The line-up at one of Melbourne's iconic live music venues all but collapsed in July. The Forum went from 23 almost-confirmed shows in July to staging just three of them, venue program director Sally Mather has told the federal inquiry into the live music industry. "People are leaving their ticket purchasing until much later, which means it's more likely that shows cancel," she told the inquiry sitting in Melbourne on Monday.
"It becomes this self-perpetuating cycle which is just becoming harder and harder." The Forum is not just any Melbourne venue - it has hosted artists including Harry Styles and Katy Perry and a top-secret show by Madonna. But the recent cancellations of festivals Splendour in the Grass and Groovin the Moo have likely contributed to a loss of confidence from both artists and the public, Mather said.
The 2000-capacity venue, which aims to break even on hire and make a profit from bar sales, has been hit by insurance cost increases of 330 per cent across three years, as well as hikes in land and payroll tax. "We have had probably the roughest month since COVID this July," Mather said. The Forum's owners, Marriner Group, have called for government support, especially at the grassroots of the industry, where other witnesses have explained things were also difficult.
Fitzroy's The Old Bar hosts gigs seven nights a week and gives many bands their earliest shots at performing. "We are just living a little bit more hand-to-mouth than what we're comfortable with,".