New regulations and a fresh focus on funding for music festivals in NSW will see the state government help revive the industry, which has seen the likes of Bluesfest, Splendour in the Grass andThe NSW government unveiled its two-year Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund, which it says will "improve short-term viability for festival operators" and "retain contemporary music festivals" which are vital to the state's music landscape.
The fund will offer up to $500,000 per festival, with the emergency cash support available for two years for festivals with capacities of 15,000 or more. Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy John Graham said the fund was a response to the slow collapse of music festivals both in NSW and around Australia.
"Festivals are facing challenges across the globe and around Australia with the increased price of doing business, the costs of living crisis and changing audience behaviours."Groovin the Moo has cancelled its shows for 2024 just two months before it was set to kick off.