Resonate Magazine | Australian Music Centre

The Australian Music Centre's Board has recently met to consider the Australia Council Music Board's multi-year funding offer for the AMC's core activities in 2012-2013. The offer sees the AMC's funding for 2012 set at $375K, reducing to $325K for 2013. While the AMC continues to enjoy significant support from the Australia Council, the funding offer over the two years represents a 30% reduction from 2011 levels.

Obviously such a significant reduction in our core funding presents an enormous challenge to the AMC, which we are currently addressing. At various stages over the 37 years since our establishment, we have demonstrated our capacity to adapt to changes in our financial circumstances, and balance this with the needs of the audience that we serve.

Our move in recent years to a mainly digitally based presence has enabled efficiencies which assist us to some extent in adapting to the 2012 funding level. Our challenge however will be in shaping the business beyond 2012. This is a critical priority for the AMC Board in the first half of next year.

Whilst the Centre has been performing well financially in 2011, the new funding arrangement prevents us from undertaking projects such as the proposed commissioning program, and the intended reinstatement of the Copying of Parts funding scheme.

Despite the challenges presented by the above, in 2012 the AMC will continue to provide essential services to:

• composers and sound artists, performers and presenters, providing distribution and dissemination of information, knowledge, and products through australianmusiccentre.com.au
• educators, students and researchers, providing repertoire, reference materials and education resources
• publishers and record labels, providing retail services for physical products through drop-ship arrangements, and digital distribution
• peer organisations in the music and arts sector, providing a unique perspective on the sector, and engaging in collaborations and partnerships.

As a supporter of Australian Music Centre you can assist us in facing these challenges by:

• maintaining your AMC membership
• encouraging others to join the AMC
• continuing to use the services the AMC provides (purchase products, borrow from the library, submit events, submit works and recordings for represented artists)
• donating to the AMC

We are interested in any feedback you may have on the situation. Commentary can be entered in the space below.

John Davis, CEO

> Find out more about the AMC membership
> Join the AMC
> Donate to the AMC