop no doubt some very exciting compelling experiences.

It really was compelling to see so many innovators who have so much interest in the music scene and the music industry in Adelaide, and the Connected Music City Challenge will no doubt deliver initiatives that will activate our city, and I am looking forward to updating the chamber on the outcomes in the future. I congratulate Musitec and the Music Development Office for developing the challenge and for the work they do to ensure the future of South Australia's live music sector. The hash tag, to save a supplementary question from the Hon. Tammy Franks, is #techjamcmcc.