‘Live music in Auckland’ report
In April Auckland Council commissioned Save Our Venues to carry out research on what issues local music venues were facing.
The goal was to understand what risks independent music venues were dealing with and generate recommendations to better protect and support them. Working with place strategy agency Place Creative, Save Our Venues carried out research and analysis, culminating in the report Live Music in Auckland: Protecting and Supporting Independent Music Venues.
The report provides insight into the day-to-day operations of these music venues, highlighting their significant cultural and economic impact. It also identifies opportunities where regulatory, planning and policy directives from Auckland Council can support the operation of independent music venues as a fundamental component of the city’s cultural infrastructure.
The report’s recommendations include measures to safeguard and support the continued operation of existing independent venues. Additionally, the report proposes a navigational framework that can be applied across various Council departments, fostering a vision for the growth and sustainability of Auckland’s live music ecosystem.
Among the key recommendations:
• Planning overlays for areas where live music is an established activity to balance viable operation of music venues with residential growth
• Improved sound levels + noise complaint management process developed with live music venue operators/workers
• Recategorise alcohol licences for live music venues to properly recognise the nature of their business and support the inclusion of all-ages audiences
• Develop a holistic programme for increasing/enabling youth engagement in live music
• Develop standard process for compliance checks in collaboration with live music venue operators/workers to minimise disruption to their business
• Make funding for live music more accessible to live music venues.
The challenges outlined in the report resonate not only within Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, but also with venues across Aotearoa and around the globe. Auckland has an opportunity to lead the way in developing policy that fosters and supports a future for live music and the venues that enable it.